get to Port Canaveral from MCO?? About This Page:

[twhitemk]

Any suggestions on the best way to go? Wuld prefer not to use the buses.

Thanks in advance.

[jhannah]

We're renting a car at MCO and droppping it off at Port Canaveral. Budget, Thrifty, and others will let you do this. That way you're in control of your schedule.

[Dave Marx]

There are three "best" ways, and one of them is the bus. Different folks have different preferences. There are what I'd term emotional reasons to prefer/avoid some of the options, but I won't include them in the analysis.

Bus is very convenient, and inexpensive for parties for one or two. You don't even have to get your luggage at the baggage carousel. Seating is reasonably comfortable. Point-to-point transportation, no extra stops. This is the no-shopping decision. Downside? The cost for a group of three or more approaches or exceeds the cost of other alternatives.

Towncar service. Convenient, cheaper than the bus for parties of four or more, but more expensive for fewer than three people. A variety of companies offer service to/from the airport. The driver will meet you at luggage claim (but you'll be responsible for getting your luggage from baggage claim on level 2 down to to the car on level 1, since the driver has to go retrieve his/her vehicle from a parking lot). Comfort? Exceptional for parties of two, not quite as luxurious for parties of three or four. Downside? Cost for smaller parties, more luggage handling than you'd have to deal with on the bus, time/trouble to shop for the towncar service.

Car rental. Thanks to the heavy competition for car rentals in the Orlando area, this is generally the most economical for parties of two or more. You have the traditional American freedom to be in control of your own vehicle, and family car comfort. Downside? Time/trouble to comparison shop for a rental, pickup and dropoff your vehicle, handle all your luggage at all times, stop for gas (or pay the agency for a full tank after you've only used about two-three gallons), adequate luggage capacity for larger parties probably requires a higher-priced minivan rental.

Three "best" choices.

[HayleyMaxMom]

We had a towncar service. We got to specify our times which was nice, but, there was 4 of us so it was a little crowded. (Dave mentioned this above)

[DisneyLifer]

We had three, 1 adult, 2 kids, and took a town car. It was not too bad. It was convenient on the way there because we picked the time for pick up. We wanted to arrive really early. We liked it for the trip there but it was a draw for the trip back. Since you don't really know exactly when you get off I had to guess what time to be picked up. I guessed about an hour off. We were kicked to the curb at the port and waited in the hot weather for an hour. We called to see if early pick-up was possible but they said they didn't have any availability. It was nice though because we got a limo on the way back! I might try to do towncar to the port and bus to the airport next time.

[HayleyMaxMom]

Originally Posted by DisneyLifer

We wanted to arrive really early. We liked it for the trip there but it was a draw for the trip back. Since you don't really know exactly when you get off I had to guess what time to be picked up. I guessed about an hour off. We were kicked to the curb at the port and waited in the hot weather for an hour. We called to see if early pick-up was possible but they said they didn't have any availability. It was nice though because we got a limo on the way back! I might try to do towncar to the port and bus to the airport next time.

That is exactly what happened to us!!!...minus the limo

[jkinak]

We are a party of 7 traveling (me, DH, DS 13, DD 10, DS 5, and BOTH Grandmas!) so we are planning on renting a van from the car service. We plan to have them pick us up at the hotel (POP) Saturday morning early, but what time would you suggest for a pick up at the port the following week? I certainly don't want the Grandma's to be stuck out in the hot weather!
THanks!
Jill

[Dave Marx]

Schedule the pickup according to whether you're on early or late dinner seating - that determines your schedule on debarkation morning. Figure around 8:15am if you're on first seating, 9:15am if you're on late seating. If you're anxious to get off the ship, you can move things along by getting breakfast at the deck 9 buffet and be off the ship by around 8:00am regardless of which seating you have.

[jkinak]

I think everyone is going to be wanting to stay on the ship as loooong as possible and we are in the late seating so we will follow your advice and plan for a 9:15 pick-up.
Thanks Dave!!

BTW-I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my cruise passporter!!! It's awesome!

[dmpyron]

If you are renting a car, make sure you rent enough car for your luggage. Two adults and two kids can easily overload a full size sedan if you are going on a week long cruise. Keep that in mind.

An keep it in mind when you try to go to the airport at 4 am on Saturday morning and find out you can't get your bags in the trunk of your car!!

[jhannah]

Originally Posted by dmpyron

If you are renting a car, make sure you rent enough car for your luggage.

Excellent point! The way I've seen some people pack, this would be of greater importance than passenger occupancy of the vehicle!

[ripkensnana]

We went with a towncar service to get from AS/Mu and back. I'd opted for a 10 passenger van, because there were 5 of us with lots of luggage, including my mother's electric scooter. The van was perfect for the trip there, driver was great and very friendly, helpful...

On the return, we found we'd been "upgraded" to a stretch limo (my mother loved it), which was lovely, but there were problems with getting all the luggage stowed - in fact, some of the stuff had to ride up front with the driver (including Mom's scooter - which is a collapsable portable model, thankfully). If I'd known ahead of time, I'd have told the service that the van was mandatory both ways.

[DougPeterson]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Towncar service. Convenient, cheaper than the bus for parties of four or more, but more expensive for fewer than three people. A variety of companies offer service to/from the airport. The driver will meet you at luggage claim (but you'll be responsible for getting your luggage from baggage claim on level 2 down to to the car on level 1, since the driver has to go retrieve his/her vehicle from a parking lot).

This wasn't our experience. We were met at baggage claim by the driver. He loaded our bags onto a cart, wheeled them out to his waiting car, loaded all the bags and we were off. Maybe it varies by the Towncar service you use?

[Pfishgirl]

We rent a car at MCO from Budget. Return it in Cocoa Beach and take their free shuttle van to the ship.. and Vice Versa when we leave the ship..