Transfers to/from WDW & Fort Lauderdale

[darkconz]

We are very excited to plan a trip in 2027 with Destiny. However, I noticed all Destiny leave and arrive at Fort Lauderdale. I want to spend some time at WDW while I am there in Florida. I am wonder how does everyone get to Fort Lauderdale?

I've only been to Port Canaveral and those times I've used the ground transfer from the hotel to port. Hoping I could do the same with Fort Lauderdale but looks like unlikely from recent research.

Better to fly into FLL?

 

[erionm]

No Disney transportation from the Orlando area to Port Everglades. Disney does offer paid transportation from the Fort Lauderdale Airport (which is 5 miles form the port) and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina and the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort.

From the Orlando area, your options are rent a car, fly or brightline (train from MCO). There are also a couple of bus lines that have routes between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.

 

[Lorana]

We used the Brightline train when we did this in December! Spent a week at Disney, and then took the Brightline to FLL. It was super easy and convenient. That was our second time using Brightline to get to a cruise in FLL, and we're about to do it again next month!

 

[holula]

I’ve done the Brightline train once each way (two different cruises) and it’s really easy and convenient.

 

[dina444444]

I just got off the destiny. I stayed at WDW before the trip and took the brightline down the morning of the cruise. I also stored my big suitcase at my WDW resort since I took the train back up today to go back to WDW for one night before flying home tomorrow. It was super easy, I took an uber/lyft to the train and then an uber/Lyft from the train station to the port on the way down. On the way back I took a taxi back to the train and then used mears connect from terminal c to get back to WDW.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Another Brightline vote. We ubered from Port Everglades to the Brightline station and took the train to MCO. We all had large suitcases so we checked our bags for the train ride. The whole thing was very easy and the Brightline experience from station to the ride was clean and safe.

 

[Pixarfans]

We are renting a car. For us, it’s the best option for convenience and price.

 

[lanejudy]

It isn’t close. About a 3 hour drive. There’s the Brightline train, flying, or rent a car to drive.

 

[darkconz]

Thank you for all the replies! How long is the bright line train ride? Is it only from MCO to the port? We are still debating to spend time at WDW before or after the cruise trip.

Leaning towards after cruise... But that means we'll have the large luggage with us all the time haha.. how easy it is with luggage on the train?

 

[erionm]

Thank you for all the replies! How long is the bright line train ride? Is it only from MCO to the port? We are still debating to spend time at WDW before or after the cruise trip.

Leaning towards after cruise... But that means we'll have the large luggage with us all the time haha.. how easy it is with luggage on the train?

The train ride is around 3 hours. Brightline has 5 stations in South Florida (West Palm, Boca, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura & Miami). You purchase train tickets based on departure and destination stations. The Fort Lauderdale Brightline station is approx. 5 miles from the Cruise Port and you would need to use a car service (ride share, taxi, etc.) to get to the port.

You can find schedules and purchase tickets at: https://www.gobrightline.com/

 

[cruisehopeful]

We're doing this soon. We ended up deciding to rent a car. We booked a one way rental through Costco. I'm not particularly excited about it, but I thought it would be easier for us. We're driving down the evening before and staying one night at the Hilton.

 

[darkconz]

We're doing this soon. We ended up deciding to rent a car. We booked a one way rental through Costco. I'm not particularly excited about it, but I thought it would be easier for us. We're driving down the evening before and staying one night at the Hilton.

I just looked at the train tickets for a round trip. For 4 of us it cost almost the same as a car rental..

 

[mcd2745]

We just did WDW after getting off the Destiny a couple of weeks ago. I looked at all the options - even flying, Southwest had a $49 flight from FLL to MCO but it left a bit too early. I was surprised that DCL did have a bus taking people to WDW after the cruise. However, there is only one bus and I believe it leaves at 9:30am. I would have thought the Brightline would have gotten us there quicker, but it's not the case - especially since you have to take it to MCO and then get to WDW from the airport. Plus, it was more expensive. We settled upon doing express walk-off (got off ship before 7:30am) and going back to the airport and getting a rental car and driving to WDW - which took just about 3 hours from the time we left the airport.

We booked our rental via the WDW Car Care Center website:

https://partners.rentalcar.com/wdw/

Got a one-way rental from FLL and returning to the Car Care Center with Alamo. It was about $65 for a compact SUV (they let us choose from the mid-size SUV section when picking up). Returning the vehicle at the car care center was super quick and easy and they shuttle you where ever you need to go. We were in a shuttle on our way to our resort within 10 minutes of arriving.

There's no doubt in my mind this was the absolute fastest way to get to WDW and into the parks - if that is what you're looking to do. If you're not going to the parks that day, and therefore not in a great hurry, you can choose another method like the DCL bus or Brightline and avoid driving.

