What is the best way to get to the Port from MCO?

[piglet33]

and then to the Dolphin after our cruise for 3 people? We're arriving late (midnight) and are staying at the MCO Hyatt the night before our Disney Cruise. I have to find transportation to the Port from MCO and then to the Dolphin after the cruise for our one night there.

I have a car at Alamo booked the day we're leaving so we can visit friends and go to the airport.

Thanks!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Since you are going to the Dolphin, I would look into a car rental from the port. Mary on Mousesavers.com has several locations listed. They will pick you up at the port and you can drive to the Dolphin. Most of them then have a drop off somewhere in the DTD area that's easy to deal with if you don't just want to keep the car (and since Dolphin charges to park I can see that not being real appealing)

Disney's going to charge you for the trip to the airport and then you either have to pay a car service or a taxi to the hotel. Kind of steep IMHO.

Option two is see if Disney will do resort transport to the Swan/Dolphin (Seems like they do, but it's been a while since I looked) That would skip the airport mess.

Option three, Call a car service, but my experience with a few left me in the "never again' on that for MCO (I do use them other places but Orlando seems to have a higher then normal population of "non professional" drivers)

 

[piglet33]

Since you are going to the Dolphin, I would look into a car rental from the port. Mary on Mousesavers.com has several locations listed. They will pick you up at the port and you can drive to the Dolphin. Most of them then have a drop off somewhere in the DTD area that's easy to deal with if you don't just want to keep the car (and since Dolphin charges to park I can see that not being real appealing)

Disney's going to charge you for the trip to the airport and then you either have to pay a car service or a taxi to the hotel. Kind of steep IMHO.

Option two is see if Disney will do resort transport to the Swan/Dolphin (Seems like they do, but it's been a while since I looked) That would skip the airport mess.

Option three, Call a car service, but my experience with a few left me in the "never again' on that for MCO (I do use them other places but Orlando seems to have a higher then normal population of "non professional" drivers)

I need to use Alamo for the rental car, because I am using a Debit Card, and they don't add extra fees for that. Alamo doesn't pick up at the Port either.

I didn't want to use Disney to go to the Dolphin, because our time is limited, and when I checked this option for our cruise, it isn't available. Not sure why.

Maybe I will price out a few car services to see what they run, but it looks like this is going to be our only option. Let's see my choices are Tiffany Towncar, Happy Limo, Florida Tours. Any others?

Thanks so much for all the help and suggestions.

 

[goofy4tink]

A car service is going to run you about $200 r/t, at least. Maybe more for a three park ride. I would look into renting from Alamo at the airport. Drive to port..easy drive, park at the terminal. Cruise. Get off the ship, walk across the street to your car, drive to the Dolphin.
But, remember that the S/D charge for parking each day.
You may find it to be cheaper to just rent the car for the entire time. And it sure is convenient.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would rent a car from Budget at MCO. Then drop the car off at the Budget office by the port. Budget has 3 shuttle vans to take people to and from the ship. Then book another Budget rental for after your trip. The shuttle will pick you up at the ship and take you back to the port Budget location for you to rerent a car. We did this and it cost $40 for each rental. \\

Extremely easy to do..

I would NOT suggest parking the car at the port parking lot while you cruise because you have to pay a daily rate to park the car and also you are paying a daily rental fee for a rental that is just sitting in a parking space.

Trust me the Budget route is the best way to go and it is so easy.

** Just so you know the Alamo location by the port is actually an Enterprise location ( Alamo and Enterprise are now owned by the same company) and the Enterprise location states they will pick you up.\


Pick Up Location 6211 N ATLANTIC AVE
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL 32920-5820
Tel.: (321) 866-0324
We'll Pick You Up. ™

 

[goofy4tink]

I would rent a car from Budget at MCO. Then drop the car off at the Budget office by the port. Budget has 3 shuttle vans to take people to and from the ship. Then book another Budget rental for after your trip. The shuttle will pick you up at the ship and take you back to the port Budget location for you to rerent a car. We did this and it cost $40 for each rental. \\

Extremely easy to do..

I would NOT suggest parking the car at the port parking lot while you cruise because you have to pay a daily rate to park the car and also you are paying a daily rental fee for a rental that is just sitting in a parking space.

Trust me the Budget route is the best way to go and it is so easy.

** Just so you know the Alamo location by the port is actually an Enterprise location ( Alamo and Enterprise are now owned by the same company) and the Enterprise location states they will pick you up.\


Pick Up Location 6211 N ATLANTIC AVE
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL 32920-5820
Tel.: (321) 866-0324
We'll Pick You Up. ™

The only issue is that the OP needs to use a debit card, and Budget doesn't allow that. I love renting with Budget, but since I carry no credit card and use my debit card (with no issues), I tend to use Alamo more often than not.
The last time we rented, we parked at port. The cost of the rental, including parking at port, came out to about $20 less than using a service to get us to port and back, and then renting a car for the time we actively needed it. Now, that isn't always going to be the case, but it bears looking into.

