Can't decide if we should book a rental car?

[Mickeyhugger]

We're planning our 8th WDW trip in January. We've always had a rental car. We like having it available to us for rest days and to go to a grocery store for sodas and food that are less expensive than the parks.

Unfortunately, there are many days (one week stay) we don't use it. But it's good to know we have it if we need it.

We've thought this year of doing without. Yet I wonder if the prices we'll pay for alcohol (beer) and not being able to go outside of WDW will be worth it? I know it would be a must if we intend to go to Universal one day. I fear that if we don't have it, we'll wish we did? Also, what if we want to go to another resort for dinner? That will eat a lot of time having to go to a park for transfers.

We're staying at WL. I know we could go to Chef Mickey's if we took the boat to MK, and monorail to the Contemporary, but how long would that take?

I'm probably leaning towards keeping the car, the more I read this, but am eager to hear how you did without? Thanks!

 

[dadtoagirl]

I've went once without and once with. I'll never go again without a car as we like to leave the resort and hit I-Drive and eat outside the parks/resorts some days. Also handy to have if you just miss a bus and don't wanna wait for the next one. I've got a minivan waiting for me at the airport this Saturday.

 

[Best_Vacation_EVER!]

We really prefer to have a car handy.

We spend a lot of time at the parks and use the buses to shuttle there. We like to have the car in case we want to do some shopping (grocery and malls), spend a day at Universal, or have the option of an off-site meal. If we go out for a meal at a different WDW resort than we're staying at ... it's nice not to have to do all the bus transferring to shuttle between resorts.

 

[Honeybehr1]

We were debating on renting one or not. Since ME was free and me being cheap said we would use their transportation - dont have to bring a car seat, fill up gas before bring car back ect. BUT Dh reminded me that at night with 2 tired children and one cranky wife, He thought it would be in my best interest to have a car so we dont have to wait for the bus to go back to the resort. Plus if the bus is crowded, I would not be liking that (claustrophobia would surely kick in)

 

[clb22]

I always get a rental car.
1. I like to go to shopping at Downtown Disney and then zip over to a restaurant at one of the resorts and do not want to hassle with changing buses.
2. Sometimes I drive to the parks - so we do not have to wait in line for the buses to get back to our resort.
3. This last trip absolutely convinced me to ALWAYS get a rental car....I got really ill during our last trip and needed to get a prescription filled by a pharmacy. There is a pharmacy that delivers to Disney Resorts but it runs on a schedule and I would not have gotten my medicine until late in the day. By having a rental car, I was able to get my medicine in the morning, take it, go back to bed and sleep and was actually feeling a little better by the evening.

So for me - it is not a question at all. I will always spend the $$ for a rental car.

 

[gigi1313]

we've gone with and without and 99% of the time we do not mind not having it... our last two trips were "almost without" but we rented on-site just for the day we needed it...

basically the night before we decided we wanted a car i called national's 800 # and reserved a car (using my AAA # for discount - bring your coupons if you have 'em!) for the following morning... when we woke up we simply called the car care center at wdw and asked them to send the shuttle to our resort where they picked us up and took us to the car care center to get our car... it was a very simple, easy, non-time-consuming transaction (shuttle came around 7:15am, per our request and we were on the road to universal before 8am!)... when we were done w/the car that night we simply went to the valet parker at the dolphin and handed him our keys, telling him we were returning our rental and grabbed wdw transport to a park for the evening... it could not be easier! (unless you are staying at the swan/dolphin, 'cause then you can pick up a rental right there!)

 

[Frito]

We've gone once with the rental and once without.....I think having the car is the better option. The only time we used Disney transportation is to go to MK. You have to park and take a bus or monorail if you drive anyway. Its nice to skip the long lines at the end of the night, or drive to downtown disney to shop and leave at your convenience. Also, we stay at All Stars....shuttles from the airport are always the last stop there...not a good option with young kids eager to start their Disney experience!!

 

[bigcrit]

I asked a very similar question. Read through this post.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=908998&page=2&pp=15


MKOATEYM makes alot of sense. Hope this helps.