Renting a car versus DCL shuttle service

[Dreamtrip*]

We (family of 4) are going to be flying into MCO on a Sunday morning in April for our cruise on the Magic. Our flight arrives @ 9:20 am and we are scheduled to embark @ 12:30 at Port Canaveral. I have done research on both renting a car and taking various shuttles. If we did take the shuttle, I would prefer the DCL shuttle because it deals with our luggage, which I find to be a BIG plus. However, renting a car is the cheaper option by more than half. My question is this...has anyone on this board done both of the above? If so, could you share your preference? I don't mind spending some extra $ on the shuttle, however, if some car renters could tell me how EASY it was for them, I may go that route.
Thanks in advance for the help. I love how helpful everyone on this forum is!

 

[mokiemokiemokie]

I'm hoping for the same info. I'm wondering if we should fly in the night before in order to get on the boat as early as possible.

 

[rella's fan]

Couldn't have been easier to rent a car. Just me and my daughter who was 4 at the time - no problems. We dropped the car off at the rental place and they shuttled us to the ship

 

[mmouse37]

We have done both several times. Just to clarify...you PAT is 12:30, not your scheduled boarding time. Boarding begins at about 11:15 - 11:30 normally. You will board by the boarding number assigned to you at check in. They call boarding numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. until all the numbers are called or they call for open boarding which means anyone can board at that time regardless of their boarding number. That usually happens about 12:30 or so.

Ok, on to cars. Yes, renting a car is very easy. You can either rent 2 one-way rentals where you drop off the car the morning of the cruise and hop the car rental shuttle back to the port or you can rent for the while time where you would then pay for parking at the port as well as the rental fee. We usually do 2 one-way rentals. The rental agencies in the area are: Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty/Dollar, and Enterprise/National/Alamo.

What we do is drop everyone and luggage off at the port in the morning and then drive the rental to the office and hope the rental back to port. It is much easier for one person with no luggage to fit on the shuttle then a whole family with luggage to try and get on the shuttle.

On the return there will be shuttle buses to take you back to the rental office to pick up a car. If they are not there when you exit the ship there will be a place to wait for your agency bus to arrive.

Hope this helps. You can also find discount codes for many rental agencies at www.mousesavers.com under transportation tab

MJ

 

[Billinaz]

We always rent a car. Up until this year all of us (family of 5 ) were on the trip. Now its just 2 of us.

We always rented a minivan at MCO (or at the Budget in WDW) and dropped it off at the location near the port and took their shuttle to the port. They have them available when you get off the ship as well.

I liked it better this way because it was much less expensive (we usually got the minivan for about $100) and we had the ability to stop where we wanted to. Since we always flew in the day before the cruise, having the car made it easy for us to stop for any supplies and get something to eat.

I never did that drop off at the port then go back to the rental car agency. It seems like a waste of time. We never had a problem with 5 people and our 5 big hardside bags and carry on bags.

We usually use Budget or Avis (using discount codes you can find at flyertalk or mousesavers or other sites)

This year we are using Avis and the car is only $45.

The earlier you reserve the rental the less it will cost.

 

[Billinaz]

I'm hoping for the same info. I'm wondering if we should fly in the night before in order to get on the boat as early as possible.

Always get there the day before the cruise. Much less stress!

Earlier if the weather in your area is forecast to be bad.

 

[Dreamtrip*]

Okay, based on these comments, I think I will stick with the rental car. It really is the cheapest option. It would be under $100 round trip versus $270 for DCL shuttle.
I wish we were coming in the night before, but it just wasn't feasible. We booked the trip too late and the flights were tough to come by. I'm hoping with a 9:30 arrival time at MCO, it won't be too bad though.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, based on these comments, I think I will stick with the rental car. It really is the cheapest option. It would be under $100 round trip versus $270 for DCL shuttle.

Are you turning in the car and getting a new one to return? Have you also factored in parking at the port, if not?

 

[Billinaz]

No, you have until 4PM or so and you are only about 45 minutes away.

 

[diznymom]

We have not rented a car. However, DH drives a lot for his job (all over Texas). He refuses to drive while on vacation. We took a limo service for our first cruise (we didn't like it). We now only take DCL transport w/a "Participating Airline" for onboard check-in and luggage service......extremely easy.

 

[Dreamtrip*]

Are you turning in the car and getting a new one to return? Have you also factored in parking at the port, if not?

No, we will just take the shuttle from the car rental place. Silly to pay for parking. We'll just have to wait a little extra time to get on the ship.

 

[BrerNashville]

So your all in price on two one way rentals is $100? That sounds really cheap, so good for you! (include all the annoying extras the rental car companies tack on between your "hook" price and final estimated total?) Also, the DCL transfers are $35 per person per leg, so I'm not sure how you are coming up with $270? I take it you are a family of 4?

If you are trying to make a close connection on debarkation, I'd be a little careful with the rental car option -- sometimes you have to wait a while to get the shuttle, though you can do what the pp said upon debarkation as well -- have everyone stay with luggage outside the terminal, while one person goes to get the car. Though that too takes some extra time. Curious as to people's experience on timing from exiting customs to getting on the road back to MCO/parks/wherever with the rental car.

