A bit of advice needed

[SophiesDad]

Hi, I have been reading these forums for about a month now and have finally gotten around to joining.

We are off to wdw in the middle of june ,staying on int drive in a hotel that has free transport to all the parks so i haven't bothered getting a hire car.

I have read a lot of people suggesting to get to the parks early in the morning and going back to hotel to relax for a few hours in the afternoon and come back to park early evening

As we are going in june the parks are open quite late at night will the free transport from the hotel still be going that late as we really enjoyed the fireworks and especially illuminations

What i am wondering is do you think it would be best to hire a car and if so should i pre book one before i go(travelling with virgin so get a free one but it costs £20 a day insurance)or should i book one when i get there....really stuck here so any suggestions would be really appreciated

 

[Boo Boo Too]

What i am wondering is do you think it would be best to hire a car and if so should i pre book one before i go(travelling with virgin so get a free one but it costs £20 a day insurance)or should i book one when i get there....really stuck here so any suggestions would be really appreciated

If you book a car when you get there, it will STILL cost you about $30 a day or so for insurance PLUS the cost of the car. So you are better either going with virgin or another all inclusive car hire company (have a look at http://www.holidayautos.co.uk/ and compare costs with Virgin - am sure that others can come up with suggestions).

Personally, I wouldn't go anywhere in the US - except New York - WITHOUT a car. America is built for the car. Orlando isn't bad because you can get transport to the parks, BUT that is really quite limiting. Orlando is a BIG place with lots to offer: having a car will give you a lot more freedom of where to go and when to go.

If your budget allows a car, would definitely get one. At holidayautos you are looking at about £220 and up for two weeks car hire (including insurance, all taxes and fees).

Boo

 

[tink too]

We've been to Florida loads and have never hired a car.

The Lynx buses generally run til late too, and they will get you back to I-Drive if you want to stay late at the parks - they are really cheap (about $1 - $2 a trip per person.)

 

[Scottish-Helen]

I've done it with and without a car. The thing with the shuttle buses is that they don't always run when you want them and you are tied into their schedule rather than your own. A hire car just gives you so much more freedom as things are spread out over a great distance. If you are able to drive then I would recommend going for a hire car although it is not absolutely essential.

 

[brer rabbit 28]

last trip we hired a car and also used hotel transport.I found the buses were ok most of the time.But the morning buses were always heaving.Night buses were worse-saw some people actually fighting to get on the last bus from MGM.
If you can afford the hire car then do it,much less hassle and more freedom to do your own thing.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

You can definitely manage without a car, although many of those stay on-site where you can get around easier.

Personally if you are staying off-site a car is a must - but that is just my opinion.
You have so much more flexibility.

Also the idea of getting to the parks early , having a break in-between and going back in the evening is a very good one, and much used by many of us.
Especially given the summer heat, and you also in theory miss the worst of the crowds.

 

[mushumadness]

we couldnt have managed without a car,

we go to all the malls etc and like to be able to do what we want when we want, and the car gives us that freedom.

 

[KayleeUK]

Just wanted to say Welcome to the DIS ! Come and join us on the UK Community Board, link in my signature!

 

[carolfoy]

I stayed in maingate once in a hotel that did free shuttles, when we got there we realised the shuttles went in to the ticket and transportation center every day at 10 am and came back every day at 7 pm, we knew immediately that that wasn't enough for us and we'd end up missing a lot of shows and openings. I was considering hiring a car when a lady at a bus stop said she worked at MK and showed us which lynx bus to get. It ended up costing the three of us less than $30 for thw week for every trip we needed, that included malls, returning to the hotel mid afternoon, seaworld and doing every disney park, sometimes until really late.
Yes you may have to wait for a bus and yes they can be crowded but as far as flexibility goes, it was fine, we didn't miss out on anything.

 

[maureen4200040]

The trouble with the free hotel shuttles is that there also free to the other hotels in the area. If your hotel is the starting point - then your laughing all the way to disney. Unfortunately, if your the last hotel to be collected from you will find yourself standing up in the aisles for most of the way. And it is'nt funny if you have small children & the elderly people in your party.

I've seen grown men/women glued to their seats, as a elderly couple in their 70's were virtually trying to keep upright in the bus to the Magic Kingdom. The other option is taking the lynx bus or find a decent taxi company.


Maureen4200040