I will be running the WDW marathon in January 2007. I should be finished and showered by 1pm, but the ship leaves port around 4pm (I think). My questions are:

1) How far is the port from WDW?
2) Should I take a shuttle,rental car, or other transportation? And how much would it cost?
3) Do you think I will make it on time before the cruise ship leaves?

Many of the hotels are on the DCL's "pick-up" schedule -- but they pick up before 1. You can dirve from WDW to the port (it takes about an hour) or pick up a shuttle. Maybe check and see if any other runners will be doing the cruise and you can all go in on a shuttle together. Parking at the port is $12

Directions from WDW:
Take I-4 East to State Road 528 East. Make a right turn onto State Road 401, which will loop and head north over the channel locks. Stay in the righthand lane and follow the signs to Cruise Terminal #8.

In this scenario, I would use a car service (like Quicksilver (http://www.mouseplanet.com/sponsor.php#quicksilver)) to do it. They will meet you at your hotel, and drive you straight there.

Most of the Disney buses to the port will have left by then, and the convenience of having someone pick you up, handle all of your bags, and be waiting for you when you return is so worth it. We've used it for the last three cruises we've done.

As for timing, you should be ok, so long as you leave by 1pm. This of course assumes no problems with traffic, etc. But even then, you should have time for your driver to take an alternate route, if needed.

I think ( and this is only from my memory) the ships may not leave until 5PM?

You are correct, but I think everyone has to board by 4. I could be wrong, though, as I tend to get there early.

Correct. All aboard is 4pm in most cases (though they will occassionaly hold the ship for a bit, if there are delays with people who are flying in under arrangements made by DCL. But, don't count on it!

My family & I really enjoyed using Happy Limo to take us to the port. We got a discount code off another "Disney Cruise" website (not sure if I can mention the site here or not) and it came with high recommendations. We paid for a town car and were upgraded for free to a limo.