Transportation and places to stay close to the port

[Tootsie62]

Hi, getting an early start for March 2023, we are sailing on the Wish, we are coming from Texas, 5 of us are first time cruisers, 2 have cruised before, one on the Magic and the other a different cruise line, any way, now that the magical express is no long running ( I love the ME), we will need transportation to and from MCO, we are also planning on hanging at the beach for a couple of days before our Monday cruise, so the second part of this question is a good place to stay close to the port (preferably will have a shuttle to the ship) and close to the beach. This question maybe has been asked before or I may be putting this in the wrong place, I apologize in advance. Thanks everyone!!

 

[auntlynne]

Do you have any idea which beach? And budget?

(Magical Express was a DisneyWorld transportation; not Disney Cruise. The cruise line continues with paid transfers.)

Unless you stay beachfront, you might be better off with a car rental, just to get to the sand. A one-way rental pre-cruise and a separate one to get you back to the airport. It is usually cheaper than DCL transfers. And with pre-Cruise time, you will need to get your meals.

 

[dcassetta]

As auntlynne stated, you will need to make your own transportation arrangements. You cannot use DCL transfers to go out to the port area early, and no hotels in the Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral offer a shuttle. You can book private transfers, use Uber/Lyft, or rent a car. If you are going a couple of days early, I would rent a car. There are lots of options along the beachfront.

 

[auntlynne]

Look up best beaches space coast to check out an idea of beaches in the Cape Canaveral area. Knowing what type of beach you are interested in can help narrow down the choices.

 

[allen_gamble]

Do you have any idea which beach? And budget?

(Magical Express was a DisneyWorld transportation; not Disney Cruise. The cruise line continues with paid transfers.)

Unless you stay beachfront, you might be better off with a car rental, just to get to the sand. A one-way rental pre-cruise and a separate one to get you back to the airport. It is usually cheaper than DCL transfers. And with pre-Cruise time, you will need to get your meals.

So how does this work? I saw the option to add ground transportation for the extra fee, but it doesn't really specify what that entails. And, of course, I've been trying for 2 days to call customer service with no luck. It's been a few years since we went on a Disney Cruise, and we used Magical Express last time. We will be staying at the Airport Hyatt the night before the cruise and then heading to WDW after disembarking. Is there still a Disney run service that will pick us up from the airport and take us to the port and then from the port to WDW after the cruise? The DCL website says to call for special arrangements if you're staying at the Hyatt. But again, as several other threads have mentioned, there is currently no way to get through to DCL customer service. Anyone have recent experience with the ground transfers?

 

[TinkLoverSam]

So how does this work? I saw the option to add ground transportation for the extra fee, but it doesn't really specify what that entails. And, of course, I've been trying for 2 days to call customer service with no luck. It's been a few years since we went on a Disney Cruise, and we used Magical Express last time. We will be staying at the Airport Hyatt the night before the cruise and then heading to WDW after disembarking. Is there still a Disney run service that will pick us up from the airport and take us to the port and then from the port to WDW after the cruise? The DCL website says to call for special arrangements if you're staying at the Hyatt. But again, as several other threads have mentioned, there is currently no way to get through to DCL customer service. Anyone have recent experience with the ground transfers?

Yes they are running ground transfers from MCO (or Hyatt) to port and port to WDW (and WDW to port and port to MCO). You indicate pickup location when you book them. If you are staying at the Hyatt I think you just have to let the Hyatt know you have DCL transfers (not ME) and they will give you the info sheet about when and where to meet for the bus and what time luggage will be picked up. You can try the Contact Us link on the website for DCL to either add the transfers or confirm pickup locations.

Transfers are $39/person/trip (subject to change)

 

[auntlynne]

So how does this work? I saw the option to add ground transportation for the extra fee, but it doesn't really specify what that entails. And, of course, I've been trying for 2 days to call customer service with no luck. It's been a few years since we went on a Disney Cruise, and we used Magical Express last time. We will be staying at the Airport Hyatt the night before the cruise and then heading to WDW after disembarking. Is there still a Disney run service that will pick us up from the airport and take us to the port and then from the port to WDW after the cruise? The DCL website says to call for special arrangements if you're staying at the Hyatt. But again, as several other threads have mentioned, there is currently no way to get through to DCL customer service. Anyone have recent experience with the ground transfers?

I am leaving details information to those who know. I have rarely used Disney transportation - maybe once for a cruise and once for WDW. But there are lots of reports of both in this forum. I keep reading about it in Cruise Trip Reviews.

I do think that a beach stay cuts you out of using DCL transfers to the port. But you shouldn’t have to book DCL bus for RT.

 

[vadersprincess12]

Check out goports.com ~ we have an upcoming cruise next month. They have numerous hotel options all of which include transportation to that hotel from MCO, your overnight accommodations, shuttle pick up to the cruise port, and then shuttle back to MCO after your cruise. Prices are reasonable.