Where to stay pre cruise?

[Kimberly9701]

Flying in to MCO day before our Fantasy cruise, Is it easier to stay in Orlando, or closer to port? Preferred hotels/transportation?
I have transfers booked through Disney already, but thinking about cancelling them for quite a few reasons.

I moved to Cincinnati from Boca Raton 3 years ago, the last cruise I went on I obviously did not have to worry about any of this out of Port Everglades.

 

[c todd]

Hyatt at MCO is the easiest.

 

[Mama Lisa 911]

We have stayed at both the Hyatt inside the airport and the Hampton Inn @Gateway. The Hyatt is certainly more convenient, however your dining options are limited to the fast food court. The Hampton is a quick shuttle ride from the airport. There are several restaurants within a 1-5 minute walk of the hotel, such as a IHOP and a steakhouse. Both hotels are very clean and friendly, you cant go wrong with either! Our family really enjoys taking the Disney Bus to the port. They show cartoons/info videos on the way. The seats are very comfy and there is a bathroom on board also. The bus lets you off right at the entrance of the Disney Terminal.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We have stayed at both the Hyatt inside the airport and the Hampton Inn @Gateway. The Hyatt is certainly more convenient, however your dining options are limited to the fast food court. The Hampton is a quick shuttle ride from the airport. There are several restaurants within a 1-5 minute walk of the hotel, such as a IHOP and a steakhouse. Both hotels are very clean and friendly, you cant go wrong with either! Our family really enjoys taking the Disney Bus to the port. They show cartoons/info videos on the way. The seats are very comfy and there is a bathroom on board also. The bus lets you off right at the entrance of the Disney Terminal.

I'm worried about the return trip..maybe I'll keep the Disney transfers for one way then.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We have stayed at both the Hyatt inside the airport and the Hampton Inn @Gateway. The Hyatt is certainly more convenient, however your dining options are limited to the fast food court. The Hampton is a quick shuttle ride from the airport. There are several restaurants within a 1-5 minute walk of the hotel, such as a IHOP and a steakhouse. Both hotels are very clean and friendly, you cant go wrong with either! Our family really enjoys taking the Disney Bus to the port. They show cartoons/info videos on the way. The seats are very comfy and there is a bathroom on board also. The bus lets you off right at the entrance of the Disney Terminal.

And the 2 restaurants onsite at the Hyatt.
And room service.
http://orlandoairport.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining.html

 

[sparklinducky]

We stayed at the Hyatt and loved it! it was a very easy to take the shuttle to the port the next morning. The food at the cafe in the Hyatt is pretty good.

 

[TestingH2O]

We are staying at the Homewood Suites at the airport.

Pros: 2 bedroom suite so there are 2 bathrooms and we don't all have to go to bed with DD; breakfast is included; several non-fast food options for dinner; the suite costs the same as 1 standard room at the Hyatt; we collect Hilton points.

Cons: We will shuttle between the hotel and the airport.

We are trying DCL transfers for the first time. With 4 people, it's a wash between transfers and a private car. With the money we save on the day we arrive, we are getting a day room at the Hyatt the day we leave and still coming out ahead.

 

[amanda12404]

I have a question about Homewood Suites...is there a pool? I am trying to figure out a good hotel for the night before and like the idea of a two bedroom but want the kids to have something to do...

 

[phinz]

Is one easier than the other? That complete depends on your definition of easier and your preferences.

 

[RedSox68]

We have stayed at both the Hyatt inside the airport and the Hampton Inn @Gateway. The Hyatt is certainly more convenient, however your dining options are limited to the fast food court. The Hampton is a quick shuttle ride from the airport. There are several restaurants within a 1-5 minute walk of the hotel, such as a IHOP and a steakhouse. Both hotels are very clean and friendly, you cant go wrong with either! Our family really enjoys taking the Disney Bus to the port. They show cartoons/info videos on the way. The seats are very comfy and there is a bathroom on board also. The bus lets you off right at the entrance of the Disney Terminal.

