Night before cruise stay, which is better?

[Ariel484]

1. Stay at the airport Hyatt on arrival night and take Disney transfers in the morning. Cost is $350 (plus breakfast cost).

Does this include the price of the transfers themselves ($35 per person)?

 

[Flowerem]

Does this include the price of the transfers themselves ($35 per person)?

Yes, I added in the Disney transfer cost $35 PP.

 

[Muskegon78]

We stayed near DTD the night before at an Embassy Suites, with a rental car we had plenty of time to get there ourselves in the morning and we still got to do a few things at DTD

 

[asamklove]

When I posed the same question as we were planning our pre-cruise night - someone posted "get to the port, you can crawl that far if you can see the ship"! It made me laugh & also made me think how traveling makes my husband nervous & he will actually be able to start relaxing the night before instead of the morning of the cruise. For us, that's what we chose - I think it will work for us! I'll let you know after we return how it worked
Have fun!!!

 

[ekruze]

Hello fellow cruisers! I'm trying to decide which way to go for our night before cruise stay and was hoping you could help me out. We are first time cruisers arriving at MCO from the west coast at about 4:30pm the night before for a 7 night Fantasy cruise. I have two options:

1. Stay at the airport Hyatt on arrival night and take Disney transfers in the morning. Cost is $350 (plus breakfast cost).

2. Take Cocoa Beach pre-arranged shuttle to Country Inn and Suites near the port and use hotel shuttle to port in the morning. Cost is $279 (including breakfast cost).

The cost isn't an issue but I thought I'd throw it in for comparison. Since we are arriving from the west coast I'm wondering if staying near the port and maybe sleeping in a little bit more in the AM would be a better option? I'm concerned about the luggage issue though when not using Disney transport. Is it that big of a deal to do yourself? Should we be worried that we won't be let in to the port if it's full since we aren't on a Disney bus? I don't expect to get an early PAT since we are first timers. What would you do??

I am having sort of the same dilemma as 'Flowerem' We also cannot decide what to do in terms of hotel and transportation before our first Disney cruise. I currently have reservations at All Star Sports the night before and the Disney Transportation to the Port. I came across the website GoPortCanaveral.com that will transport you from MCO to a hotel then to the Port the following morning. They also transport you back to MCO after the cruise. My concern is if I stick with the All Star Sport res, I understand we may not get picked up until noon or so then the 1 hour ride and the bus load of people to check in with. If I go with the ride from MCO to a hotel near the Port, we will be at the Port much earlier the morning of the cruise (11:30 am) which sounds really good me but I am traveling with just my DD and I would loose the comfort of Disney taking care of our luggage and us
Has anyone used GoPortCanaveral.com and stayed at a Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral hotel? Advantages/Disadvantages? Liked it/not?

Why can't I make this decision?!?!?!

 

[jetskigrl]

Hello fellow cruisers! I'm trying to decide which way to go for our night before cruise stay and was hoping you could help me out. We are first time cruisers arriving at MCO from the west coast at about 4:30pm the night before for a 7 night Fantasy cruise. I have two options:

1. Stay at the airport Hyatt on arrival night and take Disney transfers in the morning. Cost is $350 (plus breakfast cost).

2. Take Cocoa Beach pre-arranged shuttle to Country Inn and Suites near the port and use hotel shuttle to port in the morning. Cost is $279 (including breakfast cost).

The cost isn't an issue but I thought I'd throw it in for comparison. Since we are arriving from the west coast I'm wondering if staying near the port and maybe sleeping in a little bit more in the AM would be a better option? I'm concerned about the luggage issue though when not using Disney transport. Is it that big of a deal to do yourself? Should we be worried that we won't be let in to the port if it's full since we aren't on a Disney bus? I don't expect to get an early PAT since we are first timers. What would you do??

I'm from the west coast and have done both of these options (all the way to staying at Country Inn and Suites, LOL). By far, saying at the airport Hyatt was the most relaxing.

