Returning a rental car to port

[DisneyCrazMom]

This is what we do. I drop hubby off at the port to check us in and I bring the car to budget. It has taken forever for me to get back to the port in the past, so I go to the gas station next door and they call me a taxi. They said this happens a lot and they are used to doing it. The taxi always arrives within 5 minutes, they are used to this as well. It cost me around 18 dollars and I'm the back to the port much quicker. Well worth it to me.

Do you think they will pick up at Budget or should I plan for him to go to the gas station next door? Just want to be prepared.

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[KingRichard]

Do you think they will pick up at Budget or should I plan for him to go to the gas station next door? Just want to be prepared.

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Yes they will pick you up there. Just have the phone number handy.

 

[KaylaM]

You have an extra twist to the challenge. For convenience (and if it's just the 2 of you) I'd do DCL transfers and make sure they know you'll need a bus with a lift. If you are arriving the day before, you can stay at the MCO Hyatt who will deal with your bags for you - you just go to the DCL desk at MCO when you're ready in the morning and the DCL bus will take you to the port - your bags will arrive at your stateroom later that afternoon. Several hotels in Cocoa Beach have shuttles to the port and presumably back again after the cruise. Look for ones with a "cruise package." However, usually the shuttle is a regular passenger van; depending on your DD's ability to transfer that could be a challenge - I would think a taxi might be an easier transfer for her and likely get you to the hotel quicker. If you are staying at WDW post-cruise, you could take DCL directly there and request a bus with a lift.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you so much for your information. We are arriving the day before (evening) our cruise leaves. I was thinking of trying to find a hotel in Port Carnaveral that has a shuttle to from airport, to from cruise port. Thought of taxi since they have accessible van taxis in Orlando. We are planning to stay a few days after the cruise to visit WDW. I also thought of just renting a car, bringing her large carseat and just leaving car at the port. Does anyone know how much it cost to leave a car at the cruise port?

In regards to MCO Hyatt, you mentioned in the morning you have to catch the bus to port from MCO? Do you mean we have to return to the airport that morning to catch the bus to the port? Just wanted to make sure I understood that right.

Thank you again!

Michele

 

[ktb2002]

Thank you so much for your information. We are arriving the day before (evening) our cruise leaves. I was thinking of trying to find a hotel in Port Carnaveral that has a shuttle to from airport, to from cruise port. Thought of taxi since they have accessible van taxis in Orlando. We are planning to stay a few days after the cruise to visit WDW. I also thought of just renting a car, bringing her large carseat and just leaving car at the port. Does anyone know how much it cost to leave a car at the cruise port?

In regards to MCO Hyatt, you mentioned in the morning you have to catch the bus to port from MCO? Do you mean we have to return to the airport that morning to catch the bus to the port? Just wanted to make sure I understood that right.

Thank you again!

Michele

The Hyatt at MCO is actually inside the airport. It is very convenient, and for only 2 people it is not too costly. They will come to your room the morning of the cruise and get your bags, you just need to go to the Disney counter to check in for the bus to cruise ship.

 

[mickey2000]

We are using Budget in May, I am seriously considering just calling a taxi to pick up my hubby from Budget once he drops us at the Port Terminal. And doing the same to get to Budget after the cruise...has anyone done this and does it work out to just use a taxi. Totally willing to spend the extra cash.

I did it both ways ! Very fast

 

[NC State]

We will rent a car in NC and drive down on Saturday and turn in our car that afternoon after we check into the hotel (Radisson). We're renting from Budget so we can walk back to the hotel. On Sunday we will take the hotel shuttle to the ship. When we return on Thursday Budget will pick us up when we leave the boat to pick a car to drive back home.

 

[KaylaM]

The Hyatt at MCO is actually inside the airport. It is very convenient, and for only 2 people it is not too costly. They will come to your room the morning of the cruise and get your bags, you just need to go to the Disney counter to check in for the bus to cruise ship.

Oh okay... I will look into that. Thank you so much for the information.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Last month we did our usual Budget rental from Orlando airport, staying at WDW the night before the cruise, and then returning the car to Budget at the port the morning of the cruise. DH dropped me and luggage at the terminal around 10:45 and then went to return the car. No new passengers were allowed to enter the terminal area until 11, so they were sending people to wait in the parking garage where the bridge to the terminal was (there was one DCL person there to check IDs before allowing people to cross the bridge). The problem with this was that such a line built up that by the time they started letting people go across the bridge to the terminal at 11 that it would have actually been much faster to just wait until 11 and then go in the ground-level way where there was no line.

The problem with Budget was that the shuttle driver at the Budget place told my DH they wouldn't be taking anyone to the terminal until at least 12 or 12:30 (the shuttles left Budget empty to go collect disembarking passengers only).

Has anyone else experienced this with Budget recently? If so, I guess I'll be calling a taxi.

 

[lanejudy]

Thank you so much for your information. We are arriving the day before (evening) our cruise leaves. I was thinking of trying to find a hotel in Port Carnaveral that has a shuttle to from airport, to from cruise port. Thought of taxi since they have accessible van taxis in Orlando. We are planning to stay a few days after the cruise to visit WDW. I also thought of just renting a car, bringing her large carseat and just leaving car at the port. Does anyone know how much it cost to leave a car at the cruise port?

When we were looking, I didn't find any port area hotels with their own shuttles to/from MCO, and the shuttles services were the regular van type, some towed a luggage trailer.

I would think a taxi from MCO to the Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area would be costly, plus you'd still have to deal with shuttle to the port in the morning.

Parking at the port is ~$15/day; there are off-site lots that might be less but I'm not sure what kind of shuttle is provided and wouldn't assume it has a lift. Plus cost of the rental while it's parked.

I think someone else answered about the MCO Hyatt being within the airport - very easy and convenient. And while a car rental might be less expensive, for just 2 of you I don't think the DCL transfers will be that much more and definitely more convenient for you. You'll be able to attend to your DD without worry about luggage and multiple transfers in-and-out of multiple vehicles and shuttles. Schedule round-trip: MCO - port - WDW!

Enjoy your vacation!