Transport from POFQ to Port Canaveral

[Starryjean]

Hello!

We’ll be staying at French Quarter later this year and taking a cruise afterwards. However, I have no idea to best route to get TO the cruise ship!

I’ve heard that DCL transportation takes a long time and gets you to port late. I’d like to get to the port around 10-11 am. Does anyone have any experience with Uber/Lyft or renting a car from a WDW resort? Which would you recommend? Anyone have a positive experience on DCL transportation? Or a sage warning away from DCL transport?

Thank you for any help!

 

[hanscarlet]

Last year we stayed at Beach Club before our cruise and also heard that the WDW bus can get you there late so we took an uber to MCO and it was fine. The traffic was bad and I was irritated that I had to carry my big luggage to MCO bus so we just stay at the Hyatt now. We love the onboard airline check in so much that we try and keep the Disney transfers. I was able to get to port by 11am this way.

 

[Pooh93]

Hello!

We’ll be staying at French Quarter later this year and taking a cruise afterwards. However, I have no idea to best route to get TO the cruise ship!

I’ve heard that DCL transportation takes a long time and gets you to port late. I’d like to get to the port around 10-11 am. Does anyone have any experience with Uber/Lyft or renting a car from a WDW resort? Which would you recommend? Anyone have a positive experience on DCL transportation? Or a sage warning away from DCL transport?

Thank you for any help!

I would use a towncar service. There are several to choose from. We use Tiffany Towncar and will be using them to get from port to POFQ in another week.

 

[dcassetta]

Hello!

We’ll be staying at French Quarter later this year and taking a cruise afterwards. However, I have no idea to best route to get TO the cruise ship!

I’ve heard that DCL transportation takes a long time and gets you to port late. I’d like to get to the port around 10-11 am. Does anyone have any experience with Uber/Lyft or renting a car from a WDW resort? Which would you recommend? Anyone have a positive experience on DCL transportation? Or a sage warning away from DCL transport?

Thank you for any help!

The DCL transfer bus from the resorts will not pick up until 10:30 or later, so if your goal is to be at the port before 11, that will not work. $35 person one-way

You can use the Magical Express service to get to the airport and then take DCL transfers from the airport. But, that requires scheduling an early ME bus. Those buses start running from the airport at 9am. ME is free and then $35 per person one-way.

Uber to airport or cruise port. I have not done either of these and you would need a larger Uber depending on how many people and how much luggage. I would guess Uber would be at least $100 to the cruise port.

Rental cars are available at the car care center(they will pick you up at the resort) and the Dolphin (you can use Disney transport). Also at the Hilton across from Disney Springs. There is not usually a drop-off charge to go to Canaveral and you should be able to find a car under $40.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We did the DCL transfer from WDW to PC a few years ago and didn't get to the port until about 1 pm - never again. We use Park Ave. Limo for our transfers now. They will pick you up whenever you want and happen to know a short, round-about way to get to the DCL drop-off area that circumvents the terminal traffic.

 

[3Down1Up]

You can use the Magical Express service to get to the airport and then take DCL transfers from the airport. But, that requires scheduling an early ME bus. Those buses start running from the airport at 9am. ME is free and then $35 per person one-way.

We did this exact thing last year from POFQ. Had an 8:10 ME from POFQ, got to MCO around 8:45, was on the second bus from MCO to PC and arrived to PC a little after 10. That's the advantage- the early arrival in port. Disadvantage - schlepping your luggage from resort to MCO (but in reality it wasn't that bad). I was solo with my three kids and this was much easier than renting a car and more reliable, IMO, than a car service.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We stayed at POFQ last summer before our double dip. We did the Disney transfers. No luggage worries, no worries at all. Which is nice. However, we did not get to port until 1:00. Nice thing about that? No lines, waiting, and cabin basically ready by the time you are on board. We were able to ditch our day bags and start enjoying immediately. If I wanted to get there earlier, I would book my own transfer. The run around with luggage to get back to MCO to then pay for transfers would be too much of an inconvenience and a hassle for us.

