Pre-Cruise We arrived in Orlando, Florida five days prior to Embarkation so we could visit Disneyworld and Universal Studios. We used MH Transportation to get us from the airport to Lake Eve Resort on International Drive. The driver met us by the baggage pick-up and allowed us a 1/2 hour stop at a local grocery store. I would recommend this transportation company. Lake Eve Resort was absolutely perfect. Not only was it gorgeous inside and out, but it provided all the amenities of staying in a condo. Some of the perks were the full size & stocked kitchen (w/dishwasher), stacked washer and dryer, Jacuzzi tub, balcony, and free shuttle to the theme parks. We booked the one bedroom suite and there was plenty of room for the four of us. We booked this resort on Travelocity and got a reduced price but it normally starts around $160/night. I would not hesitate to book this hotel again.

Tip - Freeze water bottles for the theme parks. This will save you tons of $$$. We took turns carrying the backpack.

Transportation to Port Canaveral We couldn't justify the shuttle costs to get from the hotel to the Port Canaveral and back so I pre-booked a car from Budget car rental. The only extra effort we put out to pick up a rental is taking the I-Ride Trolley ($1.25 each) to the Embassy Suites Hotel to pick the car up. No big deal. We drove back to Lake Eve to pick up the kids and luggage. The highway is a hop, skip, and a jump away and took us right to the Port. Super easy and saved us a couple hundred bucks. Budget at Port Canaveral offers free shuttles to and from the port. They drop you off/pick you up right in front of your ship. Simple. Read more