Where to stay before the disney crusie?

[Lou Rindner]

We are planning to go on the Disney Cruise in Sept 2005. I booked the trip. Can anyone suggest where I stay near the cruise the night before. I would like to be in Florida the day before we have to depart. I would hate to run late and miss the flight with my kids and miss the cruise. Thanks

 

[Doctor P]

Just stay at WDW on points if you have them to use. We stayed at the Courtyard in Cocoa Beach, and I don't think it was significantly more convenient to be that much closer to the port really. Of course, at the time we did not have the points to use, and we also didn't want to spend the money going to a park the day before. But we DID stop at DD to shop, LOL!

 

[disneydom]

We have stayed at the BWV one night before annd after the cruise the have bus transfers from the different hotels, we had the same concern about missing flights and this worked out great ::::::lhave fun

 

[ClarabelleCow]

you could also see if you could get a good deal at the Hyatt right at the airport! Then take the Disney bus to the cruise in the morning. The bus ride really put the kids in the Disney mood!!!

 

[Mary Anne]

We stayed at the Radisson @ the port. It was fine and I had no problems. However, if I had to do it again, I would have stayed at the airport and used Disney Transfers getting the first bus out in the morning to the port.

 

[berly1657]

We stayed at the Ron Jon a couple of nights before - we had a blast in the pool there. We rented a car for 2 days before and then 1 day for the ride back to the airport

Hint - if you rent a car, sign up for fastbreak through budget and you avoid the lines at the airport (saved us an hour)

 

[JimB.]

Stayed at the Cocoa Beach Hilton once & stayed @ SSR last time.

It makes no real difference where you stay. If you stay near the Port, you can be one of the 1st in check in line, but you then wait in the boarding queue for a while.

If you stay @ WDW, you can get up, have a nice easy breakfast and leisurely drive to the Port. By the time you get there, boarding will have started & you can check in & walk right on.

It worked both ways for us, & it's just a matter of preference for you. We found option number 2 to be a bit more relaxing and less stressful. When we stayed at the Port, it was "Get up, get up, get up!!!!! It's Time to Go!! NOW!!!! Move it!!!"

2 guesses who the Drill Instructor was................

 

[jdm]

Oh My, I'm having a good laugh over this. That was us, (or should I say me)! We checked in very early and had a loooooong wait and DH is one of those type A, spinner types. I think we'll get there a little bit later this time. Any ideas on the best time, to not be that late -- but not have the lines long?
Jenn

 

[kcashner]

It really depends on your priorities--cost, convenience, desire to be at WDW vs. near port, etc.

We usually book a 3* hotel near the airport thru Priceline. We can usually get this in the $31-35 range. We don't go below 3* in the MCO area because there is a nasty hotel in the 2.5* group. We've done 2.5* in other areas and been very happy. In the 3*, all the hotels include a free shuttle from the airport, so you can go back to MCO to catch the DCL shuttle if that is your plan to get to the port. You might even get "lucky" and get the Hyatt.

Our desire is just to be there the night before to avoid any "disasters" and to be closer to the port. Since we are talking about a reasonably late arrival, we don't want to do Disney...or pay to get to WDW on Friday nite. If you really want to be near the port, get a room in the Cocoa Beach area. Of course, you'll need a private limo service or car to get there....there is a shuttle to Port Canaveral for $3 per person from the Cocoa area hotels.

 

[hopelea]

Our first time we stayed at the Radisson at the port. This next trip in April we are staying at a Comfort Inn in Titusville. We will be driving down from Alabama. Cost is a big factor for us. We didn't want to pay the high price of the Radisson then pay for parking too. We are staying at Comfort Inn for $60, it is only 25 miles from the port. As excited as I will be, it won't be a problem getting up and to the port AS SOON AS IT OPENS!

 

[TooPure4u]

Originally posted by berly1657
We stayed at the Ron Jon a couple of nights before - we had a blast in the pool there. We rented a car for 2 days before and then 1 day for the ride back to the airport

Hint - if you rent a car, sign up for fastbreak through budget and you avoid the lines at the airport (saved us an hour)

TY berly....I had a ressie for a car and after seeing your hint...i went and signed up for fastbreak.....thanks a million for the tip....i know it will save me time

 

[berly1657]

too pure4u - your welcome - unfortunately our friends did not do the fastbreak and we had to wait an hour for them...very frustrating. Not a good way to start a vacation...

 

[DisneyZell]

we stayed at the Courtyard Cocoa Beach. We rented from National at the aiport in a one way rental (about $40). Got up, ate a nice Breakfast, then returned the car and took a cab ($15) to the port. the Courtyard there is beautiful, and we paid $89 for the night. A bit more expensive, but I prefer Marriott when I can't go Disney!

I wonder why Disney doesn't put a hotel in there at the port...they would pretty much guarantee to be sold out at least 2 nights a week (with the Wonder and the Magic), and because of the location, would most likely be booked up other times. Oh well, good luck, and have fun!

 

[daisy112878]

First off what cruise in Sept are you going on? My DH and I are on the Sept 10-17 cruise. Just wondering if you were.

We are flying in on friday morning and renting a car from Budget ($33). We are thinking about going to Universal for the day. Then we are staying at the Courtyard Cocoa Beach (it's free with Marriott points) for the night. We looked at dave's site for hotel picks and car rental advice.

 

[erikthewise]

You can stay just about anywhere, esp if you have a rental car. We are arrriving around noon the day before, staying at VWL on points, then driving to the port on cruise morning. You don't have to get up particularly early to arrive early at the port.

 

[logan1_2000]

The options here differ if you are arriving by plane or if you are driving. Post above from Alabama mentioned staying in Titusville, 25 miles away, and that is such a quick drive on the morning of boarding. We do something similar--from Atlanta if sailing on the Magic on Saturday, we drive after work (and after Atlanta's hellacious rush hour) as far as Jacksonville, about 350 miles, then call it a night because by then it is at least midnight. The last 2 1/2 hours the next morning on I-95 still get us to the ship at or before the commencement of boarding.

For the Wonder in January, could drive all the way to near the Port on Saturday before Sunday embarkation, but probably just pack on Saturday morning and drive to Jax again. Not guaranteed to be warm enough to enjoy the Ron Jon pool or anything like that in January.

 

[antmaril]

We arrive the day before around 1:30 p.m We are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge that night and will get up in the morning and drive to the port. I stayed once years ago in Cocoa Beach and it was fine, but I enjoy the Disney area better. Since we have a rental car, there is really no advantage to driving to the port the day before. I am not in a big hurry to board in the morning. We will have a relaxing breakfast at Boma and then be on our way. If I can make a brunch reservation for Palo when we board, fine, if not, that's fine too. I'm on vacation and I'm not going to sweat the small stuff.