Hi Diane,
Thanks for bringing your thoughtful question to planDisney! A land-and-sea vacation in the winter months sounds perfect, and I’m happy to share how to connect your cruise to your Disney resort stay.
Unfortunately,
ground transportation is only available from Port Canaveral to
Walt Disney World for Guests sailing with
Disney Cruise Line. This service is purchased with your Disney Cruise Line reservation and is not available as an a la carte option to a Disney Resorts Collection hotel when sailing with other cruise lines. Since you are sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line, the ground transportation with Disney is not available to reserve. This is a personalized, reservation-based transport with a per-person fee that is aligned with your Disney Cruise Line reservation and not a regular shuttle or public bus available to general guests at Port Canaveral.
From Port Canaveral, you have a few options to smoothly get to
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. You can use a rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber or request one of the many taxis in queue nearby. I suggest you request this once you have your luggage in hand and have cleared U.S. Customs at the port terminal.
You may choose to rent a car for the day to drive yourself – there are many car rental companies at Port Canaveral, and you could select a brand that also serves
Disney’s Car Care Center. I’ve done this before and it’s very seamless. Each rental company has shuttles to their Port Canaveral location once you get off the ship. You’ll quickly get your vehicle and be on your way; Walt Disney World Resort is a direct 45-minute drive from the coast. You can then return the vehicle to Disney’s Car Care Center located in the Magic Kingdom area. Upon returning your vehicle, they have a complimentary shuttle to take you to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Or, you may choose to keep the vehicle for the duration of your stay and return it to Orlando International Airport before departure. Be sure to indicate the different drop-off location when reserving, as the default selection is typically to return to the same pick-up location but you wouldn’t be returning to Port Canaveral.
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort will be a perfect tropical hideaway for you and offer a similar vibe from your cruise, Diane. I love the central location and ease of the
Disney Skyliner to get to
Disney’s Hollywood Studios and
EPCOT. Be sure and stroll to the nearby
Disney’s Riviera Resort for a delicious meal and a taste of the stunning ambiance; this resort honors Walt Disney’s special vacations to Europe with his family and is a fun place to visit even if not staying there.
I hope this helps you think through options for connecting your upcoming cruise with your fabulous Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Please let us know how else we can help you make the most of this visit.
Wishing you smooth sailing and a magical escape,
Amy