Where to stay the night before...

[goin2dzny]

If we fly into Orlando on Friday Night (late), Where is the best Economical place to stay ?

 

[wovenwonder]

There are lots of options. Are you using DCL transportation to the ship or considering on of the (possilby cheaper) other options such as rental car or town car service?

If you are going to use DCL transportation the most convenient is to stay at the Hyatt which is located right in the Orlando Airport. They pick up your luggage in the AM and the next time you see it is in your stateroom. You meet the DCL buses in the Hyatt lobby. VERY CONVENIENT but may not be the most economical.

Many people have used Priceline or a similar service to book airport area hotels for under $40 night! Be sure you request an airport area hotel with shuttle service.

If you are considering renting a car you may want to stay in the coca beach area -- near the port. We stayed at the Hampton Inn in April -- and loved spending the day near the beach -- Cocoa Beach area is beautiful. Plus you are close to Port Canaveral if you decide to visit there the day before. Dave has many options for space coast area lodging (as well as transportation options)on his website at:
www.dcltribute.com

 

[goin2dzny]

Very, Very MUCH!!!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

This is one of those things where you have to decide how much the convenience is worth. On our previous two adventures we did everything through Disney (I have a friend who was in the travel biz for years and still keeps her "credentials" up for advice) because we were doing a land/sea combo.

This next trip is sea only so we started doing some research. It didn't take us long to discover (at least from our area) that we weren't going to save much on airfare booking our own flights. As much as DH likes being online and researching stuff, travel info was driving us both crazy. It changes all the time - so we did it all through Disney, flying in a day early and staying right at the airport. For us the convenience was worth it.

The only other option we seriously considered was getting in two days early and doing the car rental with a drop at the port so we could see Cape Canaveral, but DS won't be home from football camp until Thursday evening. As it is we're hoping that flight isn't too early!

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I have a list of MCO-area hotels at my web site...

www.dcltribute.com/lodging/MCO/

There are some inexpensive options. But if you try your luck, you could get a decent rate via Priceline.com or Hotwire.com. Although it's not common, some DISers have gotten the Hyatt Regency or the Renaissance for as low as $25 (plus taxes and fees). All hotels near MCO have courtesy shuttles although not all of them operate after midnight.

And, as wovenwonder mentioned, if you are flying in early enough the night before, perhaps you'd prefer to head out to the Space Coast (<i>'cause there ain't much to do around the airport!!!</i>).

 

[DisneyKids]

We have driven over to the space coast after arrival and have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. Inexpensive, convenient, etc. We have arrived at MCO late but figured we'd rather drive late and be close in the morning than get up early and drive. We rent a car from Avis, do the drop off and shuttle to the ship, thing the morning we sail. Works great and makes embarkation day very relaxed and smooth.

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

We are staying in the radission the night before the cruise. It''s about 1 1/2 miles from the dock - we used the fall rate and it was 59.00 for the night. They also have a shuttle that goes o the boat. I hope this helps.

Stacy

 

[Julie 363]

DisneyKids,
Can you tell me where you had to drop off the rental car from Avis? and what shuttle did you take over to the port?
Thanks for any information

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Julie 363

Can you tell me where you had to drop off the rental car from Avis? and what shuttle did you take over to the port?

The Avis office is just a few steps from the front lobby of the Radisson, on the Radisson property. Both the Radisson shuttle and the Avis shuttle pull up to the front door of the Radisson.

 

[Julie 363]

Thanks

 

[DisneyKids]

Julie 363 - As Dave says, it's right at the Radisson. The whole thing is very easy to do. We wouldn't do it any other way.