Port Canaveral terminal parking

[mikewdw]

anyone park at terminal for 7 days before? any tips or info I need to know? good or bad experiences? we are planning on WDW a couple days before and will leave from WDW first thing that morning so trying figure out parking. have stayed at hotel the night before the other times and left car there.
any help appreciated
mikewdw

 

[PrincessShmoo]

anyone park at terminal for 7 days before? any tips or info I need to know? good or bad experiences? we are planning on WDW a couple days before and will leave from WDW first thing that morning so trying figure out parking. have stayed at hotel the night before the other times and left car there.
any help appreciated
mikewdw

About that "first thing in the morning" part - the port doesn't open for new cruisers until 10:30 (parking may open around 10:15), so I'd suggest waiting until at least 9:30 to head out for the port.

 

[Sytrace]

We park at the port for all cruises (we live 45 minutes away though) And park in the preferred lot for $20.00 more. The total works out to be $140.00.

 

[Expatriat]

Although the "preferred parking" proximity to the terminal is great, I prefer the parking garage because I don't like my car to bake in the hot Florida sun for a week.

 

[cwkehoe]

We love parking at the terminal. We always park in the parking deck because it keeps the hot sun off our car for 7 days!

 

[wjs3]

Park in garage and make sure that all interior lights, etc. are off in your car before you walk away from it because you're so excited. so that you don't come back to a dead battery a week late. That happened to...um...a friend of mine one time .

You will be directed to pull into baggage drop area when you arrive at port. You will drop bags. Then you have a choice--either you can split up and have family go get in line for check in while you go park the car (this is what we do to save a few minutes in check in line) OR you all can stay together and park as a family and then walk across to terminal as a family.

Once you park you have another choice--you can cross at ground level or on the 3rd floor from the garage. I recommend the 3rd floor walkway. There is a security check to get you into the secure area at either level and the ground level can have a long queue form people being dropped off/transferred from non Disney services while the 3rd floor is usually less crowded and quicker to get through.

If you split up as we do, also make sure that the car parker keeps his/her passport and knows cabin number to get through that 3rd floor checkpoint!

Good luck

WJS3

 

[Quellman]

You pay before you enter the parking lot.
I like to park on the side not facing the ship because it seems to me there is less sea spray on the car when you come back.
If it matters to you, you can always park on a higher deck away from other cars or next to another car that is off loading. Remember there will be cars pulling in and out at least 2x before you return (Dream sailings). I have never personally had any damage to my vehicle and we usually park deck 3 or 4.

 

[Sytrace]

Although the "preferred parking" proximity to the terminal is great, I prefer the parking garage because I don't like my car to bake in the hot Florida sun for a week.

I live in Orlando....my car bakes in the sun everyday

 

[truck1]

I live in Orlando....my car bakes in the sun everyday

Somethings you just get used to.

 

[Expatriat]

I live in Orlando....my car bakes in the sun everyday

I am a central Floridian also. I NEVER leave my car out in the hot sun when it can be avoided. I think the parking garage is wonderful.

 

[Sytrace]

I am a central Floridian also. I NEVER leave my car out in the hot sun when it can be avoided. I think the parking garage is wonderful.

I don't know how to respond to this. I am not telling the OP to park in preferred and not in the garage, I simply answered the question that was asked.
Have a nice evening and stay cool in our weird CFL weather.

 

[starrydominique]

We arrived by 9:30AM and were able to get into garage back in January. We parked on the 3rdstory and our bags were taken from there. We've done it twice now and car was safe and sound.

 

[NCConch]

Just an FYI... Parking is free in the parking deck for vans that have been modified for wheelchair transport. The wheelchair and user have to be present. You have to let the attendant know before you go through the gate and sign a log.

 

[Expatriat]

I don't know how to respond to this. I am not telling the OP to park in preferred and not in the garage, I simply answered the question that was asked.
Have a nice evening and stay cool in our weird CFL weather.

Sorry - I did not say you told the OP to park in preferred. My response to your mention of preferred parking was that it's great for the proximity but that I prefer the parking garage to keep my car out of the hot sun. You said you live in Orlando and your car bakes in the sun every day. I only pointed out that I am also a central Floridian and never leave my car in the hot sun "when it can be avoided." The parking garage is a way to avoid it, which is why I love it. That's all. Shorter distance for a bit more money, or a cleaner/cooler car. We all have our preferences. Have a great week!

 

[Ratpack]

We have a 3 day cruise coming in June, what are the costs for parking at the terminal? I assume the price mentioned earlier is for the longer trips?

 

[CamColt]

We have a 3 day cruise coming in June, what are the costs for parking at the terminal? I assume the price mentioned earlier is for the longer trips?

You can find parking fees for all different length cruises here. http://www.portcanaveral.com/Cruise/Directions-Parking

 

[Quellman]

Sorry - I did not say you told the OP to park in preferred. My response to your mention of preferred parking was that it's great for the proximity but that I prefer the parking garage to keep my car out of the hot sun. You said you live in Orlando and your car bakes in the sun every day. I only pointed out that I am also a central Floridian and never leave my car in the hot sun "when it can be avoided." The parking garage is a way to avoid it, which is why I love it. That's all. Shorter distance for a bit more money, or a cleaner/cooler car. We all have our preferences. Have a great week!

Or you know, the rain. Why would I pay to have it potentially rain on me when I am packing my car up again upon return is beyond me?

 

[amwhitaker]

We used Park n Cruise and they were awesome and saved a lot of money!

 

[Capt_BJ]

We used Park n Cruise and they were awesome and saved a lot of money!

correct, there are two off site parking places within 10 minutes of the pier where you can park for approx. 1/2 what the port charges. You need to pay in advance via their website to get the best price and price fluctuates .... but ALWAYS better $ than parking at the port. Neither of these is covered however

http://parkcruise.com/ (I generally use his one)
http://parkportcanaveral.com/

Note that you can pre-pay for the port parking on their web site also ... this provides no discount but some enjoy paying this up front and have one less thing to worry about. IMO they offer this because if you pre-pay you are not tempted by signs as you approach the port offering parking for WAY less $ .... but that just my opinion

 

[Ratpack]

I saw the prepay option on the port website and I like that. One less thing to worry about. No worries for us being tempted by the offsite parking signs, when I leave the boat I want to get in my car and go, not a shuttle to my car.

If I prepay, do you know if it is refundable in case something happens and we cancel the cruise?