staying at WDW without renting a car opinions please

[Misty89]

HI

nothing is set in stone as yet ( still gathering ideas & budget)
but tossing around some ideas about our possible stay....we are looking at january 2005, either the 2nd through the 8th or the 16th - 22nd.
we would be staying in property( that much we knowLOL) so i am working out the bugs about not having ar car...does anyone here NOT rent a car when at the WDW and rely on the disney transpotation? will the busses/ mono rails take us to all the parks and downtown disney? we are a family of 4, (2 daughters ages 13 and 5 when we go) i noticed the park hours are shortened...are there still fireworks? I want to try to stay away from the rental car if i can....will save some $$, and i am hoping it will give us a chance to "unwind/ enjoy the resort hence the early park hours.
we are still playing with the idea of the contempoary, and i guess if we can get a budget worked out we use the $$ we would have budgeted for car , to use instead on a better "room" at the resort or even the 14th floor :jester: .( not sure)
but i am mostly wondering today......if we dont have a car will we end up feeling like we want to get out of the parks or do alot of people not rent cars when they stay?


thank you
I am really hoping to pull this trip off....a surprize X- mas present for my daughters, and US!- hoping careful planning and saving $$ till the cows come home will work!


Tina:confused:

[Scratch42]

Then there is no reason to have use of a rental car. The Disney Transportation system is Wonderful!

We DD and I travel, I usually rent a car to get us there, go shopping and back to MCO. But while on site, the car stays parked and we use the Disney Transportation! It's nice to have someone else do the driving!

You only have to choose how you are going to get from the Airport to Disney!

Happy Planning!

Scratch
pirate:

[disneysteve]

There are people on both sides of this issue. Personally, we would never consider going to WDW without a car no matter where we were staying. We find Disney transport to be very inadequate for our needs. We can't stand waiting for buses. We can't stand crowding in with everyone else. We don't like the lack of safety (no seat belts or car seats when DD was younger). We don't like the fixed routes you are limited to by bus.

We like to be able to visit numerous onsite hotels - virtually impossible without a car. There is no direct way, for example, to get from the Contemporary to the AKL. We like to be able to get offsite for food shopping, an occasional meal, outlet shopping at Belz and others.

We greatly prefer the convenience of being able to come and go as we please and not have to depend on someone else to get around.

Steve

[rdrjj5]

Hi Tina

Our family could not get by without a car. We travel with my husbands parents and our 3 kids (dd4, ds2, dd2). Driving ourselves around WDW is much easier and faster for us with the 2 strollers etc that we drag around. Also at night getting to dinner or downtown disney with the car does save alot of time. January is usually very slow and car rental rates usually reflect that. I reserved a car this past january for $15 a day for 4 days and then used a coupon out of the entertainment book and the total came to $66 including taxes. I'm not sure how much transportation for 4 from the airport to disney is but if you take that money and apply to a car, it might not be that much more to have a car for the week. You have pleanty of time to decide. You can always make a reservation and change it if the rates go down or even cancel if you change your mind. Book early and then watch the rates as they sometimes change on a daily basis.

[ceecee]

Part of the whole great experience for us is not having to drive, park, etc. We have gone the last 4 times without a car and have not missed it. We have gone to all the parks, DTD, Blizzard Beach and many different resorts and have not missed a car. There are three of us and DD is 8.

[GoofItUp]

I would say it depends a lot on what you intend to do. We have done it both ways (with and without rental cars). If you intend to primarily go to the parks and DTD, I would say you don't need a car. If you plan on going to other resorts for dinners (or other activities), it might be convenient to have a car since bus transportation between resorts is not the easiest/fastest way around. I would suggest pricing a rental car adequate for your group. If it is close to or less than the airport shuttle, go ahead and get the car. If it is significantly higher, forget the expense and use the money for your room ..... or extra Mickey Bars ..... or more dinners ..... well, the list goes on and on! ;)

There is also another factor in using an airport shuttle/Disney transportation.....they know where they're going!

If you do choose to use and airport shuttle, check out FL Tours. They sponsor the DIS and were great on our last trip!