 

[mokiemokiemokie]

Okay, based on these comments, I think I will stick with the rental car. It really is the cheapest option. It would be under $100 round trip versus $270 for DCL shuttle.
I wish we were coming in the night before, but it just wasn't feasible. We booked the trip too late and the flights were tough to come by. I'm hoping with a 9:30 arrival time at MCO, it won't be too bad though.

What rental company are you looking at (if you don't mind sharing)? I'm not finding a rental that inexpensive.

 

[scootch]

The only issue becomes this. With DCL bus, you are guaranteed to make the ship on time. If they would have bus trouble, they will rectify the problem immediately. With a rental car or car service, if something happens, you take a chance of missing the ship. We rented a limo once from Happy Limo from WDW. We got a flat tire and sat dangerously on the side of the road waiting for another ride. We even asked them to call us a taxi. 2+ hours later, a new limo shows up. The stress of wondering if we would make it to port ruined our first day. Thus, we are now either at port the night before, or take Disney transfers.

 

[sullins5]

We have done both several times.

Ok, on to cars. Yes, renting a car is very easy. You can either rent 2 one-way rentals where you drop off the car the morning of the cruise and hop the car rental shuttle back to the port you can rent for the while time where you would then pay for parking at the port as well as the rental fee. We usually do 2 one-way rentals.

What we do is drop everyone and luggage off at the port in the morning and then drive the rental to the office and hope the rental back to port. It is much easier for one person with no luggage to fit on the shuttle then a whole family with luggage to try and get on the shuttle.

On the return there will be shuttle buses to take you back to the rental office to pick up a car. If they are not there when you exit the ship there will be a place to wait for your agency bus to arrive.

MJ

Agree wholeheartedly with MJ!
We have rented large vans once at $77 and once at $80 and loved both! Booked through a warehouse club both times and was very pleased. Hubs drops us off at port, then heads to drop off van, gets back to port on the shuttle and then checks himself in with proper ID. The only negative is you might have to wait a time or two for the shuttle to bring you back from the car rental spot, depending on how many are waiting to catch the shuttle. But this way, it's only one person waiting for shuttle , and those at the port already? They have the wonderful waiting area...Plus, you're so stinkin' excited, who really minds anyway? Then on return, we all get off, grab our luggage and all get on the shuttle back to car rental place. Always easypeasy!

 

[lanejudy]

Okay, based on these comments, I think I will stick with the rental car. It really is the cheapest option. It would be under $100 round trip versus $270 for DCL shuttle.

I agree car rental is usually the cheapest option, and under $100 round trip is quite a deal! Does that include taxes? Also gas and tolls both ways? Make sure it's a large enough vehicle to include all your luggage as well as passengers. We've rented for around $50 one-way, but we only had 3 of us so could use part of the back seat for bags; we never would have fit 4 passengers plus luggage without going up a grade in car rental.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Sleepyluke]

I have not done the rental car, but to piggy back, in this case I would be more concerned about the time rather than the money. Plane lands 9:30 so pushing 10:30-10:45 getting luggage to the shuttle to the rental car, 30 minutes there minimum to move again them 45 minutes to terminal, then unload someone goes back to the rental car place to drop off and everyone is waiting in the terminal. Yes, most of your family is in the terminal, but you could easily be pushing 2:30-3 PM if everything works out for the best case, where as on the DCL bus, you get on as soon as you get off the plane, your luggage gets pulled from the baggage claim, taken to the ship and shows up in your room.

Or I could be way off, you save money, have time to stop and shop, and still make it to the port in plenty of time, but I have not been on time in an airport lately!

I am all about saving money, but at least for us, and with kids (I am assuming kids and not other adults) this adds to enough chaos on the beginning of vacation.

At least for me, in this instance, I would spend the money for the piece of mind and go DCL. You get cartoons included so that makes it worth it too right?!

 

[bumbershoot]

No, we will just take the shuttle from the car rental place. Silly to pay for parking.

Check the total prices. (this might not be for you, but for others doing it) It's possible that to rent for the whole time and pay for parking will end up being cheaper than two separate rentals. Always check!


The only thing that the transfer does for you is eliminate the need for you to walk your bags down to your car. That's it. If you have a car, you bring the bags to your car then you drive, and you pull up to the port and you have the porters get your checked bags, and you see the bags in your room. Then you take the car to the rental place and take the shuttle back, with only carryons (though if you're OK with it, leave carryons with the rest of the party at the port and have just ONE adult take the car back).

No matter what, the only thing you're eliminating with the transfer is a bit of a wait for shuttles and taking bags to the car.

 

[SetSail16]

We rented a limo and saved a lot vs. taking the Disney Ground Transfer. Plus, no one had to worry about driving in an unfamiliar area, we had room to spread out and relax on the drive from the resort, AND didn't have to worry about paying for parking a rental car or returning a rental car. So, so easy and nice. And same thing for the ride from the ship to the airport... no worries for us but a nice ride.

Added bonus: we were able to stop at a grocery store on the way to pick up wine to bring on board the DCL

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I rented a car with AVIS to the terminal and they had a shuttle that went to the cruise port. It costs me $17.00...that's it.