Do I want a car or not?

[sarahbug79]

I am torn on the issue. We fly in late around 9:45 pm we leave early at 8 am. We have 3 kids, 9,6,4. We will have luggage and a stroller. Last time we went we did all Disney transport most was a piece of cake. The only issues were getting to other resorts for dining reservations. Last time we stayed at POFQ I remember the busses stopping at POR. This time we are at POR so is it harder to get a bus being the last stop? We are going early December my kids have never seen the ocean or gulf would it be worth a drive for that experience or is it too cold anyways?

 

[pepe of ohio]

We had a car....but on property we always use Disney transportation and we hit the ocean first....Daytona Beach for 2 nights before heading to WDW..it was Thanksgiving day we arrived in Daytona and it was warm, not hot...ocean was cold so no swimming and very little wading....so that part was a bust......but we came, we saw.....as for on property...we do not eat a lot of other resorts so getting to other resorts don't interest us because we like using Disney transport......rarely do we have a car, we go mostly by train to WDW and know where and what we want to eat and tend to stick close to our resort.....WL has suited our bill for quite a few trips....good restaurants there, boat to FW for buffet and again, boat to CR to gain access to the other monorail resorts for dining.......easy peasy for us....and we never go the rental car expense...ever...not when transportation service is provided for free...

 

[wdwrich]

We've been to WDW 12 times over the years and have done it both with and without a rental car. We always get a rental now. We find it so much easier getting from place to place (especially from resort to resort for evening meals) with our own vehicle. Even going to the parks we drive ourselves with the occassional exception of going to MK, but even for that park we will drive sometimes.

 

[WDWLODGE]

We've been to WDW 12 times over the years and have done it both with and without a rental car. We always get a rental now. We find it so much easier getting from place to place (especially from resort to resort for evening meals) with our own vehicle. Even going to the parks we drive ourselves with the occassional exception of going to MK, but even for that park we will drive sometimes.

I agree with wdwrich. We love having our vehicle available to us. For the most part when we have used disney transportation, we haven't had an issue. But there have also been those times when we were like, why didn't we just drive. So except for the MK we usually drive everywhere.

 

[Rpsemont]

We almost always have a rental car...sometimes we use it alot, sometimes we don't. With a crew like that, I think DME might be easier to get to the resort when you arrive. While I have heard that Alamo/National at the car care center will shuttle you, personlly we prefer to rent from car rentals in the DTD area. There is a Dollar at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista and an Alamo at Buena Vista Palace Hotel. Both of these are just a 5-8 minute walk from the DTD bus stop. So, on one day, it would be easy enough for one of you to hop a bus to DTD, walk over and pick up the car. Often times we book it with a return to MCO. That way we can have the most time possible on property before we leave for the airport. With RAC, you can still check youy bags to fly home, then drive to the airport about two hours before.

This October, I couldn't find a cheap rental from the airport, so we are going the first 2 days without a car, then I have a 3 day rental for $107 from Dollar with a return to MCO.

In December, which I know is when you're going, I just got a Mid size for 8 days, pickup and drop off at MCO with a $35 coupon from Alamo Insiders for $125. If you did get a good deal for the full trip on a rental car, maybe you could take older and youngest kids and take DME and DH and middle child could go get the rental car. Fun to see who would get there first.
Just an idea.
Good Luck!