Disney Cruise Line Port Canaveral Transfers
Disney Cruise Line Port Canaveral Transfers
Everything you need to know, FAQs, and a review!
Did you know that Disney Cruise Line’s home port of Port Canaveral is 45-60 minutes away from Orlando? I know so many people who assume that the airport, Walt Disney World, and the Disney Cruise Line Port are all right by each other, but it’s not quite that easy. Orlando is near the middle of the state, and while its proximity to Walt Disney World is great for Park visits, it does add an extra piece to the puzzle of getting to your Disney Cruise vacation if you’re cruising from Port Canaveral (if you’re sailing from Fort Lauderdale, things are much closer!).
I have been sailing from Port Canaveral with Disney since 1999, so I know this Port super well (I know I’m not supposed to have favorites…but…). If you’re wondering how to get to Port Canaveral for my Disney Cruise, there are several ways to get to the port. The best way to get to Port Canaveral is going to depend on what’s most important to you: price, convenience, car seats, privacy, timing, there are so many factors. We have utilized almost all the ways to get to the port (except renting a car), so I can share perspectives to help you decide how to get to your Disney Cruise.
We recently had such a great experience with The Genie Transportation Services company to take us to and from our Disney Cruise, and I have nothing but good things to say! Below I talk through all the ways to get to your Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral and share some FAQs Disney Cruisers have about transfers, some things to consider, and why private Port Canaveral cruise transfers might be the best solution for your cruise. The most important thing is that you get to the cruise port safely and on time, both of which were never concerns with The Genie Transportation Company.
Let’s talk about your Disney Cruise transfer options:
The Disney Cruise Port Canaveral transportation that my family has used the most is Disney Cruise Line’s transfers to get from MCO to Port Canaveral. We fly in the day before and stay at a hotel a few minutes away from the airport that has a complimentary shuttle from the airport to the hotel and back. We enjoy these transfers because you can add them right to your reservation with your travel agent, it’s end-to-end Disney service, and it’s a seamless process; however, as our family grows, we were curious about what other options were out there.
When we were thinking about alternatives, we did consider ridesharing services, but we didn’t like all the question marks surrounding the experience. We recently sailed from Fort Lauderdale, and both times we ordered rideshare services, the cars arrived and were barely able to fit us and our luggage (even with an XL!). I didn’t want to risk the morning of, trying to find a driver, making sure the car was big enough, etc. I loved that with The Genie Transportation Services, we could schedule everything ahead of time online and know the type of vehicle right away. They have the newest and largest SUVs on the market which meant plenty of space for us and all our luggage. Their online, self-service portal allowed us to input our pick-up and drop-off locations, times, and dates so there was nothing left to chance. You also know exactly how much it’ll cost vs rideshare where prices fluctuate all the time. Added bonus: The Genie Transportation Services doesn’t charge extra for holidays or weekends like some other Disney Cruise private transfer companies! Woohoo!
Pro tip: Please, please make sure when you get into a vehicle that your driver and their company is licensed, insured, and approved to be picking people up from the airport. MCO and the city of Orlando take the transportation of visitors very seriously and have a process to be allowed to transport people. The Genie Transportation Services has completed all of those steps and meets all requirements, so when I tell you we had nothing to worry about, I mean it.
We also (very, very briefly) thought about renting a car. While car rentals from MCO are easy, it didn’t make sense for a family who was just coming in for the cruise. If we were staying in Florida for an extended period of time to explore other places (maybe heading down to Fort Lauderdale or spending some time at the beach), had tons of extra luggage because we were staying for 2 weeks, etc. then it might make sense. But we simply wanted a reliable and safe option to get our family from Point A to Point B and back again. No insurance paperwork, no refilling the gas tank, and maybe even a nap on the way (okay, definitely a nap on the way)!
After doing the math of the price of what it would be to do Disney’s transfers vs. private transfers for our Port Canaveral Disney Cruise, we decided to use The Genie Transportation Services after reading their rave reviews and seeing all their offerings! From the online scheduling, car seat and stroller options, the opportunity to stop at a grocery store, and amazing customer service, we were SOLD! And let me tell you – they exceeded our expectations. We had such a great experience from start to finish. I have a ton more details below, but if you’re looking for a great transportation option for your Port Canaveral Disney Cruise, then definitely reach out to The Genie Transportation Services!
