Pre & Post Cruise Transportation and Hotels

[ktkerber]

So we have decided at least for the pre cruise portion of our trip we DO NOT want to use DCL transfers. We want more control over what time we make it to the port. We are flying into MCO the night before and cruising out of Port Canaveral. Does it make more sense to stay at a MCO area hotel and book a shuttle or car service to the port or to stay in a Port Canaveral area hotel but I'm guessing we would a shuttle or car service to get to the Port Canaveral hotel? I'm sorry I don't know the distances to know whether the hotels would offer free shuttles from the airport or to the port. This is our first cruise out of this port. We normally sail out of Ft Lauderdale or Miami. Which of these scenarios would be the most cost effective? Also we don't need an expensive fancy hotel just something clean, very important. Our flight lands at 8pm so we don't even need much in the way of amenities.

After the cruise we will going to Disney PO-Riverside so we will only need to find transportation to PO. Right now we do have DCL transfers booked, but I am open to any suggestions that will be cheaper. There are 4 of us so I am thinking we should be able to get there cheaper than $140.00 through someone else. I am open to suggestions for shuttles or car service.

TIA I know this is alot of questions!!!

 

[lanejudy]

Well, there are pros and cons to various scenarios. Port Canaveral is about an hour from MCO. Depending on what time you arrive at MCO the day prior, you might want to find your way to the port area. There *might* be a couple of hotels in Cocoa Beach with shuttles to MCO, but I'm not sure. Your best bet is a rental car. Return it the next morning and take the rental shuttle to port (you can even drop passengers and luggage off first, then return the car). If you are arriving the evening prior, I'd just stay at either the MCO Hyatt or another MCO area hotel, then use a car service the next day to port.

Post-cruise, your least expensive option is a rental, but it won't be nearly as convenient as the DCL transfers. So, pros and cons, you'll have to decide which is the best option for your family.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Figee17]

Its definitely a personal choice, but here's our experience from earlier this month -
We flew into MCO the night before the cruise and took the shuttle to the Homewood Suites by the airport. We had a nice, clean, renovated room with a separate living area with kitchenette and a yummy breakfast the next morning. We had booked Happy Limo for a Lincoln Town Car ride to port. They were *excellent*! I was very impressed by their communication, especially. The driver called and texted to confirm and then that morning to say he was in the area early if we wanted to be picked up early to let him know. Bonus was that he showed up in a limo (for the same price), which my son thought was the coolest thing ever!
So, while I loved the way we did it, I think there are a lot of ways to make it work well.
By the way, we used DCL transfer on the way back to the airport and it was super easy.

 

[andrencau]

Well, there are pros and cons to various scenarios. Port Canaveral is about an hour from MCO. Depending on what time you arrive at MCO the day prior, you might want to find your way to the port area. There *might* be a couple of hotels in Cocoa Beach with shuttles to MCO, but I'm not sure. Your best bet is a rental car. Return it the next morning and take the rental shuttle to port (you can even drop passengers and luggage off first, then return the car). If you are arriving the evening prior, I'd just stay at either the MCO Hyatt or another MCO area hotel, then use a car service the next day to port.

Post-cruise, your least expensive option is a rental, but it won't be nearly as convenient as the DCL transfers. So, pros and cons, you'll have to decide which is the best option for your family.
Enjoy your cruise!

Haven't heard of using options both ways. What is the benefit of DCL returning to MCO over rental or car service

 

[Eeyorebabies]

We are staying in Country Inn and Suites the night before the cruise. It's about 3 miles to the port. They offer a shuttle service from the hotel to the port, you just have to request it at check in so they can put you on the list. Then after the cruise you can either take a shuttle to the rental car places and rent a car or you could sign up for a DCL transfer to PO.
We did DCL transfers last time, this time we are driving our own vehicle, so we won't be using any shuttle services again. While DCL transfers to the cruise are convenient, there is a lot of waiting. Plus you get to the port pretty late if staying at a WDW resort. So if you want to arrive later to beat the rush, then it would be fine for you. If you want to arrive early, then I suggest getting either a rental car to get to the port, or stay local and take a hotel shuttle. I believe the shuttles from our hotel is $7 per person per way.

 

[lanejudy]

Haven't heard of using options both ways. What is the benefit of DCL returning to MCO over rental or car service

From Port Canaveral back to MCO using DCL transfers? No benefit if you are staying at POR post-cruise. If you are flying out of MCO that day, you might qualify for Onboard Airline Check-in, which will take your bags from your stateroom directly though and you'll see them again at your home airport. But only on qualifying carriers.

