Transportation Options

[aidensmom73]

I thought I would ask you guys since you always have the best advice.

Here are our travel plans. I am wondering what the best options are...shuttle...car rental?

8/13 Arrive into MCO and travel to Radisson Hotel at the port in Port Canaveral.

8/14 Hotel has free shuttle to cruise port

8/21 Come back from cruise and want to travel to Disney and stay for 3 nights

8/24 Travel from Disney to MCO and fly home

 

[NHdisneylover]

It depends on how many people you have.

For the first part you have two options:

You will most likely be cheapest to do a one way car rental. Several companies will allow you to pick up at MCO and return at Canaveral for no extra charge. We like using Budget. They seem to have the best deals on one way rentals. You would then return the car the next morning before the cruise and either take a shuttle from the car rental agency to the port, or you can take a taxi if you do not feel like waiting.

A private towncar rental is another good option. The company we like to use, Tiffany Towncar, is $109 from MCO to port (for a Towncar which holds up to four passengers). I am sure they could drop you at the hotel as well. This would probably cost you a bit more. but be more relaxing.

For the leg between port and WDW you have three options:

Again, the cheapest option would be a one way rental car. You would be best to go with Budget or Avis which both have returns at hotels in the Downtown Disney area.

Again you could go with a towncar. This would probably be the fastest and easiest. Cost varies, but the company I like would be $135 for this trip (it is further to WDW than the airport so costs are higher that way).

Your third option would be to book the Disney transfers for this portion. These will cost $35 per person for the one way trip. DCL busses do not go to all hotels, you do not say where you are staying.

For the third leg
Assuming you are staying onsight, I think the best bet is to use Magical Express. It is free, and runs quite well. Additionally, if you are flying with an airline which allows it, you will be able to check in for your flight and check you luggage at the hotel.

 

[aidensmom73]

It depends on how many people you have.

For the first part you have two options:

You will most likely be cheapest to do a one way car rental. Several companies will allow you to pick up at MCO and return at Canaveral for no extra charge. We like using Budget. They seem to have the best deals on one way rentals. You would then return the car the next morning before the cruise and either take a shuttle from the car rental agency to the port, or you can take a taxi if you do not feel like waiting.

A private towncar rental is another good option. The company we like to use, Tiffany Towncar, is $109 from MCO to port (for a Towncar which holds up to four passengers). I am sure they could drop you at the hotel as well. This would probably cost you a bit more. but be more relaxing.

For the leg between port and WDW you have three options:

Again, the cheapest option would be a one way rental car. You would be best to go with Alamo/National which has an onsight return location at WDW.

Again you could go with a towncar. This would probably be the fastest and easiest. Cost varies, but the company I like would be $135 for this trip (it is further to WDW than the airport so costs are higher that way).

Your third option would be to book the Disney transfers for this portion. These will cost $35 per person for the one way trip. DCL busses do not go to all hotels, you do not say where you are staying.

For the third leg
Assuming you are staying onsight, I think the best bet is to use Magical Express. It is free, and runs quite well. Additionally, if you are flying with an airline which allows it, you will be able to check in for your flight and check you luggage at the hotel.

Thank you. We are two adults and one child travelling. Yes, we will be staying onsite...room only. I already have park hooper tickets that were non expiring from a previous trip. Is Magical Express free?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes Magical Express (ME) is free for everyone staying onsight at WDW. It goes to and from MCO to WDW. You MUST reserve it ahead of time--but that is easy to do (you can do it online with your hotel reservation or ask you travel agent to do it for you, if you have an agent). It is fine to use it just the one way (we have often done that when combining a land trip with the cruise).

With three people--the DCL busses will be about the same price as a rental car plus gas and tolls, with a lot less hassles, So I would go for the DCL transfers to get from port to WDW if you are staying at a hotel they service (again you can book this through your online cruise reservation OR your TA can handle this for you).

This just leaves the trip from MCO to port. It is really a matter of if you want more convience, or to save a little money. Both the rental car option and the towncar option will work well for you.

