Car Rental/Disney Transportation

[CanadaKim]

We are travelling with two small children ages 3 and 9 months in early January and staying at the Pop Century in Disney. Our travel agent recommended we use the Disney shuttle and magical express and then rent a car once we got to Disney from the Disney Car Care Centre (National). This sounded like a good idea at the time.

I've been told that we won't need a car rental to just use the disney transportation but we have a breakfast reservation prior to park opening and I'm not sure a cab provide car seats or take us without. Which got me to thinking about the trip from the Orlando airport to the resort. Does the Disney shuttle have car seats or even seat belts? With the number of families travelling to the resort I'm sure this is an issue that has come up. We are now contemplating renting a car from the airport so that we have car seats for all transportation. Can we still send our bags through the magical express? Will AirTran allow us to gate check our stroller and a car seat so that we don't need to rent two? Are their taxis/cabs that will provide car seats within Disney? Are car seats required if only travelling on Disney property?

I am actually pretty fanatical about the kids always being buckled up and I think the only way I can put my mind at ease is to rent straight from the airport but any suggestions/feedback would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[staci]

Hope I can help you......

"We are travelling with two small children ages 3 and 9 months in early January and staying at the Pop Century in Disney."

Just got back in October from Pop with ds23 months.

"Our travel agent recommended we use the Disney shuttle and magical express and then rent a car once we got to Disney from the Disney Car Care Centre (National). This sounded like a good idea at the time."

We used Magical Express. Did not end up renting a car.

"I've been told that we won't need a car rental to just use the disney transportation but we have a breakfast reservation prior to park opening and I'm not sure a cab provide car seats or take us without."

If you have ressies before park opening you can still take disney transportation. They run the buses to allow for those adrs. We had a ressie 1 hr before park opening and were fine.

"Which got me to thinking about the trip from the Orlando airport to the resort. Does the Disney shuttle have car seats or even seat belts? With the number of families travelling to the resort I'm sure this is an issue that has come up."

No they do not. There are no seat belts on the buses. It felt weird to us too, but the shuttle buses on property do not have seat belts either, so if you are planning on using ANY disney transportation it would be without carseats.

"We are now contemplating renting a car from the airport so that we have car seats for all transportation. Can we still send our bags through the magical express? Will AirTran allow us to gate check our stroller and a car seat so that we don't need to rent two? Are their taxis/cabs that will provide car seats within Disney? Are car seats required if only travelling on Disney property?"

Im sorry I cant help much with this part of your question. I know others will be able to help you. About gate checking, you definitely can check the stroller, but why not just have the kids use their car seats on the plane?

"I am actually pretty fanatical about the kids always being buckled up and I think the only way I can put my mind at ease is to rent straight from the airport but any suggestions/feedback would be helpful."

I NEVER let ds go near the car without the five point harness, but we did end up using all disney transportation. On property there is not as much traffic so I didnt really mind as much there, but it did weird me out a little on the bust to the airport.

Hope this helped.

 

[scraphappy92]

We have never used a carseat while staying on Disney property. DS's first trip was at 10.5 months, we took his car seat on the plane with us and used it in the private towncar we rented to take us from the airport to the Disney hotel, but never used it on Disney buses since there are no seatbelts and also no where to store it while in the parks. Our most recent trip this month DS is now almost 5 and we did not take his carseat. We used the Magical Express for transportation to the resort (and will NEVER do this again it took us over 4 hours from the time we landed to get to the hotel.) Again we used the Disney buses to go back and forth to the parks and no car seat was used. We ended up taking private cabs back to the airport (another mess at Magical Express and Disney paid for the cabs!) and were not required to have a carseat.

Now that being said, it was very hard to get use to not using the carseat. DS even asked why he didn't have to get in a seat. If you absolutely want to use your carseats then you will need to rent a car from the airport to take you to the resort. I personally would use the Disney transportation available to go from park to park since it is just easier and for the most part a wonderful system. IMHO I would not use the Magical Express (transportation from airport to hotel and return) it is still a mess and not very Magical. We also flew AirTran and a child under 2 can be held on your lap but over 2 must have a seat purchased, so if you are taking the carseat I would just use it on the plane too. We have done this numerous times flying to Arizona.

