Need suggestions - Legoland plus Miami cruise departure

[chloe77]

We are going to LEGOLAND for a day or two, and then on a 3 night Bahama cruise out of Miami. I'm thinking we will fly into Orlando, take a car to LEGOLAND, and then I'm not sure whether we will spend one night there and drive to Miami the second night, or spend two nights there and drive to Miami early the morning of cruise departure. We are in a concierge suite, so no set embarkation time. We will hire a car, not drive ourselves. I think it's a 3 hour drive. Is it a bad idea to drive into Miami that morning? I would rather spend two nights at LEGOLAND hotel than one there, one in Miami, and 3 on the ship. Thoughts?

 

[Bree]

Have you actually priced out private car service from Orlando to Miami? It's going to cost hundreds of dollars. Depending on the day you set sail, driving into Miami from Orlando the day of the cruise can be a very bad idea. I live near Miami. Traffic is absolutely horrible.

 

[chloe77]

I have, and I know, but I don't know what else to do. I don't want to rent a car because then I will spend too much time getting from LEGOLAND to car rental place, dropping off at rental place in Miami, and getting transport to Miami hotel if we go the night before. I'd rather spend the money on a car service, save time, and relax. Also, my husband will be less stressed about taking vacation if he can sit in a limo and work on his computer while the kids watch a movie.

 

[Joel0917]

For your own sanity just do one night at legoland
Legoland is literally one day
It is small
Go one day, hang at the pool till 5 or 6 day two and then drive to miami to be safe. You can return the car at miamia airport and most hotels nearby have free shuttles. Rent from national. Private message me and I'll give you a code to save some money on your rental.
Trust me I drive into miamia for work and some days it is just nuts. No one wants stress on the day of departure. This way get there early and board the ship and start swimming.
Day

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Can't you rent a car at MCO and return in MIA and then cab it to port? Or, if you come in the night before you can stay in Miami airport hotel with free shuttle.

I would stay late at Legoland, then drive to miami so you are ready to go the night before. Legoland doesn't stay open that late anyway, except peak season (not sure when you are going). A long part of your drive is on the Turnpike in the middle of nowhere, and if there is an accident on the Turnpike you could get stuck with all lanes blocked and no alternate routes. And another big part of the trip is in Miami/FLL traffic, which sucks.

 

[pgroom48]

Can't you rent a car at MCO and return in MIA and then cab it to port? Or, if you come in the night before you can stay in Miami airport hotel with free shuttle.

I would stay late at Legoland, then drive to miami so you are ready to go the night before. Legoland doesn't stay open that late anyway, except peak season (not sure when you are going). A long part of your drive is on the Turnpike in the middle of nowhere, and if there is an accident on the Turnpike you could get stuck with all lanes blocked and no alternate routes. And another big part of the trip is in Miami/FLL traffic, which sucks.

I live in Miami and weekday traffice horrible as people have said. You can stay in a hotel downtown close to the port and take an uber/cab to port. Its literally minutes. There are car rental agencies downtown that you can return the car and walk or use the free metromover to a hotel. I would not want to stay near the airport on a weekday. The Dolphin Expressway is a disaster and constantly under construction. It's the main artery into Downtown and the port.