Which Car Rental Has The Best Shuttle To The Port?

[MickeyEars]

Please help this cruise newbie that knows not what she's doing!!!
We're arriving 2 days prior to our cruise and staying at Pop Century. We are going to rent a car at the airport so we can drive ourselves to the Port because we don't want to be late using Disney transfers.
Which car rental company shuttle can get us to the Port without incident. Are the shuttles continuous? I wanted opinions before we book.

Also while I have your attention... Can we drop off our checked luggage at the Port before returning the car? If so, can you please tell me how to go about it? I have no idea how this works so details would be so appreciated!!!

Thanks for your help!!

Carla

 

[jcarwash]

I've used Hertz and Avis for Port Canaveral rentals, and I've consistently had good experiences with the Hertz office. Even their shuttle could have a bad day, but I've liked the service I've gotten.

And yes, dropping your luggage (and group) before returning the car is easy:
1. Drive to the port and say you're dropping people off.
2. Turn your luggage over to the porters waiting for you. Make sure to tip them.
3. Your group can take all the passports and enter the port terminal, and they can do the DCL check in without the driver.
4. The driver takes the car back to the rental office and takes the shuttle back to the port. The driver needs their license as ID to enter the port terminal.

 

[mmouse37]

There are several car rental companies in the area, all with shuttles, all hit or miss on any given day. We have used many of them and I can't really say one shuttle was better than another.

Payless, Hertz, Budget, Thrifty/Dollar, Avis, National/Alamo/Enterprise

We have very often done what you plan to do. We pick up a rental at the airport (I like having a car on WDW property), stay at WDW and then drive ourselves to the port (first dropping off luggage) and then return the car.

A hint: Only have 1 person go return the car and hop the shuttle. Much easier for one person to get on the shuttle than a whole family. The other people can be dropped at the terminal with the luggage and start the check in process in the terminal.

Or, if you didn't want a car for the 2 days at WDW you could take the complimentary Magical Express from MCO to Disney resort and then rent a car on Disney property for the day of the cruise and return near the port. You can find the car rental agencies on WDW property here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/how-to-rent-a-car-at-walt-disney-world/

MJ

 

[BelleWannabe4]

I used National because we got a good deal. I did NOT think that their shuttle service was efficient at all - it took us an hour to get from the car drop-off to the port. Granted, they might have been having a bad day or maybe we just hit them at a bad time. We missed a shuttle leaving and then they made us wait to "fill up" the shuttle with cruise passengers who got dropped off first. Again, this was just my experience. I'm sure there are days when it is better.

 

[MickeyEars]

Well that sounds easy enough... Thank you very much for your help!!

 

[MouseMomx2]

We have used just about all of them and they are aLL equal, IMO. I would just go with whichever one is cheapest.

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks again everyone for your help!! There's so much for a cruise newbie to learn but I'm getting there.

Carla

 

[Weedy]

It's not really the company but how many ships are in port the day you sail. There are a few sites that can tell you how many ships will be in port when you sail.

Here is one: http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-from-port-canaveral-florida.html


If there are a lot of ships in port you may want to get a cab from the car rental agency. It may cost a few $$ but worth it. Sometimes you can someone who will catch the cab with you and split the cost.


We are cruising out of Miami over Christmas (thankfully driving our own car). The day we leave there are 3 ships in port. They day we get back 6!! Yikes that will make it much harder on people trying to rent cars and catch transportation.


I think it would be easier to drop everyone at the port before returning the car. There is an area right in front of the cruise terminal. You can pull up and porters will take all the bags from the car. For the people getting dropped off make sure you have a day bag with you with the paperwork for your cruise, passports/birth certificates, credit card and ID. You can go into the terminal and begin the checkin process.

For the person returning the car -ID to get into the terminal and a credit card (may be needed to return the car).

 

[kylaura]

Can you start the checkin and get your boarding number if a person of your party is missing?
What time do the porters start taking luggage? Trying to juggle an early PAT.

 

[vakamalua]

[QUOTE="Weedy, post: 54138005, member: 197354
If there are a lot of ships in port you may want to get a cab from the car rental agency. It may cost a few $$ but worth it. Sometimes you can someone who will catch the cab with you and split the cost.[/QUOTE]

How would you get a cab from the rental agency? Do you have to call and arrange for one ahead of time?

 

[Weedy]

Can you start the checkin and get your boarding number if a person of your party is missing?
What time do the porters start taking luggage? Trying to juggle an early PAT.

You can usually get into the luggage drop off/ parking around 10am. The terminal doesn't open until 10:30. You will get the same boarding # regardless when you check in. Your boarding # is tied to your PAT.
You can begin the check in process. The person dropping off the car will need to get his photo taken once they arrive.

 

[Weedy]

[QUOTE="Weedy, post: 54138005, member: 197354
If there are a lot of ships in port you may want to get a cab from the car rental agency. It may cost a few $$ but worth it. Sometimes you can someone who will catch the cab with you and split the cost.

How would you get a cab from the rental agency? Do you have to call and arrange for one ahead of time?[/QUOTE]

You can just call. But again if there are lots of ships in port you may want to call before hand and prebook. Port Canaveral/ Cocoa Beach is still a small town not sure how many cab companies are available.