To Drive or Not To Drive...

[21stamps]

Travel Party- 1 adult. 1 child in a high back booster seat.

Here are the options that I'm considering-

OPTION 1 (with sub options)
Fly into MCO
ME to WDW
Now the plan gets a little tricky--
WDW to Port options
a. Rent a car one way.
b. Uber WDW to port.
(Car service is too pricy, DCL transfers arrive too late)
Same options apply from Port back to WDW.
Or--- fly in to MCO, rent car for 2 weeks. Park at port.
***With either of these options I have to ship a package to the port. And also ship a package to WDW resort - this one containing 'winter clothes'.

OR-

OPTION 2
Drive 14 hours in my own car. Not ship anything.
* We arrive the day after Thanksgiving- so splitting drive down in to 2 days is not an option. We could leave @ 5pm and check into a hotel for 3 hours sleep before going to WDW.

Thoughts on these different scenarios please!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Why do you need to ship anything? Is shipping clothing cheaper than the $25 or so checking a bag would be?

I would check the cost of renting a car from mco to canaveral. Just keeping it for your time at WDW.

Aha, I just noticed you're looking at that. It becomes a personal-for-your-family equation of value and what you feel is a hassle etc. knowing the dollar cost is the first part.

 

[21stamps]

Why do you need to ship anything? Is shipping clothing cheaper than the $25 or so checking a bag would be?

I would check the cost of renting a car from mco to canaveral. Just keeping it for your time at WDW.

Aha, I just noticed you're looking at that. It becomes a personal-for-your-family equation of value and what you feel is a hassle etc. knowing the dollar cost is the first part.

I have to ship the FE gifts to the port.
I am shipping winter clothes (uggs, jackets, sweaters, jeans, etc) to WDW.

Already will be maxed on luggage.

Car rental and port parking is @ $450.
Cost of car service round trip @ 300-350.
Rental car seems like a waste since will be parked at the port for a week, and parked at our resort the rest. Although we could use it for Disney Springs.
Car service isn't cost effective enough to choose over a rental car.

 

[nacho113]

Travel Party- 1 adult. 1 child in a high back booster seat.

Here are the options that I'm considering-

OPTION 1 (with sub options)
Fly into MCO
ME to WDW
Now the plan gets a little tricky--
WDW to Port options
a. Rent a car one way.
b. Uber WDW to port.
(Car service is too pricy, DCL transfers arrive too late)
Same options apply from Port back to WDW.
Or--- fly in to MCO, rent car for 2 weeks. Park at port.
***With either of these options I have to ship a package to the port. And also ship a package to WDW resort - this one containing 'winter clothes'.

OR-

OPTION 2
Drive 14 hours in my own car. Not ship anything.
* We arrive the day after Thanksgiving- so splitting drive down in to 2 days is not an option. We could leave @ 5pm and check into a hotel for 3 hours sleep before going to WDW.

Thoughts on these different scenarios please!!

Not sure of the dates you are looking at so I can't guesstimate rental car costs but since you are shipping winter clothes, I can only assume Nov-Feb???

I would probably try pricing out 2 one day one-way rentals. One from the Disney Car Care Center to Port Canaveral and one for the reverse trip. You can get a shuttle from your resort to the CCC and when you drop off the car at the Port, there is a shuttle that will take you to the ships (work it in reverse after the cruise)

We have visited Florida in just about every month and our winter attire is no more than a hoodie and jeans for those cold evenings in Nov, Dec, Jan. Daywear is still usually shorts and t-shirts but hey, we are from Canada so anything above zero degrees is wonderful for our winter visits.
We actually only had one winter where we saw any really cold temps overnight (below 32 Fahrenheit), think it was 2008 and they were worried about the orange crop.
Mostly we see lows in the 50-60 degree range and highs in the 70-80 degree range on our winter vacations

As far as the driving question goes, I'd pass on that option if it's just you and a child in a car seat. Just too much distraction/aggrevation to do that without a second adult in the vehicle for 14 hours IMHO

 

[21stamps]

Not sure of the dates you are looking at so I can't guesstimate rental car costs but since you are shipping winter clothes, I can only assume Nov-Feb???

