DME or rent a car?

[MarcyMouse]

We're doing a split stay, starting at POP. Four full days, two young kids who need booster seats.

Do we rent a car, bring (or rent) booster seats, and save money buying our own groceries and snacks, etc. Kids are picky eaters and we'll be skipping sit-down meals for most of the stay.

Or should we just use the free DME?
My concerns with DME are that our flight gets in after 10pm, and our flight leaves at 8am. So on the trip down we risk not getting our bags until the next morning, and on the way home we will likely have to be ready for the bus at 5am

What would you do?

(Also, does anyone know if POP is first, last, etc in the drop-off route for the DME bus?)

Any advice from those who've been there, done that, would be enormously appreciated! Thank yoU!

 

[noahynav]

I would rent a car. We have flown the last 3 times and have rented each time with Alamo. At the end of the day when you have 2 crabby kids that want to leave and you have to wait in line for a bus, their is nothing better than going to your car and driving off. Also, you can leave at your own pace, don't have to run to catch a bus, don't have to worry if someone will give up a seat so your wife and kids can sit down. If you want to go off property to eat, shop, etc you don't have to worry about cab fare. The booster seats you can gate check at the airport so when you get off the plane you have them.

As far as cars, if you can get a Chevy Impala it has tons of room. The one we had only had 240 miles, fit 5 suitcases in the trunk and had plenty of leg room. Good luck but I would rent a car if the extra 200 is not an issue.

 

[paulasillars]

I'd rent a car without hesitation. We've found the car to be much quicker than the bus system to get from places and at times with tired, cranky kids I'm guessing it will be a blessing. Its bad enough with tired, cranky adults

Sign up for the fridge swap if you haven't already on the budget board and it will give you a lot more options for meals in the room so you can get yogurt, milk etc at the supermarket rather than relying on the shop at Pop.

 

[nutty4wdw]

we always rent a car now. freedom of choosing where, what and when you want to go. in the morning when we are driving to the park we see all the guests waiting for a bus. so much easier to just hop in a car and go. and your parking is free since you are on site.

keep checking alamo and others on site but make sure they are in the airport. i'm going next week and i got a mid size(you will need larger) for 1 week for $95 with a coupon. to check coupon codes and discounts go to the mousesavers site.

 

[goodferry]

OK, here's the other side of the coin. I would get a towncar and either request a grocery stop or order from Garden Grocer if it were me (that's actually what we just did earlier this month) That option would be more than DME, but less than a rental.
We rented a car one time and never used it until it was time to go home. To me, unless you are really impatient or unlucky with the bus timing, there is no way that walking to a car and then finding your way to your resort, finding a place to park and then carrying the kids from the car to the room is faster or easier, especially at the MK. Over the course of our 9 day trip, during which time we were in the parks every day and night, we were on 2 full buses. Of course, we could walk to Epcot and MGM since we were at the Boardwalk, but still, that's pretty good.
We also found that disney did an excellant job of dispatching buses to where there was a need. After the Hoop Dee Doo Review, I was figuring the trip back to the Boardwalk would be a lengthy process, but we walked out and they had buses waiting to take you back to whatever resort you were going to.
So, that has been our experience, I would post this question on the transportation board also to see what advice you get.

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

We rented a car last year but we also stayed at the Double Tree and it beat the hotel trasportation by a mile. We also were able to pickup some friends that were at PC on our way to the parts and use their parking pass in our window so their was no parking fees

 

[Taja]

I haven't taken DME from MCO to POP, but recently took it from POP to MCO. We did leave about 3 hours before flight time (airline recommended arriving 2 hours prior to scheduled flight), which was fine for me, but I can understand the 5:00 a.m. issue! We didn't share the bus with any other resorts--probably just the luck of the draw.

Towncar service is terrific! I used it round trip in March. They meet you just after security, take care of your luggage (you'll need to identify it), and bring the car around to you. Keep in mind that they will require you to be ready to leave 30 minutes earlier than the recommended airline airport arrival time. So, if the recommended airport arrival time is 6:00 a.m., you'll still need to leave at 5:30 a.m.

Try reserving a rental car (one of the ones on site at MCO) using any coupons you can find. You can check back periodically to see if the rates have improved and compare the cost against the alternatives. If the rates aren't at the level you want, book a towncar or contact Disney for the DME (you'll have handle your luggage a little differently), then cancel the rental. We booked and cancelled five rental cars as prices dropped, then booked the sixth three days prior to departure. Just be sure to book the next rental car before cancelling the one in hand!

 

[raven69david]

Renting a car is the best way to go. If you use DME, you will be stuck with Disney transportation which is ok, but could be better. And with two young kids, it's a no brainer. We always rent a minivan and we love it. We get to the parks, and anywhere else, rather quickly and we do not have to wait to load onto a bus when we're leaving a park. It's so much nicer having a vehicle, at least it is for us with two 3 year old (dd3 and nephew3).

I can't imagine staying on Disney property without a rental vehicle with kids.

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Being as how I'm 23, and renting a car costs extra if you're not 25, if you can even do it, I always used ME. But then again I don't have little ones, and I do enjoy the freedom and enjoying a drink and not worrying about transportation.

Do whatever is easiest for you.

 

[slenderella]

We have always rented a car just for the convenience of it all. I hate not being able to come and go as I please, and to have to wait in line at the close of the parks, NO thank you. We always stay on property, so the parking at the parks is free.

 

[jcb]

I've driven and done ME. I recently did ME and now won't do anything else. I didn't stay at a value resort nor did I have young children to supervise (but my children are not so old I don't remember what it was like). I tend to think ME would be easier if you have kids (depending on whether yours will fight the early departure time). The buses are very comfortable, have small tv screens and show a video on the way to the resort (and back to the airport).

As to getting your bags, I waited a while before making the ME reservation so we didn't have the luggage tags for our flight. Our luggage was waiting on us by the time we got to baggage claim so we carried it with us onto the bus with no hassles or objections. It helps that ME departs from the same general area but on a lower level as baggage claim in the B concouse. Of course, someone will have to get the luggage from baggage claim to the ME area.

I can greatly sympathize with those who don't like to be tied to WDW. I've found when I drive, however, the car sits in the hotel parking lot and I use Disney transportation. It isn't perfect but it gets you there pretty reliably and I can't imagine driving is all that faster overall.

I would be interested in hearing the perspective of those who used ME and arrived late night at one of the value resorts. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon. The line for the value resorts was long but then it moved quickly as buses arrived pretty frequently. Late at night, there may not be as long a wait.