Do I need a rental car??

[eangel12]

This is our first trip to Disney with our 21 month old son. We are flying with his carseat (he has his own seat and we will be using his carseat). We currently have an SUV booked through our credit card company for $188.00. I know we will be hit with extras once we get to the airport. We are staying at the Beach Club, so I know we can walk or take the boat to HS and Epcot!! I am debating whether we really need a car. Here is our itinerary for the week:

Saturday--arriving at 10am to MCO. Hang out at hotel. Flying Fish for dinner
Sunday--8am at Crystal Palace, am at MK, hotel for nap, dinner at Ohana
Monday--8am at Hollywood and Vine, am at HS, hotel for nap, dinner at Epcot
Tuesday--8am at Chef Mickey's, am at MK, dinner at Teppan Edo
Wednesday--8am at Cape May Cafe, am at Epcot, dinner in Epcot
Thursday--8am at Tusker House, spend day at AK, dinner in Epcot
Friday--8am at Crystal Palace, day is up in the air...might do AK or MK
Saturday--flight leaves MCO at 10:40am

Our thoughts were that we could do a grocery stop if we rent a car (although ordering through Garden Grocer is definitely an option). I think our biggest concern is getting to the early morning breakfast reservations and getting to dinner at Ohana on time. (All our other dinners are in Epcot or hotel restaurant!!) We debated doing ME to the hotel, getting a taxi to the various parks, but worried about son not being in carseat...and also worried about the cost versus just renting ourselves.

So, opinions??

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you really don't need an SUV go with a smaller car which will have a smaller price.
I like having a car in case I need to go to the store or to eat off property which is cheaper. Usually the money we save by eating off property pays for the rental car. Not to mention renting a car will save you time. The last trip we took we had a car but decided one day to take the bus. Man did it take forever to get from the resort to the park. We waited 20 mintues for a bus to the park and another 20-25 from the park to the resort. So we last nearly an hour of vacation time. Multiply that by the number of times you take the bus and you could lose valueable vacation time.

Look here on the boards for discount codes and coupons.

With 8:00 a.m ADR at another resort your only option if you do not have a rental car, will be a taxi since Disney buses don't go from resort to resort. They only go from resorts to parks.

what are your travel dates?

 

[siskaren]

Personally, I've never felt the need to rent a car (because, hey, Disney transportation is free ), but with you having an 8:00 am breakfast ADR every day (and a couple of them being at resorts), I think you'll be better off sticking with the rental car. Buses to the parks start running at 6:30, but they don't run as frequently as they do once the parks open, so you'd probably have to be at the bus stop no later than 7:00 so that you'd have enough time if you just miss one, whereas with your own car, I'm sure you could leave your resort at 7:30 and get to the parks in plenty of time.

 

[cemeb4dk]

I would say skip the car, save the money buy more souveniers. We are dvc members and our home resort is Beach Club. Use the magical express, ( you will need to check the car seat under bus) as no seats allowed on bus. Then just store the seat in the closet or at bell services during your stay. There will be plenty of disney transportation to take you to your dining reservations. For your Ohana reservations, just take bus to MK, and then hop resort monorail around to the Poly. Or you can walk thru Epcot and take Monorail to transit center then get on resort line. I would say it sounds like your car will just be sitting most of the time, so enjoy the worries of not driving and enjoy your vacation plus your 21 month old will love riding on the buses.

 

[donnaf516]

It really depends on your family. We prefer to have a car because it saves us time by not having to allow an hour travel time in the morning for breakfast adrs. Also with 2 kids its nice to not have to wait for a bus or whatever and just hop in our car.

I would definitely consider a smaller car if you don't really need the suv. We'be been lucky in getting great deals when your flexible on the class

 

[prncess674]

Another thing to remember if you use Disney busses is you will need to be able to fold up a stroller, hold a tired kid, board a crowded busses and possible stand all the way back to the hotel. Do you NEED to rent a car? Then no, but it is a nice luxury. Also we enjoy the freedom a car allows.

What if your kid has a meltdown? Do you really want to stand at a bus shelter waiting on a bus or do you want to head straight to the car?

 

[eangel12]

I should mentioned a few things:

1. We are on Deluxe Dining Plan!
2. The SUV was the cheapest option--believe it or not--through our credit card company, (Capital One)
3. We are taking our BOB jogger...which is BIG...but my son sleeps in it. We were at the zoo on Sunday and he slept for 2 hours in the stroller while we walked around.

Opinions are greatly appreciated!!!!!! Thank you!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

then you definantley want a rental car. It will make it so much easier for you to take the stroller. Buses tend to get very crowded and if your stroller is a large one that might make it challenging for you to ride the bus.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm a big fan of a car rental, the time savings is huge.

 

[eangel12]

Thank you for all of the opinions...and suggestions!!! We have decided to stay with the rental car...given the fact that it will make getting to early breakfast reservations much easier. My son also falls asleep super easy in the car so we are hoping if he doesn't sleep on the plane, he will sleep in the rental car on the way to the hotel, which will enable us to make a few stops in Orlando to pick up stuff for the week. Thanks again!!