Downtown Disney After Cruising

[ntoeman]

Come April 5, 2015 (Easter Sunday), my then wife and I will be returning to land coming off of a 7-night Caribbean cruise on the Magic for our Honeymoon! We have noticed flights are significantly cheaper on Monday morning and would like to spend a day/night on or near property. Going to the parks isn't a really big deal this time, but if we don't go to the parks, we would still want to wander property or DTD. Any advice on this plan?

I have mostly been looking for off-site hotels and resorts (DTD area) that have shuttles to the parks and/or airport to try to reduce costs there, but with that said, I realize if we just stay at a value resort, we will have all of that transportation included right?

Any and all comments and suggestions will be appreciated!!

 

[disney4life2008]

Your best bet may be to stay at a value resort - that way it will be cheaper and you can use disney transportation to DTD as well as one way using Disney Magical Express to the airport. Off side and DTD hotels may charge for transportation to the airport.

 

[Bolna]

I would suggest to look into renting a car as that might be the best and cheapest option. You could also do some resort hopping on Sunday and check out the various resorts. Go for a meal (does not have to be sit down) or just to browse through the shops, or watch the animals at AKL. With a car offsite would work well, too.

 

[tigger1968]

Your transfer to a WDW resort or to the airport will be $70 per person, round trip. That's assuming that you would be using a DCL transfer to get from MCO to the cruise terminal on your arrival? Renting a car will run you around $70 total...more or less. Staying on property gives you DME in the morning, and all the transportation during your stay. If you choose to rent a car, then you would only need a one way transfer (MCO to Port Canaveral), which is $35 per person. A rental gives you the freedom to drive anywhere you want, which makes off property a bit more appealing perhaps.

For me personally...I really like the idea of getting off the ship, hop on a bus and relax as you head to a hotel on property, and just taking a bus to DTD or something like that. Then just hop a DME bus in the morning. No driving, more time to relax with your new wife! Plus you get to experience some additional Disney magic.

In any case, I think the main difference seems to be any cost differential for a room on property vs. off...at least to me anyway. If my numbers are correct...it boils down to $140 for round trip transfers (MCO - DCL / DCL - WDW) and around $140 for one way transfers (MCO - DCL) and then renting a car at the terminal. I see it as a wash cost wise. So its just about where you want to stay and how mobile you need to be. One last thought...DME drops you off vs. any hassles involved with returning a rental car. I can add that on my last cruise we did this in reverse...DME to WDW for a few days then transferred to the ship and then back to MCO at the end of the cruise. No issues for us. I found it all very convenient.

 

[StageFrenzy]

@ntoeman Why the desire to go to DTD? There is some magic to be had I guess. Hyatt Grand Cypress, Bonnet Creek near/on property. Orlando Hilton/Hyatt Regency(former peabody, I have not stayed there since the change over) off property are my go tos.

 

[ntoeman]

Nothing special about DTD. If we don't stay on property, I was just gonna try to stay around there. (Maybe my thread title wasn't the greatest! Haha!)

I think we are leaning toward staying at a value resort. It's $35 for the ride from DCL to the WDW resorts too right? We are booked for the transfer to MCO as of right now so I would just have that changed. Regardless of whether or not we go to the parks on Easter Sunday (though we do have extra tickets from my fiancée's parents), staying on site will make it easier to resort hop. I'm not a fan of getting a rental car. And at the end of the day it will all still be cheaper than us flying home Sunday!