Can't believe it- I'm going solo!

[MegaDisney]

I really am, and I'm so thrilled. But I need your help in trying to decide if I should use Magical Express or a rental car. I have a car reserved for a little over $100, so I got a good rate. But since it's just me I'm torn between that or using ME?

Once I get to WDW, I'm sure I would be just fine using the busses. Since this is the first time without family (meaning DH and 3 small kiddos) this would be my first time relying solely on Disney transport- we ALWAYS rent a car. So I am very familiar with driving not only on WDW property but to and from the airport as well.

I'm so undecided! On the one hand it would be nice to let others to the driving, but I really don't mind doing it myself. My other concern is the possibility of lines for ME. Since I belong to Dollar Express, it's always been so quick and easy to pick up the car and BOOM! We're on our way.

So my fellow adult and solo travelers- any advice?

 

[nurse.darcy]

I really am, and I'm so thrilled. But I need your help in trying to decide if I should use Magical Express or a rental car. I have a car reserved for a little over $100, so I got a good rate. But since it's just me I'm torn between that or using ME?

Once I get to WDW, I'm sure I would be just fine using the busses. Since this is the first time without family (meaning DH and 3 small kiddos) this would be my first time relying solely on Disney transport- we ALWAYS rent a car. So I am very familiar with driving not only on WDW property but to and from the airport as well.

I'm so undecided! On the one hand it would be nice to let others to the driving, but I really don't mind doing it myself. My other concern is the possibility of lines for ME. Since I belong to Dollar Express, it's always been so quick and easy to pick up the car and BOOM! We're on our way.

So my fellow adult and solo travelers- any advice?

Congratulations. I personally love Magical Express for the most part. The only time I don't like it is when I am leaving and it picks me up from my hotel nearly 3 hours early. But that is not really much of a problem since I usually don't really care at that point. I do like that they take care of my luggage for me. Its awesome.

 

[Johnfish]

I can see how ME could be a great thing. I have heard from others that its great to be imersed in the theming just as you leave the airport. As for the bus transportation UGH!! I hate it. I have had my own car or rentals for all my stays but tried the bus on several occassions. I did not care for it at all!

john

 

[nurse.darcy]

I can see how ME could be a great thing. I have heard from others that its great to be imersed in the theming just as you leave the airport. As for the bus transportation UGH!! I hate it. I have had my own car or rentals for all my stays but tried the bus on several occassions. I did not care for it at all!

john

John, you are just spoiled. . .lol.

 

[Johnfish]

I am sure you are right Darcy!!! I will still be glad to give you a lift while we are down there though LOL

John

 

[LindaR]

Hey, Johnfish!

I totally agree with JF. I have ALWAYS rented a car! Have used the bus on a few occasions........HATE it.

I guess it is just a "control" thing. I wanna go when I wanna go......don't want to wait for others. I want the radio to MY station, the a/c set to the temp I want...

We park hop ALOT, too.

 

[ttester9612]

For me, I love ME and the transportation around WDW, it's part of the Disney experience and fun. Plus I love talking to others and finding out where their from, it's a chance to make new friends.

 

[dahirsh]

I'd go with ME and I have on my last two trips. On the trips before ME existed, I used Mears once and a town car twice.

 

[jordancej]

ME for me!!! As a soloist, i dont want the added stress of having to find my way to Disney, and i always go on the off times, so i never have to wait only about a few min or so to get on the ME, plus you dont have to mess with your bags, you just get on the bus and go! Getting back to the airport early, doesnt bother me too much, cause i always like getting the the airport a couple hrs early anyway.... so my advice is since the car is going to sit at the hotel the whole time, i would take that $100 and possibly do a tour, or even treat yourself to some disney goodies!!

You will have so much fun going solo!! I'm about to take my 3rd solo trip.... you definetly get spoiled going alone.... you get to do what you want when you want!! You'll have a GREAT time!!

 

[MegaDisney]

Thanks everyone for all of the advice- it has been very helpful. I have a few weeks to make a decision so I'll give it some more thought.

I'm very excited about the solo trip, but I suppose it's normal to be a bit nervous too? I'm sure I'll have my moments of missing my family, but this is really a time for me to just get away for some alone time and I'm thrilled it's going to be at Disney. We go as a family at least once every 12-18 months so I am NOT feeling guilty about going. I really just cannot wait to do what I want when I want. I'm in heaven imagining myself just wandering around the shops on Main Street for hours if I want! Or riding It's A Small World 5 times in a row if I want (I know, who wants to do THAT?) But the point is I can if I want to!

