Can anyone please help me figure out transportation?

[tinksdreamwishes]

Hi! My mom surprised me with $2300 for a quick trip next week to WDW. My DH and I are excited as she volunterred to watch the kids too. So we went online to check out prices- we found a trip package deal- for both of us- airfare from Sac, Ca to MCO plus hotel for the dates March 17-24th- to be around $440 a person, inc taxes etc. So about $900. Add another $500 for some wdw tix... and the rest for food, and transportation. I am really confused on the whole transportation system for WDW. I have found a hotel that I think I would like- the Destiny Palms, but it does not have the option for free complimentary shuttle to WDW. Another, hotel I was interested in is.. Serlago. And they do have free shuttle. But... I have read that they drop us off at a stop and we would have to purchase another fare from a bus or monorail system to get to WDW? I am confused. Also I have heard a few mention an I Trolly system? How does that work and where can I find a list of hotels on that or more info? Please help me before I throw in the towel and give up.. Thank you!

 

[simzac]

If your hotel has a free shuttle to the WDW property, you would then use the WDW transportation system(buses, monorail, & boats) for free. Just check out this site more and the WDW site to get all the info you need. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[vicki_c]

Depending on the limits of your budget, I think renting a car is the best approach for staying off-site. Off-site shuttles will not run on YOUR schedule and may only run a few times a day or drop off at one particular park out of the 4 Disney parks, etc. But if you do that, you will also have to pay for parking at the parks every day, which is $12 now I believe.

 

[Tara]

You might look into a Disney value resort - you'll likely pay more for the hotel room, but you can benefit from:

• Use of Magical Express from/to the airport: FREE
• Use of WDW transportation, which is plentiful, frequent and FREE
• Access to Extra Magic Hours, which might be very helpful, especially if the grown-ups want to do some late night touring

If you stick with the hotel you've found, I'd definitely recommend renting a car! Perhaps try Priceline to see what kind of deal you can get.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Thank you for the replys- I found a trolley route... but it doesnt seem to go to WDW? I see uS and Sea World options. My hotel choices are in Kissimme. /sigh. I hate leaving the park before it closes... so maybe staying at a hotel w free shuttle in the morning and take a taxi back to the hotel in the evening? I suppose renting a car is option to. Trying to keep the expense down as low as possiable. good to know that the WDW trans is free once I get there, ty! If I take a taxi back in the evening... and the hotel is approx 2 miles away... how much do you think that would cost one way?

 

[3happydancers]

You might look into a Disney value resort - you'll likely pay more for the hotel room, but you can benefit from:

• Use of Magical Express from/to the airport: FREE
• Use of WDW transportation, which is plentiful, frequent and FREE
• Access to Extra Magic Hours, which might be very helpful, especially if the grown-ups want to do some late night touring

If you stick with the hotel you've found, I'd definitely recommend renting a car! Perhaps try Priceline to see what kind of deal you can get.

I second this idea!!! Price out a package and see what price you get and compare it with trying to piece meal together your original idea. I think overall, you will find op's option reasonably priced and much less stressful.

 

[backyardponder]

Unless you really want to stay off site, I'd recommend checking out packages Disney can give you for on site hotel. I'd call Disney reservations and see what they can offer you. Contact information is at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

... and the hotel is approx 2 miles away... how much do you think that would cost one way?

I think you're underestimating the distance between the parks and your hotel choices. It may be 2 miles to the start of Disney property, but unlikely to any of the parks. Expect to pay $20 - $30 minimum each way for a taxi, it costs that much just to go from Disney resort to Disney resort usually.

 

[dpmfloyd]

STAY ON SITE! Please! My girlfriend and I stayed at Disney's Pop Century.

What you're thinking of doing will be so draining and a massive pain in the butt, not to mention expensive! Taxi's back after the park - you'll regret it.

STRONGLY reconsider staying on the propery. YES, it might cost more - but for what you're planning, I think you'd love it.

- Magical Express, amazing, cant rave enough about it. They pick you up from the airport and drop you off at the door of your on site property. Then, 3 hours before your departure at the end of your trip, you'll board it back and head towards MCO.

- Disney's bus systems are a wonder! You can easily get from "Point A to Point B" in no time. If you wanted to leave The MK for an afternoon nap at your hotel - its a piece of cake! - then you can reboard and head back.

