Can I get by without renting a car?

[kerri0616]

Hi!

Trying to really, really budget this trip. (But really want to stay onsite!). So, we're trying to decide if we can get by without a car.

We're thinking about a 4 night/5 day trip on site over spring break.

How do you get from the airport to the resorts? (nothing like Magical Express, right?!!)

Will we feel trapped and limited in our meal choices? (I mean, sometimes you just want to go to Denny's for breakfast since it's so cheap) Hmmmm, your opinions?

Thanks,
Kerri

 

[gschmerl]

We have used Mears or a private car to get from the airport to a US on site hotel. It is so easy to navigate the parks, hotels, and restaurants at US on foot, that there is really no need for a car. Each park has several restaurants and City Walk has many. The hotel also have restaurants. My friend and I laugh that we would go back just for some of the restaurants. You will have plenty of choices without a car. Breakfast really is the most limited in inexpensive choices, but we are not really breakfast eaters.

 

[steevo]

Get a Car!!
Here is a HOT deal.
Thrifty.....Make sure you use a date/TIME range that equals at least 5 days. So make return time late on last day and first day pickup early.
Right now its 108.95 for a mid-size. Beleive it or not, codes work on top for another 10 dollars or so off.
Less than 5 days and it is over $70 a day!

BTW that is for Presidents Week.

 

[gschmerl]

Also remember, there is as charge per day to park your car at the on site hotels. You won't use the car at all while you're there.

 

[webray]

You definately don't need a car, and the parking fees would kill that discount in a heart beat.

Take a shuttle, the restaurants on Universal property are all quite good for the most part.

As far as breakfast...well, there isn't a dennys, but you have your choice of quick/buffet, etc at Portofino and Royal Pacific resorts.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

A car service will cost about $100 including tip. They will offer you a grocery stop. This is where you save the $$$. Last weekend at our grocery stop we spent about $30. We bought cereal and pop tarts for the morning, bottled water, soda, gatorade, milk and had them make us sub sandwiches in the deli. We bought a couple of bags of chips as well.

Our original plan had been to have lunch at Margaritaville. This probably would have cost us $30. Instead, we sat by the HRH pool and ate our subs with chips and bottled water. (Our room was not ready yet.) I stored the milk in the mini bar fridge (I know, I took my chances!) and had cereal for breakfast each morning. We put soda in the extra sink each morning with ice and had a cold drink waiting for us each day when we returned from the parks. DH liked to bring a bottle of water with him to the parks each time we would head out.

We stuck to fairly modest snacks in the parks. Pretzels are good for sharing. If you are on a budget, each of the parks has a pizza place where you can get a whole pie pretty reasonably--the drinks will add up, however. Look for the pizza at Cafe 4 over at Islands, and Louie's over at the Studios. I have also heard of folks having pizza and such delivered to thier hotel from a place called Flippers.

You may want to take a close look at the particulars on the all you can eat Meal Deal. I don't think it would be worthwhile for me, but I can see my brother-in-law saving $$ using it.

Have fun.

 

[steevo]

Hotel parking(at least at hard rock) is 7 dollars a day. you wont be charged for checkout day. For me , 7 dollars is a small price to pay to be able to use my transportation on my own schedule without waiting in a line. So still less than 140 dollars for convenience of going anywhere you want whenever you want. Especially on checkout day. Since Airport Trans to Universal is about 80-150 dollars anyway it seems like a no brainer if you want to be able to "go to Dennys" or whatever.
This all assumes a Dodge Stratus type car will fit your family and luggage!!

Have fun!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

I have done it both ways and prefer not renting a car. If its a short trip (less than a week) its just easier and cheaper to get a town car r/t. That would mean our plans dont include leaving the property. Get a grocery stop on the way in and buy breakfast items for your stay. Lots and lots of places to eat at Universal at all different price levels.

I have never felt trapped w/o a car.

 

[Candice30]

seeing that i do not drive, i have never done a florida trip with a car unless i was traveling with a driver and even then only if staying offsite. there just isn't a need in my opinion. the parks are in walking distance of the resorts and there are plenty of food options. for breakfast and lunch, i shipped a box of food and supplies to myself at the hotel and it saved me alot of money. also, my niece and nephew are picky eaters and it saved on the headaches on trying to decide what to eat. when we did sit down to meals, i usually found that the combos were big enough for the kids to share and we were on the go so much that alot of the time a meal consisted of a hotdog and slurpee.

 

[themepark]

I stayed at RPR 5 times (3-6 nights during a stay) and never once used my car after I parked it at check-in. Well, one time we flew and used a towncar service, but we never needed or missed having a car. If I fly again, I will definitely use a towncar service and utilize the grocery stop for snacks and breakfast items. We aren't big breakfast eaters so this works very well for us. Lots of choices in park and at Citywalk for lunch and dinner. We even enjoyed a few meals poolside at RPR and HRH..oh and pizza at Sal's at PBH..yUm!