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Hello all Even though my family's cruise is not until Nov. 2010, I have a question (from my dh) that came up today while dh and I were booking flights for our Nov. 2009 WDW trip.
Okay, so here's the question : Do any of the hotels near the port offer shuttle transportation from the airport to their hotel?
I told DH probably not, since it is about an hour drive from the airport to the port, but that I would ask on here I told DH our best bet would be to rent a car when we arrive at the airport (we are flying in the evening before) for getting to our hotel and the port the next morning.... and reverse for our return trip. TIA for your input!!
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I told DH probably not, since it is about an hour drive from the airport to the port, but that I would ask on here I told DH our best bet would be to rent a car when we arrive at the airport (we are flying in the evening before) for getting to our hotel and the port the next morning.... and reverse for our return trip. TIA for your input!!
What hotel are you staying at in Orlando? A note the airport has a hotel in it. I was thinking that it might save some money if your hotel will give you a ride to the Orlando airport and you pick up the DCL bus for a round trip ride.
I say this because we rented a car last Jul and did what you are talking about. There are options when it comes to the rental car.
Option #1. You can rent the car and keep it rented for the whole time however many days you will be gone. Remember though you will be paying for unused days plus $15.00 a day parking fees at the port.
Option #2. This is the option we did and it was better than #1 but still a pain in the rear. We rented the car I drove the family to the port early and dropped them off. I then drove the car to the rental agency in Cocoa Beach and dropped it off; of course sense it was a Sunday the place was closed but no biggie I just did the key drop thing. However you need to pre-coordinate a taxi to be standing by to take you to the port. I did this and when I climbed into the car the taxi driver tells me you’re the first person I've seen in a long time that did this the right way. I asked him what he meant and he said, "You dropped your family off at the port first; you would be surprised how many people mess it all up by bringing their families with them to turn in the car with all of their bags and they end up taking 2 taxis costing more money." I smiled and acted like I planned it, but in reality I was lucky my wife volunteered to check us all in while I turned in the car The taxi from the car agency cost around $15.00 so multiple that by 2 because when you get back you have to do everything in reverse. With that being said don't book an early flight out of Orlando.
After everything was said and done I would shoot myself in the foot before going through all of that trouble again. I tried to save money by not staying at Disney the first 2 days before going on the cruise. We actually spent more money doing it Brad's way instead of my DW's way. Option 3 (The smart option) was her way and do you think I listened ooooooh noooooooooooooo.
Option #3. My wife wanted to stay at a moderate resort and take the DCL bus to the port and back to the park sense after the cruise we were staying at the DVC villas for 8 days. However, you can take the bus back to the airport.
I wasted so much money by trying to save money We have also done the Meeres limo thing and it all comes out about the same as the DCL
Brad
P.S. You can always do what I suggest 1st get a ride back to MCO and take the DCL bus to the port.
Thanks Brad! This was my plan: Rent a car at the airport for the night before and drive down to one of the hotels near the port. Have DH drop us off at the port the next morning and him return the car to the car rental place (I believe I read in Passporter that there are some at the port now and they offer free shuttles back to the port). Then, after the cruise is over, re-rent a car for the day and drive back to the airport.
Is that do-able? Can you "re-rent" cars right at the rental agencies that are at the port?? We also might just fly in the morning of our cruise and just use Mear's or Tiffany's car services.... I need to compare some prices.... when it gets closer though
orlando airport transportation, orlando transportation, Sanford airport transportation Here is a link to a company we were looking at to give our family transportation to wdw for an upcoming trip. I was very impressed by what I saw and I believe they offer transportation to P. Canaveral. You could possibly get them to take you to one of the hotels at p. can. that offer a shuttle to port free when you arrive the day before the cruise or have your arrival the morning of departure if you are brave. You can arrange with the transportation service to then be there on debarkation day to pick you up and return you to the airport for your flight home. I hope this gives you another viable option.
Thanks Brad! This was my plan: Rent a car at the airport for the night before and drive down to one of the hotels near the port. Have DH drop us off at the port the next morning and him return the car to the car rental place (I believe I read in Passporter that there are some at the port now and they offer free shuttles back to the port). Then, after the cruise is over, re-rent a car for the day and drive back to the airport.
