Ground Transfers - Your opinion About This Page:

[ShelbyJoy]

I'm trying to figure out the best option to get to port from either the airport or our WDW resort.

My husband, DD (3 years old) and I are arriving four days prior to our cruise date and staying with family for two nights. The next two nights will be at WDW. We are getting a GREAT deal on a rental car. We plan on picking it up when we arrive at MCO on day one and returning it at the airport before going to port.

I've done some research and if I extend the car rental to keep it until we return from the cruise it will only be about $40 (including parking fees) than it would be to pay for Quicksilver to transport us from/to the aiport.

My husband thinks it would be silly to pay for a car that will just sit in the parking lot at port. He also doesn't mind doing any sort of shuttle service or using the DCL transportation.

My arguement is that it will cost only a few dollars more and we won't have to worry about taking EVERYTHING from the previous part of the vacation on the cruise (car seat, purchases from WDW, etc.). PLUS, our flight doesn't leave until 6:05 p.m. out of Orlando. We'll have a ton of time after getting off the ship. We'll have to sit at the airport for quite awhile. With a rental car, we can make some stops on the way to the airport.

We also have the option to rent a separate car both ways, which is quite a bit cheaper (about $90 plus gas, of course), but then we have to go through the hassle of riding the shuttles after picking it up and dropping it off.

What would YOU do? Fork out the extra $40-50 for convenience (and for the car to "sit there" at port), or go through the hassle of arranging extra transportation and/or using shuttles everywhere.

Do you have anything ideas that will help with my argument (or if you have anything that will help with my husband's...that's ok too!!) :-)

Thanks!!

[wdjeh]

I would keep the car. Here is the thing with the shuttles. If you are going during a time when a lot of others are- the shuttles can get very crowded and unpleasant. They also tend to arrive at the Port when everyone else is-which translates to heavy crowds. Personally, I would keep the car so you can determine the best time to arrive at the port and when to leave. Keep in mind too that if the shuttle fills up (which they can do quickly) now you have to wait for an additional one. If you have your car you can call the shots.

I know Disney offers free shuttles from the airport to the resorts but frankly, I have heard so many upsetting things about these shuttles that unless you are coming in during an unusual time, I don't think its worth it. Taking the transportation from the Resorts at Disney to the port is the same kinda deal. They tell you when they will pick up you and keep in mind that that shuttle serves the other hotels as well that are going to the port --which again, if you are going during a standard pick-up time (usually 10-11am) its going to be noisy and crowded. IN the past people have also complained that the shuttles are dirty and the luggage is really mishandled.

Oh well, Just my thoughts.

Jenn

[OffKilter_Lynn]

$50 more isn't bad for the convenience of having a car right there. Make sure you're figuring $12/night for parking as many still use the old $10 rate. At first I was going to recommend either DCL transfers or Quicksilver, but since you've got such a late flight home, having the car can be a big asset. You could go to the Space Center for the day, hit the outlets or visit your favorite Disney resort for a late lunch before you had to head home.

Having the rental car to keep everything not necessary for the cruise is another big factor. I remember having to store a booster seat in the cabin and it wasn't fun. : You can keep dirty laundry and any WDW purchases there, too, and not take up room in your cabin (just make sure to store everything in the trunk and don't have any open food as the ants can be terrible!)

Now, saving $90 by doing one-way rentals is a good option, and the shuttle service (for Hertz, anyway) is really rather decent. We've also rented one-way down with Budget - dropped everything off at the port and DH returned the car and took a taxi back.

Good luck with what you decide!

[Tink and co.]

I was going to suggest pricing the two one way rentals as well. We've found that to be the most economical way to do it. So, you'd return the rental car at the port, and then pick up a different one when you disembark. And then there's no leaving a car in the parking lot. Spending all day at the airport with a three year old doesn't sound like fun to me either. I'd want a car to do something fun that day.

[Colexis Mom]

We kept our rental car and parked it at the port when we did the 4 night cruise in August 2006. We were actually down at Disney about 10 days before the cruise, and were going back for another 3 days after. For us, it was nice to have the convenience of the car, and we were able to leave things in it and not bring on the cruise (strollers, carseats, etc.).

Just remember the cost of parking at the port (I think it's now $12/day). Not sure if that was included in your original cost justification If you're worried about the shuttles for the one way rentals, you or your DH could always drop off one of you with your DD at the port and then drop off the car, and then send one of you back on the shuttle to pick up the car and come back to the port and pick you up. That way you're all not riding the shuttle with all your baggage

[chicken]

When we cruised in January last year, we disembarked around 7:30 am thinking there would be somewhere to wait (like the terminal)...my parents were coming to get us around 9 or 9:30 so we had time to kill...

FYI when you disembark there is NO WHERE to go...you are off the boat...there is nothing but the outdoors...which is not that bad if it is not freezing cold and pouring rain...waiting with a 6 and 8 year old who are extremly tired (having to get up at 5:30 am for the customs session in the theatre) in the pouring rain for almost 2 hours is not a fun prospect.

Consider keeping the car just in case the weather is not on your side and to keep everyone happy so early in the morning.

PS my parents were so excited that we were coming home, they had arrived to the port to watch the ship dock so they were there to meet us. Yeah for us!!!!! We have paid way too much for a week long rental for next weeks cruise, my DH just found out how much parking is a the terminal for the week and I am still keeping the car at the terminal for the convenience. I hope he will forgive me for "wasting" the money!

Good luck with your choice.

[strtrek]

hey

so if we fly in the day before the cruise, then pick up the car for trip to port, 3 night cruise then back to wdw for 8 days would it be cheaper to have the car for 14 days hire plus port car park fees or get transfers to/from wdw and car hire only for 8 days.

help!!!

too much to think about

what car hire place is the best to deal with, since it is only DH and myself we need a very tiny car.

I know its a while away till our trip, but i love to be prepared

[dmpyron]

For the most part, your best bet is to rent (hire) a car for the day before, drive to the port and kick back at the hotel of your choice, drop the bags and one of you off at the ship, the other takes the car back and takes the shuttle to the ship. On the way back, one of you takes the shuttle back to pick up a car, then picks up the other and the bags. Then you head off to The World. Whether it's economic to have a car while you're there is a different question.

[Cheriemek]

I crunched the numbers for a 7 day cruise. We had no car-seats, though. There were 5 of us and this is what was the cheapest. Rent a car the day before. Take us to port the next day, and return the car. When we return, rent a car to take us to the airport.