bus transportation or rental car?

[dmbkmb]

Ok, this is a little off track, but I'm going to be booking our first trip home, SSR, for May 2004. Was wondering what people do for transportation. I've been to Disney so many times I've lost count, but we always take Meares from the airport and then use Disney's buses to get around. It is just my husband and I so we really didn't think we needed a car. Well, now that we are going with DVC this time we were wondering if more people rent cars or use the transportation. I've looked at the costs a little and it still seems like using Meares and the DIS transporation is cheaper.
Please let me know what your opinion is. We need veterans advice here!! Oh and if you have a really good rental place you like please let me know. Any and all suggestions are welcomed!

Thanks!
Deanna

 

[Scott H]

We rent a car only for our arrival day. We haev had good luck with Avis.

On our first day we use the car to do grocery shopping and then return it that evening. We then use Disney Transportation for the rest of our stay.

When it is time to leave we usually take Mears to MCO.

Avis has a counter at the Hilton near DTD and could be handy when you are staying at SSR.)

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE usually rent a car, because it is easier and cheaper with 4 or more people. We also like to use the car to get to other resorts in the evenings for dinner. We do use Disney transportation most of the time, and always to get to and from the parks unless we are going to a PS at a resort after a park. I think at SSR, you might not need it as much for the resorts, because you will have the ability to have better transportation to and from DTD. Going to DTD between resorts after park hours is the reason we need the car. We do like having the car for grocery shopping though too. It is no more expensive than taking a Mears or town car.

 

[crisi]

We do a third option - we pay for taxis. We take some buses as well. A towncar and taxis aren't too much more expensive than a good rental (as opposed to the cheapest possible rental) - especially when you consider that when we do rent, we end up leaving it parked for days on end while we take Disney transportation. We are paying for the convience of transportation on demand - no waiting for the valet or dealing with parking at the theme parks. Neither my husband or I enjoy driving strange cars (I hate to drive and he is a car snob) in places we don't know well, nor do we enjoy standing on buses. And staying at the BW, we had walking access to about half of what we were doing anyway

 

[dmbkmb]

Thanks everyone for the information. I like the idea of renting a car for the first day and getting groceries...I think we will have to try and do that especially since we are staying at SSR and that Avis return is in DTD, that is nice to know!!

Thanks again everyone!

Deanna

 

[Scott H]

crisi,

What are some typical cab fares???

Thanks

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

With SSR being new I would rent a car. Who knows what kind of set up they will have for the transportation. Better that you scope it out first before having to depend on it.

HBC

 

[crisi]

From the BW everyplace we went was about $12-$15. AK, AKL, Blizzard Beach, Magic Kingdom and the MK resorts.

One trick - when going to the MK, the cab drops you off at the TTC. An extra buck will get you to the CR - ask to be dropped off at the walkway - and you can walk to the MK without having to wait for a monorail or a ferry.

Another trick - ask the driver what the anticpated fare somewhere will be. If its high, don't get in that cab. Some drivers will take the long way around to jack up the fare.

A third trick - if you are traveling with more than four, ask the resort valet to call you a van. Same price. Don't know how to get a van from the taxi stands by the parks.