Newbie question regarding Disney Cruise

[Grand DVCian]

Hello all,

My wife and I joined DVC with our recent trip to DW last month. We are planning on using our points for a Disney Cruise Jan. 07 and had a few questions from the experienced friends on this board.

1. We were planning on the 7 day western cruise.
2. Question: What would be the best plan of action in regards as to where we could/should stay the day before the cruise? We were hoping to use 20 pt's to stay are SSR (our home resort) ....leave for the cruise...then return to SSR to stay a night then leave the next morning.

Problem is....transportation.... from Orlando to Port Canaveral then back to Orlando...then to the airport.

Just curious, what have other done in this situation? Is it too much bother to stay at SSR the day before or should we just book a room near Port Canaveral?

Thanks in advance.
Ken and Audrey Smith

 

[thisisthelife]

Hello,
We have done both. We have gone on a cruise and stayed a couple of days before and after the cruise in DW, which was fun. Last year we decided to fly into orlando and rent a car, drove the night before the cruise to Cape Canavaral and stayed at a hotel location near the dock. It seemed to go a lot smoother and less stressful staying near the port before your cruise. We got to the dock when opened and we were able to get on the boat with little time waiting. Just remember when you return from the cruise you are pretty much off the boat by 8am and you are at DW at around 9:00. In all reality your room may not be ready until 4pm...The first time we cruised and came back we stayed at SSR and they were very nice and were able to get us in a room by 10:00 which is almost unheard of... Last year we stayed at BWV and were in our room at 5:00pm it really depends on how crowded the hotel is that you are staying at after the cruise. but just be prepared that you may not have a room until that time I hope this at least helped you a little..
Kristen

 

[Grand DVCian]

Thank you for your reply. I agree that staying in the Port Canaveral area would be less stessful and utimately the we will to it in Jan.

Ken and Audrey Smith

 

[Lew]

DCL can provide transportation from WDW to the port and return. Give DCL a call for the latest info. With DCL transportation you won't be the first to board the ship, but it will be hassle free.

A lot of cruisers like to stay near the port. However, when you do that you need to arrange transportation to that area, get a hotel room, and then get transportation to the ship. WDW is less than an hour from the port...not a long distance to travel on embarkation day.

You can use ME for free transportation between the airport and your WDW resort.

Check out the cruise boards here on the DIS for more info.