Transportation Help Please

[DnA2010]

My apologies if I'm not finding a transportation thread

We are now booked on the Fantasy in Sept (VGT so last minute booking) and haven't cruised on Disney and out of PC in I think 9 years!
Our party is DH, myself, our DD8 (booster seat) and DD20.

We are doing 2 nights prior to cruise departure at AKL DVC, 1 night at SSR post cruise so will need:
- transport from MCO to AKL
- transport to PC for the cruise
- transport from PC to SSR
- transport from SSR to MCO

I'm guessing my options are Disney transportation (Magical Express but it's not now right?), ubers/ride share, and renting a car? Any recent thoughts/tips/suggestions?
We can bring our own booster for our daughter, that doesn't bother me.

Thank you so much, lots to put together in the next few months!

 

[lanejudy]

Magical Express no longer exists. That was the "free" transportation option between MCO and WDW resorts. There are now some paid options -- Mears is one. Sunshine Flyer is another, though possibly that was absorbed by Mears. Other options include Uber/Lyft, taxi, private car service or rental car.

From WDW resort to Port Canaveral you can take DCL Transfers for $45/per person. Other options include Uber/Lyft, taxi, private car service or car rental.

From Port Canaveral to a WDW resort -- same options as above.

From WDW resort to MCO -- same options as #1.

Here is a link to the Transportation Forum. There may not be much about cruise transport there, but plenty of chatter about MCO <--> WDW resorts.

 

[scrappinginontario]

@lanejudy you are correct, Sunshine Flyer was absorbed by Mears.

 

[sponica]

@lanejudy The DCL transfers to Port Canaveral are now 45 dollars per person.

OP: Just as an aside, obviously everyone has their own safety stance but an 8 year old doesn't require a booster in FL.

We do a car service between MCO and the resorts, our little people aren't really able to wheel their own luggage yet so it's nice having the extra set of hands.

We did the resort transfers to/from PC. A word of warning on the transfer from PC to the resorts, the info in the app tells you to be off the ship by 7:45. We did that and waited on the bus for an hour...

 

[kiford]

We did the resort transfers to/from PC. A word of warning on the transfer from PC to the resorts, the info in the app tells you to be off the ship by 7:45. We did that and waited on the bus for an hour...

Yeah, the information is inconsistent. When we went to the airport directly from the ship, we were told to be off well before 9 as that was when the last bus goes. For transportation to the resorts, we were told that they begin around 9-ish. I think the general intent is that they get people to the airport first because of earlier flights and then start taking people to the resorts. I think in practice, there is flexibility and it depends on who has booked what, but you need to check on your specific cruise I feel.

 

[lanejudy]

@lanejudy The DCL transfers to Port Canaveral are now 45 dollars per person.

Thanks for the correction! I fixed it in my post.

 

[Disluv19]

My apologies if I'm not finding a transportation thread

We are now booked on the Fantasy in Sept (VGT so last minute booking) and haven't cruised on Disney and out of PC in I think 9 years!
Our party is DH, myself, our DD8 (booster seat) and DD20.

We are doing 2 nights prior to cruise departure at AKL DVC, 1 night at SSR post cruise so will need:
- transport from MCO to AKL
- transport to PC for the cruise
- transport from PC to SSR
- transport from SSR to MCO

I'm guessing my options are Disney transportation (Magical Express but it's not now right?), ubers/ride share, and renting a car? Any recent thoughts/tips/suggestions?
We can bring our own booster for our daughter, that doesn't bother me.

Thank you so much, lots to put together in the next few months!

The Disney app has their own Lyft or Uber there. Ask the front desk. I used it a month ago and it arrived in 3 minutes.

 

[DnA2010]

The Disney app has their own Lyft or Uber there. Ask the front desk. I used it a month ago and it arrived in 3 minutes.

Can you advise the approx cost?

 

[Disluv19]

$50

 

[mjkacmom]

Yikes for $45 a person I’d Uber unless it was just me.

 

[MissLiss279]

You could rent a car at MCO and return it at Port Canaveral before the cruise, and then rent another car after the cruise - pick up at PC then return to MCO at the end of your trip.
I rented a car once after a cruise at PC, and I don’t believe there was an extra ‘one way’ cost between PC and MCO.

 

[sponica]

Yikes for $45 a person I’d Uber unless it was just me.

The upside is that I don't have to get up at midnight for check in. My PAT is automatically assigned.