I would probably try pricing out 2 one day one-way rentals. One from the Disney Car Care Center to Port Canaveral and one for the reverse trip. You can get a shuttle from your resort to the CCC and when you drop off the car at the Port, there is a shuttle that will take you to the ships (work it in reverse after the cruise)

We have visited Florida in just about every month and our winter attire is no more than a hoodie and jeans for those cold evenings in Nov, Dec, Jan. Daywear is still usually shorts and t-shirts but hey, we are from Canada so anything above zero degrees is wonderful for our winter visits.
We actually only had one winter where we saw any really cold temps overnight (below 32 Fahrenheit), think it was 2008 and they were worried about the orange crop.
Mostly we see lows in the 50-60 degree range and highs in the 70-80 degree range on our winter vacations

As far as the driving question goes, I'd pass on that option if it's just you and a child in a car seat. Just too much distraction/aggrevation to do that without a second adult in the vehicle for 14 hours IMHO

We will be arriving the day after Thanksgiving.- not worried about winter wear for that one day. But am worried about it the following week. Anything below 80 is cold to me lol.
Orlando can get pretty chilly during the winter months.. If they have a repeat of last year's heat wave- I won't complain! But I can't plan on that.

One way rentals are a little over $100 each way- including car seat fee. I know we'd be fine on the WDW to port part.. But the return trip is what worries me - I need to be back at our resort by 10am (planning on Ohana at 11am). That is a must do for kiddo- and is the only day that it can fit in.

Have you rented from the port to WDW? Are lines relatively easy? I've read mixed accounts on this- everywhere from getting a car right away, to having to wait over an hour once arrived at rental location.

 

[nacho113]

We will be arriving the day after Thanksgiving.- not worried about winter wear for that one day. But am worried about it the following week. Anything below 80 is cold to me lol.
Orlando can get pretty chilly during the winter months.. If they have a repeat of last year's heat wave- I won't complain! But I can't plan on that.

One way rentals are a little over $100 each way- including car seat fee. I know we'd be fine on the WDW to port part.. But the return trip is what worries me - I need to be back at our resort by 10am (planning on Ohana at 11am). That is a must do for kiddo- and is the only day that it can fit in.

Have you rented from the port to WDW? Are lines relatively easy? I've read mixed accounts on this- everywhere from getting a car right away, to having to wait over an hour once arrived at rental location.

We did the early walk-off from our weekend cruise a couple of years ago. We were leaving at 7:30-8:00am, through customs by 8:30. Hopped the shuttle to the Alamo office and had our vehicle by 9:00am. Headed straight out and arrived back at CBR around 10:30am.

Going to be pretty tight as to whether you will make that 11:00am ADR, it wouldn't take much to mess up your departure from the ship or any number of reasons along the way that could cause delays.

If you have the rental car for the whole trip, it's just a matter of heading to the parking garage after you get through customs so you stand a much better chance of making the ADR on time.

In the past we have found very reasonable rental prices for a 1 week rental, may actually be cheaper than 2 one way rentals (even with having to pay parking at the Port).
Why not try pricing out the rental for a round trip from Car Care Center for the length of cruise only (the trip to the port, parked for a week and then the return trip to WDW).

 

[21stamps]

We did the early walk-off from our weekend cruise a couple of years ago. We were leaving at 7:30-8:00am, through customs by 8:30. Hopped the shuttle to the Alamo office and had our vehicle by 9:00am. Headed straight out and arrived back at CBR around 10:30am.

Going to be pretty tight as to whether you will make that 11:00am ADR, it wouldn't take much to mess up your departure from the ship or any number of reasons along the way that could cause delays.

If you have the rental car for the whole trip, it's just a matter of heading to the parking garage after you get through customs so you stand a much better chance of making the ADR on time.

In the past we have found very reasonable rental prices for a 1 week rental, may actually be cheaper than 2 one way rentals (even with having to pay parking at the Port).
Why not try pricing out the rental for a round trip from Car Care Center for the length of cruise only (the trip to the port, parked for a week and then the return trip to WDW).

That sounded like a wonderful idea- so I checked. A little over $300 before parking at the port.
Oh this is frustrating.
I just need to suck it up and pick one..probably end up just renting the entire 2 weeks from MCO. It's not much more than the 1 week from the Car Care Center.
One huge thing that I like about WDW- Not needing to drive (I have a long daily commute and am always running here to there to somewhere else), and I actually like Magical Express. Oh well. Looks like I'll be renting at the airport.

 

[nacho113]

OK just tried plugging some numbers in with Alamo

That sounded like a wonderful idea- so I checked. A little over $300 before parking at the port.
Oh this is frustrating.
I just need to suck it up and pick one..probably end up just renting the entire 2 weeks from MCO. It's not much more than the 1 week from the Car Care Center.

