CAr rental or Disney transportation

[bigcrit]

Hi,
We are staying at POFQ 12/14 - 12/18. I was wondering if it would be best to rent a car for our trip. The cost would be less than $100. Our last trip in May we stayed at the CR and loved the transportation there. This time I'm not so sure. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

We have AAA. I heard they have special parking is this true?

Thanks

 

[bigcrit]

Anyone have an opinion or any ideas on what is best?

Thanks in advance........

 

[TAKitty]

Hi,
We are staying at POFQ 12/14 - 12/18. I was wondering if it would be best to rent a car for our trip. The cost would be less than $100. Our last trip in May we stayed at the CR and loved the transportation there. This time I'm not so sure. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

We have AAA. I heard they have special parking is this true?

Thanks

This is a personal opinion. I wouldn't rent the car because I hate to try to nagavate my way around. It is too much to worry about, what lane to get into, where did I park, trying to get out of the parking lot at the end of the night, . . . . I stayed at POR in July and loved the transportation. My husband who hates to wait in lines even when we are waiting to eat found the transportation a nice relief. However, if it is important to you to travel to other places that are not Disney, get the car.

 

[WillCAD]

CAR! CAR!

I am a die-hard renter. I have only been to WDW twice in 15 years without a car, and I was miserable the whole time.

The WDW transportation system is terrific. It's well-developed, flexible, and goes everywhere on-site that you need to go. However, there are several important circumstances where is falls way short of perfection.

Transportation does not run from resort to resort, with certain limited exceptions such as the resorts monorail loop. Any time you want to go from one resort to another, you have to take a bus to a park or Downtown Disney and catch another bus to your destination resort. If you're at CBR and want to eat at Boma, that means your wait and travel times can be up to 90 minutes. With a car, it's 15.

Leaving the parks after closing is a tremendous crush of people. Bus lines get mighty full, and if you are staying at the value or moderate resorts, your wait for a bus can be as much as an hour - and even if you do get on a bus, you have a 50-50 chance of stanfing up the whole way. Personally, I hate leaving a park, exhausted, sweaty, and achey, and being forced to stand up on a bus full of hot, smelly, loud, sometimes rude, other Guests to get back to my hotel. With a car, it's 15 minutes, and no stinkification, other than my own.

Having a car also allows you to go off-site for shopping and dining, and covers your airport transfers, and gives you a secure and convenient place to store your luggage on your arrival and departure days, instead of leaving it with Bell Services.

I say, CAR, CAR, CAR.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I belong to the no car rental club. Disney does a great job in moving people around. Sure it gets crowded at times, but it is any easier to drive out of a parking lot with hundreds of other cars? This can be especially daunting if you are not familiar with driving around the area. From the Magic Kingdom you still need to either boat or take the monorail over to the TTC. When you get to the TTC you might need to take a tram to your car since that lot is huge.
It is not likely that you would wait an hour to board a bus back to your resort at park closing. What we did at the Magic Kingdom in June was to sit on a bench near the castle after Wishes. It was nice to sit and relax and watch the massive exodus. The best idea is to take it easy at park closing. Either sit or shop or walk around for a while. After we sat for something like 15-20 minutes we slowly walked to the exit. The bus station was almost empty! It's only really crowded if you exit with the mob at park closing.
It's all a matter of choice. When I am on vacation the last thing I need is to drive anywhere. With the price of gas now it even makes less sense to drive to the theme parks.

 

[shondad]

Anyone have an opinion or any ideas on what is best?

Thanks in advance........

We had our first trip and contemplated (reserved) a rental car for the entire trip, then ended up only renting for 1 day (our free day, no park visits). Now that part was nice as we had a 10:30ADR for CM, went to do some off-site shopping), 920pm ADR @ Ohana.

It was nice to be able to do those things without having to first go to DTD or a park to transfer and it was wonderfully nice to not have to worry about it after dinner, as everyone was tired.

Other than that instance, I vote for Disney transportation, you let them worry about the driving.

 

[CleveRocks]

I drive everywhere in real life. On vacations within the USA, I always rent cars. But not at Disney World.

I love being in what I call the "Disney cocoon." Disney must love the type of customer I am. I have no interest in leaving WDW to go to outside restaurants or shopping.

