can you do florida with out a car?

[cove61]

sorry i am a totaly newbie to all this. i have been to disneyland in paris but we are looking into going to the disney in florida, but as none of us drive i wondered if it possible to get around. as in how easy or difficult this may be, would we be stuck to having hotels only within the disney resort itself, or can we look at hotels outwith the park.
as i said we have never been before and we welcome any tips and advise we are offered
thanks in advance
jen

ps we live in scotland so we would flyinto orlando airport just in case that makes a difference

 

[Brian Noble]

You don't need a car, provided that (a) you are flying into MCO, and (b) you are staying at a Disney resort. Disney has a service that will take you between the airport and your hotel, and they have very good internal transportation.

You *do not* want to stay in a non-Disney hotel without your own car, with a very few exceptions.

 

[blizzards39]

If you are only doing Disney and staying at a Disney resort there is no need to have a car. We are going to Disney for 12 days with no car and it is my 5th trip to WDW and have been to DL about 15 times. So unless there is something else you really want to do in FLA, I suggest no car and only WDW, but you have to stay on property.

 

[cove61]

You *do not* want to stay in a non-Disney hotel without your own car, with a very few exceptions.[/QUOTE]


some of the hotels state they provide transport to other parks, is this not the case or is it just not worth the hassle, really if we are coming all that way for 2 weeks we would like to visit other bits (like seaworld) but if it going to end up a nightmare to do it then we would just look at the park itself

 

[plutolovr]

some of the hotels state they provide transport to other parks, is this not the case or is it just not worth the hassle, really if we are coming all that way for 2 weeks we would like to visit other bits (like seaworld) but if it going to end up a nightmare to do it then we would just look at the park itself

Yes, some offsite hotels will have shutte transportation, but most state that the times are often inconvenient. Disney transportation is constant and gives you flexibility to return to your resort for a break or a swim. You can always take a taxi to visit offsite venues and attractions. You can also rent a car for a day or two at various locations inside Disney property.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are very few offsite resorts with shuttle schedules that are even remotely convenient---and those aren't generally less expensive. I love staying in non-Disney resorts, but I'd never do it without a car.

For those few days where you want to visit a non-disney location, a cab or Mears shuttle will get you there, and the total cost is probably going to be less than it would have been had you rented a car for the entire two weeks.

 

[sympatico]

You could also split your stay and stay at Disney the first week and use their transportation and just visit their parks. You would be picked up at the airport by Magical Express and taken right to your Disney hotel. Then the next week stay somewhere on International Drive and use the I trolly and public transportation to get to Universal and Seaworld which are basically on/just off International Dr.

 

[Dizneydaz]

As PP have said, you can go without a car as long as you are staying on Disney property and then you can use Disney transport. However, if you have a dinner ADR at a resort hotel then you will have to allow extra time if you are going to use Disney transport to get there. There are no busses, for example, that run from one resort to another. A taxi would be quicker.

Here's what allears says about that situation

If you plan to eat at many of the fine Walt Disney World resort restaurants your transportation options become more complex and definitely limiting, especially after 9pm. If leaving from your hotel, you would need to go from there to a park and then catch transportation to the hotel where the restaurant is (Unless you are staying and going to a monorail hotel). Likewise, on the return, you would need to go from the resort to an open park and back to your hotel. Once the hotel-park transportation has closed, you generally will be bused to DTD and then catch a bus (or boat) to your hotel. As you can see, this does take quite a bit of time. A final option would be to pay for a taxi back to your hotel.

Check this out-it could help you decide.
http://allears.net/pl/transp.htm

Also, if you want to see more of the "Real Florida" you'll need a car. Of course you could rent one from the CCC for a few days if you'd like. My DM insists that we don't spend everyday at Disney. We have visited, and enjoyed for the most part, the following in our trips to WDW: Anna Marie Island, Sanibel Island, Honeymoon Island, Merrit Island Refuge, Discovery Cove, Busch Gardens, Rainbow Springs, St. John River, Crystal River, Hommassa (sp?) River, St. Augustine, some other springs, visting with my DM's aunt and uncle in Orlando, etc. For us a rental is a must. Also we stop to pick up breakfast, Diet Cokes, waters, etc. on our way to POP from the airport. If you're not on DDP having a car will give you more options for dining. For example, the McD's on property do not have the value menus most McD's do. There is one located not too far from AK that is a regular McDs.

One of these times I plan on trying the bus from POP to MK. Everyone says it's quicker. But then the way we do it works out nicely too. For example, if we are going to MK and Epcot the same day I will park at the location where we will be ending our day. Usually Epcot. So we park at Epcot, take the monorail to MK (switching at TTC) and then when we leave MK we do the reverse. Monorail to Epcot. When we leave Epcot we jump in our car and go. Pretty slick!

If you are staying at a MK resort eating at other resorts is a little easier with the monorail and boat options.

Car rental rates are up this year. We are paying $363 for a full size for 11 days. In the past I've gotten a minivan for about $250 for 10 days. Hoping rates will start to fall as my trip gets closer.

HTH.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Jen/Cove61, as you can see, the sentiment is pretty much here: stay on Disney property if you don't have a car. I would add these comments:

1. Disney makes it VERY convenient for you to stay on-property by offering the free Magical Express option. But once you're in their hotels you're stuck paying Disney prices for meals and entertainment which are high. But the internal transportation system is awesome, except as has already been noted.

2. You say you are flying into "Orlando Airport" but please note that there are two Orlando airports.....Orlando International and Orlando Sanford International. The former is close to Disney and has the Magical Express (ME) option. Sanford (which does have flights from Scotland) is almost an hour from Disney, does not have the ME option and is a $100 transport ride each way.

3. I like Sympatico's idea about splitting your stay; stay a week at Disney and then a week at a hotel near Universal. That way you can see it all. Of course you would need a taxi to return to the airport since you're no longer on Disney property. Hotel shuttles are adequate enough to get you to Universal and Sea World. Universal on-property hotels (Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel, Royal Pacific) also get you a free Express Passes for all rides that offer it.

So it is quite possible to do Orlando without a car and see all that there is to offer.

Good luck!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Tozzie]

I never rent a car when I go to Florida as I use Disney Transport and don't find it a hassle at all to get anywhere on Disney Property. Staying off property and getting everywhere you want to go can be done wihtout a car but could be quite expensive to use cabs and other services.

As you don't drive therefore I am assuming you don't have a license to drive you wouldn't be able to rent a car, I think the best thing for you to do is stay on Disney property, they have value resorts is an option, then if you want to visit seaworld or Universal you could either use a cab, a van service or public transportation, the public transport would be longer but it can be done, at least to sea world there is a bus, I am not sure about Universal Studios.

 

[cove61]

thanks for all the replys, well it makes it a bit easier to decided after reading all the posts, we will prob stay in disney itself and take a taxi or other transport if we want to go to the other parks, thanks for all your advise i am sure i will be back later with many more questions

 

[rritch2]

bump

 

[BonnieP]

Cove61,
Love your country!!! My husband and I have been there twice. We rented a car both times-driving on the left was different to say the least...

If none of you drive, you should definitely consider staying on Disney property. You should have plenty to do within Disney property and no hassles with off-site shuttles. If there is anything you need to see offsite, taxis are readily available.

You'll get so much information from these boards when planning your trip...

Bonnie