Options from resort to Port Canaveral?

[DWGal210]

Hi all ~ I'm hoping to get some opinions on the best way to get from a Disney resort to Port Canaveral, with the goal that I'd like to get to port by 11AM.

I have done the DCL transfer from the resort and liked it OK - the negative for me was I didn't get to the port until about 2:00. I was able to check in and walk right in, which was nice, but I missed a few hours I could have been on the boat. With a 3 night cruise, you want all the time you get can!

I see the following as being my options - I've also included the approximate costs; does anyone have any others to add to this list?

* Take Disney transfers to the port and back to MCO - Not the best option for me time-wise, but good price-wise; $70.

* Rent a car and drive to port - I would pick up the car (Alamo) at the Disney Car Care Center on Thursday morning, then drive to port and return the car on Sunday to MCO. Cost is about $240 for car rental from Alamo and the parking at the Port.

* Take a cab to MCO and then get a DCL transfer there - Cost would be approx $120 (cab to MCO - DCL bus to Port - DCL bus back to MCO).

* Car service like Happy Limo - One way is $135, plus I'd still have the $35 back to MCO after the cruise.

Thoughts? I'm open to suggestions!

 

[DVC California]

Magical Express from WDW resort to MCO (free for resort guests). Do not check luggage with RAC, carry aboard DME motor coach. If you have a lot of bags, get porter or rent cart. Stroll to DCL motor coach and enjoy pleasant ride to port.

On return, take DCL bus back to MCO. Easy peasie.

 

[DWGal210]

Magical Express from WDW resort to MCO (free for resort guests). Do not check luggage with RAC, carry aboard DME motor coach. If you have a lot of bags, get porter or rent cart. Stroll to DCL motor coach and enjoy pleasant ride to port.

On return, take DCL bus back to MCO. Easy peasie.

Thank you! I didn't realize that I could take ME to the airport like this; do I have to do a "dummy" flight reservation via ME to get a coach pick up time? Or can I just call them and let them know I want a ride back to MCO that morning?

 

[DVC California]

No "dummy" reservation needed. You can just let them know what time you want to be at the airport and they will schedule a pick up time appropriate to that. DME will also place info in your room sometime during your stay.

If you book your DCL MCO to PC transfers now, you should be all set for a stress free relaxing vacation.

HTH, Steve

 

[DWGal210]

No "dummy" reservation needed. You can just let them know what time you want to be at the airport and they will schedule a pick up time appropriate to that. DME will also place info in your room sometime during your stay.

If you book your DCL MCO to PC transfers now, you should be all set for a stress free relaxing vacation.

HTH, Steve

Thanks, Steve! That does help. I appreciate it!

 

[sam_gordon]

Another option (although I like Steve's):

Various one-way car rentals.

Rent a car from car care center, drive to port & return car. (~$50)
After cruise, rent another car for trip to MCO (~$50)

You can do one or the other in conjunction with DCL transfers (rental car to port/DCL to MCO or vice versa)

 

[nkereina]

We did what PP suggested, but in reverse. We left the ship around 7:30am, got on the cruise line shuttle to MCO, hopped on DME, and were checking into our resort by 10am. It was surprisingly quick and easy. I'd imagine the opposite would be the same.

 

[XMom]

Magical Express from WDW resort to MCO (free for resort guests). Do not check luggage with RAC, carry aboard DME motor coach. If you have a lot of bags, get porter or rent cart. Stroll to DCL motor coach and enjoy pleasant ride to port.

On return, take DCL bus back to MCO. Easy peasie.

If we decide to do this, which terminal is best to be dropped off at in relation to being closest to the DCL bus? We are thinking of doing this to get to the port early, then taking the DCL bus from the ship back to WDW.

 

[amomma23]

We did what PP suggested, but in reverse. We left the ship around 7:30am, got on the cruise line shuttle to MCO, hopped on DME, and were checking into our resort by 10am. It was surprisingly quick and easy. I'd imagine the opposite would be the same.

Just curious... Why didn't you just take the DCL shuttle directly to your resort?

 

[minnierocks]

We are flying in a few days before a cruise...here is what we are doing. We paid for the early boarding so we need to be at the port at 11 am. We are taking ME back to the airport early and we will schedule it for 7 am pick up when we arrive at our resort. We are picking up a Budget rental from the airport and driving to the port. Budget is close to the port and has a free shuttle that will take us to the port. We are paying for the cruise shuttle to take us back to the airport after the cruise.

 

[KanataDad]

Just curious... Why didn't you just take the DCL shuttle directly to your resort?

Thats a good question. That's what we do. We usually take the Magical express from Airport to resort, then the next day take the DCL transfer from the resort to Port Canaveral.

And from Cruise to resort there is a DCL transfer as well.

 

[treehugnmama]

I was wondering the same thing we booked a cruise yesterday for November and I was going to take me to resort next day take dcl to port….is there a downfall to doing this?

 

[sam_gordon]

Just curious... Why didn't you just take the DCL shuttle directly to your resort?

Can you use the DCL shuttle if you're not on the Disney Cruise Line (Royal Caribbean and Carnival both sail out of PC).

 

[XMom]

We just got a $45 one-way car rental from budget. They will pick us up at Saratoga Springs resort on Sunday morning at 10 and bring us to budget on State Road in Lake Buenavista. We will then drive to the port early on Monday morning, return the car to budget and take their shuttle to the ship. Hoping to be there by 11 AM.