If you stay off property you will be physically and financially drained.

unless you rent a car, that would be the only way i'd suggest staying off site.

good luck, please reconsider - stay at pop century if you do!!

 

[Tara]

I think you're underestimating the distance between the parks and your hotel choices. It may be 2 miles to the start of Disney property, but unlikely to any of the parks. Expect to pay $20 - $30 minimum each way for a taxi, it costs that much just to go from Disney resort to Disney resort usually.

Exactly -you should be expecting to pay about $80 PER DAY just for 1 round trip cab per day. I'd be floored if the hotel you've chosen is less than a Disney value once you add in the cab fare. (That's almost $500 in cab fare, and I'm not counting your travel days, either.)

 

[Grandmouse]

Yes, please stay onsite. You will probably wind up saving money due to the cost of taxis and/or a rental car and certainly you will save time, and time is money. If you don't want to leave the parks before they close, this is the only way to go. And staying at a Disney resort, you will get a total Disney experience and it is the best.

 

[chartle]

Thank you for the replys- I found a trolley route... but it doesnt seem to go to WDW? I see uS and Sea World options. My hotel choices are in Kissimme. /sigh. I hate leaving the park before it closes... so maybe staying at a hotel w free shuttle in the morning and take a taxi back to the hotel in the evening? I suppose renting a car is option to. Trying to keep the expense down as low as possiable. good to know that the WDW trans is free once I get there, ty! If I take a taxi back in the evening... and the hotel is approx 2 miles away... how much do you think that would cost one way?

Is this your first time to WDW? I searched your posts and it seems like you have been to DL a few times.

If it is your first time, you need to be aware that WDW is not like DL its a big place. As for taking shuttles and or trolleys to the parks, I have a feeling that they drop you off at the Ticket and Transportation Center and then you have to either take a monorail to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot or a bus to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom. I've read that most hotel shuttles do not run that often and that you will be sharing it with other hotels. Some only run 2 or 3 in the morning and at night.

I just think its going to get stressful having to get back to the TTC after a day at the parks to make sure you catch the shuttle.

Staying on site would solve a lot of your problems you get free transportation from the Airport (how were you planning on getting to your of site hotel) and free frequent transportation around WDW.

Also from your posts it looks like you are a family of maybe 5(?). If thats the case you a limited to where you can stay to two rooms, a room with a trundle bed that sleeps 5, a suite (which is going to be out of your price range) or a cabin at the Fort Wilderness Campground(also out of your range).

I think for you your choices are staying on site or renting a car. At WDW time really is money. Its starting to be spring break time and the parks will be busy. You need to get to the parks early before the crowds start to build. There is no way thats going to happen taking a hotel shuttle and then having to transfer.

Good Luck

 

[Poohlovr]

I checked the OP's dates and there were no value resorts showing availablilty for her dates online. A moderate, with tickets, will cost most of the money she has available, not leaving any for airfare and very little for food.
OP, can you tell us the name of the hotel you're looking at and also the airline?

 

[Tara]

I checked the OP's dates and there were no value resorts showing availablilty for her dates online. A moderate, with tickets, will cost most of the money she has available, not leaving any for airfare and very little for food.
OP, can you tell us the name of the hotel you're looking at and also the airline?

I checked the dates online about an hour ago and it showed ASMovies available. It was $1141 for a preferred room.

 

[X and G's mom]

OP: So, it's just you and your DH going? If so, there are some good deals out there right now. On the Disney site you can get a % off of a room only resort reservation. OR, there is a gift card offer with a package deal.

I say to stay onsite! The cost of taxi's and off-site rooms maybe car rental and parking will not be worth it.

Whatever you decide have a Magical Vacation!

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Wow so many options... and responses, you guys are great, ty! Yes, I have been to Disneyland a few times and Love it, I can vision everything and where it is mentally without a map, it seems way easier then Disneyworld. LOL.
Only DH and I are traveling to WDW. A nice break away from the kids. Getting a little freaked out- about this whole transportation thing heha. I have been trying to do travel vacation packages on Priceline... which is giving me awesome deals... none are on site a WDW. Which sucks, Priceline seems to have the best flight deals. If I just buy a tix thru SW- its about $900. So if I go to WDW hotels- add approx $100 a night... we plan on 7 nights. So that would come out to around $1600 total. Add $400 - $500 for tix so now my new total is around $2000. Leaving on my tight budget $300 for food. .

