car rental or use buses?

[andychris14]

We are staying for 13 nights in aug. I got a rate from avis and national for $350(full size car).We are staying at the french quarters and am also planning on going to universal for 1 day. We are a family of 4.
I know we got an excellent rate but I am always trying to save a buck.
If we take a limo(which I hear is $70-Is this round trip from the airport?)and some form of transportation to universal.Is it cheaper to 86 the car rental.
How is the bus service to the parks from the french quarters?
Thanks

 

[RUDisney]

I'd say, "bye, bye, rental car." I'd use a shuttle service to take me r/t from MCO and then again to Universal. My parents rented a car for a day when they were last at CBR. They hated the wait for the car and having to get to TTC to pick it up. They would have preferred a town car.

As for me, I am the driver whenever we are out of town as my husband never travelled before he met me and never learned how to read a map. I also get to be the navigator when I'm driving in unfamiliar territory. I am a happy passenger when someone else can do the driving for us.

I'm not sure what the cost is R/T Universal, but even if it's the same as a town car at $80, you've still saved enough for one or two very nice meals, depending on the size of your party.

The busses at POFQ are wonderfully convenient.

 

[Kermit]

There are people who never take Disney buses, but I'm not one of them. We drive to WDW, so we obviously have a car, but we never use it. Taking Disney transportation is more relaxing. Plus, you don't have to walk through a crowded parking lot looking for your car and then get into a hot car that's been in the sun all day. We've stayed at PO-FQ a few times. The buses come on a regular basis, and since you're the first pickup, there's always plenty of room.

Lose the rental. You won't miss it.

 

[Talinthor]

I would first ask how old are your kids? I have 2 young ones (5 and 20 mos) and with all the "stuff" we end up hauling around, it is sometimes more convenient to have a car. I never did like traveling on the buses with a stroller. Especially at park closing when the bus is jam packed.

Also, you mentioned you are going to be there for 13 nights. If you think you may like to explore a little off of Disney property then a rental car would help you there. Even if you just want to get a cheaper meal at the local Shoney's for a change of pace.

Basically, I think it boils down to personal preference. I personally like to rent a car but will still use the Disney transportation on occasion. But if you have young kids you may want to consider the car. Or at least a pack mule.

Tal

 

[beattyfamily]

We've done Disney (and Universal) both ways and we now MUCH prefer renting a car and it's just now part of our budget.

You have so much freedom and flexibility. If you need to run to the store or to get to Universal and back, and for going to DD, and also to resort hop too, it's WONDERFUL!!

We've done Disney transporation and if you can't afford a car, it's fine, but renting, IMHO, is much better.

We end up sometimes mixing and doing both. We've used the buses even when we have a car for Animal Kingdom and the monorail for MK (we stay on a monorail resort lately).

Good luck!

 

[DisneyKidds]

We are with beattyfamily - we always rent a car. The flexibility is wonderful. WDW buses are ok for going from your resort to a major park. However, getting around otherwise on the buses can be a challenge. A typical day for us involves leaving our resort, having breakfast at another resort (GF, BC, etc), spending the morning in one of the parks, going back to our hotel for a swim/nap, or perhaps to a water park for a few hours, shower and change at the hotel, off to dinner (perhaps in a park or another resort) and off to another park for the evening. You just can't do that with the bus system. We are DVC members so we like to stock the fridge with some sodas and goodies and the car is great for getting to the supermarket. Once our DD got sick and we had the car to go to the clinic. Buses to DTD/PI can be a long ordeal. The ride back to your hotel in a wet bathing suit after spending time at a water park is much more pleasant in a car than on an air conditioned bus.

Talinthor's comment about a car with young kids is very true. We have little ones (3 yo and 10 mo) and a car is a BIG advantage. They can fall asleep (afternoon nap or pooped out at night) in the stroller and we can leave them there until we get to the car, put them in a comfy car seat, drive to the hotel, and get them in bed without really waking them. Using the buses you'd have to wait for a bus, get them out of the stroller at the park, get yourself, the kids (possibly still sleeping), diaper bags, backpacks, any other packages, a folded stroller, etc. onto a very possibly crowded bus for a ride that, while short, will seem like an eternity. Once at your hotel you have to get all your stuff off the bus, along with the kids who are now awake and cranky, and get to your room. Not for us, thank you.

Can you tell we are not big fans of the buses? Only you can decide if the extra cost is worth the flexibility, if you think you would use it. For us it is and a car is always in the budget for our trips.

Good luck with your decision. It's too bad cars are so much more expensive this year than they were last year .

 

[beattyfamily]

P.s....some car rates can be SO good that it's actually cheaper than using Mears or whatever company. It's just that right now car rates are a little high due to post 9/11, but before that, it was actually cheaper renting a car than alternate transportation, especially if you are also going to Universal.

Your rate isn't bad at all!

To give you an example of how cheap they can be, our rental last year was for 10 days and our grand total at National for a Full size was only $179. Not bad at all.

Also KEEP checking to see if your rate comes down before August. That happens quite often. Just make sure you don't touch your existing reservation when checking for current rates. Your existing reservation is safer that way. Just act like you are making a new reservation to check on rates.

Good luck!