 

[mousefan73]

Our first cruise is in September and I am waiting first to see what PAT time we get. then I will decide if 1. we take a rental or 2. DCL

IMO, taking the MDE to MCO and then paying DCL's expensive fees ( for us 4 its 140 and a rental is 50) is too much of a hastle with zero service. If I am going to pay for the expesive DCL service I want a direct pick-up at WDW that includes having my luggage taken and delivered door to door. If getting there early is that important then do a rental or car service. that is cheaper than DCL with the same service level.

We really are willing to pay the DCL amount just for the experience and the fun of taking a disney bus.. BUT and a Big BUT.. we do not want to arrive late. I have also heard horror stories of people getting there later than 1:30 and cabanas almost shutting down. Right now we have a rental booked.

 

[kickash]

Twice we have rented a car for a one way trip to the port. I rent through Alamo and pick up the car at the Dolphin resort. We then drove to the car return center at the port then took their shuttle to the cruise terminal. It was very easy and allowed us to go at our own pace.

 

[YawningDodo]

We stayed at POFQ last summer before our double dip. We did the Disney transfers. No luggage worries, no worries at all. Which is nice. However, we did not get to port until 1:00. Nice thing about that? No lines, waiting, and cabin basically ready by the time you are on board. We were able to ditch our day bags and start enjoying immediately. If I wanted to get there earlier, I would book my own transfer. The run around with luggage to get back to MCO to then pay for transfers would be too much of an inconvenience and a hassle for us.

Mmm, having been on the first bus from the airport to the port in Miami for my cruise in January, my "never again" is getting there before 11:00. So much sitting around, so much waiting. Tbh if the next cruise is out of Canaveral I'm kind of looking forward to a slow, sleepy morning at the resort and an early afternoon arrival via DCL bus...and not having to handle my luggage!

Our first cruise is in September and I am waiting first to see what PAT time we get. then I will decide if 1. we take a rental or 2. DCL

IMO, taking the MDE to MCO and then paying DCL's expensive fees ( for us 4 its 140 and a rental is 50) is too much of a hastle with zero service. If I am going to pay for the expesive DCL service I want a direct pick-up at WDW that includes having my luggage taken and delivered door to door. If getting there early is that important then do a rental or car service. that is cheaper than DCL with the same service level.

We really are willing to pay the DCL amount just for the experience and the fun of taking a disney bus.. BUT and a Big BUT.. we do not want to arrive late. I have also heard horror stories of people getting there later than 1:30 and cabanas almost shutting down. Right now we have a rental booked.

Be forewarned that (assuming it works the same way it did for me) once you book a DCL transfer it'll erase your PAT off the website on the basis that you don't "need" a PAT if you're taking the DCL bus. Then they'll assign you a boarding number at the port and it may be a higher number, regardless of how early or how late the DCL bus got you there. If you get a really terrible PAT to begin with I suppose it wouldn't make much difference--and maybe that's what you're already planning on (sorry if I'm restating stuff you already know). Just thought I'd mention in case you weren't aware.

 

[mousefan73]

Mmm, having been on the first bus from the airport to the port in Miami for my cruise in January, my "never again" is getting there before 11:00. So much sitting around, so much waiting. Tbh if the next cruise is out of Canaveral I'm kind of looking forward to a slow, sleepy morning at the resort and an early afternoon arrival via DCL bus...and not having to handle my luggage!



Be forewarned that (assuming it works the same way it did for me) once you book a DCL transfer it'll erase your PAT off the website on the basis that you don't "need" a PAT if you're taking the DCL bus. Then they'll assign you a boarding number at the port and it may be a higher number, regardless of how early or how late the DCL bus got you there. If you get a really terrible PAT to begin with I suppose it wouldn't make much difference--and maybe that's what you're already planning on (sorry if I'm restating stuff you already know). Just thought I'd mention in case you weren't aware.

Yes I have read up on how the PAT works, I am going from assuming if we get the latest PAT, then I will reconsider the rental as getting there earlier is officially not possible. Though this is our first cruise experience so the idea of waiting around for an hour or so is actually what we want.. people watching. walking around the terminal, watching the load the ship etc... all new for us. I compare it to flying. I fly a lot so dont want time to watch planes depart, first time flyers could spend hours at the airport watching things.