From Port Canaveral to WDW using DCL transfers...for me I guess just the convenience of not having to deal with a rental pick-up near the port. But many people do that so it can't be to terribly bad an experience. There is no luggage service post-cruise to WDW.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[genki3]

For my first DCL cruise last April, I also stayed at Homewood Suites by the airport pre-cruise. They have a free shuttle service between MCO and the hotel so it was very convenient for me. I didn't want the hassle of renting a car since I was only staying one night before the cruise. Also the free breakfast was a nice perk, a convenient way to start my embarkation day.

From Homewood Suites to the Port, I used Cortrans Shuttle Service. It was $40 roundtrip per person and my toddler was free and they also provided a carseat for her free of charge. Drivers were friendly and it was a relaxing 55 min ride. I was inside the terminal by 11:15a. If you don't want to deal with car rental returns, I highly recommend this shuttle service. You can also do one way $20pp. I'm not sure if Cortrans takes passengers to WDW hotels though.

 

[Jessicandice]

This is great information. Thanks everyone.

 

[stabafam]

We flew into MCO 2 nights before our cruise this past February, and stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Cocoa Beach. They offer a Fly, Snooze and Cruise package that included transfers from MCO to the hotel, and then shuttle to the port day of cruise. The company they contract with for the shuttles is Travelynx. Drivers were very nice, on time, helped with luggage, and provided 2 car seats for our children. http://www.cocoabeachportcanaveralhotel.com/orlando_cocoa_beach_hotel_shuttle.shtml

The hotel was centrally located near restaurants, drug stores, Ron Jon's Surf Shop, etc and across the street from the beach. Front desk staff was helpful, buffet breakfast included.

We booked a post-night stay as well, so rather than shuttle us back to the airport directly from the cruise, they took us back to the hotel for our stay, and then picked us up next day for the return to MCO. Was SOOOOO nice not having to worry about "how we would get there" after we flew in. Plus, I liked the idea of being closer to the port on cruise day. We were dropped off at the port before it opened (ahead of the Disney buses), and after a short wait, we were one of the first groups through the terminal and on the ship.

Will definitely stay there again for any future cruises of of PC...now, we just need to find something similar for our 2016 cruise out of Miami!!

 

[NEGeekymama]

Since we're travelling with a two year old, we wanted to reduce as much stress as possible. Our cruise is August 28-31. If we booked the ground transportation through DCL it would be $210 total round trip, and involve a 5:44 or 6:30am flight out of Omaha, and either too little or too much time the day we would have to fly out.

So instead we're flying in August 27, and flying out September 1. The airfare costs the same.

Rent a one way car through Budget (Discount code: Y937800) to pick up at MCO the evening of August 27 and drop off at PC the morning of August 28 for $97

Got an Express Deal through Priceline for the Sheraton Four Points in Cocoa Beach for the night of August 27 for $68

Hotel at International Palms Resort Cocoa Beach (and the awesome bunkbed room!) the night of August 31 for $102 (Sunshine Special directly on their website, saved 34%)

One way car rental on September 1 for $56 (Budget, same discount code)

Total cost: $323. Sure it's more than the DCL shuttle, but that gets us two extra nights in Florida and the peace of mind that we'll have time to enjoy our vacation instead of spending it rushing around or sitting in an airport for hours on end with a toddler.

 

[emilyann415]

I have gotten to the port almost every conceivable way.....First time we took a one way rental car to the port which is the least expensive way we've done it. It way fine no real problems at all just more time consuming....especially coming back. We waited at Hertz for what seemed like hours to get a car and get back to Disney as we stayed at AKL for a few days after. Next we took a limo service which was tons of fun for the kids and very convenient. He was right on time for pick up but we ended up coming off the ship almost an hour earlier than we had thought we would and had to wait for him to pick us up. We've also done Disney transfers to and from the port. This is the most expensive way for us and BY FAR the most convenient. We stayed at the Hyatt MCO the night before, were on the first bus to the port, got right in the first boarding groups, after the cruise, they took our luggage the night before and didn't see it until we safely landed back home! It was awesome. We typically use this method now if we can. I haven't yet done the Disney hotel to the port and probably won't ever just because it's too hard to get to the port in a timely manner and I have no control what time I arrive there.