Creative ways to get from Ft. Myers to WDW

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Looking for ideas to get from Ft. Myers to WDW
DH and I are flying down to Ft. Myers to see my grandfather on Sunday, Oct. 10th landing in Ft. Myers at 10:40am. We're staying until Saturday, Oct. 16th and our flight leaves at 6:55pm.

We weren't going to go to Disney this year. DH said NO WAY! Not until the debt is paid off. We've been working very hard at this. Following some of the ideas here and throwing all extra money at our debt.

Now, DH says well beings we're going to be right in Florida and that close. . . . He's talking about driving up EARLY Monday morning and staying overnight and doing another day on Tuesday and then heading back to my Gramps' on Tuesday night.

We won't have a car at our disposal for that many days. I'm trying to make this work. You can't even suggest we go to Disney to me because I wll move heaven, earth, mountains, people whatever to make it work.

I don't want to be too much of a hassle on my family just so we can run off and have fun. I.e., pick us up from airport, take us back later in evening to pick up car rental. Drive us back to Rental agency on Tuesday to return rental. Do you see what I mean?

We'd need to leave at 5:00am because we'd want to be there at 7:00 to see about early check in and then on to EE at Animal Kingdom. We want to get the most out of these two days. Don't really care if we'll be exhausted because we'll have 4 days to rest at Gramps'.

The only thing I know is getting a rental car on Sunday to have for early Monday.

I'm open for suggestions. Thanks

 

[frannn]

We flew from NY to West Palm Beach and rented a car there, then drove to Boca, then Ft Meyers, then WDW. We returned the car at the Orlando airport, and flew home from there. It wasn't a bad drive from Ft Meyers to Orlando. It took 2-2.5 hours. Don't know if you could rearrange your schedule or if you have plane tickets yet, but you would save yourself some time and aggrivation if you fly in near Ft Meyers, rent a car, drive to WDW, & fly home from there. You could spend the early part of your vacation with your grandfather, then drive to Orlando and either keep the rental car throughout your trip or drop it off at WDW, then take Mears, etc back to the Orlando airport. Or, you could rent a car close to your grandfather's home when you are getting ready to leave for WDW. That way, you wouldn't be inconveniencing your family that much, you wouldn't have to keep the rental car the whole trip, and you wouldn't have to drive both to and from WDW. Hope that made sense, and hope you find a way to go!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

This car thing is what is really messing us all up!!

See, we have been planning to go see my Grandfather since July. I bought the tickets then. DH said NO Disney this year.

Now he's the one changing his mind and really wants ME to make it work.

All kinds of things are coming in to play here (unless I'm making a bigger deal of it than what I should) but I haven't been to my grandfathers in 3 years and DH has never been in our 7 years of marriage.

So, we say we're coming down to see you Gramps and spend the week.

Now DH says, we're going to be right in Florida and that close. . . We'll still have 5 days to spend w/ your family (which is aunt, uncle and grandfather) if we take 2 days to go to Disney. I kind of feel funny doing this but then again we're ADULTS and we're paying for this whole trip! If we want to do something else why not? As I said, I'm probably making a bigger deal out of this than I have too.

I REALLY want to go!! Ugh, it would have been better if he had never suggested this to me!!! It's not like we have extra money laying around at our disposal!! This little trip will cost the whole amount we were planning on taking which is about $400 because we were just staying w/ family!

If we had thought this out before, you are right, we could have flown into Orlando and flown out of Ft. Myers but the tickets are bought and USA3000, which is who we're flying, doesn't fly into Orlando from Baltimore, which is where we're flying out of!! I would have just changed the tickets.

Boy do I feel like I'm in a quandry!! The only thing I know to do is rent the car from the airport in Ft. Myers and NOT have family pick us up as was the original plan and then I'll just have to keep it until Wednesday. Unless I could get an awesome deal somewhere and just keep it the whole week!

If we can't make it work, DH is the type who can just walk away from this idea. Me, the DISNEY ADDICT, the DISNEY FENE on the other hand will walk on glass to make this work!!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

My mom suggested Enterprise because they drop off the car and then pick it up but wouldn't you know, No Enterprise is open on Sunday except the one at the airport.

Enterprise seems kind of high too.

We want to go Monday and Tuesday because we feel that it would be better than going in the middle of the week. If we go Monday and Tuesday than we have the whole rest of the week to spend w/ family.

 

[frannn]

We used a local airport service company this past month to get to/from the airport. It cost 25. each way for them to pick us up with a van, then we got 3. off the return trip for booking in advance. I would think a cab (to take you to pick up your car at a local rental car agency) would cost less than what I pd. Or, are you able to take a few more days off and drive your own car to FL? Don't know if your airlines offer credits (less a fee) if you don't utilize your flight, though. Plus, if you will be penalized 50/ticket for changing/cancelling your flight, it may cost only slightly more to rent the car & take a cab. I am also the type to do most anything possible to get to WDW; being in the same state already saves you at least the cost of flights. It is a money saving opportunity . That being said, last Dec I flew back to Boca to vist/work at my company's main office. WDW is 2 hours away. I tried my darndest to get DH to join me (on our own dime), rent a car, and drive to WDW for the weekend following work. We had APs, so no ticket cost..he had already taken the few days off to watch our then DD1...but, there was a volunteer firefighting "thing" that he didn't want to miss. So, I missed WDW that trip. The ironic thing is there was a snowstorm that weekend in NY, so I got "stuck" in FL for an extra day anyway! Regardless, FL is FL. which I find enjoyable even with no WDW. Keep in mind that there are plenty of great other tourist stuff in other parts of FL if you end up not getting to go to Orlando. I wonder if your grandfather lives near my DH's aunt? I'm not very familiar with the area, but it seemed gorgeous when we were there. Maybe you could mention this thought to one of your FL family members with kids. You could "plant the seed", and they may be willing to go to WDW with you. Then you would be home free!

 

[tarmand]

How about renting an Economy car from Dollar. Pick it up when you arrive at the airport and drop it off exactly three days later. Your total with tax and fees would be $88.88.

According to mapsonus.com, it is about 165 miles each way. That economy car says it gets 26 mpg, but my 1995 Honda Accord gets 30 so I would think it would be safe to say 30. Say 400 miles round trip, gas would cost about $28 at $2/gallon.

If you stay onsite at a value resort. It would be about $85 with tax if you can get the BAT discount. Since money is a factor, I personally would Priceline something offsite and save about $30-$40.

So total cost would be $202 onsite and about $175 or a little less offsite. Do you have passes? If not, factor that in also. I think it is definitely doable for less than $400 though - just eat cheap!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

Originally posted by tarmand
How about renting an Economy car from Dollar. Pick it up when you arrive at the airport and drop it off exactly three days later. Your total with tax and fees would be $88.88.

Wow, that's a great price!!! I'm going to check Dollar out!! That would be perfect.

We own DVC so, we don't have to pay for the room, which we'd only need for one night.

DH could get a parkhopper of 1 night/2 day because we're resort guests for about $247.30. I got this info from Mousesavers.com.
The regular price is $137.39 for 1nt./2dy but we get a 10% discount from DVC.

This is when those AP's would come in handy!! Just when you think you're not going to Disney that little fairy sprinkles some pixie dust your way.

So, here's the breakdown.
Rental Car: $88.88
Passes: $247.30
Food for 2 days $100.00
$436.18


Of course we have to factor in the gas that we have to put back into the car.

I'm so glad you guys understand my obsession w/ trying to get there!!

Thanks for any advice anybody has.