Advice please - rental car or bus

[fredms]

Okay all you smarties- I need advice. I am doing four days in Disney and then the Disney Cruise with my sister, her nany and four kids (ages 6, 4, 4, 1) do I:

(1) Use a limo (as a surprise) to get us from the airport to Disney and then from Disney to the cruise and use Disney busses to get around Disney (we're staying at the Boardwalk)

(2) Or should I rent a car and use that at Disney and then drive to Port Canaveral.

I know 2 is the "smarter" choice but I want some insight from some experienced folk. Thanks in advance for your help.

S

 

[jimmiej]

If your staying at BW, you're within walking distance of Epcot & MGM. However, with little ones, you might want to ride the boat to either park. If you're planning more time at MK, you might prefer a car. That said, I personally prefer Disney transportation. Let them do the driving & you can relax.

 

[swilphil]

Definitely #1. Go the limo/car service route. The best part is they will meet you at the baggage claim with a cart and move all your luggage for you--no trying to get luggage while chasing kids, no lugging all your bags through the airport and no waiting in line for the car rental. We used Tiffany Town Car and they are great. They include a free grocery stop. We stock up on snacks, breakfast and lunch food.

You will love staying at the Boardwalk, and don't need a car there at all. If you don't feel like going to all the Epcot resorts on your way back from MK, get off the Bus at the Swan and walk back to the Boardwalk. It's just next door.

I'm surprised the car service isn't part of your Land/Sea package (if you used one). Did you book through a travel agent?

 

[ncbyrne]

6 people, including little ones and strollers? There's no way I'd use the busses. Rent a car!

 

[ErinInCT]

Would NOT use busses. We just got back & rented a car specifically for the convenience. There is no luggage rack type of thing on the busses so you have to be quick about folding up your stoller & lugging it, the kids, the stroller contents & yourselves onto the bus. Then you need to hold the stroller on the bus! We stayed at a MK resort so we did not have to worry about MK transportation (boat from FW) b/c that is the worst parking lot. We drove to Epcot & MGM. Quick ride, it was nice getting back to your own car with A/C, etc waiting for you! I will ALWAYS rent a car as long as we have kids with strollers!
In actuality, we got a great deal (full size car with Budget) that was about the same cost as the Town Car service anyway!

 

[KathyTX]

You, your sister, the nanny, four kids, including one in a car seat...

What kind of rental car would you get to fit the whole gang? A standard car won't work, you'd have to get a minivan or a Suburban, wouldn't you?

 

[chicknoodle99]

We always rent a car...we prefer to do the driving around WDW. We dont like to rely on somone else's schedule so we find renting a car is best for us...and its not for others.

We did a 7-day Disney Cruise in 2000 and we also rented a car. We took some time and saw the Space Center and a shuttle launch so we wanted the access to those areas the day before our cruise. The only downside to having a rental car is paying for the week to park it at the port. Now, that has been a few years but it was around 50.00 I think. But after the cruise got back we didnt have to wait for the busses or taxis and we were to the airport sooner and actually caught an earlier flight. We just found it easier that way.

It all comes down to personal preference and what works best for your and your family. Enjoy your vacation and your cruise!