 

[piglet33]

The only issue is that the OP needs to use a debit card, and Budget doesn't allow that. I love renting with Budget, but since I carry no credit card and use my debit card (with no issues), I tend to use Alamo more often than not.
The last time we rented, we parked at port. The cost of the rental, including parking at port, came out to about $20 less than using a service to get us to port and back, and then renting a car for the time we actively needed it. Now, that isn't always going to be the case, but it bears looking into.

Yep, Budget wanted to put a $500 hold on my debit card. Alamo just charges the rental fee and that happens when I drop off the car. That is why I use Alamo.

Yea, renting a car and parking it at the Port was actually cheaper last year. This year not so much - I'm getting prices around $500 for a midsize and that's not with parking yet. I need it Dec. 1-9. I just got a quote from Ed Korgan too. I still have some time, but will start crunching numbers to see where we stand.

Thanks so much everyone.

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, Budget wanted to put a $500 hold on my debit card. Alamo just charges the rental fee and that happens when I drop off the car. That is why I use Alamo.

Yea, renting a car and parking it at the Port was actually cheaper last year. This year not so much - I'm getting prices around $500 for a midsize and that's not with parking yet. I need it Dec. 1-9. I just got a quote from Ed Korgan too. I still have some time, but will start crunching numbers to see where we stand.

Thanks so much everyone.

I've used Ed several times in the past. You're in good hands with him..if you do use him, tell him I said hi!!!

 

[piglet33]

I've used Ed several times in the past. You're in good hands with him..if you do use him, tell him I said hi!!!

OK, I will. Thanks again.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yep, Budget wanted to put a $500 hold on my debit card. Alamo just charges the rental fee and that happens when I drop off the car. That is why I use Alamo.

Yea, renting a car and parking it at the Port was actually cheaper last year. This year not so much - I'm getting prices around $500 for a midsize and that's not with parking yet. I need it Dec. 1-9. I just got a quote from Ed Korgan too. I still have some time, but will start crunching numbers to see where we stand.

Thanks so much everyone.

If you are looking now for a car rental you will get quoted a huge price. You need to wait till 7-10 days before your trip to get the best price. Trust me. take a look at the June rental car thread that was started months ago. Those folks were being quote huge prices but I you look as their trip got closer their prices were around $125 for a week.

Make sure to ask Alamo if they will be running a credit check as well. Most agency do with a debit card rental.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The only issue is that the OP needs to use a debit card, and Budget doesn't allow that. I love renting with Budget, but since I carry no credit card and use my debit card (with no issues), I tend to use Alamo more often than not.
The last time we rented, we parked at port. The cost of the rental, including parking at port, came out to about $20 less than using a service to get us to port and back, and then renting a car for the time we actively needed it. Now, that isn't always going to be the case, but it bears looking into.

Budget does allow a debit card they will also run a credit check. Same thing with Hertz.

 

[goofy4tink]

Budget does allow a debit card they will also run a credit check. Same thing with Hertz.

Yep and they put a huge hold on my debit card as well!!! I use Budget if my dh is traveling with me, and we can then use his business cc....but then I have to add myself as an addtl driver!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Disney Cruise Lines ground transportation (the prototype for Magical Express but not free for guests) will do the route: airport to seaport to Swan/Dolphin and back to the airport. Call if you have trouble booking on line.

DCL guests including to Swalfin are sometimes commingled with DME guests e.g. to Beach Club, Boardwalk, etc.

Admittedly DCL transportation requires requires flexibility in trip time (same as DME for the part between resort and airport) so it may not be suitable for a tight schedule.

 

[piglet33]

If you are looking now for a car rental you will get quoted a huge price. You need to wait till 7-10 days before your trip to get the best price. Trust me. take a look at the June rental car thread that was started months ago. Those folks were being quote huge prices but I you look as their trip got closer their prices were around $125 for a week.

Make sure to ask Alamo if they will be running a credit check as well. Most agency do with a debit card rental.

Thank you, but I am the type of person that wants to have all my ressies planned in advance. It would drive me nuts not knowing what I was doing if I had to wait 7-10 days before my trip.

 

[piglet33]

Yep and they put a huge hold on my debit card as well!!! I use Budget if my dh is traveling with me, and we can then use his business cc....but then I have to add myself as an addtl driver!!

Exactly! We use our debit card for vacations, and I don't want to have money on hold for someone when I need it for the trip. That's why I love Alamo.

 

[goofy4tink]

If you are looking now for a car rental you will get quoted a huge price. You need to wait till 7-10 days before your trip to get the best price. Trust me. take a look at the June rental car thread that was started months ago. Those folks were being quote huge prices but I you look as their trip got closer their prices were around $125 for a week.

Make sure to ask Alamo if they will be running a credit check as well. Most agency do with a debit card rental.

I have also found that with Alamo/National, I have to show proof of round trip travel. I just bring my flight itinerary with me....that seems to negate the need for a credit check. To the best of my knowledge, Alamo has never done a credit check on us.