Benefits of having a car while staying at a Disney resort?

[disneydreamer1980]

Most of us know the feeling of being squished in a bus next to a stranger with another strangers butt in your face. Or being the one standing up worrying about your butt being in someone else’s face. Sometimes feeling forced to make conversation when you’d really rather not. Or waiting in a super long line to board the bus back to your resort and when the bus finally comes you don’t make it in. Last trip we were taking the monorail from the Poly where we were staying to MK and the car we got in had a soda spilled all over one of the seats so no one could sit on that seat and because of that the car was crowded with standing people. We always drive down so we have our car, but for some people avoiding scenarios like this may be worth renting a car. We do a combination of driving and monorail/boat/walking depending on where we’re staying but we avoid busses now for the most part.

 

[_19disnA]

We always rented a car since it gives us more flexibility if we decide to go elsewhere to eat/shop/sightsee. Way more reasonable priced places to eat if you go somewhere other then a Disney restaurant. Renting one of those online taxis quickly adds up if you want to make a few side-trips. Since we don't plan every minute of our trip, sometimes we decide to go somewhere and to be able to hop in our car and go with no advance planning works great for us.

 

[Disneylover99]

Do you know how much they charge for valet parking at the resorts? We are renting a car and, although I highly doubt I would use valet, I am curious.

TIA,
Dee

Valet Parking
Valet service is offered at Disney Deluxe and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, as well as at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Upon your arrival, please check with the Security Host for parking options. Valet service is $33 per night (sales tax included).

 

[Disneylover99]

Cool - that is good to know. I think I still prefer not to drive - but free parking does make it more of an option.

I often choose Disney transportation over driving when I go the week of Christmas to New Years.

 

[DeeCee735]

Valet Parking
Valet service is offered at Disney Deluxe and Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, as well as at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Upon your arrival, please check with the Security Host for parking options. Valet service is $33 per night (sales tax included).

Thank you. We don’t plan on using it. We were actually on the fence about renting a car (staying at SSR this time), but I think I want to. We aren’t doing the parks this trip but do have ADR’s in three different resorts and do want to see the Christmas decorations. I also need a stop at a supermarket for breakfast items and water, coffee creamer, etc.

That said, if we are comng into MCO Terminal C is it still a ride to the main terminal to get a car rental? If so, my DH probably won’t want to rent. So…that leads me back to square 1.

Whats the best delivery service for food shopping items? Thanks…

Dee

 

[Disneylover99]

That said, if we are comng into MCO Terminal C is it still a ride to the main terminal to get a car rental? If so, my DH probably won’t want to rent. So…that leads me back to square 1.

Whats the best delivery service for food shopping items? Thanks…

Dee

Sorry. I don’t know a thing about car rentals at MCO or food delivery service as we have our own vehicle.

Hopefully someone else will chime in about this.

 

[Micca]

We always have a rental car because it gets us to/from MCO, Publix for food for the room, liquor store, and inevitably somebody needs to go to Walgreens or CVS.

This past trip (October) we did use Disney transportation a few times during non-surge time, and were actually pleased with it. Still need the vehicle for off-site necessities though.

 

[CarolynFH]

That said, if we are comng into MCO Terminal C is it still a ride to the main terminal to get a car rental? If so, my DH probably won’t want to rent. So…that leads me back to square 1.

All of the on-airport rental car companies are at terminal C now - https://orlandoairports.net/parking-transportation/rental-cars/

 

[Mikey15]

90% of our Disney trips are based from a nearby timeshare, so we’ve driven all over the area and experienced the pros & cons of Disney and personal transportation. They say about 75% of WDW/Park visitors are day guests rather than staying onsite, so this is actually the way most people experience Disney. Some people, especially on DIS, seem to be nervous about driving in a new place or maybe just don’t like driving on vacation in general, but I really enjoy the flexibility.

In terms of Pop specifically, I don’t see much use for a car to & from the Parks. We’ve stayed sans vehicle at Pop and AoA, and Skyliner works great, bus gets you to MK much faster than TTC, and AK is a wash. The benefits of a car depend on if you break up a park day, leave early and maybe want to go to the outlets or grab dinner somewhere not on Disney property, or also if you like to close out a park and don’t want to be on or wait for crowded end-of-night transportation.

Disney Springs is so easy to park at now with the additional garages and the lighted parking space system, so that’s a good use of driving.

And also it can be nice to go out to different stores. Go to different restaurants. Stop at Walgreens if you need a few things. Get grocery items at Walmart/Target/Publix, all of which also have souvenir merchandise because all of this area is tourist central. Go to Old Town, or I-Drive, or Universal CityWalk. Do a day at Discovery Cove (highly recommended).

