MCO -> cruise -> WDW: best way?

[digitalCajun]

My family and I are taking a long-awaited combo vacation: a cruise on the Disney Magic, followed by a short stay at the Coronado Springs.

I like to think of myself as smart, but transportation has me buffaloed.

What's the "best" way to get a party of 8 from an airport-area hotel (not the in-airport Hyatt) to Port Canaveral, and then to the Coronado Springs, and then back to the airport? What combination of transports, DME, and other services do I need?

(n.b. "best" is in quotes because I realize that some people may weight things differently. I prefer efficiency over all else, but I'm open to suggestions where best == lowest cost, or some other attribute).

Thanks!

 

[noahdove]

I checked a few different ways to get to resort then to port and then back to resort and...it's more money, BUT, it's easier for me, which I will do is to take the ME and pay the extra money, well, actually, besides renting a car and driving myself and family, ME and DCL is the best bet for me..also, I don't have to worry about any luggage except once it gets to resort, cabin, resort and airport. I am not sure I helped you or confused you more, I hope tho I helped. I did several different ways too.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

With a party of 8 I would look into a van service to get you from your airport area hotel to the port and possibly from the port to the WDW resort. From your WDW resort back to the airport I would go with DME, if it's free, it's for me!

You could always do DCL transfers from the cruise to the resort but at $35.00 per person I would venture to guess that a shuttle or van service would be less expensive

 

[NHdisneylover]

I would (and have) have a private can sevice pick up at the airport hotel for MCO to Port and then again from port to WDW and then use Magical Express from WDW to MCO.

This will cost more than renting a car but be MUCH easier. It will be easier and faster than DCL transport and less expensive to boot. For MCO to port and port to WDW it would come to $305 with the comapny we noramlly use. Plan on adding a 20% tip on top of that.

We like to use Tiffany Town car. We have had 8 good experiences with them, including in December with all kinds of group sizes and a variety of locations. They (as will many private services) will make a short grocery or liquor store stop upon request if you are interested.

 

[noahdove]

What do you do about car seats if you need them? Thanks

 

[phred52]

Just did this last week with 7 of us. We simply had 2 adults each rent a car and we drove ourselves both directions. Cost was about $45 per car, each direction so adding in tolls and filling the gas tanks our grand total cost was $200 for transportation for 7. Its a straight shot from MCO to the port and back, easy drive.

 

[NHdisneylover]

What do you do about car seats if you need them? Thanks

It has been a long time since mine were carseat sized so you should confirm with the ocmpanies before making any final decisions, but ehre is what I remember:
Magical Express, like most busses does not have seat belts and kids simply sit in the seats.
Most of the private car companies, including Tiffany, have booster seats (but not 5 point harnesses) available. You must request them in advance and some companies provide them for free (Tiffany used to, I don't know about now) and others charge between $5-$15 each way for using a seat. ETA--I just checked Tiffany's website and it currently says that vans come equipped with one booster and one carseat and towncars with one booster.