Rental Car/Dropping off at cruise first?

[IBLarsen]

If we rent a car from Disney Resorts to be returned same day at Port Canaveral - Can my husband drop the kids and I along with luggage at the cruise area first before returning car? First cruise and I have no clue if cars can drop off close enough to carry luggage and case of water to where we need to check in?

 

[LSUfan4444]

Yes he can. To me it seemed like a waste of time but it can be done.

When heading to the ship on our last cruise we used Alamo, had a 10:30 - 10:45 PAT. Turned in our keys, were the first family on the bus, were joined by two other families and were heading to the ship within minutes.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If we rent a car from Disney Resorts to be returned same day at Port Canaveral - Can my husband drop the kids and I along with luggage at the cruise area first before returning car? First cruise and I have no clue if cars can drop off close enough to carry luggage and case of water to where we need to check in?

Yes. Most car rental companies have shuttles to the port. And it's much easier/quicker for a single person without bags to get on a shuttle than a whole family with bags.

Drop off is right in front of the terminal.

A long shot of the terminal - yellow dots ending in yellow arrow where drop off is:


And a (not so good) picture of the doors there:

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I would imagine, Like a shuttle service he'd drop curbside and there are attendants right their taking your bags. That's how a service dropped us off. Maybe someone will come along and specify if personal vehicles use the same area.

 

[LSUfan4444]

it's much easier/quicker for a single person without bags to get on a shuttle than a whole family with bags.

How so?

The driver loads and unloads the bags and whether he's loading your families bags or another families bags you have to wait for the van to be loaded. If anything, driving to the port before you return the car takes extra time because it adds another step that isn't needed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How so?

The driver loads and unloads the bags and whether he's loading your families bags or another families bags you have to wait for the van to be loaded. If anything, driving to the port before you return the car takes extra time because it adds another step that isn't needed.

But, when loading the shuttle at the car rental place, if there's a family with bags waiting, and the shuttle only has room for 1 or 2 people, those people who already dropped off their bags at the port (and all extra people) will get on that shuttle, and not have to wait for the next one.

 

[LSUfan4444]

when loading the shuttle at the car rental place, if there's a family with bags waiting, and the shuttle only has room for 1 or 2 people, those people who already dropped off their bags at the port (and all extra people) will get on that shuttle, and not have to wait for the next one.

But if you didnt drive to the port before heading to the rental location you would be ahead of that family with bags waiting or at least be that family with bags waiting. By not driving to the port first you are saving 15-20 minutes without even trying.

Even if the shuttle you miss from the car rental place is full because you have your family and bags you're almost certainly going to get on an earlier (or at worst the same) shuttle you would get on if you were solo with no bags because of the extra time it took to go to/from the port.

 

[IBLarsen]

Thanks! Very helpful! I had no clue how close cars could drop off. Thanks for both perspectives about dropping off luggage and family vs all riding shuttle My mindset is generally that it's easiest not to lug our luggage and children around more than needed. Good to know it doesn't seem like a big deal either way though

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

My mindset is generally that it's easiest not to lug our luggage and children around more than needed.

This how we felt. LSUfan and Shmoo are both correct, overall it MIGHT not save you any time, but one way, my wife, my kids and my luggage were at the port, through security, checked in at the counter already, and waiting for me and when I got there I just went through security/check-in alone and then joined them, where as the other way, they (and the checked luggage) would have been on the shuttle with me, in the security line with me, in the check-in line with me. So for us, it was a win-win. They got to the terminal sooner (more exciting than a rental counter), and I got a little piece and quiet. Also, some people on here have reported large delays at some rental places. I wasn't delayed much by dropping off the car, but if I was, my family could have gotten on the ship when their boarding number was called, whereas if we were all together, we would all be delayed.

One thing though, @IBLarsen, you mention a case of water. That can not be with your checked bags, so whatever adult you drop off will have to get that case of water to the port, through security, through check-in, etc. Might not be an issue if you have a little dolly for it, but I thought I'd remind you of that.

 

[Bethany10]

They got to the terminal sooner (more exciting than a rental counter), and I got a little piece and quiet.

And that right there is why having DH drop us off at the port while he returns the rental car works best for our family. I've learned that not always taking the more direct route means we don't show up homicidal with each other at the check in desk. Win win for us and the CM who gets to deal with us.

 

[mmouse37]

Correct, any beverages brought onboard MUST be in your carry on bags, NOT checked luggage. It is easiest if beverages are in a rolling type carry on or duffel.

MJ

 

[jrabbit]

Make sure that the person driving / taking the shuttle has proper photo id when returning the the port. Having a copy of the Port Arrival Form would be a good thing as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

Turned in our keys, were the first family on the bus, were joined by two other families and were heading to the ship within minutes.

Lucky. When we all stayed together we couldn't get on the bus for awhile because of all the gigantic families with GIGANTIC bags (it was South American tourist-time and they seriously had the largest bags I've ever seen, which I think is because of all the shopping they did in the States) filling up the shuttles before us.

Not to mention having to tip based on all the bags we had brought vs just for the ride when DH went on his own with no bags.

But if you didnt drive to the port before heading to the rental location you would be ahead of that family with bags waiting or at least be that family with bags waiting. By

But behind yet another group of many with a ton of bags. Getting the one person, no bags, on is easier.

 

[oakleycat]

We are in the get there early, stick together camp. We have never had a problem dropping off the car quickly and getting on the first shuttle and are usually at the terminal around 10. My kids love the whole riding the shuttle and tipping the driver thing. That said, I can definitely see the advantage of dropping off the family and handling the car/shuttle in peace!

 

[LSUfan4444]

Lucky. When we all stayed together we couldn't get on the bus for awhile because of all the gigantic families with GIGANTIC bags (it was South American tourist-time and they seriously had the largest bags I've ever seen, which I think is because of all the shopping they did in the States) filling up the shuttles before us.

I think that might be more of you being unlucky rather than me being lucky. Like I mentioned though, having the earlier PAT would be key here in regards to saving time.

Not to mention having to tip based on all the bags we had brought vs just for the ride when DH went on his own with no bags.

Yes, tipping is the one downfall. But, the tipping to me is for the convenience of not having to drive to the port and add the extra time.

Whether you drive to the port or to the rental care area once you pull your bags out of the car you don't have to touch them again until they are in your room. The car rental employee puts them on the shuttle, off the shuttle then the sky caps at the terminal take it from there.

 

[Billinaz]

We never did this. We had 5 people, each with a full size hard side bag, and a carry on hard side bag. The Avis and Budget shuttles are larger now than they used to be and fit all the bags and the people. My vacation starts when I get to the terminal and the last thing I want to do it do that twice.