 

[aidensmom73]

Yes Magical Express (ME) is free for everyone staying onsight at WDW. It goes to and from MCO to WDW. You MUST reserve it ahead of time--but that is easy to do (you can do it online with your hotel reservation or ask you travel agent to do it for you, if you have an agent). It is fine to use it just the one way (we have often done that when combining a land trip with the cruise).

With three people--the DCL busses will be about the same price as a rental car plus gas and tolls, with a lot less hassles, So I would go for the DCL transfers to get from port to WDW if you are staying at a hotel they service (again you can book this through your online cruise reservation OR your TA can handle this for you).

This just leaves the trip from MCO to port. It is really a matter of if you want more convience, or to save a little money. Both the rental car option and the towncar option will work well for you.

I should have mentioned, we ar enot travelling on DCL. We are sailing on the Carnival Dream out of Port Canaveral. Cocoa Beach Shuttle comes highly recommended on the cruise boards and they are $68 for 3 people from MCO to the port.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I should have mentioned, we ar enot travelling on DCL. We are sailing on the Carnival Dream out of Port Canaveral. Cocoa Beach Shuttle comes highly recommended on the cruise boards and they are $68 for 3 people from MCO to the port.

oops, sorry I just assumed if you were posting on the DIS and did not say otherwise it was DCL. Everything would be the same except you cannot use DCL trasnfers from ship to the world then. I have no experience with Cocoa Beach Shuttle. I am sure others know what they are talking about though

 

[goofy4tink]

I would rent a car for the ride from MCO to the Radisson. You can leave your car there, while cruising. Then drive to WDW, drop everyone off, and return the car to MCO yourself. Then, take DME back to your resort. And take DME back to MCO when you're done at WDW.

Or, use a car service. Should be around $200 plus tip. Hire a service from MCO to Radisson, then from the ship to WDW and take DME back to MCO from your resort at WDW.

 

[antkim]

"For the leg between port and WDW you have three options:

Again, the cheapest option would be a one way rental car. You would be best to go with Alamo/National which has an onsight return location at WDW".

When I go to either of their sites I do not see an option for a location in the port area...am I missing something? I would like to price a one way from port to wdw as well and dropping off at Dolphin (National) would be the most convenient!

Thanks!

 

[NHdisneylover]

"For the leg between port and WDW you have three options:

Again, the cheapest option would be a one way rental car. You would be best to go with Alamo/National which has an onsight return location at WDW".

When I go to either of their sites I do not see an option for a location in the port area...am I missing something? I would like to price a one way from port to wdw as well and dropping off at Dolphin (National) would be the most convenient!

Thanks!

Sorry--I was not paying attention and thinking about going from MCO at that point. You are completly correct that Alamo and National do not have a location near the port. I will go back and edit my post. Thank you.

You could go with:
Budget (code CC5) and drop it at the desk in the Double Tree Guest Suites at Downtown Disney
OR
Avis (code P3F) and drop it at the desk in the Hilton in Downtown Disney

You can enjoy the day in the parks, unload you luggage at the hotel and then have just one adult in the gorup go to return the car in the evening. You could also go with any carrier from the port--drive to MCO to return the car and take ME from MCO to your on sight hotel free of charge. You do have to prereserve Magical Express though. You will also waste a good amount of time doing this.

 

[antkim]

Sorry--I was not paying attention and thinking about going from MCO at that point. You are completly correct that Alamo and National do not have a location near the port. I will go back and edit my post. Thank you.

You could go with:
Budget (code CC5) and drop it at the desk in the Double Tree Guest Suites at Downtown Disney
OR
Avis (code P3F) and drop it at the desk in the Hilton in Downtown Disney

You can enjoy the day in the parks, unload you luggage at the hotel and then have just one adult in the gorup go to return the car in the evening. You could also go with any carrier from the port--drive to MCO to return the car and take ME from MCO to your on sight hotel free of charge. You do have to prereserve Magical Express though. You will also waste a good amount of time doing this.

No problem and at least I know I am not losing my mind!! I will look into both..thanks!