Transportation to/from Port Canaveral and Your Disney Cruise

So you've booked your cruise and planned your Port Adventures. Maybe you've even bought plane tickets. Now, how do you get to the port? So many options!

First, there's the easy option. Disney Cruise Line offers transportation round trip or one way from the Orlando International Airport and from every Walt Disney World resort hotel. This will cost you $39 per person one way or $78 per person round trip.

At the Orlando airport, simply follow the signs to Magical Express in the Main Terminal. That's the B side, Level 1 where all ground transportation is found. There are no set times, and the buses run continuously as they fill beginning about 9:30 am. The last bus from the Orlando airport leaves around 1:30 pm. When you get to the bus check in, the Cast Members will get you checked in and put you on a bus! You don't even have to pick up your bags from baggage claim; with your transportation tags attached to your luggage, Disney will pick them up for you and deliver them outside your stateroom door on the ship! Hop on the bus...now you sit back and relax! Watch some video of the Disney ships and some Disney shorts and enjoy the ride!

If you're staying at a Walt Disney World Disney resort the night before, you'll get a transportation notification the night before. This tells you what time to meet in the resort lobby for your bus. It will also give you information on when to have your luggage ready for pick up. Make sure you're at the meeting location on time, hop on the bus, and relax as Disney drives you to the port!

Another option from a Walt Disney World resort is a Minnie Van! These cute little polka dotted
vehicles can take up to 6 passengers to the cruise port for $240 one way. You can also arrange this from the port to your chosen Disney World resort after the cruise.

This is a bit of a splurge, but you can arrange transportation on your time schedule for just your traveling party and in quiet comfort. Choose your pick up time. This is also a great option if you have little ones who will need car seats. They'll even let you choose a movie (Disney of course!) to watch on your way!

If you have a big group traveling together or perhaps want to make a stop on the way to the port (pick up sunscreen or some wine!), a good choice is private transfers. There are a number of reputable companies in the greater Orlando area, but these can be arranged to pick you up from any hotel, including any Disney hotels, or from the airport at the time of your choosing.

Most transportation companies have various options from a sedan to limos, 15 passenger vans and larger! Some companies will allow one stop, and most will provide car seats at a small fee as well. We have several companies we prefer to work with, so ask your travel planner for some suggestions. For parties larger than four, this can be a more economical option that Disney Cruise Line transfers.

 

Families traveling together can split the cost and often save money. This is also a perk for someone who doesn't want to pack wine or beer in their checked baggage, needs to pick up sunscreen or diapers or other items you don't want to pack.

Both Uber and Lyft are viable options as well. It may be a little harder to find a driver willing to go that far, AND you'll need a larger vehicle like an Uber XL if you have large suitcases. However, both Uber and Lyft can be used to get from the airport to the port as well as any hotel in the airport, Orlando, or Disney World area.

One final option to think about is a car rental. A one-way rental is usually rather inexpensive and is often the most economical way to get to or from the port. Most major rental agencies are located near the port. This also gives you flexibility if you arrive a day early and want to see something besides an airport hotel for the night, or if you have a late flight out of Orlando and want to spend the day at Kennedy Space Center or Legoland or browsing at Disney Springs. Keep in mind that the car rental locations are NOT on property at the port and will require use of their shuttles to get back and forth. As you can imagine, these are often swamped on debarkation day and embarkation day. Consider dropping off all guests and luggage at the port and having just the driver return the car and take the shuttle to the port; when leaving the ship, you could do the same thing. Have the driver take the shuttle to the rental car location while the family waits a little longer on the ship.

Find the right decision for your family--convenience or cost may be factors. Talk to your Disney planner for assistance! 

Susan Burks is a military wife and a homeschooling mom to a 15-year old "junior Disney expert"! In addition to many Disney World trips, Susan has done eleven Disney cruises, two Disneyland trips, two trips to Aulani (Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii), and stayed at Disney's Vero Beach and Disney's Hilton Head Island! You can contact Susan at susan@wishdrawals.com.