We've stayed at the Hyatt several times -- and they have an array of dining options within the hotel facility: http://orlandoairport.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining.html. We have done both the food court for a quick dinner, and eaten at McCoy's. We thought the Hyatt was so incredibly convenient -- you never have to go outside and when you register and tell them you are on a Disney cruise, they will give you the information upon check in for everything from what to do with your luggage the next morning to when to meet them in the lobby. The buses start leaving the hotel at 9 a.m., so you get to the port earlier than resort guests.

And they do have a heated pool. http://orlandoairport.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/activities.html

 

[ludari]

I have stayed on site at WDW and near the ports for several of my cruises and typically I choose to stay on WDW property before a cruise only because I like to visit the parks as well. However I did enjoy the one time I stayed in near the port (Radisson at the port) which was very convenient when taking a shuttle from the hotel to the port.

 

[disfunfor3]

The option I prefer and would recommend is to stay at the Hyatt at the hotel-we did this on our second cruise. Disney comes to your room in the AM to collect your bags. You don't see them again until on board.
Our first cruise we rented a car and stayed in a hotel closer to the port, then took a shuttle over to the port. Not as convenient, more to worry about. We decided staying at the hotel in the airport is much easier. The disney transfers were fun, too.

 

[Ozarkglittergirl]

Just now finding out about Hyatt! All of my questions are answered--this board truly is a blessing.
Ozarkglittergirl

 

[ZerasPride]

We stayed at WDW before our first cruise earlier this year and will be doing so again next year. We are DVC so it's a pretty easy decision. It was very convenient since we booked DCL transfers. We stayed at AKV and our pick up time was 11:00 or 11:30. A CM picked up our bags around 8:30 and we enjoyed a lovely Boma breakfast before boarding the shuttle. We stopped at one other resort and then we were off to the port. Think we arrived around 12:30.

 

[Blended Disney]

We stayed at Comfort Inn on Cocoa Beach before and after last cruise. The suites were reasonable in price and size and in good order. They helped arrange transportation from MCO and to port and back very reasonably priced. We really appreciated not having to do the hour drive to the port. Within walking distance of the beach (300 feet or so) too.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We stayed at WDW before our first cruise earlier this year and will be doing so again next year. We are DVC so it's a pretty easy decision. It was very convenient since we booked DCL transfers. We stayed at AKV and our pick up time was 11:00 or 11:30. A CM picked up our bags around 8:30 and we enjoyed a lovely Boma breakfast before boarding the shuttle. We stopped at one other resort and then we were off to the port. Think we arrived around 12:30.

We are staying at CR post cruise. Have you ever done WDW after? Any idea what time I can expect to arrive at our resort..or how many stops we will make?

 

[Kimberly9701]

We stayed at Comfort Inn on Cocoa Beach before and after last cruise. The suites were reasonable in price and size and in good order. They helped arrange transportation from MCO and to port and back very reasonably priced. We really appreciated not having to do the hour drive to the port. Within walking distance of the beach (300 feet or so) too.

I'm looking at 2 options now - comfort inn or country inn and suites. I think we are going to do Kennedy space center the day before the cruise. If so then I will prob rent a car but return that same night.
Do you know if there is a rental car location close to comfort inn?

 

[Ozarkglittergirl]

Does anyone know pickup time for Hyatt?

 

[Praying Colonel]

We are staying at CR post cruise. Have you ever done WDW after? Any idea what time I can expect to arrive at our resort..or how many stops we will make?

We did this for a 3-day Bahamas cruise in January. We did DCL transfer--we got on the bus a little before 8. The bus didn't leave until just before 9, even though everybody who was going had boarded long before that. We arrived at Pop around 10:15--we were the 2nd stop after AoA.

 

[sdjen]

If you stay at the Hyatt, you just go downstairs and check in for the bus to the port. I believe the first bus leave about 9 am as it gets filled.