 

[toesmom]

With 2 little ones I think having your own car is a great idea. Waiting for buses with a tired baby and cranky toddler is tough when it's your vacation. Check around to find rates. Try L&M since their rates are usually pretty good and you get car right at the airport.

I too am fanatical about the car seats, and with a baby (well, mine's now 2) I always make sure he's strapped in properly. But the car is also so that if I need to get back to the quiet of the room/resort, I can do it quickly. Our rental is about $150 total so it's not that much to ensure that my husband and I aren't stuck on disney transportation when the little ones are fussy and tired.

 

[jodifla]

Public transportation almost everywhere is without car seats. Buses, subways, taxis, etc.

Even if you rent a car, the trams don't have car seats, the monorails don't have car seats, the boat transportation doesn't have car seats.
You pretty much won't be able to get from point A to point B at Disney at some point without public transportation that doesn't have a car seat.

 

[aljer]

Our last two trips with children to disney we have rented a car. The last trip we had two children 3yrs and 6months. The first night that we were there we thought we would try the buses. It was a big mistake for us. Both kids fell asleep and we had to figure out how to take two sleeping, drowsy kids on a bus and two strollers. It was not easy. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers. From then on we used the rental car and could easily put kids from stroller to carseat. And we did not need to wait in the long lines for a bus.
We also have AAA and booked the trip through them and were able to get a special parking pass that allows you to park up close so we did not have to worry about riding the tram. Hope this helps and good luck on your trip.

 

[agotta]

I would also consider a car rental. I don't know how the prices are now, but we are head to POP also, Jan 5-11 and got a rate of $116 for a midsize SUV. Worth it in my opinion.

 

[jodifla]

Our last two trips with children to disney we have rented a car. The last trip we had two children 3yrs and 6months. The first night that we were there we thought we would try the buses. It was a big mistake for us. Both kids fell asleep and we had to figure out how to take two sleeping, drowsy kids on a bus and two strollers. It was not easy. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers. From then on we used the rental car and could easily put kids from stroller to carseat. And we did not need to wait in the long lines for a bus.
We also have AAA and booked the trip through them and were able to get a special parking pass that allows you to park up close so we did not have to worry about riding the tram. Hope this helps and good luck on your trip.

A car does make it easier on property, but you pretty much HAVE to take a bus, monorail or boat to the Magic Kingdom. There is no parking near the MK.

 

[CanadaKim]

Amanda, looks like we'll be there at the same time. Where did you get the rental for $116? The best I've found so far was $143 at National for a compact but then when we add two car seats and tax it ends up being $276.

We're still debating. Appreciate everyone's feedback. The convenience and safety of a car sounds good but then with parking and taking shuttles I wonder if taking the Disney transportation would be better with the odd taxi for the early morning breakfasts or to go to Downtown Disney - provided the cab will take us without car seats. When I booked the 8:05 Breakfast at MK they specifically told us that the buses start running 1 hour prior to park opening so we couldn't count on them to arrive on time.

I certainly hope the magical express from the airport doesn't take 4 hours. We don't arrive in until 4:00 and I was hoping to get checked in and go to downtown disney that night! I was thinking we'd be to the resort by 5.

 

[agotta]

It looks like the rate went up. I just checked again using code 430710 BY and the same rental is $136. I ended up changing mine as we really only need it for the first day or so, I thought I would save us some money. I would keep checking with Alamoa s they had the cheapest rates for that time when I was looking. Also with alamo you can drop off at the Dolphin too if you want to do one way. I think that is easier than the car care center.

 

[CanadaKim]

Okay - thanks! I had thought National would pick up my husband at the resort to get the car from the car care centre and bring him back when he dropped it off which sounded good but Dolphin would work too. I'm also thinking we may not rent for the entire week.

We're going to review everything tonight and make a decision. Thanks again to everyone who posted responses.

