Disney Without a Vehicle

[SimplyMagical]

We are new members of the DVC (VWL) and will be coming home for the first time in February 2002 and staying at VWL. Although we have been to Disney before, we have never been without a rental vehicle. We plan to try and go without this trip and rely on Disney Transportation. Any suggestions on which transportation we should use to and from the airport? Thanks!!

[GCM13]

We've never rented a car and have been pleased with Disney's transportation for the most part. From the airport, we have used Mears and Tiffany Town Car. We did not have any problems with Mears, but it was nice and quick having TTC take us directly to our resort. We are staying at VWL for the first time at the end of Dec./beginning of January and are renting a car this time. We'll be there for 9 nights and figured we would need it this time since it's a longer trip.

[SimplyMagical]

Thanks for the information. What is the difference in price of Mears and Tiffany's? Also, you mentioned that it was nice going directly to the hotel with Tiffany's, does Mears not take you directly to the hotel?

[lyndon1]

We have used all of the various transportation services in and around Orlando and have found that the ********.net transportation company to be the best. You can schedule everything over the internet and confirmation is immediate.

Prices are extremely competitive but we have found the service to be more friendly and superior and the cars are cleaner.

Check them out. http://www.********.net

Lyndon

[BounceyOne]

We always have a car but I've read that tifdany cars take you to the grocery store (*publix) fro a 30 minute stop included in the price. You will also be the only passanger with tiffany, mears might pick up more families in the same van as you. also going to WDW.

[DVCajun]

We *never* have a car at the World. To us, that's part of the magic-- not having to worry about traffic, finding a parking spot, getting gas, etc. Depending on where you're staying, the transportation is perfectly fine-- by that I mean if you're staying at one of the monorail/boat resorts, you'll be in hog's heaven, if you're at the All Star's you'll probably be kind of tired of buses by the end of your trip. We've done both. You'll love staying at VWL. You're a lovely boat ride away from the Magic Kingdom, and from there you can hop on the monorail to Epcot!

[dizneeluvr]

Although we've been to Disney each of the past two years, this coming January will be our first time ``home'' as DVC members. Each time we've gone we went with a company (booked thru Disney) called towncar transfers from airport to hotel. Awesome! Door to door, guy waits for you with a little sign by baggage claim and gets you to the front door of your hotel.

Sometimes, if you are really lucky, their regular towncars are busy and you get a stretch limo instead. :-) That happened to us last January and it was so cool walking out of the airport with the driver (seeing the limo and thinking...hmmm, I wonder if somebody important is here) and realizing that he's getting in the limo with YOUR stuff! No doubt the Disney magic had already started.

Once in park, we took the monorail or buses everywhere (we had been at the poly). Disney's transpo is so good, I can't imagine wasting money on a rental car unless you KNOW you are going off site.

Laura

[Snowgod]

Town car is the way to go. DW and I never use car at WDW because we are on vacation. From WL we loved the boats. Go to the Contemporary or MK and grab a monorail to Epcot, then a bus from there to anywhere else. If time is short, take a taxi.:smooth:

[GCM13]

Tiffany Town Car is $80 roundtrip and I think $85 roundtrip if you're going to a Magic Kingdom resort. They have $5 off coupons on their website or you can get an $8 off coupon out of the Passporter Walt Disney World guidebook. Like others have said, TTC will meet you at the baggage claim and take only your family directly to your resort or if you want, they will do a 30 minute grocery stop.

Mears Transportation is $28 per adult and $20 per child (4-11). Sometimes I get a coupon with my resort confimation for $3 off per person. You will either go in a bus or van and the bus will make stops at different resorts to drop off other families. If you have 4 or more in you party, you're better off going with TTC.

Have a great trip!

[GCM13]

Synonomous, is that $50 fare one way or roundtrip?

[Synonymous]

GCM- you're right- I guess I didn't read close enough. TTC would be a bit cheaper, then.

[baileybrad]

You are brave souls. We enjoy dining off-site way too much to be without a vehicle. Good luck in your decision making.

[amcnj]

The two main downsides I can think of is if you plan to go anywhere off-site (dining or other theme parks or attractions) or if you need to get to some of the other resorts on-site. There are ways, but they can be quite time consuming depending on where you are and where you have to get to. I am thinking of things like trying to get to the Hoop de Doo Review for example. It can be done but takes planning and lots of lead time. We usually have a car, but rarely use it except for the above cases. Otherwise who wants the hassle of dealing with the parking situation, after all you're on vacation!

