Transportation to Port from Orlando/Hotel

[BigDawgRonAZ]

I'm in the process of planning our 2005 cruise from Cape Canaveral and am in need of some assistance. Flying in to Orlando. Plans call to arrive two days early, tour Kennedy Space Center, and then leave on the cruise. We've already done the Disney World thing many times.

 

Questions:

 

1. Best way to get to the port. Car or shuttle. If we rent a car, can we return it near the port before we leave on the cruise.

 

2. Suggestions of nice hotel near the port.

 

3. Things to do near the port. Traveling will be my wife and two kids, ages 12 and 13.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

[dcookies]

Dbacksrule -

 

We're leaving on the 8/30 Sov. of the Seas from Port Canaveral. We're flying in two days early, and staying at the Hard Rock in Orlando (one of our favorite places!). If you and your kids haven't visited Universal Studios, I'd highly recommend it - the rides are much more exciting than Disney.

 

I found the best option to get to Port Canaveral was to rent a car from Budget. You can pick it up at the airport and drop it at the Port. We have two rentals - one for the few days before the cruise from Orlando airport to PC, then another from PC to Orlando for the few days we're staying after the cruise. It was cheaper to get two one-way rentals than to rent for a week and pay for the parking ($10 / day at the port). Avis also has a facility in PC.

 

Sorry, I don't have any suggestions for hotels. If you're thinking of car rentals, one of the hotels (Radisson?) allows you to leave your car parked in their lot free.

[KellyJean]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express last September. I think we paid about $69/night. It is right across the street from the Cocoa Beach pier and it took us about 10 minutes to get to the ship. Across the street (basically) from the HIE is a Day's Inn, Best Western and Ocean Suite Hotel.

[BigDawgRonAZ]

Thanks for the tips. Universal Studios sounds like a lot of fun and I've heard the Hard Rock is a great place to stay. We will consider that.

 

I think the rent a car is the way to go....and if we do stay near the peer, Holiday Inn would definately work. Budget looks the cheapest and easiest so we'll probably go with that.

 

Anyone else with ideas, let me know!