I love not having to carry car keys. Keys are no big deal, it's not like they weigh me down or anything nonsensical like that. I just love the "feel" of not having to have car keys or do anything so adult as drive a car for a week. It's different than any other time of my life. Disney takes me where I want to go via Disney Transport. I think my only USA vacation when I didn't rent a car was Boston/Cambridge, but then I had to take a crash course in the T and the buses in order to get around; it was functional but not fun or effortless (and I'm a city boy, so it's not like I don't like public transportation).
By contrast, Disney Transport is simple and requires no cognitive effort. For me, it's all part of a fantasy world that makes a WDW vacation simply like no other.

I've stayed at CBR, a moderate, twice and NEVER waited in line for one hour. The longest I EVER waited for a bus was 30 minutes, and both times that was after fireworks at Magic Kingdom. I had to walk by the huge lines for the monorail and ferry that the car drivers had to get into, and it didn't look any worse than what I waited in.

I like getting into an air conditioned bus, rather than a hot car at the end of a long hot day. I like sitting back and relaxing and letting my eyes shut if I want while the bus driver deals with traffic and speed limits and out-of-town drivers with their right turn signal on since Tampa. Some people feel the need to feel in control every second and don't like anyone else driving them. I HAVE to be in control every other moment of my life, so I love when I can give that up for a week and let someone else serve me.

If you do not feel the need to feel in control every second, try taking Disney Transport and see how you like it. If you absolutely hate it, you can still rent a car somewhere on Disney property.

ENJOY!

-- Eric

 

[ncbyrne]

I guess this thread is dividing into two distinct groups. I am of the, yes, most definitely RENT-A-CAR group! Only once was I at the mercy of the resort busses - never again.
For our trip next month we are taking ME to our resort from MCO. We will rent the car at the Car Care Center on WDW property, saving one day's rental cost. We will return the car (National) to MCO so that we will be able to stay onsite longer on our last day.
Being a AAA member is not enough to get the preferred parking areas at the parks. When you book a WDW trip thru AAA, you will receive a Diamond Parking Pass with a package. However, having said that, there have been people here on the DIS who have been able to get the pass thru their local AAA office without booking their trip with them. It's worth a try.

 

[DiscussDisney]

What WillCAD said + it's very easy to navigate around Disney. You'll be glad you rented!!

CAR! CAR!

I am a die-hard renter. I have only been to WDW twice in 15 years without a car, and I was miserable the whole time.

The WDW transportation system is terrific. It's well-developed, flexible, and goes everywhere on-site that you need to go. However, there are several important circumstances where is falls way short of perfection.

Transportation does not run from resort to resort, with certain limited exceptions such as the resorts monorail loop. Any time you want to go from one resort to another, you have to take a bus to a park or Downtown Disney and catch another bus to your destination resort. If you're at CBR and want to eat at Boma, that means your wait and travel times can be up to 90 minutes. With a car, it's 15.

Leaving the parks after closing is a tremendous crush of people. Bus lines get mighty full, and if you are staying at the value or moderate resorts, your wait for a bus can be as much as an hour - and even if you do get on a bus, you have a 50-50 chance of stanfing up the whole way. Personally, I hate leaving a park, exhausted, sweaty, and achey, and being forced to stand up on a bus full of hot, smelly, loud, sometimes rude, other Guests to get back to my hotel. With a car, it's 15 minutes, and no stinkification, other than my own.

Having a car also allows you to go off-site for shopping and dining, and covers your airport transfers, and gives you a secure and convenient place to store your luggage on your arrival and departure days, instead of leaving it with Bell Services.

I say, CAR, CAR, CAR.

 

[dizneyprincess1017]

I would rent a car. We always stayed off property until this past june.
I would much rather have a car to go where i need to go when i need to get there. Its well worth the money

 

[kaddjr]

Call me a chicken, but I'm renting a car! DH and I wanted to rent one for at least one day anyway and for what it cost for one day compared to 8 days, it will just take 3 days to break even on the 8 day price. I feel it just gives us a little more flexibility and is worth the peace of mind. This is our first "major" trip to the world (previous trip was just two days offsite) staying onsite- having that safety net there makes me more comfortable. The kids want to ride the buses, so I'm sure we will be using their transportation at least some of the time. Plus, we're also using ME (picking up car at the CCC). I think this will give us a good sampling of Disney's transportation system and then maybe the next trip we might try to go carless, but definitely not this trip.

 

[the kabuki]

CAR! CAR!

I am a die-hard renter. I have only been to WDW twice in 15 years without a car, and I was miserable the whole time.

The WDW transportation system is terrific. It's well-developed, flexible, and goes everywhere on-site that you need to go. However, there are several important circumstances where is falls way short of perfection.

