Beginners Questions

[coolmark18]

Good evening Disfolk,

I've been a massive fan of Disney Parks for ages but this is the first time in over 10 years I'm actually planning on visiting Walt Disney World and I couldn't be more excited. I listen to various Podcasts, trawl through the forums regarding trips, and have visited Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, but the information I learn about trip planning UK Style I seem to have totally forgotten and I'm starting to panic.

Since I'm going with two friends the budget is limited not through my choice. The stay will be off property, probably a three star hotel which offers a shuttle too and from the major parks.

Now I've got the spiel out the way, a couple of questions:

Renting a car. Being 24 the insurance will be much higher and I think quotes are around £500. Wheres cheapest to rent and car, who do you book it through, and is it even worth it? While I know parking, petrol will be added bonus, I'm scared the typical hotel shuttles will not be regular and start at park opening 9am,10am-ish. Me? I want to be there 30/40minutes before rope drop to get as much time out as possible.

Whats your experience with the hotel shuttles? Are they awful? Is the cost of renting the car between three plus parking plus petrol worth it for the flexability?

Any help, and hotel recommendations, would be great.

Thanks!

Mark

 

[torsie24]

I've not experienced any off site shuttles, but have heard the timings are limited (can't always get to rope drop, or stay until the fireworks - so if you want to do those things you'll pay for a taxi) and they don't take to right to the parks, you need to transfer from where your shuttle will drop you.

Have you priced up 3 of you sharing a room at a Value resort?

They are around £1200 for 2 weeks depending on time of year, so £400 each, and then that'll include your airport transfers and all Disney themepark/waterpark/downtown transfers.

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

We rented a car from Sixt as they didnt have a young persons surcharge... my DBF was 24 in October when we went. I assume its still the same. Its not a service from MCO but there is a 5 min shuttle bus from the airport to the garage xx

 

[Minniesgal]

If i was going on a strict budget I would stay at the holiday inn on hotlke Plaza Boulevard. It has a very regular shuttle, it is also walkign distance from DTD so you can use the DTD transporation and it is walking distance from the crossroads shopping centre where you can get cheaper local restaurants.

 

[scoobydooby]

If i was going on a strict budget I would stay at the holiday inn on hotlke Plaza Boulevard. It has a very regular shuttle, it is also walkign distance from DTD so you can use the DTD transporation and it is walking distance from the crossroads shopping centre where you can get cheaper local restaurants.

But DTD buses do not go to the parks, only the Disney owned hotels.

I'd look at staying in a value. As noted, between three adults that's going to be really quite cheap at £400 ish each. If you stay off site I strongly recommend a car. Add on parking and you might be quids in on site.

 

[chmurf]

I also second the "disney value" option.

Hotel shuttles are a pain in the back. They run on limited schedule, and you'll most likely end up needing a cab ride back to the hotel every now and then, during your stay for various reasons ...

Renting a car + gas + $14 a day for parking definitely adds up fast.

Do the maths, but you'll probably manage to get a Disney Value Hotel for the price of your offsite hotel + car (not to mention transportation to and from the airport which is free with the Magical Express)
You'd also get EMH in the morning, which you might be attracted to since you mentionned Rope Drops.

The only issue that will remain will be for food. Because no car and staying onsite means that you need to stick with Disney food.
Now one solution is to take a Lynx pass (whatever they're called) and get Lynx 50 from DTD to Crossroads where there are a lot of restaurants

in the end, if you're willing to stay at a Value, you'll realise that it's hardly more expensive than staying offsite (unless you go for premium hotels)

 

[MrRomance]

It's been a long time since I stayed off site with a shuttle service but if things are the same, you will have set times that you can come and go. Personally, I'm not a fan of being on their schedule.

By the time you factor in the cost of hiring the car, gas prices, tolls and parking costs, you'll probably find that the price of staying on-site without the need for a car works out about the same. In your situation, I'd probably go for a value on site.

 

[coolmark18]

The issue is staying on property without a car means getting to Universal Studios, Wet n Wild etc is harder. I'll have a look into Sixt about cheaper car rental.

 

[tinkerpea]

If you do end up staying off site then there are the lynx bus service which we always used when we was staying at I-drive, much more regular then hotel shuttles which never came and went when we wanted them to!
We always left at the times we wanted to when using this bus service,
If you choose a DTD off site hotel that's within walking distance of DTD then you could always grab a Disney bus to the nearest hotel which is SSR then transfer to the parks from there.

 

[cmbpanda]

The issue is staying on property without a car means getting to Universal Studios, Wet n Wild etc is harder. I'll have a look into Sixt about cheaper car rental.

It depends how often you want to go to universal & where else you want to go. We stayed on site & went to universal 2 days. We got cabs both times there & back. It was between $40 - $50 each way. We also went to sea world & discovery cove & used the Linx buses, which was fine & $2 each trip! If you are planning more trips to universal & Busch gardens, wet n wild etc then you would have to factor in those costs, but for one or two trips. It is cheaper to get a cab than hire a car.