Disney transportation or car rental?

[Amyg]

This will be our first WDW trip. We are flying in on July 5 around 3 p.m. and are considering car rental during our 8 night stay on site. Is renting a car quicker and more efficient than WDW transportation and is it worth paying for? We plan to park hop and do 2-3 hour (back to hotel) rest during the early afternoons.

Would it really be worth paying for a rental car and having to drive ourselves around WDW or should we just use WDW transportation? We have AAA which I understand has their designated parking area...providing it's not packed during our July stay.

Any advice/feedback is appreciated!

 

[georgina]

It depends on a lot of things. Where are you staying? Do you want to go anywhere else other than Disney? Do you mind waiting for buses?

There are a lot of varying opinions. We always rent a car and drive to the parks. We usually have some quick breakfast and snack items in our room, so it is handy to get to the grocery store, and sometimes we like to go to other places in the area (like Universal, Sea World, and even Kennedy Space center). We find it very quick and convenient to drive around Disney and prefer it to the Disney transportation system. It depends on your vacation mindset.

 

[zdesiree]

I went this past Nov-Dec and it was our first time too. I rented a minivan because for me it was more comfortable, I have three kids plus I took two jogging strollers and one umbrella stroller. I think that having your car right there and not having to wait for a bus is faster if you want to return to the hotel to rest and comeback again. Besides you have the option of going to other places to eat or see.

 

[Amyg]

It depends on a lot of things. Where are you staying? Do you want to go anywhere else other than Disney? Do you mind waiting for buses?

There are a lot of varying opinions. We always rent a car and drive to the parks. We usually have some quick breakfast and snack items in our room, so it is handy to get to the grocery store, and sometimes we like to go to other places in the area (like Universal, Sea World, and even Kennedy Space center). We find it very quick and convenient to drive around Disney and prefer it to the Disney transportation system. It depends on your vacation mindset.

We are staying at POFQ and we will only visit the 4 main parks and DTD. I guess my concern was how much quicker is it if you have a car as opposed to using Disney buses, and since it will be our first time at WDW, how easy/difficult is it to navigate from MCO @ peak traffic hour; and around WDW.

 

[Dewy]

It can be a lot faster especially if you just missed the bus to the park or back to the resort. Busses come usually every 20 minutes and depending on where you're going it can be another 20 minutes to the park or resort with the stops.

A car is much faster too for dinner if you are going to another resort. To get to another resort you would have to take a bus to one of the parks( DTD after the parks close) and then another bus to the resort. After dinner, bus to DTD then another back to your resort...plan on 90 minutes each way.

We didn't mind Disney transportation on our first couple of trips as we were in the vacation mind-set and were not in a rush. Once we started going with kids we've been renting a car for speed, gear, & for flexability.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Two things I would like to point out.....July will be very, very crowded. Second is that no vehicles other than Disney buses are allowed near the Magic Kingdom entrance. You would have to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center and tram to either the boat or monorail to the MK. There is no way that this method is faster than just getting on a Disney bus at your resort. The bus will leave you a few steps from the MK entrance.
We have not rented a car in many years since we stay on WDW property. Disney transportation is very good unless you try to leave a park at closing when everyone is trying to do the same. Just take your time, walk, shop, people watch. We did this at the MK this past June after Wishes closed the park. We just sat on a bench near the castle while everyone poured down Main Street. By the time we got to the bus stop it was very peaceful. Personally, I cannot believe trying to drive out of any park at closing is easier than the Disney bus. Try getting to the TTC at MK closing and there will be thousands of people waiting for the boat or monorail to get to their cars. With the price of car rentals and gas today I will let Disney take me around. After all, you are on vacation so what is the great hurry to get from one place to another?
The only advantage to a car is if you want to eat at Disney resort since there is no resort to resort transportation. My solution to this is to plan the closest theme park for that part of that day and you can use Disney transportation easily.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I agree with WDWGOOFEEEE, over 30 trips to the WDW and have had our car in the early years but never used it. After driving 1200 miles, finding roads around property and fighting Disney traffic when there is free transportation at your disposal is not a relaxing vacation. Part of the fun for us is the Disney transportation. I've seen the parking lot red parade of tail lights leaving the parks from the bus and say, "glad I ain't in that mess", even standing on the bus. Its only about a 15-20 minute ride and I can't believe someone can get back faster in their own car. I've seen the cars fly around property and driving around in the dark, really not knowing the road layout seems to be an accident looking for a place to happen. And I've seen my share of those over the years. Buses are quick, safe and dependable and as its been said, " I'm on vacation", thats why I go to WDW, you can leave your car at home and see everything.