The first time we took a limo to Country Inn and Suites. The hotel was fine but it was me, my Mom and the two kids. Getting all the luggage for 7 nights (plus FE gifts) from the sidewalk outside up to the room was not fun. We had to wait until someone brought back a luggage cart and then it was a long wait for the elevators, etc. The room was fine but without a car there wasn't much to do so we just stayed there (considered a taxi to someplace close but decided to just hang out instead). Breakfast the next morning was fine, but crowded with all the others getting ready for their cruises. The shuttle to the port was also fine but again, had to struggle to get everything downstairs again.

Next time we decided to try the Hyatt MCO (two adults, three kids this time) and it was great. We had an extra kid along and DH so luggage was easier (just used carts to get it from baggage claim to hotel. And being able to just leave it in the room and not have to mess with it again until we were on the ship was awesome. We swam in the hotel pool, watched the planes take off and explored the shops downstairs. Lots of things to keep everyone busy. Then we just walked downstairs the next morning with out carry-ons, got on a bus and we were the first people into the terminal.

If we leave from PC again, we will definitely be using the Hyatt MCO. It was a little more money but way more relaxing for us. Best of luck with your decision. Both options are good

 

[Tasmen]

West coasters here too. We are fans of arriving the night before (granted this has been for WDW and not a cruise) and staying at the Hyatt. After flying across the country, last thing we want is more travel especially if there have been delays. The Hyatt enables us to grab our stuff and then relax.

We will be doing the same for our cruise in February and then using Happy Limo to get us and the rest of people in our party to the cruise terminal the next morning.

Another alternative could be staying at one of the Disney value resorts too. They are usually not badly priced for one night and you would get a little Disney before the cruise. Fly in, take DME to the resort and then either eat dinner at the resort or go to Downtown Disney for the night. You'd only have to deal with transport to the terminal the next day.

 

[wallskm]

For our cruise last year we had a room booked at MCO but then realized that we could stay at Disney for the night cheaper than at the airport. So we booked a one-night stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I had always wanted to see it, but it was too expensive to do a whole Disney World stay there. Took the magical express there for free and had a great day. Went to Downtown Disney that evening, explored the hotel and animals. It was so much fun! The next morning we could have taken the Disney transportation from the hotel to the port but decided on a private car so we could arrive earlier. Snagged a concierge 1-BR at a discount to boot. We are going out of Miami in November, and I'm sad we can't do a stay at the Disney hotel the night before like last year. It just started the magic a whole day earlier for us.

 

[Iamaplanner]

For our cruise last year we had a room booked at MCO but then realized that we could stay at Disney for the night cheaper than at the airport. So we booked a one-night stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I had always wanted to see it, but it was too expensive to do a whole Disney World stay there. Took the magical express there for free and had a great day. Went to Downtown Disney that evening, explored the hotel and animals. It was so much fun! The next morning we could have taken the Disney transportation from the hotel to the port but decided on a private car so we could arrive earlier. Snagged a concierge 1-BR at a discount to boot. We are going out of Miami in November, and I'm sad we can't do a stay at the Disney hotel the night before like last year. It just started the magic a whole day earlier for us.

Wow - that sounds like your vacation started out perfectly! Amazing

 

[sarbah77]

I am having sort of the same dilemma as 'Flowerem' We also cannot decide what to do in terms of hotel and transportation before our first Disney cruise. I currently have reservations at All Star Sports the night before and the Disney Transportation to the Port. I came across the website GoPortCanaveral.com that will transport you from MCO to a hotel then to the Port the following morning. They also transport you back to MCO after the cruise. My concern is if I stick with the All Star Sport res, I understand we may not get picked up until noon or so then the 1 hour ride and the bus load of people to check in with. If I go with the ride from MCO to a hotel near the Port, we will be at the Port much earlier the morning of the cruise (11:30 am) which sounds really good me but I am traveling with just my DD and I would loose the comfort of Disney taking care of our luggage and us
Has anyone used GoPortCanaveral.com and stayed at a Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral hotel? Advantages/Disadvantages? Liked it/not?

