Why Not?

[magicplace4me]

A Rental car to the Port?
I see alot of talk about transportation to the port and was wondering why a rental car does not seem to be a preferred option to many. We are arriving the day before our 1st cruise, staying at the Raddison and have a rental car for $32 - much cheaper than any other transportation I can find. The only use I see for the car is airport to hotel, hotel to port (drop off one of us with the kids) then the other adult returns the car to budget and free shuttles back to the port. Not great use or greater convenience but still much less expensive.

I know the whole relaxing, I don't need to drive thing. I even do that from home, but then I'm looking at great savings on gas & parking as well. Here the difference will pay for our hotel!

Am I missing something?

 

[Dreamer04]

Doesn't the Radisson have a shuttle to the port?

 

[magicplace4me]

Yes but I have to return the rental car anyway.

 

[webray]

A Rental car to the Port?
I see alot of talk about transportation to the port and was wondering why a rental car does not seem to be a preferred option to many. We are arriving the day before our 1st cruise, staying at the Raddison and have a rental car for $32 - much cheaper than any other transportation I can find. The only use I see for the car is airport to hotel, hotel to port (drop off one of us with the kids) then the other adult returns the car to budget and free shuttles back to the port. Not great use or greater convenience but still much less expensive.

I know the whole relaxing, I don't need to drive thing. I even do that from home, but then I'm looking at great savings on gas & parking as well. Here the difference will pay for our hotel!

Am I missing something?

A rental car is definately the greatest convenience. You will love having it while you are in the port area. Just be sure to have your hubby drop you/family off at port and then return the car and ride the shuttle back from budget all by himself. This will be a huge timesaver. You/kids can check in and get in line to get on ship, hubby can come through and join you when he is ready. Just make sure hubby keeps a photo id with him.

 

[mmouse37]

I do not think renting a car is the least favored option on this board....it is split pretty evenly....some like the idea of not driving while on vacation and I would say the same amount prefer to be in control and have the convenience of a rental (me included!!!). We have cruised 13 times on DCL and only took their transportation twice...our first cruise and then once again when we were travelling with friends and they wanted to try it so we went along.

Our preferred method is renting a car...either from Avis or Budget. I check each website and try all codes available for discounts and pick the rental agency who gives the best price at the time I want to go. When we debark the ship we go pick up our car and spend the day doing what we want before our usual late day flight home!

MJ

 

[KensJen]

We are renting a car also. We always do, we like to be more in control of what time we get to the port, etc. And it is lots cheaper than most of the other options.

I know a lot of people here talk about it, and are doing it as well.

 

[imomtojd]

We're renting a car also.

Lisa

 

[TheWog]

I don't know if it is the greatest convenience since you have to drop the luggage and family at the terminal, then drop the car off and take the shuttle back instead of just landing at the terminal and going inside, but the savings can certainly make up for that. If that's what you would like to do I don't see anything wrong with it and I think many will agree with you and have done it themselves. Go for it.

 

[Cruise]

I looked into renting a car, but just decided I'd actually rather pay the extra money for DCL transportation than go thru the hassle of picking up the rental car. We've traveled quite a bit lately when we've had to rent a car. I don't like having to bother with standing in line, getting the contract done, checking the car for scratches, making sure I can find a gas station to refuel, waiting to turn the car back in, waiting for the shuttle, etc.

We're flying in the night before and staying at the Hyatt. I liked the idea that I could get my luggage the night before like any normal trip, and then just set it outside my door the next morning and not see it again till I was on the ship.

I guess it all depends on perspective as to which option seems like more trouble to each of us

Julie

 

[erikthewise]

We have used rental cars because we do a 3- or 4-day cruise in connection with a WDW visit. And I love it! The rental for our entire 8-10 day stay plus $30-$40 parking still comes out less than DCL transfers for four people. And it is so nice at the end of the voyage to just walk over to your car and drive away!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I just like the freedom to go to dinner or the store ect.....We are dropping the fam off at the port and one of us will return the car!! Perfect!

Transfers are just too Expensive!

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

We are going the towncar route. We do not care for standing in line to get the car, getting to the car, getting out of the airport area, finding our way to the Port, getting rid of the car and then doing all over again when we get back. We would rather spend the extra $$$ and just relax. I would rather work a few more hours O/T for the $$$ for a VERY relaxing vacation. It works for us.

 

[daisy112878]

We're renting a car. It was cheaper and we are flying in friday before the cruise. We want to be able to go out to eat and go to the grocery store in Cocoa Beach.

So most car rental companines offer a fastbreak or a service where you don't have to stand in line for your car. I know Avis and Budget do and it's free. We signed up for Fastbreak through Budget so when we get to MCO we just go to the cars. They already have my cc info and everything. There's no waiting. Just an FYI for people who are considering renting a car.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

I will check that out for our up coming trip. We have never had much of a wait anyway,but this would be even nicer! I love how you walk over and pick out what car you want and drive off...Kind of fun!

I don't know how it will be at the port to return the car. We are going to get there around 10:15 or so.

 

[daisy112878]

BabyJosie98 - just go to www.budget.com and enroll. Then call Budget and add the number to your car rental ressie. It actually saved us another $5 when I called to add the number to the ressie.

 

[bbowers]

We're renting before and after, since we'll be at WDW on each side of our cruise. I got a great deal on a convertible before (sh - surprise for DH) and an SUV after (DH is tall from the waist up and needs the extra space - so SUV and take down that convertible top!).

 

[tekmnky]

I prefer to either drive my own vehicle, or rent a car when I fly in. One illustration of how that came in handy was this past 4th of July weekend. I had flown into Orlando and rented a car (before I knew about Budget and their terminal in Cape Canaveral) that I intended to leave in the parking lot at port while I was on the cruise (RCI).

When I arrived at the port - IT WAS CLOSED DOWN! Seems that just as I had turned onto the port access road an unclaimed and untagged suitcase had been found in the terminal and TSA had closed the terminal until the bomb squad could check on the suitcase. Meanwhile, all us passengers waiting to check in were left waiting in the port parking lot (it took about an hour-and-a-half for the bomb squad to respond and reopen the port terminal). At least with a rental car I was able to sit in the airconditioned comfort of the car, or had I wanted to (as many in the parking lot did), just drive away and come back a couple of hours later.

Ya never know what kind of fun fate is going to toss your way!

 

[tvguy]

You nailed it, I didn't want the stress of driving a car I'm not familiar with, in a city I don't know.
I checked my brain with my luggage and rode the DCL bus, enjoyed the pre-cruise video they show only on the bus, got a heads up from the bus driver when and where to look for the ship.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

You nailed it, I didn't want the stress of driving a car I'm not familiar with, in a city I don't know.
I checked my brain with my luggage and rode the DCL bus, enjoyed the pre-cruise video they show only on the bus, got a heads up from the bus driver when and where to look for the ship.

You nailed it, TVGUY! My thoughts exactly.

 

[samc]

We rented from budget for our recent cruise and for the price we couldn't beat it. I picked up at the Doubletree in DTD the day before cruise and dropped at CC (about $28). Then picked up after cruise at CC and returned the same day to MCO (about $35).

Beware though - there is no fastbreak counter at CC. Everyone stands in the same line and in my experience the line was long with only 1 person working the counter both days we were in there.