Do we need a car at Boardwalk?

[Mississippian]

When going to the MK from BWV, does anyone walk over to Epcot and catch the monorail? Would this be a good way to avoid the buses, or is there more hassle involved than I'm thinking? ... we've never used the monorail before ...

We do this all the time. It's a very enjoyable walk and far more pleasant than a bus except on the hottest days.

When I am trying to get to the MK early in the morning, if time is close I like to take a cab to the Polynesian and then take the monorail into the MK. The cost is about $15, and given the extra rides we get to do it is well worth it.

Finally, don't forget that there is a National Car Rental office at either the Swam or Dolphin. It's just a counter off the lobby. You can rent a car for one or two days and will probably get the best rate using the Internet.

 

[DebbieB]

I always rent a car. I've always been able to get one pretty cheap - I paid $104 including tax last month for 6 days. That's National with Executive Aisle, $20 off coupon. Got a brand new Chevy Impala sports model. It's nice to have to go to Animal Kingdom, Downtown Disney, grocery shopping, outlets. I also used it to Magic Kingdom during the day. I timed our trip to MK one morning, we left BWV at 8:25 and were at the front gate at 8:55. I don't know that the bus would have been faster.

There can be parking problems at BW. One night we had to valet park because the lot was full. DVC members get free valet, just had to tip, but it irked me that they allow the lot to fillup and not have spaces for hotel guests.

 

[thelobstershanty]

There can be parking problems at BW. One night we had to valet park because the lot was full. DVC members get free valet, just had to tip, but it irked me that they allow the lot to fillup and not have spaces for hotel guests.

I agree. That is one thing that really bugs me about BWV. We just always valet park. We actually prefer to valet, but it is still not right that the parking lot is full of cars that are not resort guests. Non resort guests are supposed to park in the lot across the street, but they do not enforce this policy, which is ridiculous.

 

[Mahusky]

Now my problem this November is that we are planning trips to both Universal and Discovery Cove. How do we get there?? Taxi?? Does Disney offer any transportation services beyond their own property?
Brownie

This was my dilema last T-Day. We actually ended up hiring a limo to go back and forth to Sea World (long story 19 people had to get back for ADR's, etc..) but I did research the Taxi bit and the cost is about $20 - $25 one way. Which seems expensive but still cheaper than renting a car for a week and less hassle for renting a car for the day.

 

[CarolMN]

We always stay at the BWV and usually do not get a car unless we plan to do a lot of non-EPCOT resort dining or stay part of the time off site (to visit non-Disney attractions). Self-parking in the late afternoon or early evenings at the BWV can be a huge pain due to the number of people who park there to go to EPCOT. (I know the people staffing the security kiosk try to discourage this, but a whole lot of park-goers manage to get in anyway). So that factors into our decision. I hate driving around looking for a spot and I do not care much for valet service.

When we have a car, we only use the car to go to and from the airport, the AK, DD and any non-EPCOT resort dining. We take Disney transportation everywhere else. We don't go to the waterparks, but would drive there if we did.

Since the car often sits unused for the majority of the time, I base the car vs no car decision mostly on the price of the car. Now that ME is available and car prices so much more than in years past, we will not have a car for our December 2006 trip - you can take quite a few cab rides around the property before you approach the cost of the car.

Best wishes -

 

[mmmcq]

We always rent a car no matter where we stay. We just like to have it "in case". Once we had to go to the hospital for someone's ear infection.....so you never know.

It's good for groceries or rainy days at DTD or driving from BWV to MK when you go late in the day and plan to stay till 9-10 or later. It's hard waiting for a bus with a tired little one that late.....but we love being in the parks at night.

When we stay at BCV or BWV we love to take the boat over to Epcot some mornings, eat at the Princess breakfast then head for MK just as the ropes drop. Or we choose a hard to get on ride then head for MK via the monorail.

When we come back on the mono rail at the end of the day and walk thru Epcot, we stop at the coke station (is that gone now?) or the water fountain area to cool off the little one and then head home.

And we save our Amex points for exactly this purpose - cheap car rentals on vacations. We can usually get a van or equivalent for a week for points and $100 +/-. It's a great deal.