 

[dcassetta]

We really are willing to pay the DCL amount just for the experience and the fun of taking a disney bus.. BUT and a Big BUT.. we do not want to arrive late. I have also heard horror stories of people getting there later than 1:30 and cabanas almost shutting down. Right now we have a rental booked.

You would have to get there long after 1:30. Cabanas is open until 3 and the quick service deck areas are open until 3:30. Unless there is a bad accident or some other unusual event, you would be able to take transfers from the resort and still have time for lunch.

 

[mousefan73]

You would have to get there long after 1:30. Cabanas is open until 3 and the quick service deck areas are open until 3:30. Unless there is a bad accident or some other unusual event, you would be able to take transfers from the resort and still have time for lunch.

I have read on other forums of numerous resort pick ups at 12:30 with additional stops and boarding past 1:30.. for cabanas being closed was exaggerated but comments were they felt rushed as they were closing up. and poolside fast food is not for us.

 

[cheapster316]

Last 2 times we did the transfer through Disney. It was $35 pp and we did not get picked up from AOA until 12:30. There were no seats to be found at cabana and they were putting a lot of the foood away. We sat at a bar and ate in cabanas. I left a cash tip when done in case they lost any business from us sitting there

 

[Garyjames220]

Last 2 times we did the transfer through Disney. It was $35 pp and we did not get picked up from AOA until 12:30. There were no seats to be found at cabana and they were putting a lot of the foood away. We sat at a bar and ate in cabanas. I left a cash tip when done in case they lost any business from us sitting there

And thank you for confirmation I will be changing my CBR pick up to the airport now

 

[nittanyliongirl02]

We will be at POR for 2 days before our cruise in October, and I am debating the transportation to port myself. My last Disney cruise was in May 2 years ago, and we did the Disney transportation from MCO. It was convenient that we didn't have to do anything with our luggage, and I think we arrived fairly early because they weren't even letting anyone get onto the ship yet. With that being said, we sat in a very crowded port terminal for quite sometime, with basically no where to sit, and were starving. I don't think that I would mind getting picked up later, to allow for some swim time in the morning. It will be myself, DH, and DD (2.5).

Another thought is the new Minnie vans. From what I understand, they are now at all hotels, and travel to port. Not sure how much they are, but just another option.

Just my thoughts. Have a great time!

 

[dcassetta]

We will be at POR for 2 days before our cruise in October, and I am debating the transportation to port myself. My last Disney cruise was in May 2 years ago, and we did the Disney transportation from MCO. It was convenient that we didn't have to do anything with our luggage, and I think we arrived fairly early because they weren't even letting anyone get onto the ship yet. With that being said, we sat in a very crowded port terminal for quite sometime, with basically no where to sit, and were starving. I don't think that I would mind getting picked up later, to allow for some swim time in the morning. It will be myself, DH, and DD (2.5).

Another thought is the new Minnie vans. From what I understand, they are now at all hotels, and travel to port. Not sure how much they are, but just another option.

Just my thoughts. Have a great time!

It is my understanding that Minnie Van service is offered to the airport, but only for club level guests, and one way is $150.

 

[ACQUADUCK]

Something we have done with DCL, is pay for one transfer, then agree they pick up and take our luggage to the ship, we go by our own means earlier, without the baggage, get on ship, and then our bags are there.

Now they took 6 bags for one fee, by the time you have not bumped bags in private transfers or a car, and no tip at port Canaveral and maybe no tip at the resort, then it's not too bad.

 

[nutshell]

I am reading that early strivers (10:30/11:00) just end up sitting around and waiting? Why is that? If you arrive by 11am what time do you board the ship?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am reading that early strivers (10:30/11:00) just end up sitting around and waiting? Why is that? If you arrive by 11am what time do you board the ship?

The terminal opens at 10:00. That's when check in starts. Boarding typically begins around 11:15-11:30 with Concierge and Platinum Castaway Club members. Then they start calling boarding numbers. You receive your boarding number at check in and it's tied to the Port Arrival Time you select during your online check in process. They call the numbers in order from 1 upwards roughly every 5-10 minutes (depending on how quickly the boarding is going).

Once the number being announced for boarding catches up to the the number being issued at check in, Open Boarding is announced. Anyone holding any boarding number may board at this time. Typically Open Boarding is announced around 12:30-12:45ish.