I hope I don't create a monster within myself with this solo trip. It may be something I'll want to start doing all the time!

 

[glenpreece]

I really am, and I'm so thrilled. But I need your help in trying to decide if I should use Magical Express or a rental car. I have a car reserved for a little over $100, so I got a good rate. But since it's just me I'm torn between that or using ME?

Once I get to WDW, I'm sure I would be just fine using the busses. Since this is the first time without family (meaning DH and 3 small kiddos) this would be my first time relying solely on Disney transport- we ALWAYS rent a car. So I am very familiar with driving not only on WDW property but to and from the airport as well.

I'm so undecided! On the one hand it would be nice to let others to the driving, but I really don't mind doing it myself. My other concern is the possibility of lines for ME. Since I belong to Dollar Express, it's always been so quick and easy to pick up the car and BOOM! We're on our way.

So my fellow adult and solo travelers- any advice?

I alays use ME on every trip solo or not. This time I am doing QS because I need the grocery store stop and a stop at the Hallmark at crossraods. Other than that i let Disney do all the driving. I've never found the lines at ME to long just the wait sitting there sometimes can be like torture.

 

[Nie0214]

For me, I love ME and the transportation around WDW, it's part of the Disney experience and fun. Plus I love talking to others and finding out where their from, it's a chance to make new friends.

^ I agree!

Haven't been on a solo trip, but as someone who went through the same dilema of "should I rent a car or not?" on our trip in September.. I wasn't disappointed when we decided not to rent one.

 

[Cynt]

ME is why I booked onsite for my upcoming last minute trip. I priced it every which way...offsite hotel, offsite condo, rental car, no rental car, parking, add'l resort fees.

After staying onsite twice before I just decided ONSITE! I just didn't want to fool with p/u a rental, finding directions, maps and so forth. I think I get super lazy when I'm on vacation. ME and the Disney World transportation system was the deciding factor for me. And because I'm familiar with the system was another key factor.

 

[LSchrow]

i prefer a mix:
ME to/fro MCO, then pick up rental car at the dolphin alamo/national (or whichever rental is closet to my resort).

i don't have to be concerned about the luggage carousel chaos, or carrying luggage, but still have the flexibility of driving to the outlets, another resort, mini-golf, walgreens for forgotten items , etc. you don't neccessarily even need to keep the car for the entire time...i've occassionally cut off a day or two (when getting a great weekly rate but the additional day rate winds up being astronomical).

imho, the best of both

 

[DisneydaveCT]

My vote is to use ME and the buses. In all of my solo trips to WDW I have never used a rental car, and never regretted my decision. There were a couple of times that I rented a car when I was traveling with family, mainly because it was cheaper to fly in to TPA with a rental car than flying into MCO and using ME. And on those trips, the car spent more time sitting at the resort than transporting us around to the parks. In fact, one trip I only used the car to go to front desk to pick up a package.

 

[Bill Brown]

Back in the mid-70's I always rented cars and stayed off-site. In the 80's I discovered on-site accommodations enhanced my Disney experience and never stayed off-site again. The rental car became a waste because I just left it parked at the resort most days. In the late 90's I began using Mears. I found Mears busses to be reliable and comfortable. Used a Tiffany limo the year I celebrated turning 50 at the World. Used Mears for my most recent WDW visit, which was in 2004. Looking forward to trying ME for the first time real soon.

 

[Disneyfan63]

Hi,

MegaDisney, I think that whether or not you need a rental car depends on a number of factors. If you intend to visit attractions outside WDW; are staying at a resort such as CBR, CSR, or SSR where the bus service may be infrequent, or are staying off-property; or have table service reservations at other resorts early in the morning (for you cannot bus resort to resort unless you're staying in a monorail resort or Epcot resort; you must go to a park and then transfer, which takes longer), rent a car.

Generally, though, if you're not leaving WDW property, you can use Disney Transit.

Jim

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I had the same dilema but I've decided to use ME. I figure Disney Transportation is free and I can't beat that.

Also if I am in a rush to get somewhere and the buses are taking too long, I can always catch a cab one way to get there.