Car: To Rent or Not Rent

[MDer2FL]

Let me apologize - I'm brand new to Universal (heck, we've only been to Disneyworld twice) so I know I keep posting all sorts of stupid questions that many of you are probably sick of. BUT... I'm debating about the rental car.

We (DH, me, 3 DDs) land in Orlando at 8:30am on 6/29. Had planned on picking up a mid-size and driving to Portofino Bay where we're staying until 7/2, when we switch to an offsite condo and plan to do a couple of days at DW. Since then I've learned more and realize how close everything is at Universal, and that they have a Hertz onsite at PB as well as lots of fairly close RAC places outside. So.... I'm thinking, do we need to go to the expense of the car for those days (as well as parking)? DH thinks we'll want to go offsite for some meals, but I'm like.... we're only going to be there 3 days, and most of that will be spent in the parks where we'll eat/snack. If we even want a sit-down dinner, we have many options at PB or the other hotels, or even back in the parks. (Arrg... lightbulb just went off... do we need advanced reservations a year in advance like at DW?!? )

DH is a serious plan-ahead'er. Everything in its place, you know? I mean, we only decided on taking this trip last week and believe me, leaving "only" 7 weeks out is NOT how we usually do things! I think the idea of not having a car is some kind of control thing...? Anyhooooo, your comments or advice are appreciated.

 

[Metro West]

I'm going to move this to the main board for more responses.

 

[damo]

You most likely won't leave property at all. You're probably fine to cab it or hire a car service to get from the airport to the hotel. You could rent a car when you leave to use offsite.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree that three days onsite is nothing. There are plenty of good places to eat at Citywalk too.

 

[bumbershoot]

We always have a rental, but when at Universal I cannot remember going offsite for food other than our typical "we need fruit" stop at Whole Foods that turns into the most expensive meal of the trip while going through the hot bar there, LOL. Never go to Whole Foods while hungry!

When at WDW we go offsite a lot; Sweet Tomatoes is a fave. But when at Universal we like the 3 Broomsticks and Richter's veggie burgers enough that I just cannot recall going anywhere but the Whole Foods hot bar for offsite food.

Where does your husband think you'll go? Maybe take an hour or so to work that out, so that you guys are prepared? It might talk him out of the need for the car, or maybe it'll talk you into the need for one. Best to have the conversation, though.

 

[schumigirl]

Yep you need to have the conversation with DH to see what you really want to do.

Just being there for 3 days even if you did want to go offsite for one of the evenings for dinner you could just get a cab or one of the cars that sit outside the hotels to take you where you want to go.

I couldn`t imagine not having a car but we stay for 17 nights and travel out somewhere almost every day whether it`s Clearwater, shopping and eating offsite. But for 3 days I would probably not rent a car.

You don`t need to book restaurants in advance, you can if you wish at www.opentable.com but in all our trips peak and off peak times we have never needed to book anywhere and always ate where we wanted to.

Have a great trip

 

[RMulieri]

Personally I would skip the car.You don't really need to leave property ( everything is close) and there are PLENTY of dining options between the resorts, Citywalk and parks.Not to mention that even for resort guests there is a nightly parking charge ( Loews hotels charge for parking if you use it ,whereas disney builds it into the resort rates and charges everyone)

 

[goodferry]

You may want to price it out a couple of ways and see how pricing looks. Sometimes it's just as expensive to rent for a week as it is for a few days

 

[lolomarie]

I remember not budgeting for parking on my last trip in 2010 and it significantly cutting into my souvenir fund. Not sure what parking is now, but I remember thinking what a waste it was to have the car for our time at Universal. I agree that you likely won't want to leave as the property is so fabulous and there are so many dining choices on site.

 

[MDer2FL]

You may want to price it out a couple of ways and see how pricing looks. Sometimes it's just as expensive to rent for a week as it is for a few days

After some quick research, that seems it might be the case. *sigh* We may be better off just getting the car at the airport and being done with it.

 

[ultimate_ed]

My situation is a bit different, but I've opted to forgo renting a car for our trip. We're staying and Universal for four nights and then to Port Canaveral for a Disney cruise.

For me, especially being our first time to Universal, I don't plan to leave the property once we get there. So, I'd rather let someone else handle the major shuttling from airport to Universal to Port to airport for me this time around.

If I do need to go offsite for some reason, a cab is always an option I can invoke. But if I don't, that's a good bit of parking fees saved.