Best way to see the resorts at xmas?

[AquaDame]

I admit I am very torn - seems like renting a car would be fairly expensive ($40/day) so I was considering just getting a taxi the few times I need to get to two resorts at once (AKL & CS one day and then FW & WL another night). Are taxis hard to come by? Would I end up spending more than I would if I just rented a car for a day? and even more importantly would I save enough time driving myself around that I would 'beat' using Disney transportation? I have an AP this year and TiW so I don't think I would need to pay to park anywhere - right?

Any tips I'm not thinking of?

 

[skelooch]

You will definitely save a great deal of time getting around by having a car. Especially traveling between resorts.
How much that is worth to you only you can decide. But it does provide you with a lot more flexibility of going where you want and when you want.
You will most definitely beat Disney Transportation. Remember there is no Disney Transportation that goes from resort to resort, you will have to transfer buses.
You should allow a min of 60-90 minutes travel time between resorts vs. 10-15 minutes using a car or taxi.

If you are staying in a Disney resort you get free parking at the parks. No need to show your AP or TIW card.

Having TIW also gets you free valet parking if it is available at the resorts you are dining at, of course you still need to tip.

Cabs are usually hanging out at most resorts, if there isn't one there bell services will get you one pretty quick.

You also have the option of renting the car onsite for only the days you need it.
Most of the major rental companies have an office there.

 

[DOOM1001]

The hotels with the best Christmas decorations are in the MK area so you can access them via monorail (Poly,Grand Floridian) or take the boat to see the Wilderness Lodge.The other good ones are the Boardwalk and Y&B Club which you can visit by walking or taking a boat from DHS or Epcot's International Gateway.The only other resort I make a point of seeing when I visit during Christmas is Animal Kingdom Lodge which you would need to take a bus.The other resorts decorations are not quite as impressive but if you wanted to see what they all have then yeah a car would be a better option,but for the hotels I mentioned I think you could do them via Disney transportation no problem.