What to do in Orlando

[nutshell]

Our flight home after the cruise leaves at 7:20 pm. I guess that means we’ll have time to kill in Orlando.

Any suggestions?

Also, with such a late flight will we be able to transfer our bags to MCO after the cruise, or will we need to lug our bags around that day?

 

[cyclenut]

There are a few options.
You could go to Disney property and enjoy Disney Springs. It's basically a shopping and dining area, but it's still fun.
You could go to Port Canaveral and visit the Kennedy Space Center. Not really enough time to do that unless you got off the ship really early and hurried down there.
You could just go to the beach at Port Canaveral.

What we did is book a Snooze and Cruise package where the hotel allowed us to return to the Hotel after the cruise and they stored our luggage for us while we walked down to the beach. Showered off afterwards in their pool area showers and changed in the pool area bathrooms back at the Hotel then we took a shuttle to the airport. Very relaxing way to end the cruise. That was the Hampton Inn Port Canaveral.

Your issue really is what to do with your luggage. I'm not sure how that would work.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You could also rent a car/van after the cruise and store your luggage while you do other things. We like the Florida Mall for a few hours as it's close to the airport and I get my shopping fix.

 

[kenthanson]

We are in the same boat, our plan is to rent a van, go to Kennedy space centre and then over to mco.

 

[Shanti]

Our flight home after the cruise leaves at 7:20 pm. I guess that means we’ll have time to kill in Orlando.

Any suggestions?

Also, with such a late flight will we be able to transfer our bags to MCO after the cruise, or will we need to lug our bags around that day?

You can do Onboard Airline Check-In for your bags with a late flight, but to do so, you would have to take the DCL transfers to the airport, which would be expensive and take up a lot of time if your goal is to spend the day in Orlando. (You also must be flying on a participating airline.)

I recommend renting a car. That way your luggage can be stored in the trunk while you tour Orlando. If you rent the car coming in at the airport and park it at Port Canaveral during your cruise, you'll have the car waiting for you as soon as you disembark, which is awesome.

In summer, we would go to an Orlando-area waterpark (either one of the Disney ones or Aquatica). In other seasons, we would go to a Disney theme park. There are other things to do in the area, but we just can't pass the parks up when we're in the Orlando area and have time to visit.

 

[nutshell]

You could also rent a car/van after the cruise and store your luggage while you do other things. We like the Florida Mall for a few hours as it's close to the airport and I get my shopping fix.

Thanks. Where would you store your luggage? At the airport?

 

[nutshell]

We are in the same boat, our plan is to rent a van, go to Kennedy space centre and then over to mco.

Good idea! Where will you put your luggage?

 

[nutshell]

Thanks. Where would you store your luggage? At the airport?

Ignore my last post! Now I see you said “rent.” Thanks.

 

[nutshell]

Can you rent cars at the port?

 

[nutshell]

You can do Onboard Airline Check-In for your bags with a late flight, but to do so, you would have to take the DCL transfers to the airport, which would be expensive and take up a lot of time if your goal is to spend the day in Orlando. (You also must be flying on a participating airline.)

I recommend renting a car. That way your luggage can be stored in the trunk while you tour Orlando. If you rent the car coming in at the airport and park it at Port Canaveral during your cruise, you'll have the car waiting for you as soon as you disembark, which is awesome.

In summer, we would go to an Orlando-area waterpark (either one of the Disney ones or Aquatica). In other seasons, we would go to a Disney theme park. There are other things to do in the area, but we just can't pass the parks up when we're in the Orlando area and have time to visit.

Thanks! We’ll be at the parks a few days before the cruise. Maybe we’ll add one more at the end or just go to Kennedy’s Space Center.

 

[kenthanson]

Can you rent cars at the port?

Not sure if the car rental places are directly at the port or not but if not its super close. The avis site says that a shuttle will meet passengers at the pier.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. Where would you store your luggage? At the airport?

Dang I have to learn to re-read before pressing post.... I meant store your luggage in the rental vehicle.

I do remember seeing a thread once about a rental place, however. You might try a search and see if you can find anything. Sorry I'm not more help.