Miami to Orlando

[Ms.Mouseketeer]

has anyone ever cruised out of Miami and driven to Orlando for some time at wdw? Any advice?

 

[adisneyaunt]

Well it's possible... you ll likely need rent a vehicle and plan on a 3 1/2-4 1/2 hour trip each way unless u can fly out of Orlando for ur return. I would only consider that if i had 3 xtra days post cruise... maybe get in 1 or 2 parks. Not optimum but can be done.
Private transport probably much more expensive.
Have you looked at either trip advisor and or cruise critic as there is likely a similar if not exact question u asked.
Happy travels!

 

[DVC Doc]

Yes it's easy! There are shuttles from the port to several rental car places. Then it's a 3-3.5 hour drive to WDW - take Florida turnpike to Osceola Parkway. Have fun!

 

[JW9DVC]

You can also buy a transponder for $20 and have tolls prepaid. We go to Florida a couple times a year and always bring it with us.

The shuttle from Miami Port to MIA is free if you have a vehicle reservation at the airport. Must show proof.

The Drive once on the turnpike is easy, super easy. I have done it a few times. Beware of speeds though. They have service stations for food and fuel in between so you don't have to exit.

Hope this info helps.

JW

 

[Ms.Mouseketeer]

Thanks. Very helpfil

 

[surran12]

We did this last January after our cruise on the Magic. It was a very easy drive and having three day at Disney after really helped complete the trip. We didn't do it the most economical way but we rented a car before the cruise as we spent 2 days in Miami before hand and then just parked it at the cruise terminal so it was right there after we disembarked and could get on the road right away. It wasn't overly expensive to do it this way and we liked the convenience. If you do decide to do it, I would look into getting a Sun-pass before hand and then once you pick up your rental car just add it to the account for a short term to make the tolls much simpler.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We have done this twice, most recently earlier this month after back-to-backs on the Magic. We flew into MIA on American and out of MCO on Southwest, so only did a one-day rental from MIA to WDW. We happened to use National bcause I had a free day coming, so we dropped off the rental car at the Dolphin the morning after our arrival at the BoardWalk. The drive from the airport car rental center was about 3.5 hours, including a lunch stop.

I actually prefer to take I-95 to 528 to 417 rather than the FL Turnpike. Toll cost was a total of $10.45: $5.45 to National for the Miami area toll(s) using toll-by-plate and including National's $3.95 toll service fee for the toll-by-plate service, two $1 tolls on 528 and two $1.50 tolls on 417. The tolls on 528 and 417 were paid using the cash lanes. I have the Illinois version of E-ZPass (called IPass), so not usable in FL. I have not compared the tolls on the FL Turnpike, but I believe the Miami area tolls to get to the Turnpike is probably the same as the tolls to get to I-95. Add the Turnpike tolls to this to get the total.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You can also buy a transponder for $20 and have tolls prepaid. We go to Florida a couple times a year and always bring it with us.

The shuttle from Miami Port to MIA is free if you have a vehicle reservation at the airport. Must show proof.

The Drive once on the turnpike is easy, super easy. I have done it a few times. Beware of speeds though. They have service stations for food and fuel in between so you don't have to exit.

Hope this info helps.

JW

Don't you risk being double billed by the rental or do they deactivate their transponder so you can use yours?

 

[poison ivy]

WE did this back in Dec 2013. We rented with Alamo and drove to WDW. We brought our own GPS and programmed it to take back roads for part of the drive and loved it.
here is an older thread we posted on: http://www.disboards.com/threads/re...a-port-and-rental-cars.3337359/#post-52399955

I'm not sure if the procedure has changed but the information may be helpful.

 

[JW9DVC]

Don't you risk being double billed by the rental or do they deactivate their transponder so you can use yours?

They don't have transponders in the vehicle. It goes by license plate. You just add the vehicle to your account.

JW

 

[Bree]

I live in Boca Raton which is 3 hours south of WDW. I take the FL turnpike to 417 and get off at exit 6 onto World Center Drive. I despise Osceola parkway. It's always full of traffic and there are a bazillion lights. 417 will bring you in by Disney Springs.

 

[FigmentSpark]

They don't have transponders in the vehicle. It goes by license plate. You just add the vehicle to your account.

JW

Oh! So if you have a transponder, then it won't take a picture of the license plate, thus, you won't get billed by the rental company. I get it. thanks.

 

[JW9DVC]

Oh! So if you have a transponder, then it won't take a picture of the license plate, thus, you won't get billed by the rental company. I get it. thanks.

Please see the very bottom portion of website that shows Sunpass Customers.

https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

SunPass Customers:
SunPass customers using a rental vehicle may have their tolls applied to their SunPass account. Customers with SunPass Portable transponders may use their transponders in their rental vehicles. (It is strongly recommended that SunPass customers access their online SunPass accounts or contact the SunPass Customer Service Center to add the rental vehicle subscription to their account for the rental period.) If the transponder is not in your vehicle or functioning properly, tolls from other agencies will not be posted to your SunPass account, and may be charged to you by the rental Service Provider. Please remember to remove your transponder upon return of the vehicle.
SunPass customers that do not have their transponders in the vehicle are subject to the tolls, fees and charges set forth below and in their rental agreements.