Port Canaveral Disney Cruise Transfer FAQs:
Q: Where do Disney Cruises leave from in Orlando?
Disney Cruises do not leave from Orlando. Orlando is near the center of the state of Florida, so to get to the cruise port (aka the ocean) it’s about a 45-60 minute drive depending on traffic and where you’re staying. That’s why having a reliable and trusted source of transportation is so important because you’re going a long distance. I would recommend flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) at least 1 day before (if you fly in the day of, make sure you have travel insurance!) and staying at a hotel near the airport, near the port, or on WDW property. Depending on what you want to do and how much time you have, talk to your travel agent about visiting Walt Disney World, Discovery Cove, or Kennedy Space Center. After traveling, we prefer a low-key day at the hotel enjoying the pool, local dining, and getting to bed early before embarkation day!
Q: What’s the best way to get from Orlando to Port Canaveral for a cruise?
There are several options for getting to Port Canaveral for your Disney Cruise, the most common being: private transfers, Disney transfers, hotel transfers, rideshare, or rental car. The best way is going to depend on your and your party’s needs, so definitely discuss it with your travel agent. If you need things like car seats, strollers, to stop to pick up snacks or wine, etc. then going with a private transfer option is probably going to be best. If it’s just two adults with minimal luggage, then Disney transfers or a rideshare could make sense. If you have a large group, Disney transfers add up quickly. If you have a lot of luggage, doing a rideshare could be risky depending on what type of vehicle you end up with. There are a lot of variables out of your control with rideshare (including the price!), and when it comes to my vacation that’s not something I want to stress about. The best way to get to Port Canaveral is going to be the way that gets you there on time, safely, and with everything you need at the price that fits your budget.
Q: What do I do about car seats?! I don’t want to fly with them. What about strollers?
One of my favorite parts about The Genie Transportation Services is their FREE CAR SEATS!!!! That’s right parents and guardians. No need to pack your bulky car seats on the plane. The Genie Transportation Services offers their passengers highback booster seats, rear-facing car seats, and forward-facing cart seats during their ride to and from the Port and/or Parks. The Genie Transportation Services takes your child’s safety seriously, so this is one thing you can cross off of your packing list. As if offering car seats wasn’t enough, they also offer stroller rentals for roundtrip passengers for reduced pricing. They have single and double strollers available that easily collapse for seamless stateroom storage.
Q: How do I book transfers for my Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral?
If you’re using Disney transfers, you can ask your travel agent to call Disney to add them (or if you don’t have an agent, call yourself). For rental cars, you would have to price out different vehicles as there are many rental car companies with large fleets of cars. With The Genie Transportation Services, we could book everything online in their self-service portal. We input the date, time, location, and everything we needed, and like magic, it was taken care of. They even texted us the day before to confirm and the morning of with an ETA (they were precisely on time – love that!).
Q: When do the Disney Cruise transfers leave?
While the Disney transfers from either MCO or the Parks are great, you are going based on the transfers’ schedule – not your own. The same goes for other third-party transfer services. The transfers are those large, coach-style buses that have plenty of seats, a bathroom (usually), typically some screens for movies/trivia/games, and are air-conditioned. When you take these from the airport or Parks, you are potentially waiting on the bus to fill to capacity, make multiple stops, etc. vs heading straight there. This can be even more frustrating on the return if you have a flight to catch and are waiting to stop at each terminal, unload the luggage, etc. With DCL transfers, you may not know the exact time you’ll actually start heading to/from the port depending on the rest of the people on the transfers. With private Disney Cruise transfers with The Genie Transportation Services, you can get off the ship and head to the Parks at your own pace on debarkation morning by selecting the exact time you would like to be picked up (or dropped off on embarkation day). Pro tip: try not to schedule a flight until after 12 noon on debarkation day from MCO! Also, if you’re heading to the Parks, at this time, there’s only 1 time Disney Cruise Line buses leave from the Port to the Parks, so make sure you’re off the ship on time (give yourself time to find your bags, clear customs, etc.).
Q: How do I get from Walt Disney World to my Disney Cruise from Port Canaveral?