[Emmyfaye]

Due to the high cost of flights from where we live in Eastern Canada at the time we ordinarily travel to Florida, we always drive to Orlando - but while staying on site, we never use our car. We have never experienced any problems with Disney transportation - sure, we may have had to wait a few minutes for a bus or boat to DTD, and sure, the busses are crowded at the end of the day when we return to the resort - but we are on vacation, happy as clams, and this has never bothered us!

We happily tour other resorts via the internal transportation system on a offday, and toodle to DTD in the evenings via a bus or boat - but find our stays onsite so brief with so much to do, that we are never inclined to travel off property to shop or anything.

Having said that, when we travel to Florida we always have a week or so at one coast or the other, and need our car for that part of our vacation.

[scootron]

When my DH and I travel anywhere we almost always try to go without renting a car. We walk, use public transportation and taxis. We live in a small rural town in the Southern part of Arkansas, and enjoy exploring the "big cities" we visit without the hassle of trying to drive in unfamiliar place.

We are heading to WDW this May and intend to rely on the Disney transporation system while we are there. We are using a towncar service to get there from the airport. The cost is comparable to the bus system, but we'll get individualized service and will be able to stop for some groceries on the way to the resort. I figure if we are ever in a real time bind to get somewhere at the resort, we can always catch a cab.

Do whatever makes sense for you an your family. Everyone is different.:wave2:

[kashkdz]

When we stayed onsite we did NOT rent a car, only because we (2 adults, 3 kids) did not have any plans to leave the Disney property (unless we do Universal Studios, but then we still just hop into a taxi). Disney Transportation is great whether you're taking a bus, monorail, or the ferry. In my opinion one of the reasons why you stay on-site is to take advantage of the transportation available and this is part of the whole "Disney experience". Also this is our vacation, and it was a nice break not having to drive, rather we could sit back and let someone else do the driving. If we did rent a car, I would feel obligated that I have to drive somewhere since I already paid for it. But again, it depends on where you plan on going, and if you want to be more in control of your traveling.

[Muziqal]

I agree with the choice not to rent a car. If you're there to see Disney, then the WDW Transportation System is quite adequate. I was a CM and living there (Little Lake Bryan area in Lake Buena Vista) for a year without a vehicle. I didn't need one to ever see anything on the property. I used Guest transportation all of the time to get around. Granted, I had a lot more time to waste waiting for a bus here and there...but never was I inconvenienced by lack of service. I have more problems with my city's public transporation system here at home and I'm sure less care and more $ goes into it!

If you're going to be staying in the Magic Kingdom area and relying on WDW trans., then I'd draw up an itinerary around what you want to see and where it is located. This will save a lot of time. For instance, if you are planning on visiting a few of the resorts, split up which ones you want to see dependant on location. Example, tour the boardwalk, swan & dolphin. From there, go to DD. Don't try and make it back to see the Wilderness Lodge before you head over. This will save a lot of time and just makes sense. The place is HUGE (trust me, I was there for a whole year and didn't see every single inch), and the further away a place is, the longer it's going to take to get there. Some of the buses are on loops, so it might be handy to research the different routes a bit first before you plan out what you're going to see when. That is, if you want to take in a lot of the non-theme park aspects of the World. If it's theme park hopping you'll be doing, again...maybe think location and hours of operation. Much faster to go to Epcot from Magic Kingdom rather than heading over to AK. Hop on the monorail and skip tracks at the TTC.

I think some of the fun comes from the different modes of transportation Disney offers to Guests. Take a boat from International Gateway of Epcot to MGM. Nice relaxing ride without having to remember where you parked the car (was it the Goofy lot or Pluto?) and you get such nice views of some of the surrounding areas. Take the monorail from the Contemporary over to the Polynesian and then walk to the Grand Floridian.

You also have to take into account that you could easily spend an entire vacation on property. Is this what you want? Or do you want to see stuff like Sea World and IOA (I highly recommend that park for adults!). You may want to rent a car for a few days. I have rented a car a few times if I needed to every time I've been there to see a few other things. It's not a hard decision to make after the fact and once you've sampled the trasnportations system a bit.

That's my take on it and I've never had kids with me while doing this. I have been in big groups of CMs and by myself though, and no one has ever complained. But, after seeing how stressed out some families get on their trips (you can't imagine the amount some families can bicker in the happiest place on earth), it might be worthwhile to think about what will be the most stress free for your group. Take a minute and imagine the lines to get on the buses after the fireworks...or waiting in your car to get out of the parking lot after a long day at the parks. Which do you prefer at home? A ride home on the bus after work or sitting in rush hour traffic to get out of downtown? I think it's all up to you and your party and what's going to make the difference on YOUR trip.

