Advice Needed: Should We Rent a Car for our Split Stay?

[KSL]

Hi Everyone,

I am a new DVC owner and planning my family's first split stay between two DVC places we wanted to try. I would like any/all advice on whether or not to rent a car.

This will be our first big family trip (previously we took each of our daughters individually the summer before first grade ). It's me, DH, 3 daughters (11, 8 & 7 at travel) & my mom. We'll be staying 5 nights at AKL (2BR in Jambo House) and 7 nights at BLT (ded 2BR). We're on the dining plan for the AKL portion but not for the BLT portion. We’ll be traveling August 18-31. Less than 100 days - so excited!!

The Questions:
Should we get a rental car for the AKL portion of our stay? I don’t think we’d need one for our entire stay, but I've heard mixed reviews of the buses from AKL to the parks and thought maybe it would be a good idea for the first part of our split stay. We've been to WDW before and are comfortable with the parks and resorts, but have always relied on DME and Disney transportation to get us around so driving is a tad intimidating and it has always been so easy to just hop a bus. But then I read those reviews about the AKL buses and started to reconsider. I don’t think I would get a car for that alone (since I have also read reviews which say the busing to/from ALK is really quite fine), but then I got to thinking that it would be easier/faster for our transfer day, and also it would allow us a chance to get groceries on transfer day as we’ll be off the dining plan for the week at BLT. So then I started leaning toward getting a car. I don’t know what to do! Advice please!

Other considerations:
• Cost is a factor. With this length of stay (OK, so the points are paid for but there’s the food, park tickets, a few gifts, etc.!) we’re trying to minimize additional costs. Does anyone know of good deals for rental cars? We don’t have any corporate discounts or rewards cards or anything like that. Though we do have AAA (do they offer anything?).
• Is driving really faster (having to get through the parking lot, drive, park, walk to park entrances, etc.)? Or is it just more comfortable (which is certainly a consideration!). Also, we’ve only ever rented a car I think twice in our lives, so aren’t sure what kind of car or what companies are better. Anyone have a company they recommend?
• I know Bell Services would transfer our luggage, but I admit to having 'control issues' and am afraid I'll be nervous all day about whether or not the luggage actually makes it from AKL to BLT. This would also alleviate my similar concern about our luggage arriving from DME (it always does, but I always worry!).
• There will be 6 of us (plus luggage, which we're hoping to keep light since we'll be able to do laundry, but let's be honest -- 5 of the group are female!), so we'd have to rent a large-ish vehicle. What size can hold 3 adults and 3 children?
• My mother is 66 and has had a knee replacement. She's concerned about her stamina and walking at the parks. Not sure that has any impact on the car rental question, but just as info.
• I’ve heard that there are places near WDW where you can return a rental car. If we returned it the evening of our transfer day, how long a process is that to drive to the return area (where is it!?), return the car and have them bring you back to your resort (in this case, BLT)? Are we talking an hour or half-a-day?

I need to stop thinking/typing - I’m sorry this is so long. Thanks for anyone who had the patience to read through all of it. And thanks in advance for any replies!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Okay....I was just at AKL-Jambo last month. I didn't find the buses to be bad at all. And I had a car sitting in the parking lot!! I drove there, and then the car sat for the two days we were there. So, if that's your big concern, I wouldn't worry about it.
But, having a car to make the transfer is nice. I would consider getting the car the day before you move, and then return it the night of your move...two day rental basically. When Bell Services moves your bags, you say goodby to them until late afternoon/early evening. It's nice to have access to them.
As far as the size of the car goes...I would go with a minivan. Should be plenty of room for you as well as your luggage.

IF you rent from Alamo/National, you can pick up/drop off at the Dolphin, or at the Car Care Center by the entrance to MK. The CCC offers a pickup/drop off shuttle service. But you do have to let them know 24 hrs beforehand that you will want a ride. That might work out best since you're at BLT once you make the switch.
You can also rent from Alamo at the Dolphin on an Epcot day..or return it on an Epcot day. That's what I tend to do a lot.
And you're absolutely right...being able to run and get some groceries for the BLT part of your stay will be terrific. Nice way to save some money.

If you decide on a different car rental company, you can find a lot of them in the DTD area. For instance...Budget is located at the DTD Doubletree Guest Suites. And I believe they also offer a shuttle service if you let them know you need it.

 

[keishashadow]

OP with 6 guests sounds like you'd need a minivan, usually pricier than midsize. We tend to rent a car, but have used buses from Jambo in the past, never waited longer than 20 minutes non-peak time.

i'm more concerned re ur 66 y.o. mom, get her 'in training'beforehand. If she can walk anywhere from 3 to 10 miles a day (which is easy to do in theh parks) without issue she'll be fine, otherwise i'd consider renting an ECV.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Disney will move your luggage for you and save you the hassle of lugging it. For that many people you would definantly need a van. If you are planning to go off site for that portion of your trip then I would get a vehicle otherwise I would just use Disney transportation.

 

[KSL]

Thanks for the replies!

Goofy4tink - I hadn't even thought of just renting for those couple of days from the CCC - thanks for the suggestion! That might be just the option for us & I'll look up more info in that direction.

Keishashadow - I know, I keep telling her to get out and WALK! She even joined the local YMCA so she could be 'in shape' but isn't GOING! So she has good intentions but not great on the follow-through. The ECV is a definite possibility.....

Shelly F - we plan to stay 'in the WDW bubble' the whole time (except for that grocery run, but then again maybe we'll have it delivered...that would be new for us too), so that's why we hadn't initially intended to get a car -- we like not having to be concerned with transportation and have always relied on the Disney system to get us around.

Decisions, decisions! Thanks for the replies.

-Kimberly