DME & Busses or Rent a Car - Pros and Cons?

[Disneymom1126]

This is our first time doing a split stay and we're also doing a few early morning/pre-park open Breakfasts so I've been considering whether it would be worth it to rent a car. Our last trips we've just relied on DME and Disney's Bus system to get around and have had no complaints with it. For those that have both done that and rented cars, what do you see as the pros and cons?

 

[Linleedo]

We have used DME, buses, and didn't hesitate to use taxis, too. This trip we will probably do the same, but with Uber. We enjoyed getting to dinner reservations quicker when at resorts and leaving Disney Springs, or parks when they were closing at night. We never rented a car and never missed having one.

 

[loves to dive]

I drive down so always have a car and never get in it after it is parked unless I'm doing a split stay and that is just driving it from resort one to resort 2. I'm a big fan of free and since DME and the Disney transportation system is provided at no additional cost (I realize nothing is free and room rates and park tickets are raised to provide for that but it is there no matter what).

 

[TeamSy]

I would never rent a car when staying onsite, but that's just me. I think it's such a waste. Disney chargers A LOT to stay onsite, so I think one of the perks to take advantage of is their DME service. Even when doing a split stay we treat it like every other day, just that morning we head to bell services to drop off our luggage for them to deliver to the next hotel. Why spend more when you don't have to? It's a vacation, so I don't think you should be in any "rush" to get somewhere. Go easy and enjoy. Buses, monorail, etc, start running early enough to make early ADRs anyway. It's part of the experience.

 

[Alesia]

We prefer to just take the bus.

 

[minushka72]

I prefer to have a car when we are there. Much easier to drive to the parks and leave when we want with no wait or standing room only busses. (We also visit family that lives in the area, so we always have a car anyway.) The one trip we used the busses, was horrendous. I don't like being squished in during those busy times...

 

[summerw]

Pro car: you don't have to play transportation roulette and hope you're not waiting, although the only bad wait we had was coming back from blizzard beach.

Pro bus: our trip without a car was so much more relaxing than the one with. I spent months in Europe and visit my friend in San Francisco all the time and I just find Disney confusing. I hate having to figure out which lane and then deal with trams and hot pavement and hot cars. Also, at mk, you still have to deal with getting from the ttc to mk.

I pick bus. You didn't say where you're staying, but read up on that resort's thread to see what people say about the busses. As long as you can live with that, it's such a more go with the flow vacation.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Cars are so much easier, except to get to the MK. I hate waiting on someone to come and pick me up. I would much rather be in charge of my own destiny. Plus, I hate standing on a bus with all of humanity in its sweaty, stinky, tired glory at the end of the day. Give me a car with a dedicated seat for me and as much A/C as I want any day.

Plus, it's nice if you ever want to escape the bubble and go somewhere with better food and fewer people.

I also have a general dislike of DME and would rather just get myself to and from the airport. I'm amazed at how much more faster and efficient it is just to use a rental car, particularly on the return to the airport.

 

[GillianP1301]

Pros of car: Definitely a time saver. No uncertainty on transportation time because waiting is elminated.
Cons of car: It will add cost to your trip (not a huge amount, but still a consideration). Not a choice if you will be partaking in drinking alcoholic beverages

Pros of bus: Somebody else to do the driving (although to be honest, that's more of a negative to me personally), no extra cost when staying on site
Cons of bus: More time to get where you are going and uncertainty of not knowing if you will be waiting 3 minutes or 30 minutes for your transportation to arrive.

I think those are the main points and from there you have to choose based on what is most important to you. For me personally, time saver is #1 priority for me followed closely by my wish to avoid frustration by sitting around waiting on transportation that puts me squarely in the car rental camp. If you plan on doing a lot of resort dining, the value of the car increases that much more.

 

[popeboy]

We always rent a car. Orlando being such a huge tourist destination seems to drive rental prices down. We are renting from Dollar for 8 days in the next week and a half and by prepaying I was able to get out under $150 with all taxes and fees. There's really no downside unless you plan on getting loaded at one of the parks and can't drive. Disney transportation is great... until the time you wait until park closing to leave. Then you really experience the pain of being beat at the end of the night and waiting and waiting to get to the front of the line for whichever transportation type you choose. No fun.
As for the MK and TTC situation, the only solution is staying at BLT or Contemporary. Being able to walk past the huge lines and right back to your resort is seriously priceless.

 

[CynBeth]

We always do non Disney stuff so we always rent a car. If you sign up to be an Alamo Insider for free you get a discount. With them you select the size of car and then pick whatever brand you want in that section of the garage. If you pay online and do online checkin you just go to the kiosk near the counter at the airport and print your documents you don't have to wait in line. Then you just go the Alamo section of the garage and pick the car. The key will be in it so don't have to wait in line there either. We like having the car especially when doing a split stay because we move our luggage ourselves and sometimes we drive to an early breakfast or dinner at a resort.

 

[rastahomie]

For the love of whatever deity you worship, rent a car.

It takes forever to get around on Disney transportation. We've always rented a car, but on a couple of occasions we've taken a bus, just for the experience, and every time, we've regretted it. Just rent a danged car.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's impossible for any trip on Disney (or other public or private conveyance) to take forever. Longer than one is satisfied with, maybe, including the possible twenty-ish minute wait for a bus if one were just missed - but not endlessly or eternally.

Buses start running about 6:30 AM every day, so plenty if time to make an early breakfast.

 

[Disneymom1126]

I appreciate everyone's insight - like so much it seems like there are lots of good reasons to do either, but hearing personal experiences definitely is helpful when weighing options...haven't made up my mind yet, but this will help!

 

[DisneyPanthersFan]

My vote would be for no rental car. That way you can relax and stay inside the Disney bubble. Besides, if you're visiting the Magic Kingdom, you'll still have to use Disney transportation to get to the actual park from the parking lot, even with the rental car.

 

[asbyrneva]

Rented a car are first trip and decided it wasn't really worth. We do take a Taxi rather then DME I can get to the park so much faster arrival day.

Yes waiting stinks but look at all the pluses about not having to worry about it. And driving to MK I just don't get - you still have to wait.

Also we have had so many nice conversations with fellow guests on the bus

 

[Cee]

We've rented cars before and the only issue(if you even want to call it that) is at the parks. The buses drop you off close and if you drive, you usually park pretty far away and have to hike or wait for a tram to take you to the entrance. In other areas, a car is great to have for resort hopping, leaving property to get groceries or see other area attractions, and of course getting to those ADRs. Enjoy!

 

[busymommy2pink]

Rented a car the first time and it was a total waste. On our last trip we used uber and taxis whenever we felt like it (park openings, walked to contemp after MK close and took a cab back to our resort from there, just not feeling like waiting for a bus) and it was sooooo much cheaper than renting a car, plus the perk of not being the one driving still. Win win. I highly recommend this as an alternate option. We will never rent a car again unless we have plans off site. Even then, uber to sea world was $8 per way lol. I can't rent a car for the day for that!!