Please help me with trasportation!

[KarenB]

We are finetuning our vacation plans but still have to decide on some transportation issues.

Here is our itinerary:

Arrive at MCO Friday approx 4:30 pm (July 2)
Holiday Inn near Airport over night
Saturday am-head to Port for 7 night Magic (July 3)

Saturday am-arrive back at port; travel to POR (July 10)
Saturday-Wednesday - WDW POR

Wednesday-ply out of MCO appron 5:30 pm (July 14)

Any sugggestions as to the best way to get to these places and for the best price? We have to decide between a towncar or rental car. It seems like a waste to rent a car just to let it sit at the port for 7 nights.

Thanks,

Karen

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

Renting a car is the least expensive option. You do not have to let it sit at the port. You can rent a car for one-way rentals and return it at the agency location near the port. Take your luggage and most of your family to the terminal and have one person return the rental car to the agency. They will then drive you back to the ship in their van. The same thing applies when you return, you get the shuttle to the car place, pick up your rental and return it to the airport when you are ready to leave. We have been able to rent full size cars both ways for about half of what the disney transfers would have cost for our family. Try Dave's site www.dcltribute.com for codes for one-way rentals.

 

[mketting]

Rent from Budget. Super convienient and fast. I dropped my family at the port and then drove 5 minutes to Budget office. My family got all checked in and when I got back to the port, in less than 30 min., all I had to do was walk up to the same counter they checked in at and show photo ID to get KTTW.

At the end of trip it was equally as easy.

 

[hydster]

You didnt say how many people were going with you but when we had the same kind of thing with our last trip we ended up just using a car service because we didnt want to have to hassle with trying to figure out where we were going and how to get there.

We had 4 adults and 3 kids and used your ride.net

They picked us up at the airport with a sign and our name on it. My inlaws flew in but on a different airplane and we got in about 45 min apart so they waited and as far as I know they didnt charge extra for the wait. It was nice because Mike our driver took care of ALL Of the luggage so we could concentrate on controlling the kids after a very long flight for them.

He took us at 11:30 pm Orlando time to the Polynesian hotel where he helped get the bags out and then he left. We stayed at the Poly for 3 days and then we arranged with them to have us leave our luggage the morning of the cruise at the bell counter and we took the buss to Animal Kingdom for the morning. Mike picked us up at the AKL at 11 and drove us back to the Polynesian to get our luggage, loaded it all and drove us the hour to the port. Dropped us off in front of the terminal, pulled all of the luggage out of the van and helped the porters get us checked in. All of this was wonderful service and not having to worry about luggage in and out of the car and such was nice with 3 small kids.

After the cruise Mike told us where he would be to pick us up and my husband walked over to get him. He drove over, loaded up all the luggage, stopped at a convenience store so my son could go to the bathroom (since they dont tell you there are no bathrooms once you leave the ship) and then took my inlaws to an airport hotel to check in while we waited. They were going home early the next day so they didnt stay on Disney property. Then he took us over to POR and unloaded all of the luggage. That night he came back at 10 to pick up my inlaws (this was unscheduled but I just called and they did it no problem) and took them to their hotel.

2 days later they then picked us all up again, loaded luggage and drove us to the airport. Mike unloaded all the luggage with the Curbside porters and we tipped him the final tip and he left. For us we would have had to rent a van and it was alot more expensive to rent minivans than to get the car service. The total price with all of the stops and waits and everything was about $300.00 for all 7 of us with all of the help with luggage and waiting. Well worth it in our opinion.

HTH
Heidi

 

[SoThisIsLove]

Hi,

We are goiong on the cruise the same time you are. We will be on hour honeymoon and can not wait! We are using a limo for transport and have gotten a few price quotes but have not booked as of yet. We were going to take the Disney bus but my fiance is 6'5'' and we are not sure how much space he will have as far as leg room. We were quoted 325-350 for stretch limo transfers from the airport to Port, Port to Boardwalk, Boardwalk to airport. We are doing the limo thing too because we need to stop at a UPS store after the cruise to send our cruise purchases home since we are leaving the next day for a week in Aruba. We were told we are not able to bring things thru customs and may be surcharges to leave with excess things.
We also quoted towncars and they were less expensive. About 100 less.