 

[darkconz]

We just did WDW after getting off the Destiny a couple of weeks ago. I looked at all the options - even flying, Southwest had a $49 flight from FLL to MCO but it left a bit too early. I was surprised that DCL did have a bus taking people to WDW after the cruise. However, there is only one bus and I believe it leaves at 9:30am. I would have thought the Brightline would have gotten us there quicker, but it's not the case - especially since you have to take it to MCO and then get to WDW from the airport. Plus, it was more expensive. We settled upon doing express walk-off (got off ship before 7:30am) and going back to the airport and getting a rental car and driving to WDW - which took just about 3 hours from the time we left the airport.

We booked our rental via the WDW Car Care Center website:

https://partners.rentalcar.com/wdw/

Got a one-way rental from FLL and returning to the Car Care Center with Alamo. It was about $65 for a compact SUV (they let us choose from the mid-size SUV section when picking up). Returning the vehicle at the car care center was super quick and easy and they shuttle you where ever you need to go. We were in a shuttle on our way to our resort within 10 minutes of arriving.

There's no doubt in my mind this was the absolute fastest way to get to WDW and into the parks - if that is what you're looking to do. If you're not going to the parks that day, and therefore not in a great hurry, you can choose another method like the DCL bus or Brightline and avoid driving.

Thanks for your detailed input! I might do the car rental. Is the rental at the port or do I need to get a ride to the airport?

Do you know where can I find more information on the DCL transport from cruise to WDW? I looked at the DCL site and does not seem like there is an option.

 

[jpeden]

Why would they offer transportation from the Omni? It's literally connected to the DCL parking garage and you can walk from the hotel to the cruise port assuming you're leaving from Pier 4 or Pier 2. I could somewhat maybe see it if you're leaving from 26 but it make zero sense to pay DCL to transport you when the hotel is connected to the pier's parking structure unless you just absolutely have to have one of the earliest PAT's

 

[mcd2745]

Thanks for your detailed input! I might do the car rental. Is the rental at the port or do I need to get a ride to the airport?

Do you know where can I find more information on the DCL transport from cruise to WDW? I looked at the DCL site and does not seem like there is an option.

The rental car was from the airport, so we took a taxi from the cruise port to the airport. Planned on an Uber, but taxis were lined up right as we exited the terminal so just hopped in one to save time (since we were going to the park - Epcot, to be specific - as soon as we could every minute mattered!) instead of waiting for the Uber. It's just a 10-12 minutes drive from the cruise port to the airport. There may be a couple of rental locations even closer to the cruise port. However, there are a couple of other factor to consider. First, we wanted one of the companies we could return to the Car Care Center - which means Alamo/Enterprise/National. Secondly, you're probably going to get a better price picking up at the airport.

I suppose you'd have to reach out to DCL for more information regarding their bus to WDW. I had no idea about the the bus DCL had going to WDW beforehand, until it was mentioned in the debark presentation from the cruise director they show on the TV. She mentioned there was only one and it departs 9:30am (or at least is scheduled to - would anyone be surprised if it left 10-20 minutes later?). We were on our way to WDW from the airport I want to say at least an hour earlier than that. Plus, I'm guessing the bus did not drive as fast as I did . Also, I wonder if it is guaranteed to go, say, even if there is only a couple of families who signed up for it. In which case could they possibly cancel it? Again, if you're just planning to chill that day and not go to one of the parks, probably doesn't matter exactly what time you get to WDW. However, our objective was to get there the absolute earliest we possibly could.

 

[RedHead0186]

Why would they offer transportation from the Omni? It's literally connected to the DCL parking garage and you can walk from the hotel to the cruise port assuming you're leaving from Pier 4 or Pier 2. I could somewhat maybe see it if you're leaving from 26 but it make zero sense to pay DCL to transport you when the hotel is connected to the pier's parking structure unless you just absolutely have to have one of the earliest PAT's

DCL doesn't offer transportation from the Omni (according to someone who just stayed there last night and got on the Destiny today). The Omni does offer a free shuttle (sprinter vans)-for those with little kids and/or lots of luggage that's helpful. But I don't believe there's DCL transportation from the Omni since it is walkable.

 

[RedHead0186]

I just did a trip to WDW and then a cruise out of Port Everglades. I did a one-way rental with National, picked it up at the Car Care Center on property (free pickup from your resort). I was meeting people who were flying into FLL, so I dropped the car off at the airport and met them. We had a free shuttle from the airport to our hotel (not a DCL hotel) and then just did a rideshare to port the next morning.

 

[Lorana]

We've certainly done the car rental before, too, but the last time we rented a car -- admittedly a few years ago -- they had a huge line and despite the fact that we had reservations in advance, we ended up waiting over 2 hours for a car because they rented out more cars than they had available. I think this was Alamo, because we wanted to return it to WDW. That's when we started using Brightline. That, and my DH would really prefer not to drive, and he's a horrible passenger (so if we rent, he has to be the one to drive). For us, Brightline is less of a hassle. (We also booked almost a year in advance, so we got a very cheap rate). But it is more time than renting and driving IF the rental agency has enough cars.