Where to stay night before cruise?

[RoseMom]

Getting super excited about our 1st Disney cruise in August. However, we still need to make reservations for the night before the cruise. We are driving down from NC the day before and looking at staying at Country Inn and Suites in Cape Canaveral. Any thoughts on this or any other recommendations? Doing Disney World after the cruise so wanting to stay closer to the port prior to the cruise.

 

[Bambi D.]

We always do WDW prior to the cruise so I can't really suggest anywhere off Disney property. HOWEVER, I would strongly suggest having your own car take you to the port instead of the Disney Cruise Line bus. You an elect to arrive earlier than any of the buses and avoid the massive crowds as they arrive by the busload. Don't get me wrong --- the port will get shoulder to shoulder crowded but we were able to get checked in and a boarding assignment prior to the first bus getting there. We staked out a seating area to wait for permission to board and I was SOOO glad we did.

 

[squirk]

Hard to recommend anything without knowing more about your party, your budget, etc. If you are just looking for a place to crash, I am sure the Country Inn will do just fine. However, I do not believe that hotel offers you the 40% port parking voucher, found here: http://www.portcanaveral.com/PortCanaveral/media/Cruise-Assets/Parking-Voucher-Program_7.pdf

 

[Keyser]

A big part of this will depend on how you want to handle parking. Some hotels have the discount voucher the previous poster mentioned (I think the Country Inn and Suites DOES participate). A few have stay-and-park packages (including parking throughout your cruise as part of the cost) - I believe the Country Inn and Suites, Residence Inn, Radisson, and Homewood Suites all have these packages. The stay-and-park will be cheaper than the port (even with the discount voucher, from when I checked), and you leave your car parked at the hotel. You take a hotel shuttle to the port and back (be aware - some hotels limit the number of "free" people per shuttle while others will have no-charge shuttles for anyone in your party).

My only experience is several years ago when we stayed at the Radisson and used their stay-and-park package. We liked it fine, though this year we looked around at more options. My take from researching the stay-and-park options online (for the time of our trip) was that the Residence Inn was the nicest but most expensive option, Homewood Suites is brand new (so probably very nice for now) but somewhat more expensive, Radisson was a little more dated but good value, and Country Inn and Suites was a solid choice and slightly cheaper. We are going with Country Inn and Suites, doing a park-and-stay package, ourselves. I can say how it was in a few weeks...

 

[TestingH2O]

We always do WDW prior to the cruise so I can't really suggest anywhere off Disney property. HOWEVER, I would strongly suggest having your own car take you to the port instead of the Disney Cruise Line bus. You an elect to arrive earlier than any of the buses and avoid the massive crowds as they arrive by the busload. Don't get me wrong --- the port will get shoulder to shoulder crowded but we were able to get checked in and a boarding assignment prior to the first bus getting there. We staked out a seating area to wait for permission to board and I was SOOO glad we did.

I think that was probably an anomaly. Typically, the first bus from the airport arrives before the port is officially open. Last May, two buses got in before they opened the doors to the public! Our CM described the drivers that day as especially efficient.

Regardless though, taking a DCL bus from a resort will almost guarantee you a later port arrival.

 

[lillygator]

we are staying at the radisson resort at the port this december. shuttle and breakfast included.

 

[Floridatinaherb]

Getting super excited about our 1st Disney cruise in August. However, we still need to make reservations for the night before the cruise. We are driving down from NC the day before and looking at staying at Country Inn and Suites in Cape Canaveral. Any thoughts on this or any other recommendations? Doing Disney World after the cruise so wanting to stay closer to the port prior to the cruise.

We stayed there a few years back prior to a cruise. Was a nice location (we actually could see the ship from our room), decent price and was pretty decent as far as hotels go. We did not use their stay and park option, we always park at the terminal, just our personal preference.

 

[kickash]

We stayed there last summer before our cruise. We had a rental car and drove ourselves to the port and parked there in the garage for the 5 nights. Hotel was nice, good price, and had breakfast included. We would stay there again.

 

[phinz]

We usually stay at the Residence Inn, right next to Country Inn. Next time we're switching it up and heading down the road to Courtyard by Marriott because it's less points and we get a parking voucher.

 

[steves100]

We have stayed at a few near Canaveral, like the Residence the best, lately stay at WDW since we are DVC memebers

 

[DONALDDUC]

we are staying at the radisson resort at the port this december. shuttle and breakfast included.

We are also staying at Radisson for Dec 2 cruise. Have stayed before and liked it but I dont remember if there is a store in walking distance to buy beer and wine.

 

[Ngwira]

Getting super excited about our 1st Disney cruise in August. However, we still need to make reservations for the night before the cruise. We are driving down from NC the day before and looking at staying at Country Inn and Suites in Cape Canaveral. Any thoughts on this or any other recommendations? Doing Disney World after the cruise so wanting to stay closer to the port prior to the cruise.

We are doing the country inn and suites park and cruise package next week. I think it's a solid choice as it's the closest hotel to the port. And FREE breakfast and shuttle.

 

[rcchello]

As long as a big event is not going on, Daytona Beach is a great place to stay. I found a better environment for tourists than around the Cruise port.

 

[Naomi Collison]

So do any of them offer a free shuttle without the parking package? We will be spending the week before at WDW and are debating a hotel in Port Canaveral the night before we leave but we wont need parking. We will just need a shuttle ride the next day (or to know the location to check in is less than a quarter mile away with sidewalks)

 

[Dug720]

When we were on a family trip we stayed there and it was fine. Then my parents have since stayed there before a cruise or two. Trust me - if it was bad my parents would NOT be repeat visitors.

 

[Mitura]

We love the Country Inn and Suites. This will be our 4th stay with them. We drive down from Phila and get there around midnight. You get free cookies (which the kids enjoy at midnight). We do the park and cruise package. The park and cruise package means you park on the hotel property for the length of your cruise, you move your car out towards the highway on the gravel lot, compared to the paved lot directly next to the hotel.

The park and cruise I believe is a great price.

Just so you know, the hotel offers a shuttle to the terminal. To get on the shuttle list you have to call 24 hours in advance. So if you are leaving Sunday morning call first thing when you wake up Saturday to get put on the shuttle list to get to the terminal early. You can't get on the list early (like during booking). We call at 3 am when we get on the road the previous day.

Plus the shuttle bypasses the line of cars trying to get to the terminal. For us it saves us some hassle. Just remember to tip your driver.

We get the room where the kids stay in a little partitioned off room from us. Plus you get a complementary breakfast the morning of the departure. And the place has a pool, though we have never used it.

The hotel is nice, clean and serves our purposes well. Though it is no 4 Seasons. We like it for its convenience and price.

Joe