Transfers to Port and Back... Thoughts

[Lynzer4]

I am in the planning stages for a late April cruise. I already have the cruise booked and now I am trying to figure out best way to get to the port (and back)

After pricing out options, it looks like a car serve or rental car are my best options. Price isn't the only consideration thought... easy and convenience also factor in my choice.

So I am just seeking thoughts from people that have done one (or both). We will be at the Poly the night before then head to Port. Then head back to MCO.

We are a group of 5 so if my pricing is correct:

DCL Bus - $350 (round trip)
Rental Car: One way with DCL Bus back - $275
Roundtrip with Parking - $290
Car Service: One way with DCL Bus back - $343
Roundtrip: $311



Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am in the planning stages for a late April cruise. I already have the cruise booked and now I am trying to figure out best way to get to the port (and back)

After pricing out options, it looks like a car serve or rental car are my best options. Price isn't the only consideration thought... easy and convenience also factor in my choice.

So I am just seeking thoughts from people that have done one (or both). We will be at the Poly the night before then head to Port. Then head back to MCO.

We are a group of 5 so if my pricing is correct:

DCL Bus - $350 (round trip)
Rental Car: One way with DCL Bus back - $275
Roundtrip with Parking - $290
Car Service: One way with DCL Bus back - $343
Roundtrip: $311



Thanks!

Well, the cheapest option is $75 less than the priciest. For me, the options would be between the rental car both ways or the DCL transfers.

Did you look into how much one way rentals (no parking) would be?

Pro for rental car - you can pick your time for pick up.
Con for rental car - can you get a vehicle for all of you PLUS luggage?

Pro for DCL transfers -
DCL handles your bags from resort to ship
Kids are entertained with Disney videos during the one hour trip
Onboard airline check in (if you're on a participating airline) is great

Con for DCL transfers
Can't chose pick up time.

 

[CathyCU03]

We used Happy Limo for our group of 5 and will be using them again in Dec for 3 of us. We prefer to do our own transfers. You get to pick the time, there are no lines and crowds to deal with and they normally will let you stop at a grocery store on the way to the port to pickup wine/beer. You do have to deal with your own luggage but that is not a really big deal to us.

 

[Marc D]

I am in the planning stages for a late April cruise. I already have the cruise booked and now I am trying to figure out best way to get to the port (and back)

So I am just seeking thoughts from people that have done one (or both). We will be at the Poly the night before then head to Port. Then head back to MCO.

Personally, I would do car service/DCL transfer.

With the limo, you get excellent door-to-door service, you pick your own time so you can board asap (if you have an early embarkation time), you forget about your luggage from the door of the resort to the door of your stateroom and you don't have to go to the car rental place with everyone and everything in tow at WDW and PC.

On the way back, the bus is as efficient as the car service and you get to prolong your vacation another hour.

 

[bumbershoot]

Why are you looking to use the DCL bus to MCO each time? Does your flight qualify for onboard airline checkin? For me that's the only reason to use it unless two rental cars or a round trip car service is just too much.

My dad was a bus driver. Bus rides aren't fun for me. So I've never seen how the DCL bus is some peak experience. Just my background.

 

[clten]

To me if you qualify for DCL's Onboard Airline Check-in, that trumps everything for convenience and is worth the extra money. I'd pair that with what you would consider most convenient to get to the port. We don't mind the drive so we would go with the rental over the car service. (Also we never have great experiences with DME to the resorts -- always end up waiting very long times for the bus and are never the first and rarely the second stop, so we find it saves us time to pick up the rental car at the airport and skip DME.)

If you aren't able to use OAC, then I'd go with the round trip rental car. (You could probably save some $ doing 2 one-way rentals but you lose convenience when you have to head to the rental counter to pick up the car at the port!) This has the convenience of being on your own schedule and being able to make stops to pick up anything you might need/forgot. It's just my personal preference to have a rental and be free to leave truly on our schedule (we may be running early or late that morning, who knows) rather than schedule a car service.

 

[scrappinginontario]

One thing to consider when renting a vehicle is how much luggage your group will have. We tend to have more luggage on a cruise so this is a big part of the transportation equation for us.