Ahoy, Deanna!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney with another great question for your
Disney Cruise Line vacation this fall.
Port Canaveral is a beautiful and convenient departure port, as there are many other great sights to see either before or after your cruise. I’m very familiar with this area from both Disney Cruise Line adventures and many professional work trips to Florida’s Space Coast; I’m happy to help you think through options for a smooth disembarkation day.
Cape Canaveral offers restaurants, a lookout tower, and many small businesses throughout this sprawling port area. Unfortunately, there is nowhere quite walk-able from the ship so transportation to explore and to get to the Orlando International Airport later that afternoon is key. My best advice is to rent a car for the day; my family has done this a few times and it’s very seamless.
Many rental car companies are available in Cape Canaveral if you do a quick search, and most have a free shuttle to the port. These are small van vehicles that are right outside the exit door, the team helps with your luggage and takes you just a few minutes away to the rental office. From there, you pick up your car and are free for the day! You can schedule the rental reservation to return your vehicle to the airport, making a smooth transition to your flight. Renting a car gives you a safe place for your luggage and the flexibility to get to the airport on your own timing that afternoon. It’s a very direct drive from the coast to the airport, about 45 minutes on a major road with all signs pointing towards the airport. Please know that for international flights from the United States, you must check your luggage in at least one hour in advance of the flight to be allowed to travel.
If you have a different transportation in mind to the airport, you can also search “luggage storage” in Cape Canaveral. I’ve not used this service, but it’s a growing trend in popular destinations for companies to offer secure, climate-controlled luggage storage for the short-term. You could take a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft to other destinations that day, return for the luggage, and arrange transportation to the airport.
I love a great meal on the water when I’m in this area, Deanna! Relaxing after the cruise with a fresh drink and delicious seafood, watching the fisherman around the piers and the pelicans swooping in to steal their latest catch is a lot of fun and very Floridian.
Whatever you decide, I hope you a wonderful ending to your magical cruise. Please let us know how else we can help you make the most of this special vacation.
Wishing you smooth sailing,
Amy