What are the dates of your cruise?
Guessing Nov 26-Dec 3/ or Dec 3-10?
When I plug this week into Alamos site for pickup at Disney Car Care Center, using the Vegas Brazil Contact ID (7016427) and a $25 off coupon code (AD3868JST), I'm getting a weekly rate of $104.87 total (taxes included) for a Compact.
The following week is similarly priced.
If you don't want to be running around last minute returning the vehicle, adding an extra day adds about another $20

 

[21stamps]

OK just tried plugging some numbers in with Alamo

What are the dates of your cruise?
Guessing Nov 26-Dec 3/ or Dec 3-10?
When I plug this week into Alamos site for pickup at Disney Car Care Center, using the Vegas Brazil Contact ID (7016427) and a $25 off coupon code (AD3868JST), I'm getting a weekly rate of $104.87 total (taxes included) for a Compact.
The following week is similarly priced.
If you don't want to be running around last minute returning the vehicle, adding an extra day adds about another $20

I was basing it on these numbers- $261 or $271 and then adding $10.99 per day for car seat.
I know I will have gas and tolls, but neither of those are a big factor.


Where are you seeing that rate? I am on Alamo's website. Disney car care 11/26-12/3 returning same location. Your numbers would actually work.

 

[nacho113]

View attachment 168700
I was basing it on these numbers- $261 or $271 and then adding $10.99 per day for car seat.
I know I will have gas and tolls, but neither of those are a big factor.


Where are you seeing that rate? I am on Alamo's website. Disney car care 11/26-12/3 returning same location. Your numbers would actually work.

Plug in the codes from my previous post.
Contract ID 7016427
Coupon Code: AD3868JST

Sorry, not sure how to add a screen shot like you did above.
Compact - $104.87, Mid size shows $129.47 and FS is $144.70

 

[21stamps]

Plug in the codes from my previous post.
Contract ID 7016427
Coupon Code: AD3868JST

Sorry, not sure how to add a screen shot like you did above.
Compact - $104.87, Mid size shows $129.47 and FS is $144.70

I am going to try that today. Thanks!!! I'm hoping that I get the same results!!

What is that 'contact id'? Can anyone use it?

 

[nacho113]

I am going to try that today. Thanks!!! I'm hoping that I get the same results!!

What is that 'contact id'? Can anyone use it?

This is the Vegas Brazil contract ID, it's from a Las Vegas based travel agency.
I have used it several times without incident as have a lot of people on the Disboards and many other places.
There is a long thread that's been running for a couple of years on it, here in the Transportation board and it quite often pops up in the monthly rental threads.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/do...egas-brazil-llc-alamo-discount.3353157/page-8

 

[bumbershoot]

1 child in a high back booster seat.

I was basing it on these numbers- $261 or $271 and then adding $10.99 per day for car seat.

How old? If legitimately old and mature enough for brief rides in a low back booster, check out the Bubble Bum. Weighs one pound.

Or just bring your booster. I could not and would not pay for a booster from a rental agency if my kidlet were mature enough to be in a Bubble Bum. (or even another lowback booster. Or I'd just bring my own high back. But DS was in a highback at home while in the Bubble Bum traveling.)

I have to ship the FE gifts to the port.
I am shipping winter clothes (uggs, jackets, sweaters, jeans, etc) to WDW.

So will you be shipping the items you get back home as well?

Wear the Uggs, jacket, sweater, and a pair of jeans on the plane. You'll be wearing them anyway, won't you?

As for jeans...I found jeans to be totally un-helpful for cold snaps. And we've been to WDW during them (December 2010 was our FIRST trip). Jeans are cold. What we realized is the best is warm UNDERclothing. And those are thin and light and easily packed. Just get a pair or two of those for each person, and you can wear anything over. Have the warm underclothes and you can likely get away with one or two pairs of jeans the whole time, IF it's cold enough to warrant those.

I just need to suck it up and pick one

But you don't. Not yet. You do'nt have to lock it in, at any rate. Book something easily changed or cancelled, just in case things go up. But keep checking.

The prices you're seeing could very well go down. So you don't want to book anything that can't be changed.

If you want DME from MCO to WDW, that's simple.
Check prices from Car Care Center, Swan, or Dolphin (I'm talking Alamo and National) out to the port for one day. And back. Or go outside of those two agencies and see the WDW-local places for those.
Or uber. Or a cab.

Book a rental then keep on checking to see if there are other discounts, if it goes down, etc.

But you have months to go. There's no need to make a final, can't be changed, decision at this point.

 

[21stamps]

This is the Vegas Brazil contract ID, it's from a Las Vegas based travel agency.
I have used it several times without incident as have a lot of people on the Disboards and many other places.
There is a long thread that's been running for a couple of years on it, here in the Transportation board and it quite often pops up in the monthly rental threads.
http://www.disboards.com/threads/do...egas-brazil-llc-alamo-discount.3353157/page-8

Thanks!!