Is that do-able? Can you "re-rent" cars right at the rental agencies that are at the port?? We also might just fly in the morning of our cruise and just use Mear's or Tiffany's car services.... I need to compare some prices.... when it gets closer though
Thanks again for all the help!!!
Yes, that's often exactly how we do things. It's not a matter of "re-renting" - it's just a matter of booking two separate one-way rentals before your trip. You may even find that it's cheaper to go with one agency in one direction, and another agency in the the other.
There are three agencies that provide free shuttle service to and from the cruise terminal. All three also have vans waiting at the cruise terminal shuttle pick-up area at the end of the cruise. At the end of the cruise it's easier to load the whole family and luggage in the van and go back to the agency together.
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We were thinking of going the car rental route, but since we are going to Universal for a few days after the cruise, it is going to be much easier (and almost as cheap) to use Quicksilver.
Thanks everyone! I now have some clear options to look into... I just wish the cruise would get here already... but then again, I don't want to wish away almost 2 years of my kiddos lives... they grow up so fast as it is!!!! Thanks again
Another is getting a car service to do both ends for you... They can pick you up from the airport and drop you at a local hotel or at the port.... Then they can pick you up from the ship on your return and take you where ever you want... they are not bad and not that expensive.... just another thought.....
We like to stay at the hotel at the airport night before cruise (walk from gate to bagage claim to hotel room) and let Disney handle getting our lugage (and us) to the port. Best part is not having to drag bags around in the hotel to check-out, etc., since Disney handles it from the room. This way our vacation really starts the moment we wake up on departure day - no heavy lifting. If we are staying at WDW after the cruise, we have Disney take us back to the airport so we can get our rental car rather than catching a flight home. We've been able to do the transfers even when we booked the hotel room ourselves (got a better rate than Disney offered).
I am researching this very question and have come up with one hotel that does offer a fly, snooze, and cruise package that includes round trip from/to MCO, a standard 2 bed room, and round trip to the cruise terminal. The Comfort Inn & Suites, Cocoa Beach offers this package for $219.95 + tax($244.14 total for two persons). There are additional charges for more people. This means you are paying about $90 for round trip from/to MCO for the first 2 people. This is all according to their website now.
I am researching this very question and have come up with one hotel that does offer a fly, snooze, and cruise package that includes round trip from/to MCO, a standard 2 bed room, and round trip to the cruise terminal. The Comfort Inn & Suites, Cocoa Beach offers this package for $219.95 + tax($244.14 total for two persons). There are additional charges for more people. This means you are paying about $90 for round trip from/to MCO for the first 2 people. This is all according to their website now.
Sounds like a good deal for you , but I just went & looked & family of 6 it got real pricey with all the adders. Especially since the adders are the same no matter what age you are .
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Unless rates change or a new Hotel comes up with a better plan, I will probably take my chances with Radisson. Since I don't cruise until next year, I still have alot of time to check things out. Our probably is 4 adults & 2 kids in our group, so rental a van seems more reasonable. Last time I was in MCO I got a 7day special on a van for 199.00, you can bet as soon as my dates become bookable, I'll be reserving(since you can reserve without putting any money up) & then keep trying to get a better rate.
I'm looking at the Radisson, too. Last time we stayed at the French Quarter, but I don't think we are doing that again. By the time you arrive at the Port, you are rushed to eat lunch and all . If we stay at the Port, we can check in a little earlier. So, I am trying to research all the possibilities.
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Hotel Transportation Question
Even though my family's cruise is not until Nov. 2010, I have a question (from my dh) that came up today while dh and I were booking flights for our Nov. 2009 WDW trip. 
: Do any of the hotels near the port offer shuttle transportation from the airport to their hotel? 
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The taxi from the car agency cost around $15.00 so multiple that by 2 because when you get back you have to do everything in reverse. With that being said don't book an early flight out of Orlando.
We have also done the Meeres limo thing and it all comes out about the same as the DCL
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