MCO to Port Canaveral.. there aren't cheap shuttles, really?

[davinakb]

Been searching and looking forever, cannot find what I consider a reasonable deal for such an in-demand option, MCO to PC. We're doing a couple days of WDW before a cruise and looking for best way to/from the airport to the port.

Plan 1: is to rent car few days for Orlando, then turn it back in at MCO for shuttle to/from Port. However, the shuttles are at least $75/person RT which is what the cruise line charges -- can't believe someone isn't less? Again I'm seeing $100 pp RT? really, for a giant shuttle taking 50+ people?

Plan 2: Independent group shuttles or private cars are even more, $200.

Plan 3: Two different "one-way" rentals of the car; MCO to port, (cruise), then port back to MCO (so the car isn't being 'rented' and in parking for days while on the ship). Except.. one way car rentals are also totally insane.

I've tried Mears, Happy Limo, so many other places. Am I missing something? It's just hard to believe there's not anything less than that. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ariel224]

Try Budget promo code X474200. We are getting a minivan from MCO to the Port for $45 per day (x3 days precruise).

You might want to post your question on the DCL forum as well.

 

[MAYNARDS99]

Budget is awesome and does not usually charge a one way drop fee.

Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel location (MO3) in DTD and drop off at Cape Canaveral (CC5).

On the way home drop off at MCO. Easy Peasy! Make it easy on all and just have the driver use the Budget shuttle at Port Canaveral.

Remember to sign up for Budget's frequent renter program. This puts you ahead of the Ma and Pa Kettles.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's fairly expensive because that's what the market will bear!! So, with that in mind, you are going to have to run numbers for all the various options.
I actually found that it was cheaper to rent a car at MCO, then drive to port, park in the garage for the 4 nights, then drive back to WDW vs any other option.
You can always rent a car for the day, return the car at port and take the rental company shuttle to the ship and then reverse that at the end of the cruise. Or use a car service for about $200, or the cruise line shuttle.
If you can find an inexpensive daily rental, that will be your best bet.

 

[budbeerlady]

We ended up last year renting the car for the week and paying $6 a day for Park-n-cruise. I figured it would save me time also from dropping off and picking up a car the extra time. Find the rental car discussion for the month you are traveling for discounts. I follow the October rental car thread and so far it has helped me find the best deal at $194 for 10 days.

 

[davinakb]

It's fairly expensive because that's what the market will bear!! So, with that in mind, you are going to have to run numbers for all the various options.

You are very correct, seeing same info across the board. Will keep looking, thanks.

 

[davinakb]

We ended up last year renting the car for the week and paying $6 a day for Park-n-cruise. I figured it would save me time also from dropping off and picking up a car the extra time. Find the rental car discussion for the month you are traveling for discounts. I follow the October rental car thread and so far it has helped me find the best deal at $194 for 10 days.

Saw the park and cruise deal. Keep running the math, even paying $15/day to keep the car while parked .. it adds right back up the the $100 for a shuttle.

I guess my plan is to 1) keep looking for a shuttle deal and 2) if I can get some crazy cheap PL bid.. then maybe keep/park the car. thanks.

 

[davinakb]

Budget is awesome and does not usually charge a one way drop fee. Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel location (MO3) in DTD and drop off at Cape Canaveral (CC5). On the way home drop off at MCO. Easy Peasy! Make it easy on all and just have the driver use the Budget shuttle at Port Canaveral. Remember to sign up for Budget's frequent renter program. This puts you ahead of the Ma and Pa Kettles.

I looked there (and many other rental companies) online .. it's a lot more than $100 for each 1-way rental. I was just hoping to make it cheaper than the shuttle. Thanks anyway.

 

[vicki_c]

We just had a rental from MCO to WDW, then drove it to the port and let it sit there for our 4 night cruise, then drove back to WDW afterward (and of course back to MCO at the end). The price difference for leaving it sit like that was negligible and then we had control over when we arrived at the port for the cruise as well instead of being held hostage to the shuttle schedules.

 

[Orlando Vic]

I looked there (and many other rental companies) online .. it's a lot more than $100 for each 1-way rental. I was just hoping to make it cheaper than the shuttle. Thanks anyway.

I just did a dummy booking for a compact car from MCO to Cape Canaveral today with Thrifty using corporate discount # 004M001010. (This is the Orlando Magicard rate and available to all.) I also used my Blue Chip number (Thrifty's loyalty program) but this is free to join.

I got a one-way rate of $38 plus a drop off fee of $21.60 for a total (base rate) of $59.60.

 

[houseful of boys]

We used cruise express shuttle in December. It's $25/person each way from MCO to Port Canaveral. Check out the forums on cruisecritic.com for additional advice and tips.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We usually like the DCL bus for how convenient it is (especially for the return flight to use DCL's Onboard Check In*) but last fall I found a one way rental with Dollar for just $26 including all taxes. For that much of a savings, I'll haul our luggage. Usually though, it's not such a huge savings. For 4 of us on a 7nt cruise, we need a minivan for the luggage. By the time we pay tolls, fill the tank before drop off, and deal with the shuttles to/from the office, it's not worth it to us for a $40 savings. jmho.



*Onboard Check in is like RAC at WDW. If you're flying home on a participating airline, you sign up for it when checking in at the port for your cruise. On the last full day of the cruise, your boarding passes & special airline luggage tags are delivered to your stateroom. Just put your bags outside your door by 10:30 pm the last night like everyone else but unlike everyone else, you don't have to see/touch your bags til you arrive at your home airport. In the am you simply walk to the DCL bus, and hop off at MCO, boarding passes in hand and go to your gate. No having to locate all your bags after debarkation, take them through customs, and wait in line at MCO to check your bags.
We LOVE it and choose a participating airline just to use this service. We believe that the cheapest method isn't necessarily the best method and sometimes we're willing to pay more for convenience. ymmv.

 

[davinakb]

We usually like the DCL bus for how convenient it is (especially for the return flight to use DCL's Onboard Check In*) but last fall I found a one way rental with Dollar for just $26 including all taxes. For that much of a savings, I'll haul our luggage. Usually though, it's not such a huge savings. For 4 of us on a 7nt cruise, we need a minivan for the luggage. By the time we pay tolls, fill the tank before drop off, and deal with the shuttles to/from the office, it's not worth it to us for a $40 savings. jmho.ymmv.

It's just two of us, otherwise I see the savings. I'm still debating the time/cost/convenience thing - may try to see about Dollar again, though w/ drop off fees I just don't know. Thanks.