How old? If legitimately old and mature enough for brief rides in a low back booster, check out the Bubble Bum. Weighs one pound.

Or just bring your booster. I could not and would not pay for a booster from a rental agency if my kidlet were mature enough to be in a Bubble Bum. (or even another lowback booster. Or I'd just bring my own high back. But DS was in a highback at home while in the Bubble Bum traveling.)



So will you be shipping the items you get back home as well?

Wear the Uggs, jacket, sweater, and a pair of jeans on the plane. You'll be wearing them anyway, won't you?

As for jeans...I found jeans to be totally un-helpful for cold snaps. And we've been to WDW during them (December 2010 was our FIRST trip). Jeans are cold. What we realized is the best is warm UNDERclothing. And those are thin and light and easily packed. Just get a pair or two of those for each person, and you can wear anything over. Have the warm underclothes and you can likely get away with one or two pairs of jeans the whole time, IF it's cold enough to warrant those.



But you don't. Not yet. You do'nt have to lock it in, at any rate. Book something easily changed or cancelled, just in case things go up. But keep checking.

The prices you're seeing could very well go down. So you don't want to book anything that can't be changed.

If you want DME from MCO to WDW, that's simple.
Check prices from Car Care Center, Swan, or Dolphin (I'm talking Alamo and National) out to the port for one day. And back. Or go outside of those two agencies and see the WDW-local places for those.
Or uber. Or a cab.

Book a rental then keep on checking to see if there are other discounts, if it goes down, etc.

But you have months to go. There's no need to make a final, can't be changed, decision at this point.

Yes, shipping to/from resort.

The main reason I am so worried now is bc out travel day is on Black Friday, I've flown on this day before and it's always crazy. Any other time I wouldn't be worried about when I actually booked our flights.

As of today- there are 7 seats left on the flight we would take, but that flight is over $450 pp and once luggage is added we are over $1k.
Then the Orlando/Port Canaveral portion takes my travel expense will take it up to over $1500 or more.

That just seems like quite a bit of money to spend for domestic travel for 2 people...especially travel to Orlando.

This is why I was debating just driving myself.

 

[ktate82]

Wow! $450 is steep! Have you checked Kayak for other airline prices? They also offer a price prediction tool that tells you when to buy or wait. That would be a difficult decision for me too.

If you decide to fly, I would do a one way rental to the port to arrive early and then take Disney Transportation back to your resort. If you are off the ship early, you should be back at the resort in time for your ADR. I would second either the BubbleBum, bring your own, or have one shipped to the resort off Amazon if you are taking ME. If you have the car for a week, that is $77 you would be paying for your child to sit in a used booster seat.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Is Autotrain an option?

 

[21stamps]

Is Autotrain an option?

No not from here.

Wow! $450 is steep! Have you checked Kayak for other airline prices? They also offer a price prediction tool that tells you when to buy or wait. That would be a difficult decision for me too.

If you decide to fly, I would do a one way rental to the port to arrive early and then take Disney Transportation back to your resort. If you are off the ship early, you should be back at the resort in time for your ADR. I would second either the BubbleBum, bring your own, or have one shipped to the resort off Amazon if you are taking ME. If you have the car for a week, that is $77 you would be paying for your child to sit in a used booster seat.

I read that now none of the busses leave the port before 9am.
I'm going to check options of flying in late thanksgiving night as well. I've never had this many issues with travel options! But I really don't want to spend that amount of money.

 

[ktate82]

No not from here.

I read that now none of the busses leave the port before 9am.
I'm going to check options of flying in late thanksgiving night as well. I've never had this many issues with travel options! But I really don't want to spend that amount of money.

Where did you read that at? They generally send a bus as soon as it is filled. We were off the boat in Oct at 7:30 a.m. and were on the 4th bus that left. It only took about 20 mins for the bus to be full, and then we were headed out. We had an 11:45 flight out of MCO and made it to the airport before 9.

 

[21stamps]

Where did you read that at? They generally send a bus as soon as it is filled. We were off the boat in Oct at 7:30 a.m. and were on the 4th bus that left. It only took about 20 mins for the bus to be full, and then we were headed out. We had an 11:45 flight out of MCO and made it to the airport before 9.

On this site. In the cruise section.

Was yours in the past few months? This would be fantastic news if they leave early!!

 

[ktate82]

On this site. In the cruise section.

Was yours in the past few months? This would be fantastic news if they leave early!!

I honestly can't see them waiting till 9am to leave the port. People have to be off the ship by 9 and they would just be holding full buses for no reason.

However, the buses don't leave the airport for the port till 9 a.m. Maybe it was that confusion.

Our cruise was this past October.