Need lots of help with transportation!

[andychris14]

Hi, I am booking a disney vacation for Aug 2006.We are planning on a 7 night disney/universal trip followed by a 3 night disney cruise.Here is where I need help with the transportation:
1- Flying into MCO and staying offsite for 7nights(visiting both disney and universal, so a car is a must)
2-Taking a disney cruise from Port Canaveral
3-Possible come back to the disney/universal area or stay somewhere (maybe near a beach??)for 1-3 nights.
4-Transportation back to MCO
We are thinkng of extending the last part of our trip since the cost of airfare, flying on sunday will be pretty high. Why not use that money staying longer. I hate to rent a car for the entire lenght of the trip and pay for $10 per day at the port plus the cost of the rental car sitting in a parking lot.
I AM SO CONFUSED, ANY ADVICE/SUGGESTIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!

 

[Bob P]

I'll defer to someone with more first-hand knowedge but I think you can return a rented car at Port Canaveral when arriving for your cruise and then pick up another car when you return from the cruise. I hoep someone else can confirm or correct that!

Bob

 

[MScott1851]

Last year we did this because our trip was WDW for three days, a 4 night cruise, and Universal for three days.

We rented from National at MCO using Mousesavers' codes, dropped it off in Port Canaveral and took a taxi to the port. It was $13.00 plus tip. Then, after we got off the ship, we took a taxi BACK to the National office, rented another car, and ended up returning it to Tampa (because hurricane Jeanne cancelled our flight from MCO.)

It really wasn't that complicated or expensive. I suggest buying an Entertainment Book, using the coupons in there, along with Mousesavers' codes. I also believe Budget has some great one-way rental rates, along with a complimentary shuttle to the port. We just didn't want to get stuck waiting a long time for the shuttle, so we chose National and a taxi.

The cruise board here, and at Cruisecritic.com has LOTS of suggestions for these types of transportation issues. That's where we got our information.

 

[andychris14]

Thank you, I did not think about dropping it off at port canaveral. Where is the rental car place in port canaveral? Is it close to the port? Do you think that I can make reservations online for all these steps or just show up and have to pay top dollar?
Thanks

 

[MScott1851]

We made every single reservation on-line. It's not hard, just make the two reservations for the days, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations you need.

Here's one thread I found. Do a search on the Cruise forum for rental car, or one-way rental.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=735752&highlight=one-way+rental

The National office was about six or seven miles past the port, and we just took a taxi. When the driver dropped us off at the terminal, he gave us a card to call him when we docked on Friday. We did, and he was waiting to take us back to the terminal.

I think Avis and Budget have free shuttles, though. It all depends on your preference and the money, I guess. We got a better deal through National, but most everyone on here seems to prefer Budget.

Mousesavers.com has tips on this as well.