Please explain my transportation options, and cost benefits, to and from ship...

[Dodie]

If we fly down one day early and try to get the Swan/Dolphin pre-cruise $99 rate, what are my transportation options and their cost benefits? It sounds, from what I've read, that I don't want to rely on Disney transfers, due to their late arrival time at the port.

I think we would need to get (two adults):

From MCO to the Swan/Dolphin on Friday morning (apprx. 10AM)
From the S/D to the port on Saturday morning
From the port to MCO on the following Saturday

What have you done?
Were you happy with it?
Was it costly?
What would you recommend NOT doing?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[briane]

Can you explain the $99 per-cruise rate at the Dolphin/Swan.

 

[KendraS]

Look into Tiffany Town Car.com 1-888-838-2161 or Happy limo 1-888-394-happy ...these have had good feedback from other board posters. Or FL town car 1-800-525-7246 (don't know much about them).

I personally booked my transportatn for 3 legs from Yourride.net ...Rabbit is the guy...he has had good reviews on the boards. I am taking him from the MCO to WL to Port Can to MCO again. 3 legs is what he calls it...cost $205 w/o tip included for 6 people. Your cost s/b less I would think! We are leaving tomorrow...so I can't say I am happy w/ the service...yet...but so far, based on phone calls/internet...service is good!

Go to yourride.net or call 1866-240-7433...I think his prices are comparable and he offers a free grocery stop.

Kendra

 

[bennett]

Dodie- We are doing the same thing and using --yourride.net--Rabbit will pick us at airport take us to the hotel on cruise date he will come get us from the hotel take us to the port then pick us up at port to return to airport-he is the best price from what I have checked.

 

[bennett]

Braine- This $99 deal is what Swan and Dolphin are offering for pre or post cruise-you have to book it with your travel agent. My agent didn't know anything about it until she called Disney and asked. We did get the deal for June for 3 days-although they won't tell us which one we are at until final payment.

 

[greenikes]

We booked our trip thru Disney directly and purchased the transfers through them. We are staying at the Swan/Dolphin the night before our cruise and are then taking the bus directly to Port Canaveral. It seems like many people are concerned about getting there before 12:15pm so they can get in line, etc. and are looking for alternative ways to get to the port..is it the money that you are concerned about or the time of arrival? By the way, what time does the Disney bus arrive at the port? Thanks!

 

[maryisme]

We are arriving the evening before our cruise and have booked a room at the airport Marriott. We will be picking up our Avis car at MCO when we arrive and returning it at the port the following morning (at the Radisson/or next door--can someone clarify?). The cost of the rental is $30.00. For the three of us this was definitely the most economical route to take.

When the cruise is over we will again rent a car from Avis. They provide free shuttle service from the ship to their rental location . You can easily drive yourself to the airport and drop off the car.

We are spending 3 days in WDW after the cruise and will keep the car while at WDW.

Hope that helps.

Mary

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Your most cost-effective option is, indeed, to rent a car from the airport and return it to a facility near the cruise terminal. Here is a summary of your car rental options:

www.dcltribute.com/carhire

 

[briane]

These rates from yourride and others seem very high. You can rent a compact car from National for $123 (including taxes) and for another $28 park the car at the Port.

This is a rental starting on Sat. morning (heading to Swan for one day) and returning on Thursday morning.

So total price would be about $151 and you have the ultimate in convenience.

 

[briane]

Dave from Marietta,

Let me understand your proposal. You are suggesting that one rent a car from the airport, turn it in at the Avis at the Radisson. Take a free shuttle to the port from Avis. Then, re-rent upon arrival and turn that car in at the airport.

Do you know what the total approx. cost would be? Would they charge you extra for turning it in to another location? Is this what you would propose for someone interested in staying a day at the Swan beforehand?

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

briane, yes, you have the basic idea. Avis, Budget, Hertz, and National all have locations within reasonable distance of the port, and all four offer one-way rentals between their various terminals in Central Florida with no drop-off surcharges. Of the four companies I listed, Avis is the most convenient. Although you can sometimes find a better deal with one of the other three companies. As far as cost... you can typically find a mid-size car with Avis for about $30. With taxes and airport fees, your total cost is around $39. On top of that, you'll need to budget a few dollars for gas and tolls. Still a pretty cost-effective option.

 

[bennett]

I understand to most cost effective way would be to rent a car but our reasoning to hire someone is that they are "there" for us- we don't need or should I say want a vehicle at WDW (have to worry about parking, etc.) we don't need to turn in a car then pick up a car and on and on and on. Another reason is that I can't stand driving where I a not familiar-this is the best way for us-

 

[KendraS]

I agree w/ Bennett...our decision to go w/ yourride.net is about cost and convenience. We have 6 people traveling (2 small children). If we rent a vehicle we would like a van to fit us all comfortably which is about $175-200 for a week (we are doing a 7 day land/sea pkg). If we had taken transfers thru Disney we would be paying $63*6= $369.

I (kendra) am planning EVERYTHING for this trip (flights, itinerary, you name it) so I convinced my dh for MY sanity...spend a few extra bucks and have someone drive us from place to place. I would be the navigator as we travel w/ maps around Orlando...and to be honest...I am TIRED. I want to relax...so Rabbit is driving us for $205. Normally, if it was just dh and I we would rent a car, but I have 2 little kids in tow...I want a little bit of comfort...it is my vacation!

 

[inkkognito]

I'm with Bennett and Kendra! Even though rental cars are the most economical option, hubby and I are very lazy...we've never driven on any of our WDW or DCL trips. We used to use Mears shuttle and the DCL buses till we learned about towncars from the internet. Now we just do Happy Limo, even though by now I could probably drive to the port with my eyes closed.
Since 9/11, we're trying to fly down a day early whenever we can and grabbing a cheap airport hotel ($28 to $33) via Hotwire or Priceline. We don't do WDW....we just relax and have a nice dinner (the two hotels so far are both by TGI Friday's, which is hubby's favorite...we don't have one close to home). But I'm a little worried, as our next two trips are both day-of-the-cruise flights. We've never had any trouble before, but since 9/11 (and people like the idiot who tried to get through Midway the other day with flares, lighter fluid and knives in his carry-on), I am paranoid.
Barb
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