we'll be at the airport way early....

[zeke11]

When we get off the ship at Port Canaveral, it will only be about 9 AM and our flight home isn't until 5:30 pm.

I was thinking about maybe fitting in a water park or Sea World.....but then what about our luggage? And with our family of 6, that would be six large bags and then 6 carry-ons.

If we get to the airport at 11 or so, that would probably be too early to check our luggage.

I'm thinking that the best thing would be to go straight to the airport, rent a bunch of lockers for our luggage, and then see what is not too far from the airport for us to do or see --

any suggestions on this? The thought of sitting around the airport for all those hours sounds horrid.

Thank you!
Kris

 

[TheWog]

If you have one of the airlines that checks your bags at the port, that part is taken care of. You could then get a DCL transfer to WDW, or a car to take you to any of the parks you wanted to go to. I believe the airlines at the pier are at least USAIR (we flew them in January), American, United, there are others but I am not sure which ones. It think about 7 total. They take your luggage directly to the airport for you and issue your boarding passes. I would call DCL to find out if your carrier is at the pier.

 

[dclwdwlover]

I don't have a lot of suggestions for you, sorry, but remember that you'll still need to be to the airport by 3:30 for check-in. That only leaves you about 4-5 hrs - depending on when you get off the ship & get dropped off @ the airport - to do anything. Factoring in travel time & waiting in lines, etc., you are limited in where you can go. As much as I love WDW, I don't think a trip there would be worth the $$. I'm sure people with more Orlando experience might be able to suggest someplace that fits your timeframe.

 

[zeke11]

I just called DCL and they said that this is only if we have air or transfers reserved with them. And we don't !

So still looking for ideas on how in the world we can do this!

Kris

 

[TheWog]

That must have changed since January. We didn't have neither air nor transfers through DCL and they took our bags. The porter just brought us right out there and no one checked. I am willing to bet your airline won't turn you away because of not being booked through DCL. The trucks carrying bags were airline specific I think. Call your carrier and see what they say.

 

[Aquagirl]

I would rent a van through budget. The budget shuttle will pick you up right at the cruise terminal. You could go to a park or downtown disney. We did this and went to dtd last year. Not only were we entertained for a few hours, we also strolled around for free.

 

[KAMLEM]

You could get a day room at the Hyatt and spend the day resting or at the pool. There are a few different posts floating around with the specifics - I think the last I heard the cost was $75.

 

[CAMICKEY]

From what I have read it is $ 75 for the day room at the Hyatt MCO. As far as leaving your luggage with the DCL port airlines, I refer you below to one of the porters who posted a while back. Please read the WHOLE thread. - Mike

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=540812&highlight=+porterbob

 

[Chattyaholic]

We were able to switch our evening flight to the early afternoon flight after our Wonder cruise this past January. I didn't book the early flight because I wasn't sure we'd make it back to the airport in time, but we did so we just asked at the Spirit counter if we could switch and they had seats available so we were HOME before our original flight ever left the ground.

 

[zeke11]

thank you thank you!!

A few hours of lounging around at the pool while dh naps in the room is just the ticket.

Thanks for the info on the day room at the Hyatt

Kris

 

[jrabbit]

If you really are considering doing something other than sitting around the airport (I strongly suggest doing something else) I would cancel your DCL transfers and rent a large car or van from one of the rental places (probably only about $50 for a car for the day). I would then get off the ship as early as practical (yea stay for breakfast, say goodbye to your wait staff and table mates) and then jet off to Sea World. I think that SW would be a great place to spend 1/2 day after the cruise before heading home. Not a lot of walking, fun shows where you get to sit and veg. out!

One thing we found out a long time ago. At the airport you cannot check your luggage until less than 4 hours before departure. So if you decide to hand at MCO, you're stuck with your "checked" luggage for several hours before the airline will take it (assuming they didn't pick it up at the port).