Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<The bus will definitely take you from your resort to the port and back. But that leaves the question - what happens to your car while you're on the cruise?>> I hadn't noticed that you are driving to WDW. Parking WILL be an issue. You might want to consider driving to the Port. It is an easy one hour drive and there is surface parking as well as a parking structure directly across from the cruise terminal. Parking charge for a three-day cruise is $60, for a four-day cruise is $75. Both are considerably less than what the round-trip shuttle would cost. You will have to deal with your luggage, but that is checked immediately upon entering the cruise terminal so you won't have to deal with it for long. When we drove from a WDW resort to the Cruise terminal during a "road trip" vacation we packed separate luggage for the WDW and the cruise portions of the trip. We found that very convenient... you are not dragging dressier clothes for the cruise into your WDW hotel where you won't use them. You also aren't having to deal with five days of dirty laundry from WDW in your cruise stateroom.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Thanks RoadTrip! Maybe we will look in to the DVC. Sounds like a good deal.... And SuperDry, I guess I do have a bit of a dilemma with our car and taking the bus, but I am sure other's have driven to Disney World, stayed at the resort and been on a cruise. After all the money I am paying for both trips, leaving my car there shouldn't be a problem. Plus, there are always plenty of parking spaces. I've never seen it full yet.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne RoadTrip, were going on a 7 day cruise so its a little longer and may cost more than $75.00. Going on the bus with the big port hole windows was one of the things we really looked forward to....I am going to do a lot of checking on this before we arrive. I wonder if they can put on our window sticker from the day we check in for WDW and the check out date would be at the end of the cruise? hmmmm. I really don't mind paying the fare....it can't be that much since so many other guests travel from the resort to the Port. I haven't heard back from our travel agent, but I will keep on this. Thanks for your advice!!
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I am sure other's have driven to Disney World, stayed at the resort and been on a cruise. >>> I would imagine that in almost every such case, they drive themselves to the port, so they simply may not be set up to handle it otherwise. I've done it both ways: driven to the port in a rental car, and taken the bus (from the airport). There's nothing that special about the bus other than the convenience factor, but you have that covered if you have your own car. If I were in your situation, I'd just drive. But with the way you talk about the bus, I do realize that sometimes different things are important to different people, so don't let me talk you out of it if you REALLY want to ride the bus - just realize that it may be an unusual request that they don't have a standard procedure as to how to handle.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I did a search and found several posts on the DIS (another Disney site) that talked about this topic. Some people who were staying at a Disney resort BOTH before and after the cruise were allowed to leave their car in the hotel's lot... others were refused. I guess it depends on who you talk to. No one who posted had asked to park there if they were at the resort on just one side of the trip, so I can't predict what Disney would say about that. It does take an exception to the rule, so I suppose it depends on how fully booked the resort is and how accommodating whoever you talk to wants to be. All who were allowed to do so were asked to move their car to the far end of the resort parking area. One option would be to park your car at the airport and take the bus from there, but that will really increase your expense. Cost of the shuttle to Port Canaveral is $75 per person round trip, parking at the cruise line terminal for a 7-day cruise is $120. The buses really aren't a big deal... they are pretty much identical to the Magical Express buses. The "port holes" on the bus aren't really round windows, but an exterior paint job that makes standard bus windows appear to be round. If you are really looking forward to it see what you can do, but it may end up costing you more than it is really worth.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne ok....I heard from our travel agent today and you all are right....we are driving ourselves to the port. No Bus for us. Thank you SuperDry and RoadTrip for all your tips! I really like the part about the windows...ha..ha.. So you both are being practical and I am being, well, a girl...LOL. It will be just fine. We will leave early and make our way down there and enjoy the drive. Actually, it will be cheaper I guess and being that were going to be at the park for 5 days, we will have plenty of opportunity to ride the Disney buses.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Thank you SuperDry and RoadTrip for all your tips! I really like the part about the windows...ha..ha.. So you both are being practical and I am being, well, a girl...LOL. It will be just fine. >>> You're welcome and I'm sure it will be fine. I can assure you: you will forget all about the bus, the port, or anything else about 5 seconds after you board the Fantasy for the first time. And you'll have an entire week to enjoy her.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Thanks SuperDry! You are so right! Once we board this beautiful ship, we will forget just about everything. Gonna be great!!!
Originally Posted By MsLindanne I am back with a question!!! I made reservations for the terminal at Port Canaveral because I thought I should and it would be the smart thing to do. Well, it is not only reserved, but they have already charged my credit card. Is that normally done? I am not even in Florida yet..... For some reason, this doesn't seem quite right. I wanted to be sure I got the spot but never thought they would charge my card now. I wondered why they wanted the number now but I thought that was to basically hold it. But nope, it has been paid, in full and I am not even in the same state. Is this usually done?? Anyone know?? Thanks!!!!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I have no idea if it is "normal", but I wouldn't be surprised. Port Excursions are also charged to your credit card at the time they are made. Personally, I doubt they are necessary... it is a large parking structure and has always had plenty of open spaces when we have been there. But I can understand why you wouldn't want to take a chance if it was your first time parking there.
Originally Posted By MsLindanne Thanks Roadtrip! I guess its better to be safe than sorry. So at least it is taken care of and paid for. On the Disney cruise website it notes that you pay when you leave, but of course doesn't mention making reservations and what happens then. As for excursions, were going to decide what we want to do when we arrive on the ship. So I guess once that is done, my wallet will be a little lighter too. ha..ha.. Oh well, it is for a good cause; our vacation!! Thanks again for responding so quickly!!
