WDW to Port Canaveral - A few questions

[absolut_mandy]

Hi Folks,

I've searched the threads for these questions and I can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for, so maybe someone can help me out.

We are driving for the first time from WDW (ASMusic) to Port Canaveral and just need to know a few things.

We are renting from Budget (at the Doubletree at DTD) - what is the easiest way to get to the Budget counter from ASMusic?

Drive to Port Canaveral - what is the easiest route? How much are the tolls? Is there a spot that we can stop and pick up some bevies?

Budget Drop off - do we get a shuttle from the drop off point or do we have to pay for a cab.

We are getting on the ship at 11, what time do we have to be at the drop off counter?

One more (I promise!) When we get off the ship, is there a nice public beach that we can go to for a couple of hours before we go back to WDW?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide. As you can tell, I am a bit nervous driving to the ship but the savings are large enough for me to stress out a bit.

Thanks again!
Mandy

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Hi Folks,

I've searched the threads for these questions and I can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for, so maybe someone can help me out.

We are driving for the first time from WDW (ASMusic) to Port Canaveral and just need to know a few things.

We are renting from Budget (at the Doubletree at DTD) - what is the easiest way to get to the Budget counter from ASMusic?

Drive to Port Canaveral - what is the easiest route? How much are the tolls? Is there a spot that we can stop and pick up some bevies?

Budget Drop off - do we get a shuttle from the drop off point or do we have to pay for a cab.

We are getting on the ship at 11, what time do we have to be at the drop off counter?

One more (I promise!) When we get off the ship, is there a nice public beach that we can go to for a couple of hours before we go back to WDW?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide. As you can tell, I am a bit nervous driving to the ship but the savings are large enough for me to stress out a bit.

Thanks again!
Mandy

I can help with a couple of the questions. We rented from Budget at MCO in May and drove from POR to the port. Tolls were $1.50. Best route is the Beeline (528). It is a straight shot from Orlando to the Port.

Once you leave Orlando it is kind of barren so I'd buy anything you want while to take (drinks, whatever) while still in Orlando.

My best advice to you is to have the main driver drop everyone and your luggage off at the port. You can get checked in while the driver returns the car to Budget. Budget will provide a shuttle but it is kind of crowded and busy and it is a lot easier for 1 person with no luggage to get a spot on the shuttle than for an entire family + luggage! My Dh dropped us off. We checked the luggage right there at the curb with DCL and headed inside to check-in. We did everything and then waited for DH. When he arrived he just had to go up to the counter and get his picture taken and then we boarded the ship! As for timing our boarding time was 12:30 and Dh dropped us off about 11:45. We were on the ship by 1 or so.

After the cruise you can go to the beach there in Cocoa Beach. There are a lot of public beaches that are easy to access. You'd need a car or taxi or something to get there. Nothing you can walk to.

We also rented from Budget after the cruise. That was a longer process. Quite a line to wait for the shuttle with everyone else getting off at the same time. The Budget office in Port Canaveral is pretty small and it was very crowded. We had rented a minivan and it was slim pickings! They tried to give us a big white 12 passenger van but luckily someone dropped off a minivan as we were checking out so were able to take it. We got off the ship about 8:30-9 and we weren't driving off the Budget lot until about 11:15.

All that being said I wouldn't hesitate to rent a car again for a cruise. It saved us money (family of 5) and we had some freedom! Good luck!

 

[IlovePiglet]

I checked the Expressway Authority's website and it says tolls one way from the DTD area to Port Canaveral will be $4.25.

https://www.oocea.com/TravelersExpressways/TravelResources/TollCalculator.aspx

Cocoa Beach is maybe a 15 - 20 minute drive from Port Canaveral if you go and park at Ron Jon's which offers free parking. If free parking is full they offer metered parking as well. There are also several parks along A1A just south of Ron Jon's that charge a small fee to enter but have beach access as well.

If you take I-4 to the 528 (Beachline) and get off at exit 2, there is a Publix just off the exit and it's an easy off/on situation. You'd make a left off the exit if you're coming east on 528 and the Publix will be on your left across from the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I checked the Expressway Authority's website and it says tolls one way from the DTD area to Port Canaveral will be $4.25.

https://www.oocea.com/TravelersExpressways/TravelResources/TollCalculator.aspx

Cocoa Beach is maybe a 15 - 20 minute drive from Port Canaveral if you go and park at Ron Jon's which offers free parking. If free parking is full they offer metered parking as well. There are also several parks along A1A just south of Ron Jon's that charge a small fee to enter but have beach access as well.

If you take I-4 to the 528 (Beachline) and get off at exit 2, there is a Publix just off the exit and it's an easy off/on situation. You'd make a left off the exit if you're coming east on 528 and the Publix will be on your left across from the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.

Wow looks like the tolls really increased since May! I did make a mistake though. It cost us $3 in tolls to go from WDW property to the Port. I was thinking the $1.50 because that was the cost from the Port to MCO.

 

[IlovePiglet]

Wow looks like the tolls really increased since May! I did make a mistake though. It cost us $3 in tolls to go from WDW property to the Port. I was thinking the $1.50 because that was the cost from the Port to MCO.

They've also opened up a new tollbooth on the Beachline, not sure how much it is since I have E-Pass.

 

[absolut_mandy]

Thanks for all the help! You have helped me out immensely.

Thanks again,
Mandy

 

[MAYNARDS99]

Be sure to sign up online for Budget's frequent renter programs online. They are called Fastbreak and RapidRez. Basically, you provide your personal information and credit card number upfront. There is no charge for these programs.

That will speed you along at pick up and drop off. Especially at the Port Canaveral location. Like a FOTL pass, there is a separate line for Fastbreak members. Last October, coming off of a cruise and heading to the airport, the regular line was about twenty deep. I was the only Fastbreak member and was checked out and in the minivan in about five minutes. The folks in the regular line were having to wait for vehicles to come back in. Mine was waiting for me.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

Be sure to sign up online for Budget's frequent renter programs online. They are called Fastbreak and RapidRez. Basically, you provide your personal information and credit card number upfront. There is no charge for these programs.

That will speed you along at pick up and drop off. Especially at the Port Canaveral location. Like a FOTL pass, there is a separate line for Fastbreak members. Last October, coming off of a cruise and heading to the airport, the regular line was about twenty deep. I was the only Fastbreak member and was checked out and in the minivan in about five minutes. The folks in the regular line were having to wait for vehicles to come back in. Mine was waiting for me.

The Fastbreak did help us tremendously at the MCO location but didn't do a thing for us at the Port Canaveral location. The PC location is one little room with a counter. We looked all over and there was no special line for Fastbreak people and they certainly didn't specially hold us a minivan for being Fastbreak. We almost got stuck with a 12 passenger van! This was in May. I'd still make sure you're signed up for it though!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I second the PP about joining Fastbreak. Skip the check in counter at MCO and head out to the garage is much faster.