Do I really need a car?

[cidermill]

Heading to WDW next week to spend a week at the WL. We chose it so we can take the boat to MK, which we do most often. However, we'll spend a day at each of the other 3 parks and head to DTD for dinner one night. My sister is telling me to rent a car and that will be faster and easier than the buses. I"ve love to save the $$ if we don't need one for those 3 days, but what are your thoughts? I have a 5 & 7 year old, who are patient, but if the buses are really that bad....please let me know. Thanks!!! Christy

 

[wdwrich]

We've done WDW visits both with and without a rental car over the years. Our verdict? We always rent a car now. It's especially convenient having your own vehicle when traveling from one resort hotel to another for meals.

 

[frkymcky]

Personally, for me there is no way I would go to WDW without renting a car. It's not that the buses are bad it's just I don't want to wait for a bus and I certainly don't want to get on one and not be able to sit especially with my 2 kids. (I have 2 - DD7 and DS3). I like my freedom and don't want to have to add in time for the buses to get from point A to point B.

 

[cidermill]

Thanks for the posts!! Any tips on the best $$ rental company? It's mind boggling looking at all the offers/rates.

 

[TheWog]

No, you don't really need a car, we have gone twice and used WDW transportation to get around. They do it and do it well. Not the end of the world, plan accordingly, but if you are not in some major hurry to get some where or need to be there 5 mins sooner you will do just fine with the busses.

If you do need to rent a car www.mousesavers.com may be able to help with discount codes, etc.

 

[ancestry]

Another vote here for not needing a car. We don't rent a car as long as we are staying on site. We have never had a problem with Disney transportation. Save the money.

 

[backyardponder]

the only time we rented a car was when we were touring resorts. Going from resort to resort is painful using Disney transportation. Other times we've had a car (perhaps from driving down), the car has sat and gathered Florida dust.

 

[skiingfast]

For the time the OP is going the buses won't be bad. The only thing it would be nice for is going to DTD. But that's it, and the time saved will be used picking up and dropping offf the rental. If you don't leave the world you don't need a car. The time waiting for buses is offset by the time riding trams and walking to your car.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have yet to rent a car for our actual time at WDW. Yes, I've rented cars while at WDW but that is usually on the very tail end so that we can head to the next part of our trip..usually to visit family in other areas of Florida.

The thing you have to remember is that you are, maybe, saving an hour a day...tops. The way I figure it is that I'm on vacation. I don't need to be rushing about, trying to get everyplace as quickly as possible. It can take me about 40 mins to get from a resort to a park...and that includes a longish wait time for the bus. It's more often closer to 30 mins if the park is a bit of a hike. With a car, you are only cutting off the bus wait time. Then, you have to add in the time from where you park your car to the park entrance. The buses usually drop you off a bit closer, and quite a bit closer at MK. For MK you have to park your car, sometimes take a tram to the perimeter of the parking lot, then hop on either the monorail or ferry boat to get you from there (TTC) to the MK itself.

It's up to each person to decide what is going to work best for their family. But, be sure you have all the info. If you are planning on going to a lot of resort restaurants and you won't be going to a park first, but have to go from resort to resort, then yes, a car may make life simpler for you. But, a cab may very well be cheaper if you are only doing a couple of these meals.

 

[eliza61]

Heading to WDW next week to spend a week at the WL. We chose it so we can take the boat to MK, which we do most often. However, we'll spend a day at each of the other 3 parks and head to DTD for dinner one night. My sister is telling me to rent a car and that will be faster and easier than the buses. I"ve love to save the $$ if we don't need one for those 3 days, but what are your thoughts? I have a 5 & 7 year old, who are patient, but if the buses are really that bad....please let me know. Thanks!!! Christy

IMO, buses being "Bad" is very subjective. Disney themselves generally tell you to allot 1 hour for travel time. We have gone both ways. You say you guys are fairly patient? then the buses should be no problem. will there be a time or two where you have to wait 25 minutes for the next bus sure, so the question will be would that upset you? We started renting a car the first year we stayed at Ft. Wilderness and our kids where in strollers, it was just easier to not have to deal with the buses and strollers.

Also at the end of the night, when the park closes buses tend to be pack. Will that be an issue? Believe me, I wish I had a quarter for every post from some one complaining 1. Chivelary is dead because no one gave up their seat while they were holding a toddler and 2. The buses were packed with people leaving the parks. and they had to wait for the next bus.

