Transportation Options Question

[ewerstruly]

We're flying in, heading to PC for a Disney cruise then afterwards heading to Disney's MK for one day only. I was planning on renting a car twice one-way (from MCO to port then from port to MK hotel) - because we have 5 people in our group, 2 adults three kids, to save us some money ... but I'm wondering if we really would save rentaing a car (after gas, tolls, a car seat and two booster seats, etc).

I like the idea of parking at Port so the rental car is already there for us and ready for us to head to Disney quickly afterwards, but paying to park during the cruise seems silly. If we rent a car, there would also be lots of back and forth (to car rental place at airport then car rental place at port ... onto shuttle to a port hotel ... onto shuttle to port for cruise, onto shuttle to car rental again, etc). I'm thinking this through way too much.

My initial thought was that Disney ME would cost too much for us ($65 RT x 5 = $325). But looking into limo/towncar/van transportation ... it looks to be pretty close (Happy Limo about $296 RT, Tiffany Towncar Van about $305, FL Tours about $300).

Am I wrong that Magical Express from MCO to PC picks you up during early/daytime hours only prior to a cruise ... but they are not the ones who would pick you up at Port and bring you to a resort? I'm confusing myself.

I think we'd like to stay overnight at Port Canaveral the night before our cruise. So, we'd want to head that way as soon as our flight got in. And afterwards, we'd want to get off the ship and head to WDW/MK as quickly as possible (because we only have that one day at the Magic Kingdom).

Any suggestions for me before my head exploeds? Thanks.

 

[dudspizza]

We're flying in, heading to PC for a Disney cruise then afterwards heading to Disney's MK for one day only. I was planning on renting a car twice one-way (from MCO to port then from port to MK hotel) - because we have 5 people in our group, 2 adults three kids, to save us some money ... but I'm wondering if we really would save rentaing a car (after gas, tolls, a car seat and two booster seats, etc).

I like the idea of parking at Port so the rental car is already there for us and ready for us to head to Disney quickly afterwards, but paying to park during the cruise seems silly. If we rent a car, there would also be lots of back and forth (to car rental place at airport then car rental place at port ... onto shuttle to a port hotel ... onto shuttle to port for cruise, onto shuttle to car rental again, etc). I'm thinking this through way too much.

My initial thought was that Disney ME would cost too much for us ($65 RT x 5 = $325). But looking into limo/towncar/van transportation ... it looks to be pretty close (Happy Limo about $296 RT, Tiffany Towncar Van about $305, FL Tours about $300).

Am I wrong that Magical Express from MCO to PC picks you up during early/daytime hours only prior to a cruise ... but they are not the ones who would pick you up at Port and bring you to a resort? I'm confusing myself.

I think we'd like to stay overnight at Port Canaveral the night before our cruise. So, we'd want to head that way as soon as our flight got in. And afterwards, we'd want to get off the ship and head to WDW/MK as quickly as possible (because we only have that one day at the Magic Kingdom).

Any suggestions for me before my head exploeds? Thanks.

When you say PC are you meaning the port for the cruise? ME does not go to the port, though Disney Cruise Line does.... ME only goes to/from WDW.... some will take your PC as Pop Century which does get ME...

 

[Jestocost]

Technically there's no DME involved in the cruise transfer process. DME is the free service that transports passengers between MCO and WDW resorts.

DCL's cruise transfers are what you are talking about and they run from MCO and select resorts to PC, and also can take you from PC back to MCO or to WDW resorts. If you want to be at PC the night before your cruise, then DCL transfers won't work for you either. You will need to be sure that whatever hotel you stay at in PC does have transportation to the cruise terminal.

You are correct that at five people you probably will pay more for DCL transfers vs. a limo or van service. I'd actually look at doing a van vs. a limo for two reasons. First, it's generally significantally cheaper than a limo (FL Tours van service for five MCO-Port-Resort runs about $240 plus tip vs. $319.50 plus tip for a limo) so it's definitely cheaper than DCL transfers. Second, a limo has relatively little space for luggage whereas a van has plenty of luggage space.

Finally, you're not going to be able to get to the MK per se regardless of what transport you use. Are you staying at a WDW resort or somewhere in Orlando that night? If so, you'll need to get to wherever you are staying and then to the MK from there. Unfortunately, I wouldn't count on being in the park before maybe 11:00 a.m. (although it is theoretically possible to get there a little bit earlier).

 

[ewerstruly]

Thanks. I probably didn't word some of that well. But I am confusing Disney Cruise Transportation with Magical Express. I didn't think the Cruise Line Transportation took you to a Disney hotel afterwards from port (only round trip to/from airport). And, I didn't think they'd take us to port right when our plane got in either. Either way, one of the transportation services like Happy Limo doesn't seem to be much less expensive than the Disney transportation ... only hopefully their hours are more flexible and there won't be som many stops made in order to get you where you're going (since it's just you).

When I said Limo, I meant van or somthing similar for 5. An actual limosine wouldn't be best option for us.

Is a rental car that you return at port that much of a hassle or savings? Have any of you used this option for several children needing boosters and car seats? I'm figuring after adding in like $13 per car seat/booster, gas, tolls it might not be worth it. Tam

 

[ewerstruly]

I just called Budget Car Rental and got a quote for a mini van rental one way from MCO to Port Canaveral ... with all taxes/fees plus a car seat and two booster seats ... and they quoted me $156 one way. That's more than the towncar/van service. I thought it would be a lot cheaper ... but it wasn't chearper at all. This changes things.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's going to be hard to do what you want to do, cheaply. With the day at MK thrown in, you are adding a substantial amount to your costs. It might be worth it to try to book a room at a value resort for that night and then take DME back to MCO first thing in the morning. I have had a car service take me from WDW to port and back to WDW after the cruise for about $200, plus $40 tip. But, there were four of us so we shared the cost.
You are upping your cost by going from MCO to port, then port to MK, then MK back to MCO. I'm not sure I would go to MK that last day. You get off the ship early..we were off by 7:30 but we were probably the third or fourth family off because we get up early and get moving all the time. With younger kids you may find it harder to get moving quite as quickly. Then, the hour long drive to WDW. You would probably get to MK by 10ish. What do you plan on doing with your bags?? Then depending on your flight departure time, you will be picked up about 2 hrs before that departure time. I wouldn't think it would be worth all the hassle to be there for half a day or so. But.....that's just my opinion. It may very well be worth it to you.

If you can get a car, it is an easy drive. I always park at the ship...yeah, it's pricey, but I like to get off the ship, into my car and drive away. Not such a fan of going back and forth to rental companies for cars. And you can leave all your stuff in the car whilst in the park.

 

[ewerstruly]

Yes ... I'm finding there are new expenses at every turn. But, my whole reason for wanting to cruise in October was so we could go to the Not So Scary Halloween Party. So, I really want that one extra day at Disney. We would either only go to the Halloween party ... or do Disney all day (can't get checked in to your room anyway ... and since we're there ...).

Either way, we'd get a room for that night after the cruise and fly home the next day. If we do Disney all day when the cruise comes in, we won't see our room until bedtime, so I don't want to pay much for it. Then, I guess, our bags would stay in the rental car (assuming we got one from port to MK). If we only only do the party, a nicer hotel with things do do while waiting for our room is what I'd want ... like the Contemporary ... then walk to the MK for the party that evening.