8 Days...No Car?

[aubeone]

I planning to spend 8 days in Disney the week of Easter. I am not planning to rent a car. Where should I stay?

 

[dixipixi]

We were at the Yacht Club in June and I have to say that we found the transportation there wonderful.

You have the boat to MGM and Epcot (but we always walked to Epcot). There are buses that go everywhere else. We found that the buses ran constantly. The longest we waited for a bus was 10 minutes. They were never crowded (despite the fact that we always shared with Beach Club and Boardwalk and occasionally the Swan and Dolphin as well).

There are lots of dining options around this area. You have all the hotels and Epcot's World Showcase within walking distance. We could walk all the way around the Boardwalk and back to our room within 20 minutes.

Of all the Disney hotels, we believe this area is absolutely the best as far as relying on Disney transportation.

 

[cobbler]

Anywhere. Seriously what kind of budget are you looking to have for your room. You can stay anywhere and get anywhere via boat, monorail or bus.

 

[MouseHouse789]

We have been to Disney 7 times, for at least 4 days each time, sometimes as many as 8 days, and have never used a car.

You can anywhere on Disney property using their transportation system - just set your expectations accordingly, and allow enough time for travel.

Relax - let them do the driving.

Recommendations?

If you chose a value resort, go with Pop Century, they don't share buses with anyone.

Moderates tend to have an internal bus loop that can be annoying to some.

Deluxes - if you can afford a monorail resort, that helps you get to 2 of the 4 parks, you would need to take a bus to the other 2. There are may resorts in the Epcot area, where you can walk or boat to Epcot or MGM, and bus to the others.

We love AKL and WL (yes! we even love the boat transportation!) - and AKL has direct buses to all 4 parks.

 

[PortieOwner]

I guess the Polynesian is the most centrally located in that you can have a very short walk to the TTC and be on the Epcot Monorail or the Express MK Monorail.

But does a car really cost that much? My last trip I have anice SUV for around $150 for a week including all taxes. Very convenient to have even if you use a lot of Disney transportation. We were able to make 2 trips to Downtown Disney we would not have done is using WDW buses, plus some 2-park hopping that would have been slow with WDW buses.

Portie

 

[minnie61650]

Anywhere. Seriously what kind of budget are you looking to have for your room. You can stay anywhere and get anywhere via boat, monorail or bus.

I agree. Disney transportation is great.
We just returned last Tuesdayfrom an 8 night stay at All Star Music and had a great time!
I am 55 year old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the MAGIC and that is where I want to be.
I can honestly say we never had a problem with Disney transportation. Even ME from the airport to the resort and the trip back was very timely.

Here is a sample of transportation times according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from the All Stars. It takes 20 min.to get to the MK which is the same amount of time to get to MK from the Contempory by monorail.

Choose a resort you would like to try.. The transportation at Disney
is wonderful.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Reality check!

If you want to use Disney transportation, know this:

You can't get from resort to resort OR from park to park in one bus trip. You must go from Resort to Park to Resort, or Park to Resort to Park. Two bus rides, two waits. Obviously you could substitute a boat or monorail ride for one of the bus trips depending on your desitnation, but you get the idea. Granted, sometimes you can walk up to the bus stop just as the bus approaches, but more often than not, you will wait. Like another poster said, base your expectations accordingly. There will also be times when you find a crowd waiting for the same bus/boat. After waiting in line all day at a park, waiting in line for the bus home isn't that magical.

That being said... we were there for 8 days and I would never go back without the ultimate convenience of a rental car. If I had to choose between staying in a deluxe hotel without a rental car or a value resort with a rental car, I would pick the value resort every day of the week (and believe me, I do enjoy the amenities of a deluxe resort!)

We were able to do so many more things each day by not having to wait for buses or adding extra legs to an already long journey. We booked our trip through AAA, so we had a Diamond Parking pass, which allowed us to park up front where the disabled parking is at each theme park. Because we stayed at a Disney resort, our parking was free. Each morning we walked out of the hotel and got in the car. One day we went from WL to the Polynesian for breakfast (2 min drive). After the poly, we went to Typhoon Lagoon until 2 (6 minute drive). We stopped off at Earl of Sandwich to grab takeout to bring back to the hotel room (3 minute drive). Downtown Disney to WL (8 minute drive.) Then we went to Disney MGM for late hours (5 minute drive)

Rental car companies with locations in the airport have their car pick up areas right near the Disney ME pick up area. Had I known this when I booked the car, I would have picked it up at the airport instead of taking ME and getting the car the next morning near DTD.

I realize we're in the minority on this.. and perhaps we just have ADD... but the time value of having your own car vs Disney transportation makes it more than worth it to me...

Just my .02 - your mileage may vary...

 

[runner26.2]

We've stayed on site with and without the benefit of a car rental over the years. You can get everywhere within WDW by bus, BUT it can take some time and patience.

If all you intend to do is go to a different Park each day and return to your resort to hang out by the Pool I don't think you need a car. If, however, you'll be going to other WDW resorts or want to go off site it can be a hassle.

Another option, which we've also done, is rent a car for 2,3,4 days while you're there. the Auto Centre at WDW has car rental (National & Alamo?) and you can pick up and drop off car there.

 

[Goofyish]

We are doing our second 14 day trip to WDW without a car

First trip we stayed at POR and AKL, this trip we are at the Dolphin. Never had any trouble getting around WDW without a car

We have a Towncar transfer to and from the airport and if we want to go off site we get a cab. or use Mears or Lynx buses

 

[Mamu]

I have stayed with a car and without a car. Sometimes the car just sit there and we don't use it until we leave for Cocoa Beach. If we plan on just doing Disney the transportation is adequate depending on which resort you are staying.

If you can get a great rate I would prefer a car. It does help when you visit other resorts and DTD. The bus services when transferring is not the greatest. It can sometimes take up to an hour to get somewhere.

 

[byoung]

Disney tranportation is part of the majic to me.

 

[aubeone]

Thanks for all your feedback. I have decided to spend 4 nights at POR (Standard) and 4 nights at WL (Courtyard). I can't wait!