 

[sue1013]

We don't rent a car the first couple trips we did and it sat in the lot all week. Are you going to be in vacation mode or in a rush. If it will bother you to wait 15 or 20 minutes for a bus which could happen not the norm though, then rent a car. I love not having to drive on vacation I spend enough time in my car everyday am very happy to have someone else drive me around on vacation.

 

[jaysue]

We always rent a car since our DS#2 (2 yrs old) still requires a retreat nap every day - this allows either DW or myself to take DS#2 back to the resort promptly without waiting for a bus etc.

Once he no longer needs the nap and we are all doing our pool retreat, we will reconsider whether a rental car is needed

cheers
jaysue

 

[Michael623]

For me vacation mode is seeing all there is to see and doing all there is to do. I can sit around and relax at home. That being said, I wouldn't go to WDW without a car. 20 minutes for me is grueling to wait for a bus. This is my hard earned vacation time wasting away. The worst is catching a bus after wishes or fantasmic and having to wait for multiple busses.

 

[keishashadow]

We are staying at POFQ and we will only visit the 4 main parks and DTD. I guess my concern was how much quicker is it if you have a car as opposed to using Disney buses, and since it will be our first time at WDW, how easy/difficult is it to navigate from MCO @ peak traffic hour; and around WDW.

If @ all possible, avoid I-4...a nightmare during rush hour(s) & construction. We took it in Dec. - sat in traffic & construction tie-ups; trip took double the amount of time it should have.

Take the South exit out of MCO & pick-up the Greenway to WDW...although probably more miles, always quicker for us & way less congested. Think the locals don't want to pay the tolls (if I recall correctly under $5 each way).

I know we should try the ME, but since we switch resorts during our trips it seems to be more trouble than it's worth.

Good luck.

 

[QT Pooh]

There are certain black-out dates that apply to the Diamond Parking Pass. July 4 week is one of those times. You won't be able to take advantage of the parking spots during that week. They were closed at Epcot on MLK weekend as well.

 

[DonnaL]

I partially agree with most of the above posters, but, a lot does depend when you're traveling. I've never been to WDW in mid summer, but, I have been there at Christmas. I think at Christmas I would probably use WDW transportation. However, our usual time to visit is early to mid December and it's far easier to drive everywhere because there really isn't a lot of traffic at that time and it is a BIG timesaver. We used WDW transport once during our visit last month and it took us about 1 hour to get from MK back to SSR. If we had driven we could have taken the monorail to TTC and jumped in our car at the TTC lot in much less time. Also, I think the more you drive the roads at WDW the more familiar you become with shortcuts, etc. Sometimes the marked directions aren't always the shortest. If you do decide to drive make sure you pick up a WDW transportation map. It shows all the roads and if you're good at maps you can get somewhere a lot quicker by using alternate routes within WDW. As far as driving to/from MCO, I've never found 417 to be crowded. I would avoid the Beeline (not sure of the route #, but, it's the North exit out of MCO) and I-4 if at all possible. As a matter of fact, when we go to Universal we don't even use I-4. We go straight up Apopka-Vineland and then cut over to Conroy.

 

[tkldisney]

We always rode the buses and then one year decided to try rental car. Well, now we always rent. It's faster & easy to get around, and your guaranteed a seat!! I would take the boat to Downtown from PORFQ though, because finding a parking space in the evening can be difficult plus the boat ride is great.
I enjoy visiting some of the other resorts and it's easier to drive yourself than have to transfer from one bus to another.
If you do decide to rent a car, pick one thats located in terminal. National, Dollar, Avis, Alamo, Budget, & L&M. You can find codes on mousesavers website for discounts and information.
Also, if you take 417 (toll road) there is hardly any traffic, only takes 30 min. I think it's like 3.00 going to WDW and 2.00 coming back to MCO.