You don't want to be that family that ends up in Canada right before Illuminations begins and speeds off because they need to leave just to beat the lines at the bus stop...or hurry to the car before everyone else gets to the parking lot. Enjoy the convenience...that's what I say...and make your trip magical the best way you can. My most favourite time of the night was when Illuminations just finished and everyone was a little teary eyed...you're walking out listening to the music, looking at the illuminated sidewalks in future world as the fountain is choreographed to the ryhthms in the background and you walk underneath a glowing blue and purple Spaceship Earth...who cares if you have to switch monorails back to the Contemporary after an experience like that!?! You'll miss out on the all too famous monorail messages in english and spanish before the doors close (I love that part!). I know I wouldn't do it any other way. Again, all a matter of opinion.

[Gomez Gang]

We have never rented a car and probably never will. Our vacation mentality is that we don't cook and we don't drive!
WDW transportation is more than adequate. WDW also offers so much more than just the parks so if you have had it with attractions for the day, go to downtown Disney or take a walk on the board walk. Go over for a campfire at the Fort Wilderness or go mini golfing. Also, be sure to check out the fabulous water parks.....all just a bus or boat or monorail ride away!

FYI: If you need a way to get from the airport to your resort call Tiffany Town Cars. We have used them our past 2 trips and would NEVER use Mears again!!!!!!!!!
Tiffany is actually cheaper for a family of 5 than Mears.
Tiffany will give you a grocery stop--no extra charge.
Tiffany will get you to your vacation 10 times faster!!!! You are the only family in the car or van so you don't need to let off other people first. Check it out--you will be pleased!!

p.s. our favorite driver is "LARRY":sunny:

[Aisling]

We also never rent a car while at WDW. We use Disney transportation, which is part of the whole experience for us. I don't think we've ever had a problem with their busses, the momorail, or the boats. And the drivers are lots of fun!

[spectromagic fan]

We've done it both ways. It seems that every time we rent a car, it stays parked most of the time. We usually stay at the Poly, and we find the transportation system to be great. We don't have to worry about driving in traffic or parking. You can take Mears from the airport, or if there are more than a few of you, it's just as cheap to take a town car (a real treat). If you want to go to Univesal, you can go by Mears. We're much happier without a car. Years ago we had a travel trailer, so we stayed in Ft. Wilderness. Even then, we only used our own vehicle to get to our camp site. Personally, we enjoy not having a rental car (and not having to pay for it either), but it really depends on what you want to do.

[HaleyB]

We rented a car on our last trip. It was a huge waste of time and money. We used it one time to go to a grocery store, and that was really just because we wanted to use the car at least one time. We had an infant and an eight year old with us. I love Disney transportation. No parking, no hunting for white car in sea of white cars, no keys to lose in the park, no worries...

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by HaleyB
no hunting for white car in sea of white cars

LOL - I remember those days years ago. Fortunately, they don't do that anymore. Rental cars come in all colors now. We haven't had a white car for years. Plus, the little tag on the keys always says what color your car is in case you forget.

Steve

[travelbug]

I've had my own car down there a couple times, but have also gone without a car on a number of trips. I've been perfectly happy relying on Disney transportation, and letting somebody else do the driving and navigating. :D In December, I was there for 9 days without a car, and really didn't miss it at all. I will have a rental car on my April trip (different circumstances), but I don't anticipate using it to get to the parks. Only for runs to the store, and maybe a little exploring. :magnify:

[sbrown]

We don't rent a car. We have Tiffany Town Car pick us up at the airport (costs about $110) round trip including tips, and then we rely on the Disney transportation. We went first week of Feb. 2004, and never waited more than 5 min. for a bus. We don't want the stress of trying to drive a car when we don't know where we are going.

[MK Familystone]

Rap your hands around a WDW transportation schedule.

