Ahoy, Renee!
Welcome aboard the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I'm so happy you cruised by with your transportation question. My family typically drives to
Port Canaveral, and we've often kicked off our vacations by visiting the
Walt Disney World Resort beforehand. The morning of our cruise departure we make the 60 to 90-minute drive (depending on traffic) over to the Disney Cruise Line terminal for our scheduled port arrival time. There is a fee to park, but a spacious parking deck is adjacent to the terminal which allows your car to be protected from the Florida heat while you're away. The rate is currently $17.00 per day (always subject to change), so parking at the port will save you some money from
parking at Disney's Wilderness Lodge for the eight days. There is also a fee to use Disney Cruise Line ground transfers, so your savings means more money to use for onboard fun and souvenirs!
Renee, I do have a few more tips for
driving to Port Canaveral from the Walt Disney World Resort. First, you may want to consider purchasing a Florida SunPass online before your vacation. We did this years ago, and it's been so nice to breeze through all the tolls from the Orlando area to Cape Canaveral and not have to worry about having cash and coins handy. I hop online and load about $25.00 on our SunPass account whenever we have an upcoming vacation, which is more than enough to cover our expenses.
Once you arrive at the terminal, there will be Cast Members there to assist you in where to go. You'll be able to pull up directly to the curb to drop off your luggage with the porters (be sure to have all your suitcases tagged with your Disney Cruise Line luggage tags before your arrival). After dropping your bags, it will be time to park and head through security before entering the terminal. We usually find a spot on the third level of the deck since there's a bridge connecting the deck to the terminal. It really is effortless, and we love being able to hop in our car once the cruise is over without having to go back to the Orlando area. You'll also be happy to know the porters will assist you to your car after disembarking. We like to have cash on hand for tips because they sure do make the beginning and end of our vacation seamless.
I've packed a lot of information in this answer, Renee, so I hope it helps with your transportation plans. If you have any additional questions, please let us know.
Nancy