[doubletrouble_vb]

Getting to the Hoop De Doo (isn't this closed?) is as easy as pie from VWL! You just take a boat to Fort Wilderness.

I'd go with the limo company if I have 3 or more (28 + 28 + 20 is $76 after all...the extra 4 bucks would be worth skipping the wait for Mears...which I found to be considerable when flying in in the morning). I just looked at their site and Tiffany is $45 one way and $80 r/t for up to 5 persons. $95 r/t if you have more than 5 (up to the capacity of the van I guess).

[nancyj_pa]

We went with a large group. All rented a car except our party of four. We used Tiffany's. The others only used their car once (Downtown Disney) other than the trips to and from the airport. Tiffany's was great! They were polite and on time. They take credit cards too when you get to your hotel. Just figure in the tip cost (20%) when you compare prices. We went everywhere by bus or monorail and had no problems. It was great exercise or us grandparents walking up the ramps for the monorail.

[sumessefui]

We have been at OKW both with and without a car. In all cases we use Disney buses to the parks and never have a problem. Eating at other resorts, however, is a problem. It has taken over 1.5 hours to get to another resort. So now if we have no car, we use a cab and it is not bad pricewise. We have also used taxies to go to US and SW. Also use a cab to and from MCO.

[ahoff]

Even though we hardly ever use it, I prefer having a rental. One time we were at WDW my son got sick and we needed a car to get to a phamacy. And if you plan any off site activity you can't get by without one. This trip we plan on doing a lot of walking (BW to MGM and Epcot) and boating (WL to MK). I will probably use the car for DD. Once when we were at CS I got tired of waiting for the bus to BB and walked there! Maybe it is a little NY impatience.

[downontheBW]

Since we tend to visit other WDW resorts we've always rented a car but I've read great things about Tiffany (http://www.tiffanytowncar.com/) on Deb's' (wdwig) site. They do include a 30 minute grocery stop.

Don't forget to allow 1 1/2 hours to get from resort to resort via Disney transportation.

[SimplyMagical]

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. We only recently registered as members on this site, and only became vacation club owners as of August 2001. My husband and I are extremely impressed with the friendliness of everyone who visits this site. We have visited this site every night since registering and can see ourselves slowly becoming addicted. Thanks again for all of the great information!!

[Disnydad]

Right next door to you in Malta and our "home" is VWL. You are going to love DVC.

We have been down 9 times to WDW and have rented a car/van on 8 of those trips. The last trip we made was this past August, and we used Tiffany Towncar. We also used the $8 coupon in the PassPorter guide. Our driver was a riot and the service was top notch.

It was nice, but we did miss our own transportation for two reasons. 1. We found it can take a lot of time to travel to another resort. 2. Our son got sick and we almost had to seek medical attention. He recovered, but I was worried. On past trips we have had occasional medical problems and just drove to a clinic.

PS: You may spot us about your town. My truck plate is DISNYDAD & my wifes van is GO 2 WDW.

[Synonymous]

When our daughter got sick while we were staying at Boardwalk, the front desk offered to take us by van to the clinic. I don't think you need to worry about this if you don't have a car. They also offered a service where the doctor comes to your room, which is what we actually used.

[dwbakerjr]

I posted a reply to this once before after a trip where we flew in, and everyone seemed to be disinterested, but anyway (being the hardheaded type...) here goes again.

ON PROPERTY, there is a National Car rental return (near Magic Kingdom). If you reserve and rent a one-day from National at the airport (about 25-30 bucks), you can not only drive to your DVC location (or wherever you are staying), you will also have the car to go shop at Publix to stock up the fridge. THEN you can call the National/MK office, and they will have someone drive you back to your hotel when you check the car in.

If you are of the interest (and you make the reservation early enuff) you can do the reverse at the end of your stay.

We always found it a handy way to get to our hotel.

DB.

[DVCajun]

I missed your other post on this topic DB.... this is new info to me! I think we may give it a shot on our upcoming trip in December. DH is attending a conference on Friday and then we're going to enjoy the World for the rest of a long weekend. We didn't want to rent a car because we didn't want the hassle of having to figure out how to return it!! But this certainly puts a new slant on things for us. Thanks for the info!!

[dwbakerjr]

Cajun,

There are two things you should consider if you want to drop at MK. 1st, you have to tell the car reservation lady that you are dropping the car at Disney (not back to the airport), and 2nd, you usually have to make a 1 or 2 day car reservation relatively early (maybe 8-10 days in advance).

Good luck, and enjoy the Magic.

DB.

:smooth: