Where do you stay the night before?

[waltskids]

We are going on a cruise in November for 3 nights but plan to arrive the night before. Are their any hotels near the cruise terminal that are close the the ships or offer a shuttle? We would like to get to the ship early. Thanks for any adivce!

 

[DrCavin]

Daves website is a great source for this info:
http://www.dcltribute.com/

The Radison offers free shuttle to/from the port. Ron Jon's is becoming a popular choice for staying as well. I don't think they offer a free shuttle, but a shuttle service was offered at a very reasonable choice.

If you rent a car, then any of the hotels in the area would be fine. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, which is in Cocoa, brand new hotel & was very nice. About 15 minutes from the port.

 

[kcashner]

All of the Cocoa Beach hotels use the same shuttle service (except the Radisson) for $3 per person.

We usually get an MCO area Priceline room. You will want to stick to 3* hotels (because there is a very bad 2.5*). You can usually get a 3* for about $35. For info on priceline bidding, go to biddingfortravel.com

 

[musicgirl]

Yes, Art's shuttle does the shuttles, but they will not schedule a pick up until 12:00. I was this is because they don't allow people in until that time anyway. Which of course is not the case.

We took a cab from the Hampton (about 4.5 miles) for $15 for the 3 of us.

Lorie

 

[CurtS]

This is our first DCL, but using the advice from the fine folks here and doing some checking, I found out that staying at a motel near MCO (we opted for the Holiday Inn Select with free breakfast bar since we have six kids) and renting a limo was the most reasonable. It was cheaper than the Hyatt and Radisson and Happy Limo will pick us up at the Holiday Inn Select at 9:30 a.m. and should have us to the Port by around 10:30 a.m.

 

[jin diesel]

CurtS, how much was the limo? There are only 2 of us so if it's in the $100s - a limo is definitely out of the question in our case!

 

[kpros]

We have done the Hyatt twice before. It worked out well.

We are going to try the Embassy Suites just outside the airport this year for the 10 day Xmas cruise. I like the extra space the Embassy Suites room provides.

Ken

 

[ImNarek]

The last cruise we did we stayed at the Hyatt at the airport because we arrived quite late the night before. Its a nice hotel, nice room, but I felt like I was simply "waiting" until our trip started. So this time I'm doing something different.

We're arriving in at 6:30pm (which is about as early as you can get to Orlando from Seattle in one day) and Art's Shuttle is going to meet us at baggage claim and drive us to The Inn at Cocoa Beach. Art's Shuttle will be $55 (plus gratuity)- not bad for the two of us - and my DH and I can both relax - neither of us has to drive after a day of flying. The Inn is walking distance of Ron Jons Surf Shop, so we can check that out Friday night. Its also right on the beach, so I can go walking on the beach Saturday morning and feel like I'm already on vacation while my DH sleeps in and feels like he's on vacation.

Our room rate is $110 which includes a full, homemade breakfast and transportation to the port (via Art's Shuttle), though the shuttle picks us up at 11:45, so I may choose to take a taxi instead if I decide we need to be there early! This whole start sounds like soo much more fun!

And its thanks to Dave's website, dcltribute.com, and these boards that I got up the guts to "do something different". Thanks!

 

[dianna-tn]

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn at the Airport in Orlando in June of this year. I would not recommend it. The carpet was dirty and the staff acted like we were an inconvience since we arrive at 11pm. We made it fine there, but I would not recommend it if you could get a good deal somewhere else.

 

[glindamood]

We stayed at the Four Points Sheraton the night before our 2000 cruise, Radisson at the Port for our second cruise, Ameri?Suites on our third and will be staying at the Holiday Inn Select at the airport for our September cruise. We always rented with Avis and used the Radisson shuttle but since that is no longer an option we are going with Budget this time, hope it works as well for us as it has for everyone else that has used it.

Edited to say Four Points Sheraton.

 

[PiperG]

We like to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. Please don't flame me when I tell you why. . . .

Right behind that hotel is a Hooters restaurant. DS is always so excited after our flight, so we go there and let him run around and be loud. DS is very charasmatic, and typically the waitresses give him lots of attention. Last time, we bought him a Hooters football, and two waitresses played catch with him in the lobby area, and signed his ball. They also entertained him with hula hoops.


