Space Center, Hotels, HELP ME PLAN!

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

So for the first time in well...forever...We are not going to the parks prior to our cruise. DS wants to see space ships and DH wants to do something that none of us have done before. Adventure awaits and planning become different-ish... <- This emoji is the perfect representation of me trying to pull this together right now!!! (For the record, I do have a TA and she is awesome. I already have these questions out to her as well...)

If you have done the space center then cruise....Please help me plan!

What hotel did you stay at and how did you book it? (TA, online site, through the hotel site)
Where did you find discounts for the hotel?

Is it better to get your tickets for the space center online or at the center? Did you have a promo code? Where did you find that?

How did you get to the hotel? Am I looking for Port Canaveral or Cocoa Beach? Did the hotel have transportation from MCO? How did you get to the space center? Are there car services you recommend?

Food...What is around the hotels? Any favorites? Why are they your favorites...Please make these kid friendly!


Thank you for all of your help.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For convenience to KSC, stay in Cocoa Beach. It is close by and somewhat nicer than the hotels right by the port, which are also right by KSC. Very few of these hotels have transport from MCO, but you can hire shuttles. A rental car is actually the best bet -- get something for MCO to your hotel, and drop off at Port Canaveral and take their shuttle to the port to embark.

Buy the tickets online. You will save some $$.

 

[mmouse37]

The space center is closer to the Port than to MCO. I always find renting a car in Florida the easiest option. You could book a rental from the Port area and then drop off at MCO before your flight. That way you have transportation whenever you need it. As far as hotels I usually book direct (but do my research through Hotels.com or Expedia (then check the hotel directly).

Rental agencies that are in both Cocoa Beach and MCO are:

Avis
Budget
Enterprise
Dollar/Thrifty
Hertz
Payless

They all have shuttles from the ship to their office. You would need to book a one way rental from port area to MCO.

You can check www.mousesavers.com for some car rental discount codes.

MJ

 

[beachdrmn]

For food I would recommend Grills Seafood Deck and Tikibar. You can sit on the deck and watch the cruise ships go by. We have been twice before previous cruises and are already planning to go again before our cruise next May. My extremely picky DS was 8 on our last visit and we got him to try their lion fish and he still talks about it! Fingers crosses they have it again in May. We have also eaten breakfast there and it is really good too.

As for hotel we have stayed at the Holiday Inn Vacation Clubs the last couple times because of their water park but we are staying at the Residnce Inn by Marriott Cape Canaveral this time to save a little $. Both are a 5 minute drive to the port and both are easy access to KSC. We always rent a car so we have more freedom/flexibility.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

The space center is closer to the Port than to MCO. I always find renting a car in Florida the easiest option. You could book a rental from the Port area and then drop off at MCO before your flight. That way you have transportation whenever you need it. As far as hotels I usually book direct (but do my research through Hotels.com or Expedia (then check the hotel directly).

Rental agencies that are in both Cocoa Beach and MCO are:

Avis
Budget
Enterprise
Dollar/Thrifty
Hertz
Payless

They all have shuttles from the ship to their office. You would need to book a one way rental from port area to MCO.

You can check www.mousesavers.com for some car rental discount codes.

MJ

Thank you. We have AAA too, so we might find some discounts there. Never thought about renting a car, but DS is still in a car seat...will have to check those options.

For food I would recommend Grills Seafood Deck and Tikibar. You can sit on the deck and watch the cruise ships go by. We have been twice before previous cruises and are already planning to go again before our cruise next May. My extremely picky DS was 8 on our last visit and we got him to try their lion fish and he still talks about it! Fingers crosses they have it again in May. We have also eaten breakfast there and it is really good too.

As for hotel we have stayed at the Holiday Inn Vacation Clubs the last couple times because of their water park but we are staying at the Residnce Inn by Marriott Cape Canaveral this time to save a little $. Both are a 5 minute drive to the port and both are easy access to KSC. We always rent a car so we have more freedom/flexibility.

Will need to check out the Holiday Inn....the water park might be a cool option.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

For convenience to KSC, stay in Cocoa Beach. It is close by and somewhat nicer than the hotels right by the port, which are also right by KSC. Very few of these hotels have transport from MCO, but you can hire shuttles. A rental car is actually the best bet -- get something for MCO to your hotel, and drop off at Port Canaveral and take their shuttle to the port to embark.