Why can't I make this decision?!?!?!

So the year we took Disney transportation to the Port, we got there late enough that the entire bus full of people pretty much got to walk up to the counter, check in and walk on. Sure, it's a bus of people... but families/couples/whatever, traveling together. It was REALLY easy and kind of nice to have our luggage picked up in our hotel room and see it again on the ship.

On the other hand, I hated getting on board so late.

So we're still deciding what to do - for the two of us and another couple, it's not cost effective to go with a private limo (once you factor in the tip!), but it might be Sarah-is-less-impatient effective.

 

[ekruze]

but it might be Sarah-is-less-impatient effective.

I know what you mean! I believe that is my problem and why I want to get close to the Port and on board earlier.




I think you just helped me make up my mind!

 

[TestingH2O]

deciding what to do - for the two of us and another couple, it's not cost effective to go with a private limo (once you factor in the tip!), but it might be Sarah-is-less-impatient effective.

I think that 4 is actually the break even point. Well, plus or minus $20. If I really wanted to get there early I'd consider it a wash and do private transport.

 

[professorandmom]

For our cruise last year we had a room booked at MCO but then realized that we could stay at Disney for the night cheaper than at the airport. So we booked a one-night stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I had always wanted to see it, but it was too expensive to do a whole Disney World stay there. Took the magical express there for free and had a great day.

This is an AMAZING idea! Sounds perfect - even if it costs more than the Hyatt, it would be a chance to stay at a hotel we could never afford for a WDW trip.

I have one question regarding transportation to the port the morning of the cruise...I know the DCL transportation from the Disney hotels to port arrives rather "late" (as defined by DISers and me). Would it be possible to take the magical express to MCO in the morning and then get an earlier DCL transport from MCO to port?

If this is possible, it may be the best idea I have read on the boards...

 

[dsnydaddy]

For our cruise last year we had a room booked at MCO but then realized that we could stay at Disney for the night cheaper than at the airport. So we booked a one-night stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I had always wanted to see it, but it was too expensive to do a whole Disney World stay there. Took the magical express there for free and had a great day. Went to Downtown Disney that evening, explored the hotel and animals. It was so much fun! The next morning we could have taken the Disney transportation from the hotel to the port but decided on a private car so we could arrive earlier. Snagged a concierge 1-BR at a discount to boot. We are going out of Miami in November, and I'm sad we can't do a stay at the Disney hotel the night before like last year. It just started the magic a whole day earlier for us.

This is how I usually do it now. (In fact, I'll be at SSR just prior to my October cruise) I suppose that you could take the DME back to MCO for Disney transfers to Port but it seems to be needlessly complicated that way. We are doing the Disney transfers from SSR. I'll be happy with getting there slightly late. Here's what I've learned about transportation from WDW to Port. All transporation services are making money both ways on this trip. So, that means that they are FIRST off to the port to pick people up and take them to their destinations (MCO or WDW or whatever) THEN they pick up people from WDW or MCO and take them to port. This is the most cost effective for them but usually means that you arrive at the Port slightly behind everyone else. If you truly want to arrive at the port as early as possible then the BEST way to go would be to rent a car at WDW and drive to Port. That way you could leave whenever you want to.

 

[sarbah77]

I think that 4 is actually the break even point. Well, plus or minus $20. If I really wanted to get there early I'd consider it a wash and do private transport.

Yeah, I know - especially since early means "before 2pm" or whatever, but since it's not JUST my money to spend. Probably take DCL transport back to the airport, however, since we're in no rush etc.

 

[suebecdan]

We usually do the Fly Snooze & Cruise Package with Comfort Inn Cocoa Beach. We always go to th parks on our way back from the cruise. So I enjoy staying near the port the night before. I agree that I won't take the Disney transportation if we are more then 4 because cost wise it is cheaper to get private transportation.