You have several options, the most popular being: Disney transfers, private transfers like with The Genie Transportation Services, rideshare, or a rental car. If you want to be on your own schedule, then I would definitely recommend taking The Genie Transportation Services who can pick you up from your resort or hotel and bring you right to the cruise terminal. If you’re doing any days at the Parks after your cruise, they can also pick you up from Port Canaveral and bring you to Walt Disney World.
Q: How much are Disney Cruise transfers?
Let’s start with the private transfers from The Genie Transportation Services. I couldn’t believe how affordable these transfers were. When I think private, I think luxury experience, luxury prices; but this gave all the luxury, but was so reasonably priced! For less than $10 more per person, we were able to get a completely private cruise transportation experience. So worth it getting to be on our own schedule, in our own space, and with our own family. Disney Cruise Line transfers booked through DCL will be $90 roundtrip per person (subject to change). Definitely do the math. Depending on your party size, the amount of luggage, ages, etc., you could be alright doing a rideshare or perhaps renting a car but those prices can vary on a variety of factors. With The Genie Transportation Services, our price was locked in from the moment we booked online. We did bring cash for tips!
Q: What type of vehicle are the Disney Cruise transfers?
The Disney Cruise transfers from Port Canaveral are large, coach-style buses. They typically have 10+ rows of 2 chairs each on each side of the bus. It’s air-conditioned, typically has a bathroom, and sometimes they’ll have some sort of Disney trivia, movies, or games playing on the screens. If you do a private transfer like through The Genie Transportation Services, you’ll be getting the newest, largest luxury SUVs with seating for up to 6 plus all your luggage! With rideshares or car rentals, you aren’t going to be exactly sure what you’re going to get until that day.
Q: Is there a liquor store nearby Port Canaveral for us to carry on wine, beer, or champagne? What about a grocery store to get factory-sealed snacks for my kids?
If you’re like my family who is flying in from out of town the day before, we don’t always have time to run to a liquor store or grocery store to grab drinks or snacks (read more about Disney’s alcohol policy here). I was amazed when The Genie Transportation Services company included a stop at a local grocery store (Publix) for cruisers to be able to run in and grab anything you may have forgotten or still had to grab before getting to the port. It’s a minimal additional charge, but way cheaper than getting a rideshare to and from a store and back on top of everything else you’re doing. An added bonus: The Genie Transportation Company also has cases of water that you can purchase with them. This allows you to carry the water onboard with you without having to stress about where to get it and how to get it to port. They really have thought of everything!
Q: Where do I get transportation to my Disney Cruise?
If you’re taking private transfers like through The Genie Transportation Services, they’ll pick you up from wherever you’re staying in Orlando, Port Canaveral, or the Parks. If you’re taking Disney Cruise transportation, you’ll only be picked up/dropped off at MCO or the Parks. Rental cars can be picked up at a variety of locations, including the airport. Rideshares can be ordered from almost everywhere in Metro Orlando.
Q: Will private transportation for my Disney Cruise be as good as Disney?
I have very high expectations when it comes to service after sailing with Disney for so long, and The Genie Transportation Services didn’t disappoint. You are not going to believe how incredible this is: not only did the driver have a Disney playlist going the whole ride there, but he even had Mickey ears for the kids to take with them! Talk about going above and beyond! Kids’ days? Made! The vacation hadn’t even officially started, and already we had great souvenirs and were getting Disney-level service! And speaking of service, I was floored at the service we got from The Genie Transportation Services from booking through final drop off.
Summary:
After using Disney Cruise’s transfers for over 2 decades, I was skeptical if anything could beat the experience. If you’re looking for the best way to get to your Disney Cruise, I cannot recommend The Genie Transportation Company company enough for your private Disney Cruise transfers. Easy to book online, prompt answers to emails and phone calls, confirmation sent the day before, texting communication the day of, doors opened for us, multiple check-ins on our comfort, plus the Disney Magic I mentioned above. This company is doing it RIGHT! I do not have a single complaint, except maybe that I wish I found them sooner.
A big shoutout to the amazing team at The Genie Transportation Services for sponsoring this review. As always, I would never recommend something that I wouldn’t use myself and all the opinions and information in here are based on my personal experience. I was so happy to get to utilize this service and be able to share with Disney Cruisers from around the world before they book their transportation to cruise from Port Canaveral.
