car rental

[vinny135]

Hi There

I fly to orlando in 8 days with my wife and three kids for the first time, We are staying in the hawthorne suites on IDrive. we have arranged transfers to and from the Hotel, However we have not arranged a hire car. We are staying for 14 days and have a 10 disney pass so all of our time will be at the parks, no plans to visit anywhere else, the hotel offers a free shuttle bus to Disney parks, Two questions, Do you think we will be ok on public transport, kids are age 7,9 and 10 also any comments on the hotel, just one last thing how much do you think we should budget for food and drinks, breakfast is free at the Hotel so it would just be the usual stuff at the parks.

Thanks in advance
A nervous Father

Vinny

 

[Goofyish]

Hi Vinny, how you doing? (TimUK from the chat rooms here ).

Hope you sorted your kids pases out.

The hotel shuttle buses are usually ok, although you will be pretty much fixed to whatever times they run. This will probably be fine getting to the parks, but may be a problem getting back if the busses don't run late and you want to stay for the MK fireworks, Epcot illuminations or Fantasmic at MGM. It may be worth looking at taxis if you know you will be staying late at the parks.
Most shuttle busses will drop you off at the Transportation and Ticket Centre near the MK. From there you can get the monorail or ferry to MK, the monorail to Epcot or Disney busses to AK, MGM and the Water Parks.

Not sure where they pick you up for the return trip though. When we used hotel shuttle busses they picked up at the TTC and Epcot - you hotels busses may be different though.

Not sure about what other public transport there is - perhaps someone else will know more about the Lynx and Mears bus options for you.

Food in Disney is more expensive than on IDrive around your hotel. We payed around $30-$40 for a counter meal in Disney (Burger and fries with a drink). That was for 4 meals. It may be an idea to stuff yourselves at the free breakfast and then just snack in Disney and then have a nice dinner in the evenings.

If you venture out onto IDrive you will be spoilt for choice with the many restaurants. Look out for places like the Ponderosa Steakhouse, Sizzlers etc. These do all you can eat buffets if you buy a main course. You can get a steak meal with fires or jacket potato for about $9 and then help yourself to the buffet

 

[floridalol]

Hi Vinny

Taxi's are not cheap in Orlando - as for public transport I don't know about reliability but you should not have any problem with the shuttle service from your hotel although you are tied to their time schedules.

I would seriously consider hiring a car - it is nowhere as difficult to drive in USA as you may imagine - in fact I prefer to drive there as it is less frantic than over here - don't know what part of Scotland you live but it will be a lot easier than driving in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Also it gives you the freedom to do what you want when you want especially on your days when you are not doing Disney.

 

[sam_b]

Hi Vinny

We have always had a car in Orlando, even when we are staying on site. We looked at doing it without a car once to save some money and the cost of the airport transfers was almost as much as a fully insured car for a couple of weeks.

Firstly, if you don't want to drive, then I think that you will be able to manage, but I would try to found out as much info before you go about the transportation your hotel offers. You will also be able to use the I-Drive Trolley to get about in the evenings for a relatively low cost.

I would recommend having a car, I know that you say that you will be in the parks most of the time, but will you want to go to Disney WaterParks? Disney Golf? Downtown Disney? Boardwalk? etc. Your hotel will probably only drop off at the major parks - so you will have a lot of swapping of buses to do, which can be irritating after a full day on your feet! You might also be carrying a lot of things around with you on the buses as a family - shopping, wet clothes etc - it is so much easier to throw everything in the boot.

The other thing about a car is that it will give you freedom and flexibility. You may not have planned for it now, but when you get there you might need a day at the beach or KSC or want to go an airboat ride. Theme park fatigue can strke at any time - the first time we went we put in 14 hour days and wore ourselves out.

Whatever you decide - have a great time!