 

[Marimar]

Amanda, looks like we'll be there at the same time. Where did you get the rental for $116? The best I've found so far was $143 at National for a compact but then when we add two car seats and tax it ends up being $276.

I certainly hope the magical express from the airport doesn't take 4 hours. We don't arrive in until 4:00 and I was hoping to get checked in and go to downtown disney that night! I was thinking we'd be to the resort by 5.

I would do some research into renting the car seats. I have a feeling you may end up taking your own after you do!

I would love to hear the posters experience having to do w/the four hour between airport and resort. That sounds something out of the ordinary.

 

[staci]

I certainly hope the magical express from the airport doesn't take 4 hours. We don't arrive in until 4:00 and I was hoping to get checked in and go to downtown disney that night! I was thinking we'd be to the resort by 5.

I think we got real lucky, but from the time the wheels of our plane touched down to standing at the checkin desk at POP was 55 minutes. We walked off the plane, straight to the ME counter, got helped with only 1-2 people ahead of us, went to the bus, about 1/2 full, we were the lastpeople to board, and it went straight to POP. The ride itself takes about 30-35 minutes.
You do depart your resort on the last day 3 hours prior to takeoff, but with the 1/2 hour drive, I would probably leave almost that much time if I were driving myself.

 

[CanadaKim]

That makes me feel much better. We're travelling on a Thursday mid afternoon so I'm hoping it'll be less busy than a Saturday would be. A 1/2 empty bus sounds good to me - or 1/2 full, depending on how you look at it. lol

 

[runner26.2]

You can get to character breakfasts before park openings. During our November stay at POR we had a 7:45 at Ohana's and an 8:15 at Chrystal Palace. There were buses beginning at 7:00 or 7:20am from POR to MK so we easily made our reservations.

With Ohana's at the Poly we had to go to MK transporation centre and then take the monorail back to the Poly. It worked out fine, and even got to ride up front.

We have take DD9, DD6 & DS3 since they were all infants and have never had concerns about using Disney transport without car seats. However, we are used to using subways and municipal transport in other cities without car seats so it wasn't a big adjustment for us.

 

[CanadaKim]

Thanks. I'll double check then. We have an 8:05 at Crystal Palace but when I made the ressie he specifically told me that the buses may not be running that early since the park doesn't open until 9 (they only run 1 hour prior to opening) but maybe they just say that to be cautious. That would be great if they start earlier and they won't be busy at that time.

I think we'll be fine on the disney transportation within the park. It'll take some getting used to but millions do it every year. I also guess we'll be fine with the disney magical express from the airport. We may just rent a car for a day if we end up heading off disney property for anything. Although I don't think we'll have time. One week (6 days excluding travel time) isn't going to be enough! It won't exactly be a relaxing vacation but it's going to be unforgetable to see it all through my daughter's eyes for the first time.

Thanks for the input!

 

[runner26.2]

When I made my ressies they also said buses only started one hour prior to opening. When we checked in at POR I checked with guest services who told me that buses started at 7am ... despite the fact that parks didn't open until 9am.

When you check in just confirm with guest services what time buses start running in the morning and find out what bus stop they begin at and be there.

 

[staci]

We had an 8:05 at CRT in October. We just called the front desk to double check buses the day before; they said that the buses would run starting at 7 am every 25 minutes. So we got to the bus stop at 7:20, a bus came within 5-10 minutes, and we were outside MK in plenty of time.

There are SO MANY people there for ADRS! I couldnt believe it! I was picturing a completely empty park but it was nothing like that. I cant imagine all those people having to take taxis.

I would just keep an open mind about the possibility of a taxi, but ask at your resort when you check in that am. I think it is very likely that the buses will be able to take care of you well.

 

[CanadaKim]

Excellent! We'll check with guest services the day before. I think my daughter will get a kick out of riding the bus and it will be nice to arrive early. I was actually picturing an empty park with just us but I guess it makes sense we're not the only ones with breakfast reservations. It still gets us in early before the large crowds and hopefully to the back of the park first to discover a few rides before it gets too busy.

Thank you both so much!