Once again, if this type of stuff is a non issue (it is with me) than you will do fine without a car.

Now we always get a car primarily because we enjoy eating off site more and more.

 

[brenda1966]

No, you don't need a car. Save the money you would have used on a rental car and take a taxi to DTD and back if you don't want to use the buses (I have found getting to and from DTD takes the most time, it seems). For the other parks, you may save a few minutes in a car, but not enough to make me want to drive, navigate, etc. The buses have worked fine for us.

The unofficial guide has a great chart that shows average trip length from each hotel to each park by bus versus car. I don't have it in front of me, but the one park that a car takes longer is MK. Now I'm not sure if that is true for WL if you are taking a boat. But from Pop or CBR, the bus is faster than a car because it drops you off right there. In a car you have to park at the TTC and then take the boat or monorail. One night my friend left MK about an hour before us in her car -- didn't want to stay for fireworks and wanted to beat the traffic. HA! We stayed for fireworks, hopped on a bus, and she only beat us back to the hotel (Pop) by about 15 minutes.

 

[PCFriar80]

Heading to WDW next week to spend a week at the WL. We chose it so we can take the boat to MK, which we do most often. However, we'll spend a day at each of the other 3 parks and head to DTD for dinner one night. My sister is telling me to rent a car and that will be faster and easier than the buses. I"ve love to save the $$ if we don't need one for those 3 days, but what are your thoughts? I have a 5 & 7 year old, who are patient, but if the buses are really that bad....please let me know. Thanks!!! Christy

We've been 40+ times since the mid 90's and never rented a car. Disney transportation, while it has it's up and downs always gets you to your destination. On the other hand if you're staying at an Epcot Resort you'll have to rely on your sneakers [or possibly a boat] to get to EC and HS.

 

[cidermill]

Wow, thanks for the great replies. I did check out the taxi route and that is a very good suggestion. Instead of paying $220 a week and lugging carseats, etc, paying $20 if we need to get somewhere quickly might be the way to go. We'll spend most of our time at the MK anyway, and we LOVE the boat.
Thanks again!!

 

[Tara]

I always rent a car and wouldn't go without one, but I understand why some people prefer to use WDW transportation. However, if I were planning on going to DTD every night, there's NO WAY I'd be without a car!

ETA - sorry, I misread what you said. I'd still rent a car, though.

 

[platamama]

Do taxis have booster seats?

 

[abbiej06]

Personally, I would suggest you to rental a car there will be line ups everywhere you go, and I mean everywhere. We started at the car rental and it continued for the week. We had a car the drove to Downtown disney 1 evening for dinner, it took over 30 minutes to find a parking spot, and 65 minutes later our dinner was finished. At most of the restaurants they rush you in and out, they need the tables turned and turned often. So there are both the side it depends what exactly makes you feel good.

 

[Cathy66]

We have not trouble using the bus. When we have gone to a restaurant at an other hotel some time we pay for a cab it was about $20 way cheaper than a car if you only do it one or two times.

Cathy

 

[pooch]

when we eat at a resort, we use it as a jumping off point to another park. For example, we're going to AK for the day then bus to AKL for dinner at Boma and then bus to DHS for the evening. I do agree that DTD is the only real hassle on the bus.

 

[chickapinhill]

Kind of depends where you're staying on whether to rent a car, in my opinion. Done it both ways here. You should be fine without one at WL. The boat transportation is great, and of course, you can always do the monorail to TTC from Contemporary or MK. If you were staying at a value or Mod (especially) then I'd recommend car. The drive time isn't usually the issue for us, it's the sheer # of people waiting that seems to be the clencher. At the mods, the rooms can be VERY far away from civilization.

 

[wdwobsessed]

Heading to WDW next week to spend a week at the WL. We chose it so we can take the boat to MK, which we do most often. However, we'll spend a day at each of the other 3 parks and head to DTD for dinner one night. My sister is telling me to rent a car and that will be faster and easier than the buses. I"ve love to save the $$ if we don't need one for those 3 days, but what are your thoughts? I have a 5 & 7 year old, who are patient, but if the buses are really that bad....please let me know. Thanks!!! Christy

I have drivin to WDW numerous times and have always parked my car and used WDW transportation. I don't get people who complain about the WDW transportation ... we have never had any problems with it and think it's part of not leaving the magic during our trip. I drive enough to get there! LOL!