Buy the tickets online. You will save some $$.

Thank you for the heads up on the ticket prices...Sounds like Cocoa Beach is the place to stay. Will have to take a look at cars and car seats. We don't want to bring ours from home, but DS is still too small to NOT be in a carseat...

 

[because]

Some of the hotels in the port area have KSC packages you can stay on. It saves a few dollars, not much on your tickets, so may or may not be worth it. We are also doing KSC before our next cruise and we are booked at the Hilton Cocoa Beach.

 

[bumbershoot]

Will have to take a look at cars and car seats. We don't want to bring ours from home, but DS is still too small to NOT be in a carseat...

Im on mobile and can't see if you have your boy's age in you're signature. How old is he? Is he big enough for a booster at all? If so the bubblebum booster seat is awesome.

 

[twoprincesses12]

We use a car service from MCO to Port Canaveral and stay Cocoa Beach area. We have never rented a car and the last time found Uber was the most efficient option for getting around, although the hotels we have stayed at offer shuttles to port for a nominal fee. On our last visit we used a Happy Limo. They waited for us to drop off our luggage and he took us back to the Space Center for an additional $35. We had no problem getting an Uber back to Cocoa Beach when we were done and with minimal wait. We were there on a launch day, very busy. If you want to do a formal tour at the Space Center, you will need a full day, and still not see everything you want. We ordered an annual pass for my husband and purchased tour, amenities using his discount. We presume we will be back within a year and it has already paid for itself. I did notice that there is ticket savings if you purchase online.

We were a short walk to the beach and walked down after dark to see the rocket fly overhead.

This may not be the most cost effective way but it is the most time effective way for us to travel.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Some of the hotels in the port area have KSC packages you can stay on. It saves a few dollars, not much on your tickets, so may or may not be worth it. We are also doing KSC before our next cruise and we are booked at the Hilton Cocoa Beach.

I'll take a look at the Hilton! I've seen that some have packages...will have to run the numbers and see if it is worth it.

Im on mobile and can't see if you have your boy's age in you're signature. How old is he? Is he big enough for a booster at all? If so the bubblebum booster seat is awesome.

He will be 6 at the time of travel. Will check booster heights. Didn't think of that...and will look at bubble bum!

We use a car service from MCO to Port Canaveral and stay Cocoa Beach area. We have never rented a car and the last time found Uber was the most efficient option for getting around, although the hotels we have stayed at offer shuttles to port for a nominal fee. On our last visit we used a Happy Limo. They waited for us to drop off our luggage and he took us back to the Space Center for an additional $35. We had no problem getting an Uber back to Cocoa Beach when we were done and with minimal wait. We were there on a launch day, very busy. If you want to do a formal tour at the Space Center, you will need a full day, and still not see everything you want. We ordered an annual pass for my husband and purchased tour, amenities using his discount. We presume we will be back within a year and it has already paid for itself. I did notice that there is ticket savings if you purchase online.

We were a short walk to the beach and walked down after dark to see the rocket fly overhead.

This may not be the most cost effective way but it is the most time effective way for us to travel.

Thank you for your travel plans. I think with Uber we will still need a seat for DS....right?


Off to look at height requirements...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

FWIW, at age 6, Florida law does not require a booster. Obviously, what you are comfortable with may vary. A BubbleBum may be a good middle ground.

Florida requires boosters for 5 and younger.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

FWIW, at age 6, Florida law does not require a booster. Obviously, what you are comfortable with may vary. A BubbleBum may be a good middle ground.

Florida requires boosters for 5 and younger.

Wow! Really? I'll go with our state laws then... Thank you for the heads up...Not sure if I'm into bubble bum...Honest, not sure how we would blow it up (then again, I didn't look at the website too closely either)

 

[msmama]

Can't help with KSC, we did it as a day trip from WDW. But, about the car seat, I used a backless booster when we traveled at that age. They're not expensive at Target. You can carry them on the plane and they don't count against your luggage allotment.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Can't help with KSC, we did it as a day trip from WDW. But, about the car seat, I used a backless booster when we traveled at that age. They're not expensive at Target. You can carry them on the plane and they don't count against your luggage allotment.

I'm leaning this way. Especially because to rent a car is relatively cheap compared to limo or other car service (although for DS limo would be cool)