I hope this helps!

Heather

PS Have you decided on any shore excursions....we are still looking and deciding.

 

[KarenB]

Hi Heather! Welcome to the DIS!! We have learned so much from this site.

Here is what we have planned "so far":

Key West- on our own. DH's family lives in south Florida and might meet us in Key West for the afternoon.

Grand Cayman-we booked the half day snorkel trip with Captain Marvins. This is not a Disney excursion, but I have read many positive comments about this company.

Cozumal-taxi to Paradise Beach for the day.

We would like to plan a spa treatment and one meal at Palo. Our kids are 14 and 15 so we are lucky to be able to have some family time and some adult time!

There are quite a few people form this site on this cruise. Hopefully once the date nears, we can plan a quick place to all meet!

Karen

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Karen, we fly in on 7/2 but into Sanford and about 10AM. We are renting cars and staying in PC for the night, then DH and BIL are dropping us off at the port, dropping off the cars at Budget, and coming back to the port on their shuttle. The day we disembark we are renting another car to go to the space center because our plane doesn't leave until 7:30 from Sanford.
The thing is, if you are renting you need to do it pretty quick (we are still deciding as well). Budget already only has compact cars left on 7/10 and Hertz is out of minivans. We think we will get 2 minivans from Budget on the way to PC and then rent 3 cars from Hertz on 7/10 (Dad wants Lincolns--he cannot handle compact cars for any length of time). Just something to think about.
SoThis is Love, we are also doing Capt. Marvins--doing Key West on our own, probably the trolley you can get off and on--no plans for Cozumel yet but might go to Chakanab (sp?).
Robin M.

 

[KarenB]

Hi Robin-I just e-mailed your ride.net for a quote on what we need. Some towncar sites have a land/sea package but ours is just a bit different-more like a sea/land vacation! I don't know if you read my reply on another post, but we cancelled the Radisson and are staying near the airport on the night we fly in instead. I just had a "gut feeling" about the shuttle service in the am and late check ins in the pm.

We reserved a night at the Holiday Inn near MCO, bought 2 Disney Quest tickets for our DSs and 2 Pleasure Island tickets for DH and myself ---all for the price of that one night at the Radisson!!

I am beginning to feel that our trip is just about organized. Only a few PSs to decide upon at WDW and the transportation once in Florida!

Karen

 

[hydster]

Sothisislove- Who did you book your limo through??? We booked one as well but I'm doing research on who booked through what company just to make sure I'm getting a good deal. I havent seen them mentioned on these boards but I did find them on the BBB website. We are 5 of us going in a limo from POR to the port and back to the airport. They quoted us $250.00 total plus tip. We booked Southern Elegance.

Just wondering who you booked through since it seems like you got a pretty good rate. We still need to find a ride from the airport to POR.

Heidi

Ps...your honeymoon sounds like a blast!!!! I'm jealous!

 

[2tinksmom]

We have almost the same situation...MCO to port to AKL to MCO. We are using MurrayHill Transportation. These guys are awesome. I can not say enough great things about them. They are hilarious, my two DDs love them. It's like transportation with a show! And not only that, they are extremely reasonable!!! You can contact them at www.transportation2disney.com. Good luck!

 

[clh2]

Originally posted by KarenB
Hi Robin-I just e-mailed your ride.net for a quote on what we need. Some towncar sites have a land/sea package but ours is just a bit different-more like a sea/land vacation!

I am beginning to feel that our trip is just about organized. Only a few PSs to decide upon at WDW and the transportation once in Florida!

We also did a sea/land combo, and used FL TOurs (the sponsor the Transportation section of the DIS Boards.) We e-mailed FL Tours prior to sending in the e-mail request. FL Tours said that to fill in the on-line quote info as best as you can, and in the comments/special request section - be very specific about your itinerary.

They were fabulous! On time, clean cars, courteous etc. Didn't have a problem with doing a planned grocery stop. etc.

SoThisIsLove...welcome to the DIS!