I weighed out the pros and cons for renting a car...
so far I have come up with a price of an additional $600 to add a car to my package.... it would raise my priceline deal of $900... to $1200. Then add on gas for the week.. prolly $50? Just driving to and from the airport and from WDW to hotel. Add in $15 a day parking for 4 days at WDW. And I know they going to make us buy their high ins policy at the rental company, just because we are not covered "Full Ins" with our own policy, so they will add another $100 for that.
The pros would be- we have a car, and come and go as we please, and it would be great storage for jackets and extra change of clothes etc. I have no idea if they even have lockers at WDW. LOL.. if they do it would prolly be $9 a day?
so then I think... ok, taking shuttle to the park and Taxi back would be cheaper... prolly $50 each way to and from airport... add another $30 -$40 a day for 4 days while at park... but then... someone mentioned that some taxis charge the $14 parking fee too! /UGH and also someone said that by taking a hotel shuttle in the morning would take forever and no way would I get there before park opening. Which is huge ... I know about the "RULE" from DL, if you want to ride, get there as it opens. LOL so then that would raise the expense up to around $80 for 4 days at the park. Oh the decisions... I am nuts to be trying to do this in a week... /geez

 

[chartle]

Can you split up your trip into two reservations one on site one off?

That way you could do 4 nights on-site and 3 off-site. You could take advantage of being on site for at least part of your trip. You would have free transportation to the parks and if your on site was at the start or end of your trip one way either to or from the airport is taken care of by ME.

What kind of hotel rate are you getting off site? Is it that much of a difference when you factor in the $30 to $40 per day you budgeted for transportation to/from your off-site hotel. You must be getting a room for less than $60 to $70 per night.

Oh here's one other thing to consider most off site have free breakfast. which if you eat a real breakfast can run you $15-20 for the both of you if you eat at a Disney CS restaurant.

Good Luck

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

ok after more brainstorming- I looked into the disney popstar resort- for 5 nights instead of 7, add 2 5 day non park hopper tix ... total is $1486. The site says I would qualify for a $300 voucher- could use that for meals. Add in $800 to fly, brings the total to $2300. Sounds easy, but can we live off $300 for meals heha.

or option 2- Take the priceline vacation deal- airfare for 2 and 7 night stay at the Destiny Palms in Kissimme... for $900. Add taxi fees for transportation to and from airport- and parks for 4 days... $420. Add $600 for park hopper tixs... and $300 for food comes out to $2300. (this option would be a longer stay- much needed to relax, but yet stretching the food bill out even farther)

I also really enjoy park hopping, and living off a Disney gift card for meals, seems scary since- at last minute planning- I dont think we would get into any nice disney rest. due to not enough time to make a resv. But the first option seems easier. I dont knows anymore!

I suppose I will let the DH pick. So that way no matter what happens I can blame him for our failure at last minute vacation planning. LOL.

 

[BCV23]

I agree with everyone else....stay on site. WDW is mammoth compared to DL.

The hotels at DL with shuttles get you close to the gates of both parks. Not so at WDW. As someone said, you will probably be dropped off at the TTC and then need to use WDW transportation to get to each park.

I think you will have more fun and a much more relaxing vacation if you stay on site.

Happy planning!

 

[goofy4tink]

It's not going to be relaxing if the OP has to worry about food costs.
She may be better off finding a hotel/resort as close as possible to WDW. And try for one that offers a shuttle to WDW, even if that shuttle costs something.

To the OP....what are your hotel/resort parameters??? Is this a situation where a timeshare is involved so only certain resorts are available??? If you could find one in DTD that would be terrific. Easier to get to parks that way...they have a shuttle.

As for transportation being confusing....all offsite resorts/hotels that have shuttles to WDW, drop off their guests at the TTC. This is beside the MK. Once you get off the bus there, you can take various modes of transport to the various parks. A monorail or ferry boat to MK, the monorail to Epcot, a bus to DHS or AK. And it's all free.