I suggest to friends who are going to WDW for the time, NO CAR, sit back and take it in.
You have to do some home work to understand the multiple means of moving around the WDW property.
"ENJOY!!!"
"the MAGIC HAPPENS!!!"
:mad: :jester: :jester:

[skiwee1]

When we fly, which is about 25% of the time, we never rent a car. We hire a limo or towncar to ferry us back and forth to the airport, grocer, and other theme parks. :teeth: When we drive, which we do quite a bit, we unload the van and park it for the rest of the trip. We never even see the van again until 12 days later! So I would not rent a car.

[cyndibelle]

nope no car for us..its so nice at the end of the day to just go out hop on the bus and them drive you back to the hotel...no trying to find your car..no waiting in lines to get out....disney transportation is great...and runs so smoothly..we had no problems getting around at all...

[diskids2]

We have never rented a car on any of our trips. Family make up of these trips include: two swinging singles (ok in my dreams), then a married two-some - no kids, married couple one 3 year old, married couple with one 18 month old and one 5 year old, and married couple kids 4 and 8 and two grandparents.

Anyway, never once did I wish that I had a car. I found the transportation system to be great. We stayed at CBR all of the trips described above.

I will tell you that friends of ours went to WDW without a car once. They vow never to do that again. Their reasons are mostly due to no patience (their words, not mine). They wanted to be able to go and come when they choose and did not want to wait for a bus, monorail, water taxi, etc. (Typical New Yorkers! ;)

The moral of my post is (like so many other replys have said) that this is an individual preference. I would discuss the pros and cons with anyone who is in on the secret and try to come up with what you think is best.

IMHO, if you are trying to save some money or watch the cash (aren't we all!) I would not spend it on a rental car.

Have fun planning!

[Katiebug]

We always rent a car.

Otherwise we are stuck at Disney all week and spend twice as much on food and stuff!

If you have kids - sometimes it is easier for us to just hop in the car and drive to another resort, or park than have to deal with the buses, if they are running slow.

Plus, it's nice to be able to drive around Orlando. There's lots of stuff to do on International Drive (Mercado) or Old Town on 192. Both are free to get into and have cheap food and souvenirs.

Jennifer

[Disneylovers]

Until our last trip, we always rented a car, and except for our one trip when we stayed off site and needed it to get to the parks, it sat in the parking lot. One of the perks of staying on sight is the bus system. You can't beat getting dropped off right at the front gate to all the parks!! This trip, we'll rent the car the last day of our stay at WDW, so we have wheels to go visit family who live by the Gulf. But, save yourself the money, rely on the bus system (and treat yourself to a limo ride from the airport, we're using FL Tours, I'll report on everything when we get back).:wave2:

[jann1033]

we always have driven to wdw so have a car but have never ever used it from the time we check in til the time we check out!. this past time( in Jan. ) we found the transportation to be great as always *except* imo it is bad getting from resort to resort for dinners. unless you are ready to go home by 8( which we never were as we ate after the parks closed since most close by 7), you have a long, long trip( an hr or more) back via DTD which usually entails passing your resort once or twice on the way..so near and yet so far!

Disney imo really needs to change this stupid way of doing it since we will not visit other resorts to eat dinner like we used to...at least it will save us money since no more Ohana's, Artist Point or any other expensive places unless I am staying in that resort.! it is a pain imo to drive to the parks just so I can drive to dinner at a resort...forget it, I'll either only go where I am staying or do counter in the park just before we leave.... rant over...

you do not need a car:o !

[luvmk]

We never rent a car. Part of what makes it vacation is that we don't have to hassle with where we are going and how to get there. It is so nice to walk out, get on the bus, and think about what we're going to do first in the parks. I like that "mindless" aspect of the trip!:) Once we enter WDW, we don't want to leave. For us, that's part of the magic of the vacation. I don't mind waiting a few minutes for a bus. I would rather do that than have a map out trying to figure out where we need to go.

Have fun with whatever you choose to do!:wave:



Rachel:earsboy: :earsgirl: :earsboy: :earsgirl:

[keith-atl]

We drive our car to WDW and it sits in the parking lot the whole time we are there. We never use the car when we are there, so unless you are planning to do something that is not disney related no need to rent.

[powellrj]

We always rent a car because I feel you more than make-up the cost of the car with what you save by not eating all of your meals at Disney. We also get our tickets at AAA so we get the Diamond Parking Pass so we always park right by the gate. With the codes available we usually pay about $15 a day to rent a car.