Port Canaveral parking: OK for brand new car?

[Rabiman]

This is a very niche question and I couldn't locate in a search. I was planning on using port Canaveral parking garage for our upcoming 6 day WC. However, just this week our local dealership told us the car we pre-ordered back in July finally arrived. We had to buy it by 10/31 or risk it being sold to someone else. It's a Sienna hybrid and we love it.

However, my wife is kind of nervous about bringing the new car (driving from So. FL) to PC and leaving it 6 days at the garage. I know this is a 1st world problem to have: What are the spaces like in the garage? Are they all very close? Will three be enough room to position the car away from others (avoid potential dings)? We have a 1:30 boarding time so its likley we will be last ones to park. Will there be covered spaces or will I likely have to park on uncovered garage roof?

 

[happycamper47]

I don't know of any way you can park away from somebody without being in the open lot and the spaces are not overly wide. With that said we have never had an issue with dings.

 

[princesscinderella]

I have a sienna and I didn’t find the spots super tight where I feared dings. Best suggestion is to try to park in an end spot or where a support pole is to have a bit of space and maybe be only near you be car. My kids have done more to mess up my car than parking anywhere has over the years. One time I ended up with a handprint on the paint because they had sunscreen on their hand it and burned into the top coat (scary sometimes we put that on our bodies).

 

[DSLRuser]

as far as parking garages go, the spaces are average ...not tiny like some. As a bonified car nerd, the strategy is to alway find a corner parking spot, never on an end.....and park as far to the side of the corner you can to leave as much space between you and the other car as possible.

 

[malba2366]

Honestly not much risk. There will be very few times that someone enters or exits the spots on either side of you.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Canaveral is definitely the one I feel the best parking at and often will pay the garage rate just for the convenience.

There are multiple floors to the garage. As mentioned try to find an outside corner with extra room to the parking spot. I have gone up a floor or two in order to find a more choice spot. I usually look for one closer to the elevators if at all possible.

They do also offer a preferred parking area that is more expensive but extremely convenient to the terminal. Not sure if they've been using it recently though.

 

[hrhdhd]

I'd be more worried about driving it in south Florida!

 

[happycamper47]

They do also offer a preferred parking area that is more expensive but extremely convenient to the terminal. Not sure if they've been using it recently though.

i think that lot is gone.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

i think that lot is gone.

The lot is definitely still there! I just don't think they've been using it since they restarted cruising.

 

[happycamper47]

The lot is definitely still there! I just don't think they've been using it since they restarted cruising.

I mean as far as being a preferred lot. The new luggage drop off doesn't give you access anymore since they reworked the terminal. Even when it was available half the time it was closed due to staffing shortages.

 

[tvguy]

Can't speak to the parking situation but you just have to take your chances with a new car. We keep our cars FOREVER (20 years for my wife and 31 for our family car). We bought a new car in 2020 and 2018 and both had stone chips in the windshield within a couple of months. So I would be more concerned about damage from the drive there myself than the parking garage. Mind you the old cars we had, had their original windshields without a single stone chip, pretty good I would say especially for the 31 year old one.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We bought a new car and drove it to the Miami port 4 days later so I understand the question! I had the same concerns.

Different port/garage, of course, but we had an early PAT time and had our choice of spots so we were easily able to find one in a corner with lots of space. An early PAT time could be a real help for you!

 

[reneaterry]

Congrats on your new Sienna. I got one last year and love the hybrid. As far as parking goes, I always try to park on the end, near a support beam, or next to a handicapped spot that is larger for wheelchairs.

 

[Flying Fish]

My last new car got scuffed up in a parking lot on day two, so I can definitely relate to this. That being said, four years later I had totally forgotten until I was reading this. The interesting point is, as Malba said, people come and go much less than they would in a "regular" parking lot. Problem is if you convince your wife of this and then something happens to the car... Man, I'd hate to be thinking about this on my whole cruise, but in multiple PC cruises we've never had a problem there. I'd be much more worried at the local mall.

 

[Cheburashka]

I parked at Port Canaveral for my last DCL cruise and it was a covered garage. The spaces weren't any tighter than standard parking spaces. People don't go in or out very much when parking for cruises, compared to typical parking lots that have frequent ins and outs. The risk is no greater than any other parking you will do in life. Probably less risk, since access to the port is restricted, so less chance for vandalism or theft than in a regular parking lot. It's just filled with families going to or from their cruise. Relatively safe environment.

 

[rochmom4]

The rooftop level is usually pretty empty if you don't mind being on the roof in the Florida sun.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I've been giving the Port Canaveral parking garage a lot of thought lately. More so about the size of the vehicle to take than damage, though that's always on my mind when leaving a car anywhere. Last time we cruised was 2016. At the time had a 2007 Toyota Tundra which I don't consider that large like other SUV's. We arrived about 10 or 10:30 and there were a lot of cars already. I think it's a tight fit, not much room or make it easy to open the doors. Have to take caution. My husband now has a 2019 Tundra, much larger and been going back and forth as to take the Tundra (which we prefer to travel in) or my Highlander.

 

[CamColt]

We parked a 2 month old car in the garage earlier this year. It was fine, but our DS's car was on 1 side of us. The other side had no issue though. I don't recall ever getting a ding in the garage when we have driven, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Good luck and enjoy the new car smell!

 

[auntlynne]

Leave the new car home. Get two one-way rentals and utilize their shuttle between port and rental office.

Also, you won’t pay the $17/day (or did it go up) parking that is for the length of cruise and arrival or departure day (I just know it will be more than 6 days’ worth). Let this offset the rental price.

It’s going to bug you the entire time until you get back to your car - it has already started.

I say this based on your stated concern, not to be mean.

 

[auntlynne]

And I walked around my car the last time I parked at the Disney Cruise Terminal parking garage.

But please do not take up 3 spaces - that invites people to key a car.