Transportation does not run from resort to resort, with certain limited exceptions such as the resorts monorail loop. Any time you want to go from one resort to another, you have to take a bus to a park or Downtown Disney and catch another bus to your destination resort. If you're at CBR and want to eat at Boma, that means your wait and travel times can be up to 90 minutes. With a car, it's 15.

Leaving the parks after closing is a tremendous crush of people. Bus lines get mighty full, and if you are staying at the value or moderate resorts, your wait for a bus can be as much as an hour - and even if you do get on a bus, you have a 50-50 chance of stanfing up the whole way. Personally, I hate leaving a park, exhausted, sweaty, and achey, and being forced to stand up on a bus full of hot, smelly, loud, sometimes rude, other Guests to get back to my hotel. With a car, it's 15 minutes, and no stinkification, other than my own.

Having a car also allows you to go off-site for shopping and dining, and covers your airport transfers, and gives you a secure and convenient place to store your luggage on your arrival and departure days, instead of leaving it with Bell Services.

I say, CAR, CAR, CAR.

I'll second everything WillCad said!! Go for the CAR!!!

 

[bigcrit]

Wow - I thought I would get a clear yes or no answer. Maybe a simple break down of my tentative itinerary would help. Just some simple background. We have 5 day park hoppers and are on the dining plan.

12/14 (Wed) - Arriving at the POFQ around 10:30 PM

12/15 (Thurs) - Doing MK - We have MVMCP tickets - Eating at Tony's (hopefully). Staying for Wishes.

12/16 (Fri) - Doing Epcot - We have tickets for candlelight processional dinner package - 5pm show - 7pm Lecellier for dinner.

12/ 17 (Sat) - Doing MK - Dinner probably at CP or at the castle - May or may not stay for wishes - If not will rpobably take the girls to DTD and have desert at Ghiradelli's.

12/18 (Sun) (My twin girls 9th B-day) - Doing AK in the AM - Doing MGM in the evening - Birthday dinner st 50's Prime Time. Definitely staying for Fantasmic.

12/19 (Mon) - The dreaded last day - Doing MK - Hoping to do CM for breakfast and spend our last day enjoying our favorite park the MK. Heading home on a later flight around 8ish.

Is it hard to get out of the park parking lots at the end of the night? Would I be better off using DT? I really appreciate your input...Thanks again.

 

[the kabuki]

Who is going on this trip with you? Do you have children coming? If so, I've found the rental car to be a godsend, especially with the younger ones. With a car, you always have a place to sit, no standing in the aisles, you don't have to try to balance a sleeping child on your lap(if you actually get a seat), packages, folded up stroller,etc. No waiting in bus lines.

Plus you can go off site for food, groceries, souveniers. My older children had a set amount to spend as they wished for souveniers and they found their money went much farther when we'd go to those cheapy souvenier places than on-site. And we saved a ton of money stopping at the store for snacks, water bottles, drinks .

Also I just like the comfort of a car..comfy seats, radio, A/C the temp I want it, can eat/drink in there.

As for getting out of the parking lot, they move those cars out of their pretty quickly, never had a problem with that. I'd rather stand in line waiting to get out of the parking lot in a comfy car, than stand in line waiting for a bus.

Signs down there are pretty clear too, no problems with getting lost. If you do drive, get a map beforehand and familiarize yourself with it and you should have no problems

 

[bigcrit]

Going on the trip

Me
DW
DD (twins) turning 9 on the trip.

We did book through AAA so we should be able to get the diamond parking passes. Hopefully that is an advantage.

Has anyone used Thrifty car rental out of the Orlando airport? Just curious if there were any complaints or comments.

 

[MKOATEYW]

Are you:
Planning to leave property at any point (for shopping or dining etc.)
Hauling Kid(s), shopping purchases, or lots other stuff around
Can't bear to stand in line to wait for the bus
Can't bear to stand while the bus is on it's way to the resort
Planning to Resort Hop a lot during your stay
Have a strict schedule
Hate sitting/standing closely next to the (insert your favorite adjective strange, smelly, etc...) person beside you
A person who really needs to be in control of where and when they are going
Planning on leaving the park the SAME TIME as everyone else (i.e. rushing out as soon as the fireworks/parade/fantasmic has ended)

You really need a car!

