I've never driven so I'm wondering what the parking lot is like trying to leave in a rental car after the park closes. Is it pure madness/traffic jam getting out of the lot? Also what is it like trying to park in the morning?
This is going to be very dependent on park & timing. For a “fireworks” park like Magic Kingdom, the first big exodus is right afterwards. And all the transportation options are jammed at the same time, as you need to take a monorail or ferry whether you parked or are taking an Uber.
“After close” can be bad too, but to a degree people stagger their exits. Some will leave right at close. Some will enter a ride line one minute before close. Some will do all their Main Street shopping on the way out. Leaving the lots can be bumper to bumper, and being dark at close doesn’t help things move efficiently, but almost all of them use one-way lanes and “highway” style ramps at the exits. You’re not dealing with a bunch of stop signs or lights so it’s more Peoplemover than Space Mountain.
Morning parking also can be better the earlier you’re there. Personally I find the “rope drop” crowd underrepresented among offsite drivers and over represented among onsite Disney Transportation users. Closer to or after official park open has felt busier to me. Regardless of that, it’ll be daylight, and cast members will be flagging you into angled parking spots down one-way aisles. It’s pretty well-oiled and easy to navigate.
IMO, driving at Disney World is far from difficult. Whether it’s cheaper than rideshare depends… I’ve taken several $10-$15 rideshares on property, but that’s two of us in a Corolla Uber between resort and park. Many rideshares are just that, smaller cars that work fine for small groups and short trips. If you need an Uber XL for the whole family and are doing a 20-30 minute ride, it’s possible each ride will cost more. But of course, a larger rental will cost more than a standard sedan too.