O.k. . . I know that sounds odd, but that is why we like the HGI

 

[din]

Originally posted by kpros
We have done the Hyatt twice before. It worked out well.

We are going to try the Embassy Suites just outside the airport this year for the 10 day Xmas cruise. I like the extra space the Embassy Suites room provides.

Ken

Ken: Are you refering to the Embassy Suites north of the airport? If yes, just a word of caution. We stayed this past April and did not not like it. Like you, we love the Embassy due to it's rooms and also the breakfast. With two growing boys this can be a BIG plus!!!

The reasons why we were disappointed:
1. The rooms were not as clean and had a strange smell.
2. The breakfast was not fully "stocked". We had to ask for items that they kept aside.
3. The staff was not friendly.
4. There was a charge for a movie that I had to argue that the time it was charged we were at dinner in Universal Studios. They almost did not want to remove it.

Maybe it was an off week at this articular Embassy suite. I had wonder stays at many other Embassy, but I do not think I will be back at this particular one.

 

[Donnainnj]

you forgot to mention your son is 17, right?
Donna

 

[KarenB]

We just stayed at the Holiday Inn Select at MCO on July 2. DH got it through Priceline for $50. I have heard that it can be priced cheaper than that. We had FL Tours pick us up there at 9:30 am. We did the breakfast bar with our children (ages 14 and 15) but did NOT see anything about a free buffet/breakfast.

It was clean, had a nice pool, and TGI Fridays was across the street. We would stay there again for a night before the cruise.

Karen

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

We have reservations at the Radisson for our cruise in November.

We added an extra night to our ressie since we recently decided to leave 1 day earlier, and they even have us scheduled already for the 10:00 shuttle on cruise morning.

10:00 is the earliest they start shuttle service, and the parking at the Radisson is included so that saves $70.00 right there.

We also found out tonight that they have added a 3rd shuttle van since business has been so busy. There is also McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts right across the street. Ron Jons is 3 miles away, and the port is only 1 mile away, so the shuttle gets there in just minutes.

(edited to add) We got the internet saver rate of $85.00 per night, ($93.50 with tax)

 

[rcdisneyfam]

We stayed at the Radison twice and really enjoyed it. Would stay there again. No problems with the "free" shuttle to the port. The Hilton Garden Inn might be our next choice seeing DS and DH like to "checkout" new Hooters.

 

[PiperG]

Originally posted by rcdisneyfam
The Hilton Garden Inn might be our next choice seeing DS and DH like to "checkout" new Hooters.

LOL. Yes, you should check out the HGI. Its very clean and the shuttle to and from the airport is very prompt, if you are taking DCL transfers.

 

[Mickey4us]

Last May we booked Days Inn just outside of DD thru Hotelkingdom.com for 38.00. We rented a car from Budget and started our vacation with a trip to DD, dinner and picking up our "beverages" at Goodings. I'm planning to do the same for my next cruise, May '05.

 

[CurtS]

Thank you so much, KarenB, for the heads-up on breakfast. It listed a complimentary breakfast on AAA's site but when I called to confirm that after your post, they do charge $9.25 for adults and free for children under 12. We're considering moving to the Embassy Suites since it is only about $10 more and has a lot more room (lots of luggage, you know). Has anyone stayed there? I've seen many recommendations and some warnings on this site about MCO hotels. Any ideas about Embassy Suites MCO?

 

[crisi]

We did the Radisson last time, but with no car, won't do it again - no place we really wanted to walk to within walking distance. But the drive was pretty easy, and I think next time I might try and talk my husband into a cheap rental.

If we were to arrive early in the day (last time we were at the hotel by 2:00), I think I'd stay at a Disney resort. Way expensive (I actually wanted to stay at AKL, was too cheap, and regret it) but we know the quality will be there, the kids will have a wonderful pool, and we will have no problem eating a few good meals. Late (which is when we will probably arrive next time), we'd just stay at the MCO Hyatt - not cheap either, but something appealling about getting off the plane and rolling into bed if you arrive at 11:00pm with two kids.