We flew in 2 days before and did a day at Disney first. Took a car service to the port and from the port directly to the airport. It was a seamless trip!

We've flown in the night before, Ubered to a Coco Beach hotel and then taken an airport shuttle to the terminal.

Anonymous wrote:Fly in the day before, usually Tampa as its cheaper, rent a car, stay at a hotel in Tampa and drive that morning - drop off car at port. Don't risk flying same day and missing the cruise.

Is Tampa really enough cheaper to justify a rental car?

Here is what my family of 4 is doing later this year:

1. Flying into Orlando on Friday.
2. Renting a car and driving to Cocoa Beach where we'll stay the night and return the car at the port in the am.

Car rental was cheaper for us than the shuttle airport to the hotel + shuttle to the port. However, if you're traveling by yourself with 2 kids, paying $20-$30 extra might be worth of getting the shuttle and not worrying about the car.

We just did one two weeks ago as well. We flew in the day of and it all worked out fine, but I was a little anxious about what would have happened if the flight had been cancelled unexpectedly. Flying in the night before would definitely have given me some peace of mind and would have allowed for an earlier check in time to explore the ship before the crowds arrived. We were on the Dream which was sooooo crowded!

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I will definitely be flying-in the day before. I was on the fence but was probably just overthinking it. I'm trying to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Thanks everyone, especially to the single Mom who was able to share her experience with Disney transfer. Was the shuttle you took on your second trip (when you left the day before) still Disney or another company? I'm trying to minimize time waiting around.

No, it was from a shuttle company on contract with the Cocoa Beach Hampton Inn. If I'm remembering correctly, the Hampton Inn offered some kind of pre-cruise package which included the overnight plus the shuttles. Our flight was late getting to Orlando, but the shuttle waited for us, with no problem.

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I will definitely be flying-in the day before. I was on the fence but was probably just overthinking it. I'm trying to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Thanks everyone, especially to the single Mom who was able to share her experience with Disney transfer. Was the shuttle you took on your second trip (when you left the day before) still Disney or another company? I'm trying to minimize time waiting around.

Renting a car was much cheaper than the shuttle for us.

Okay, I will definitely be flying-in the day before. I was on the fence but was probably just overthinking it. I'm trying to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. Thanks everyone, especially to the single Mom who was able to share her experience with Disney transfer. Was the shuttle you took on your second trip (when you left the day before) still Disney or another company? I'm trying to minimize time waiting around.

I just went on a Disney cruise with my daughter two weeks ago. We flew in the day before, hung out at Disney springs after checking in to a Disney value resort, and then took a car to the Port after breakfast the next morning.

Fly in the day before. You don't want to take any chances.

But look into staying at the airport hotel, I think it's a Hyatt. They have a deal with Disney where you leave your luggage and they take care of the transport, and you can get on a shuttle to the terminal.

We've done two Disney cruises. Both times spent the night and took a shuttle to the port. No need to rent a car, you can also cab or uber. It is much less risky and restful to go the day before.

Fly in the day before, usually Tampa as its cheaper, rent a car, stay at a hotel in Tampa and drive that morning - drop off car at port. Don't risk flying same day and missing the cruise.

Single mom here. Two Disney cruises.

First one, we flew in the day of. Used Disney transfer, but there was a long, exhausting, confusing process at the airport to check in for that, and then another drawn-out process at the terminal before getting on the ship.

Second time we stayed in Cocoa Beach. They picked us up in a small shuttle with one other family at the airport, then they shuttled us to the ship terminal the next day before the big crowds arrived.

You can gather which approach I preferred.

Thankfully we left the day before. The one suitcase that I had packed for my three kids got lost - they found and delivered it the next morning.

This will be my first Disney cruise and I'll be traveling alone with the kids. It would be great to take advantage of the Disney ground transfer and not worry about seeing my luggage again until I'm in my room. I'd also rather skip flying in the day beforehand and renting a car and staying in a hotel. For those who have been on a Disney cruise, did you fly the same day or the day before? Did you use Disney Transfer?