Parking at Port Canaveral

[FirstTimeCruiser]

If you are driving yourself to Port Canavarel can you drop off the other members of your party with the luggage close to the terminal and then park the car and walk back to meet them at the terminal? Or do all members have to be present when checking in the luggage? Is it very far from the parking lot to the terminal?

Thanks!

 

[TheWog]

The luggage tent is actually in the parking lot. You can just pull up, drop off the bags and then go park. The lot is just across the street from the terminal. Not a long walk. Have your ID ready as you have to be checked when entering the terminal area. Not a problem at all.

Also, some people have said don't park near the grass areas or leave open food in your car. Ant problems when you return.

 

[TheGottis]

Also, some people have said don't park near the grass areas or leave open food in your car. Ant problems when you return.

TRUE TRUE TRUE! Be safe and bring bug spray if you are able!

The only thing I requested of my DH the WHOLE trip WAS NOT to park by an embankment. Well, guess what he did ('there was shade').

I also vacuumed the SUV out thoroughly - or so I thought. One stray fry was under the seat in an area I couldn't reach - that was the culprit!

 

[dclwdwlover]

One other quick thing - the last time we went the credit card machine was 'down' & they would only accept cash. Good thing my DH had some - I don't carry any. I believe it is still $10.00 per day.

 

[mmouse37]

Last Feb when we cruised I made the mistake of wanting to drop off the luggage right at the curb at the terminal instead of dropping it off at the tent in the parking lot....because of that we were in a line of cars to get into the terminal area for quite awhile while I saw many people drop off their luggage at the tent area and then walk to the terminal and go in and get on line.....we wound up waiting in that long line of cars for the CM's to check I.D's and only let a few cars in at a time. Hubby then went to return the rental car and take shuttle back to terminal.

Next time we will drop luggage off in the outer parking lot and just walk to the terminal and not get caught in the car line.

Here is a pic of the car line I am talking about.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118553635/118561533xbDLfZ

MJ

 

[BALAMAV]

When we were ther in May the cost was 10.00 a day. We had 20 people with us. We had 2 - 15 passanger vans. We drove from Ohio. I will tell you we laughed so hard when we pulled up to the curb. All these people piling out and pulling out luggage that I thought would never end. Then my hubby and BIL took the 2 vans across the street. While we checked and tagged the bags. Then we walked up to the doors and were able to see the guys coming across the street. They didn't have to park very far and we all walked in together. Just make sure they have their ID's they do check them after they drop off the vans to come back onto the terminal grounds. Have fun we did. Brenda

 

[disneygatorfan]

yes, you can pull right up to were the porters are, check in all your bags, and then just one of you go drop the car off in the parking lot. There are two lots, one right next to the terminal, and one accross the street, I think it's just luck of the draw which you get put in.

After parking, you could just meet up with your guests before going in the terminal. Both lots are within walking distance, would really only take a minute or two for one person to park the car. It's $10 a day, and I would bring cash, cause I have heard of the credit card machine going down sometimes in the toll booth. It's run by the port authority, not Disney.. so well, you know how non-Disney stuff goes

As far as when you return.. you pick up your bags in this big room, its super easy, color coded by stateroom number, then you have the option of tipping a porter to help you to where the car is, or hauling them all to your car yourselves. If you drove yourself, and the car is parked, it is not necessary to go to the pick up tent... you can just go straight to your car. The pick up tent is just for passengers who were dropped off at port.

Hope that makes sense. But it's super easy getting on and off the Disney ships.. its one of the big benefits of DCL. They are so organized. They have the process down to a science. You'd think all these other lines who have been in the business for ever would figure out Disney's secret by now!

Oh yeah, just make sure who ever is dropping off the car has their PHOTO ID, they need it to get checked in on the passenger list.. otherwise, they can't get in the terminal. I saw this lady once who checked her purse with her ID in it.. they were able to get it, but man, did she look nervous.

 

[dclwdwlover]

Originally posted by mmouse37
Last Feb when we cruised I made the mistake of wanting to drop off the luggage right at the curb at the terminal instead of dropping it off at the tent in the parking lot....because of that we were in a line of cars to get into the terminal area for quite awhile while I saw many people drop off their luggage at the tent area and then walk to the terminal and go in and get on line.....we wound up waiting in that long line of cars for the CM's to check I.D's and only let a few cars in at a time. Hubby then went to return the rental car and take shuttle back to terminal.

Next time we will drop luggage off in the outer parking lot and just walk to the terminal and not get caught in the car line.MJ

When we went last Oct. we drove into the terminal - 5-10 min. wait in line at the most - & dropped off the luggage & my DH parked the car. That is where the people checking ID's & tickets directed us to. Where is the tent & the outer parking lot in comparison to the entry to the terminal?

You'd think I'd know from all the trips we've made to the port since we moved here, but I always have my eyes fixed on the ships (& my tongue hanging out ) & haven't noticed any tent or outer pkg lot. Thanks.

 

[mmouse37]

In the pic in my last post the outer parking is just to the right of the line of cars and the terminal and inner parking lot would be to the left.

It is only a short distance we could easily bring our carryon bags from the tented area in the outer parking lot. We were there at 10:15 and they were not letting people in the inner parking lot until 10:30 so we were just sitting there waiting to get in while people were allowed to drive into the outer parking lot and drop their luggage off with porters out there.

MJ

 

[FirstTimeCruiser]

Wow... So much helpful information! Thanks everybody for responding!!

Suzy

 

[mickeyfanmom]

MJ- Thanks for the pic! Another great reason for us to stay at a hotel the night before and take the shuttle! Thanks for sharing!

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Hey MJ-

My DH wants to know if the shuttles from the hotels have to wait in this line too or if they have a different way in.

I told him that I would ask you, so here I am asking!

THX!

 

[minniemouse71]

Just wondering if it is possible for my dh to drop us off, with our luggage at the terminal and then drive back to the Radisson and take the shuttle back?? Thought it might be quicker to get only one body with no luggage on one of the shuttles, as opposed to 5 people with all of their luggage?? Any suggestions on how to make this happen would be greatly appreciated. We are on the November 27, cruise.

 

[mmouse37]

mickeyfanmom and minnimouse71

No, the hotel shuttles do not wait in this line. They drop passengers off in the other parking lot so you won't have this problem.

We often have hubby drop us off at the terminal and then return the rental car and hubby hops the shuttle back to the terminal. The time I was describing where we waiting in that line was because we were there before the gates actually opened up for the inner parking lot. Next time I will have him drop us off in the other parking lot and then he will go return the car and hop a shuttle back. Make sure hubby has has photo I.D. to get into the terminal and then he can meet up with the rest of the group inside.

MJ

 

[thegales]

Just wondering if it is possible for my dh to drop us off, with our luggage at the terminal and then drive back to the Radisson and take the shuttle back?? Thought it might be quicker to get only one body with no luggage on one of the shuttles, as opposed to 5 people with all of their luggage?? Any suggestions on how to make this happen would be greatly appreciated. We are on the November 27, cruise.

It all depends on what time you can reserve the shuttle. If you can reserve all five of your early in the day, it is not worth the hassle for one person to make an extra trip. If you can't get an early shuttle, then yes, have one person drive people and luggage to the port. A single person may be able to get on an earlier shuttle.

By the way, we have done both of these, and all all on one shuttle is definitely easier.

 

[DrCavin]

When we were there in May the were working on a new area to drop off people/luggage. Is that done yet? It was farther from the terminal, but a Porter told us it was because Security did not like the idea of cars getting that close to the terminal.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks for the info and all of the help!