Travel from resort to Port to airport...HELP!

[mitch30]

We are leaving a Disney resort and going to Port Canaveral for a Disney cruise. After the cruise is done, we need to get to the Orlando airport. We don't want to use the Disney express because it is very expensive for a family of 4.
Also, we are traveling with another family (of 5) and can share the cost of a van or limo service or perhaps a rental car and parking the car near the port so it is there when the cruise is done. May places look like they offer round trip services and when shared by 2 families, they are not that unreasonable, but we have a point A, B, C not an A, B and back to A. Any suggestions on the cheapest way this can be done?????

 

[Big Willie]

We are normally a extended family of 10 when we travel (my family of three, sister's family of 4, her in-laws, our Mom). Our CBR to port to airport transportation worked best when we rented 2 minivans. As an alternate we used Happy Limo one year and it was great, just not that cheap.

Minivan
We picked up vans upon arrival at MCO. Spent 3 days at Disney and did the 4 day cruise and drove back to the airport. We parked the car at the port and paid the daily rate. Even with parking the weekly rental rate was cheaper than renting a van turning it in and getting a 2nd van after the cruise. I only tried the rent a van drop it at Port Canaveral and get a 2nd van after the cruise one time. Personally, I hated loading/unloading, shuttle rides, waiting at the rental office hassle. Prices are crazy right now so you have to try multiple methods, companies and vehicle sizes.

Limo
We have used Happy Limo to give the kids a treat. We had a stretch Navigator from Pop Century to the port that holds 14. Plus, they brought a minivan to handle the luggage. Total cost was close to one weeks rental of a minivan. Coming back from the port to the airport we used Happy Limo 12 passenger van along with a separate luggage carrier. This was way cheaper than the Disney transfers.

Overall
I would rather use the minivan option when there are 2 other men with me. Its faster, cheaper and easier. When I have traveled without my brother-n-law and his father (I'm the only male with 6 or 7 females) I like the Limo Service.

 

[goofy4tink]

What you are looking for isn't going to be cheap...it's the nature of the beast. When you have a sizable group moving from point A to point B and then possibly to point C, it adds up. Perhaps your best bet is going to be either a rental van...a full sized one, not a minivan, or reserving one through a car service. Check out prices both ways. The issue you may face is luggage space. These vans sometimes don't have a huge amount of luggage space. Or you may just want to do the two family thing...each family takes care of their own transportation.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We are normally a extended family of 10 when we travel (my family of three, sister's family of 4, her in-laws, our Mom). Our CBR to port to airport transportation worked best when we rented 2 minivans. As an alternate we used Happy Limo one year and it was great, just not that cheap.

Minivan
We picked up vans upon arrival at MCO. Spent 3 days at Disney and did the 4 day cruise and drove back to the airport. We parked the car at the port and paid the daily rate. Even with parking the weekly rental rate was cheaper than renting a van turning it in and getting a 2nd van after the cruise. I only tried the rent a van drop it at Port Canaveral and get a 2nd van after the cruise one time. Personally, I hated loading/unloading, shuttle rides, waiting at the rental office hassle. Prices are crazy right now so you have to try multiple methods, companies and vehicle sizes.

Limo
We have used Happy Limo to give the kids a treat. We had a stretch Navigator from Pop Century to the port that holds 14. Plus, they brought a minivan to handle the luggage. Total cost was close to one weeks rental of a minivan. Coming back from the port to the airport we used Happy Limo 12 passenger van along with a separate luggage carrier. This was way cheaper than the Disney transfers.

Overall
I would rather use the minivan option when there are 2 other men with me. Its faster, cheaper and easier. When I have traveled without my brother-n-law and his father (I'm the only male with 6 or 7 females) I like the Limo Service.

I agree 100%.

We have tried all 3 methods: car rentals, Happy Limo & DCL bus service. It all comes down to convenience vs. cost. When you ask what is best do you really mean what is cheapest? Not necessarily the same thing. I found the rental car method way too inconvenient esp after a beautiful relaxing cruise. Shocked back to reality with dragging luggage onto shuttles, etc. Way too many steps for the $50 savings. Amount of savings varies with the size of your family/group.
I especially like DCL transfers for the return to MCO if flying a participating airline. Onboard Check In is ultra convenient. They deliver your boarding passes and luggage tags directly to your cabin. Once you put your luggage outside your door the last night, you don't see it until you arrive at your home airport. Just hop on the DCL bus with BPs in hand and head to your gate. Once I tried that, I am willing to pay extra for DCL transfers. We even make sure to book a participating airline home just so we can use OBCI.

So now we use Happy Limo to port and DCL bus back to MCO.