 

[JM_97]

My apologies if I'm not finding a transportation thread

We are now booked on the Fantasy in Sept (VGT so last minute booking) and haven't cruised on Disney and out of PC in I think 9 years!
Our party is DH, myself, our DD8 (booster seat) and DD20.

We are doing 2 nights prior to cruise departure at AKL DVC, 1 night at SSR post cruise so will need:
- transport from MCO to AKL (Uber)
- transport to PC for the cruise (DCL transfer)
- transport from PC to SSR (DCL transfer)
- transport from SSR to MCO (Uber)

I'm guessing my options are Disney transportation (Magical Express but it's not now right?), ubers/ride share, and renting a car? Any recent thoughts/tips/suggestions?
We can bring our own booster for our daughter, that doesn't bother me.

Thank you so much, lots to put together in the next few months!

I put my suggestions in red. You could rent a car for both PC and WDW, you would be paying for it to mostly sit in a parking garage or lot.

 

[DnA2010]

The upside is that I don't have to get up at midnight for check in. My PAT is automatically assigned.

Can you explain this please?

 

[Disluv19]

Yikes for $45 a person I’d Uber unless it was just me.

It was 2 people in the party for the $50 Uber at rush hour

 

[auntlynne]

Can you explain this please?

Closer to your sail date, you do online check-in. It opens at midnight, Orlando time. At that point, you are able to pick your Port arrival Time (PAT) and Boarding Group (BG). The BGs are to get you on the ship. They move fairly quickly once boarding begins. Many people like to get to and board the ship as early as possible.

If using a Disney bus transfer, you are automatically assigned an early PAT and Boarding Group. No need to do computer work in the middle if the night.

 

[auntlynne]

Info: Parking in the garage directly across from Terminal 8 (Disney) at Port Canaveral is $17 + tax per day/partial day. For a 7-night stay, that’s 8 days of parking. Pay upon entering garage.

This is why many recommend one-way rentals. This is one area where you usually can get a one-way rental without the drop-off fee.

Parking fees have been dropped for Disney resorts (I’m guessing that includes DVC). And resort guests don’t pay to park at the Theme parks.

Uber/Lyft - no guarantee you can secure a ride at desired time. You can pay extra (~$5 per reservation) to reserve in advance. Both of these have the option to estimate prices on their websites or apps. If you add an app in the month before you travel, they will often send you discounts (with expiration dates). Also check your credit cards to see if they have discount codes. Amex used to have $5 off rides.

 

[auntlynne]

Car rental at WDW​

The Car Care Center - Car Rental Facility​

Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of having a rental car during your stay by renting through one of our preferred car rental partners: Enterprise, Alamo or National. The car rental facility is located near Magic Kingdom park and offers a complimentary shuttle with door-to-door service from your Resort hotel or theme park to the facility.
Walt Disney World Resort Guests should inquire at the Front Desk or use any Walt Disney World Resort lobby phone to be connected to the rental car facility at the Car Care Center. You can also book your vehicle online or call (407) 824-3470 to book or schedule a shuttle pick-up appointment.
Operating Hours:
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM every day

Complimentary Shuttle Service​

Complimentary shuttle service from select Walt Disney World Resort hotels to the Disney Car Care Center Car Rental Facility can be arranged by calling (407) 824-3470 ext. 1. Guests renting a car through Enterprise, Alamo or National must schedule at least two hours prior to pick up time and be waiting at the pickup location at the appointed time. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact the Car Care Center to reschedule.
Operating Hours:
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM every day
Resort Hotel Pickup/Drop-Off Locations
Wait outside the main lobby of your Resort hotel, which is also where you will be dropped off, unless you are staying at one of the 3 Resorts below, each of which has a specific rendezvous point:

• Shades of Green Resort: Outside, upper level
• Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground: Outside, Outpost
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort (including Treehouse Villas): Outside, Carriage House

 

[Disluv19]

I'm not sure if this was directed to me.

 

[DnA2010]

Closer to your sail date, you do online check-in. It opens at midnight, Orlando time. At that point, you are able to pick your Port arrival Time (PAT) and Boarding Group (BG). The BGs are to get you on the ship. They move fairly quickly once boarding begins. Many people like to get to and board the ship as early as possible.

If using a Disney bus transfer, you are automatically assigned an early PAT and Boarding Group. No need to do computer work in the middle if the night.

Thank you for all of the explanations, very helpful!