Do I need a rental car?

[kmb1967]

We are going to WDW for 5 days in January. DD will be 6 but DS is only going to be 8 months. We're staying at the Caribbean Resort so will have access to the Disney transportation, but I'm wondering if it would be easier to rent a car to put his car seat in, rather than relying on the buses, etc. We would also need to stop at the grocery store to get diapers, formula, etc. but I've read that some of the car companies will take you there, so I'm not as concerned about that part of the trip.

If anyone has any recommendations one way or the other, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

 

[robinb]

I always rent a car .

That being said, I think you'll be OK taking a limo (not Mears) to/from CBR. Since you're only going to be there 5 days, you might want to pack a bag with diapers, wipes and formula. You'll have an empty suitcase for souviners . A snack/beer/milk stop is still a good idea. Also, make sure to let the driver know if s/he needs to bring a car seat.

Are you planning on taking your DS's car seat into the parks with you? I wouldn't. He can sit on your lap on the bus while your DH wrangles your DD and the stroller . I did WDW alone with my (then) 8 month old DD. It's a great age for WDW. Make sure you book at least one character meal!

 

[Kimberle]

We've never rented a car. We had a towncar service drive us, they provided the car seat both times. One less thing to drag. Nearly all of them will make a quick stop at a grocery or convience store. You can load up on your diapers & stuff then.

The bus service is fine. And don't forget, the parking for cars is a lloonnngggg way away from the park openings. You'll have tram rides and/or a monorail for the MK.

Our first trip was when dd was 2.5. It was our first time on site. Our main reason was that we did not want to put her in & out of a hot car. It get VERY hot in FL and takes some time for the air conditioning to kick in.

 

[sgtdisney]

It really depends on how your family likes to travel. For me, I would never consider going to Disney World without having my own car. I really don't like travelling by bus. We also spend a lot of time hopping from resort to resort and going off property to shop, hit the Disney outlets, etc., which is much less easy to do without a car. I like driving at home so driving on vacation to me isn't an issue. Other people prefer not to drive on vacation so using limos and disney transportation works for them. It really is up to the individual family...

The way I see it, it costs about the same, maybe a little more, to rent a compact car (if you use codes or discounts) as it does to pay for a limo with the tip. I prefer to be free to come and go at my chosing.