Are you:
Planning to sat on property the whole stay
Carry just the essentials with you. And have everything sent/stored at the resort
Have no problem waiting a few minutes for the next bus.
Have no problem standing in a line to get on the bus and can stand in the aisle while the bus is underway
Usually just go from the resort to a park or parks and back to the resort (i.e. no resort hopping)
Have no problem with the other people on buses
Are easy going. Relax you are on vacation! No worries mon! kind of person
Would rather have someone else worry about speed limits, possible DUI's, finding your car in the lot, finding your way back to the resort after a long day in the park, seat belts, etc.
Have no problem window-shopping, people watching, eating ice cream etc. until the mass of the people are gone.

You are better off with Disney Transportation.

Other than that it is really a matter of personal preference.

Let me explain. I tested the system last year in September (Yes I am a little crazy! We few in that trip and didn’t have our own car.) My Boy friend insisted you had to have a car no matter what. I said we only needed one if you leave when everyone else does or plan on leaving property or resort hopping (which we don't do) and there was no way I was paying for a rental when Disney has free transportation. So we bet on it and devoted a day to trying it out. We drove to the each park in the car then went all the way up to the ticket turnstiles then turned around and he headed back to the car and I took the bus back to the resort. All four parks. Then again and again, again.
Conclusion:
Unless you are leaving during the mass exit after the fireworks/parade/fantasmic where having your own car will save you a good 30 mins or more. There is really little difference (less than 10 min difference than using your own car or taking the bus. How lucky you are in getting the bus to show up quickly determined if the car or the bus got back first. Except from Magic Kingdom the Bus actually beat the car back all 4 times but I think that was just because he took the ferry. (It's so sloooow)
Result: He turned the car back in and paid for a nice dinner with the extra money.
Keep in mind: We live in Florida, visit Disney several times a year are annual pass holders and it's not going to ruin our vacation if it is an extra long wait for a bus for some unknown reason. Only carry only each persons cell phone rain ponchos, 1 wallet and a water bottle all of which fits in a small messenger bag which I carry. (Except his cell so we don’t lose each other) All purchases get shipped back to the resort. We go to dinner directly from the park if is not the resort we are staying. We have had to take a taxi a few times to avoid the bus shuffle when we have end up back at the resort and were having dinner at another and time was pressing. (Never cost more us than $20 including tip just call desk from your room and tell them you are coming down now and need a taxi, when you get to the lobby its there waiting like magic!) And most important have no kids, that we may have to carry back asleep at the end of the evening. If this does not sound like you then you need to rent a car.

Have a good time.

 

[bigcrit]

Well thank you! I think we can manage without a car. MKOATEYW that was the best

I really appreciate that. Did you see my itinerary? What did you think? Just curious if you have any thoughts about traveling to and from POFQ.

Thanks again.....

 

[MKOATEYW]

Sure... Actualy it was French Quarter we were staying at when we did the test, So I felt really felt it should be dead on for you, but it was in was September which is slow season. It may be a little busier for you especialy later during your trip as it gets closer to christmas. But I really think you should be fine. I/We always stay at the moderates or value resorts and have have never had a "real" problem with the transportation.
Keep in mind (especial on the dinning plan) if you decide to take a rest and or swim break at the resort (Know most kids love and/or need that) to come back to the park you plan to eat at with plenty of extra time. Think time enough to do a ride or so before dinner if you can manage it. Murphy's law really works it's people who wait till 30 mins before their ressie to try to leave their resort and get stuck with a long wait because all the buses were diverted to Ak which is tring empty the park at the end of its day which is right at dinner time.
Saturday is always busier at Mk just make sure when everyone is going one way you are going the other. If you decide to go to DTD from MK you may wish to stay to the left as you exit and take the walk way to the Contemporary then take the bus from there to DTD unless you wanted to go back to your resort.
Your girls are going to have a great 9th birthday!

Have Fun!

 

[bigcrit]

Thanks for the tip. We stayed at the Contemporary in May. We loved it there. That was a great Idea to get to DTD. How long is the boat ride to POFQ to DTD? Is it practical to go there for alot of our travel? We normally take breaks but this trip will be a commando trip. Our girls get a little fussy when we leave the parks. Considering it is a short trip we will try and maximize our time in the parks. We definitely will find a quiet spot in the park at lunch and take an hour break though. Thanks again. It's people like you that make

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I can field this one!!!

The boats in the DTD area are really inconsistent IMO. They're nothing like the Epcot area and MK area boats. It's a nice ride if you can hook up with them, but otherwise it's real hit-or-miss.

I COMPLETELY agree with pp recs regarding the Disney transport. I didn't see anything in your itinerary that screamed "CAR!!!"

Have a great car(e)-free trip!