Getting around Disney isn’t necessarily quicker by car, even if it’s not bad. But despite the bubble mentality, it’s nice to not be “stuck” at Disney. The other night after leaving MK at 6 (5 y/o wasn’t going to make it to fireworks) we stopped and grabbed milkshakes at Steak n Shake & some Chipotle for dinner on the way back to the condo

 

[DeeCee735]

All of the on-airport rental car companies are at terminal C now - https://orlandoairports.net/parking-transportation/rental-cars/

Thank you. I did a little research and found that out. I now do want to rent. We have friends/fellow DVC members staying at AKV while we are at SSR. That alone says to me, “get the car!”

Thanks again for all the helpful info.

Dee

 

[DeeCee735]

90% of our Disney trips are based from a nearby timeshare, so we’ve driven all over the area and experienced the pros & cons of Disney and personal transportation. They say about 75% of WDW/Park visitors are day guests rather than staying onsite, so this is actually the way most people experience Disney. Some people, especially on DIS, seem to be nervous about driving in a new place or maybe just don’t like driving on vacation in general, but I really enjoy the flexibility.

In terms of Pop specifically, I don’t see much use for a car to & from the Parks. We’ve stayed sans vehicle at Pop and AoA, and Skyliner works great, bus gets you to MK much faster than TTC, and AK is a wash. The benefits of a car depend on if you break up a park day, leave early and maybe want to go to the outlets or grab dinner somewhere not on Disney property, or also if you like to close out a park and don’t want to be on or wait for crowded end-of-night transportation.

Disney Springs is so easy to park at now with the additional garages and the lighted parking space system, so that’s a good use of driving.

And also it can be nice to go out to different stores. Go to different restaurants. Stop at Walgreens if you need a few things. Get grocery items at Walmart/Target/Publix, all of which also have souvenir merchandise because all of this area is tourist central. Go to Old Town, or I-Drive, or Universal CityWalk. Do a day at Discovery Cove (highly recommended).

Getting around Disney isn’t necessarily quicker by car, even if it’s not bad. But despite the bubble mentality, it’s nice to not be “stuck” at Disney. The other night after leaving MK at 6 (5 y/o wasn’t going to make it to fireworks) we stopped and grabbed milkshakes at Steak n Shake & some Chipotle for dinner on the way back to the condo

Thanks....what is Old Town? I should probably know, but I don't

 

[DeeCee735]

Next question now that we booked a car rental. What's the best place (location and price) between the airport and Saratoga Springs to stop for a quick food shop?

TIA,
Dee

 

[Mikey15]

Thanks....what is Old Town? I should probably know, but I don't

It’s a bit of a staple on US192 for Kissimmee timeshare patrons. It’s a one-strip walkable Main Street USA type setup (hence “Old Town”) but with shops, basic restaurants, and silly things like karaoke bar, tarot readings, and a haunted house (seasonal?). There’s an adjacent “Fun Spot America” like on I-Drive with those rides I’d never get on that launch you in the air on a giant ball/slingshot, but also some fun go carts and such.

https://myoldtownusa.com/

It’s nothing amazing but it’s a bit of a classic “thing to do” in the area. Kind of like some of the commercialized area of Gatlinburg but small, independent operations instead of big chains.

I’m guessing people closer to I-Drive would probably prefer I-Drive for some similar options & more variety, but Old Town is great for being walkable with the whole family, and keeps hours well past many park closing times.

 

[peabody58]

As DVC members, we vacation 3-4 short weeks a year at WDW. We drive every time since we live 6 hours away.

For us, having the car is only useful for when we go to the Water Park. The rest of the time we just chill in the bubble and enjoy all the modes of Disney's transportation system.

In Jan we will use the car to do a grocery run since it will be our big family GTG trip and we don;t want to haul all the food items down.

Now down the road, we do envision skipping the AP for a year and then we;d use the car to visit other attractions in the area.

 

[ClapYourHands]

The car gives you a measure of control you don’t have with WDW transportation. It may or may not be quicker, but you’re never standing there wondering when the next bus is coming.

Also, having a car can get you off site for grocery runs or eating at non-theme park restaurants. If it’s your car, that’s just a money saver. If you are renting, you’ll need to weigh the cost of the rental vs the money you can potentially save.

We often fly in late at night and leave early in the morning. Uber prices can be brutal at midnight or 4 am. Our next flight down will land us at 12:30am, and that’s assuming an on-time flight. Our flight back is at 7am, so we’ll need to arrive at MCO by 5 am. I really do not want to be stressing about finding an Uber and possibly paying $100 each way.

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks everyone