Do you really need a rental car?

[mommyoftwo08]

We're staying at Animal Kingdom for a week and we keep going back and forth on a rental car. Do we really need one?

Also - Are you able to use Magical Express just one way (for example just to return to the airport?) or are we required to use it round trip to take advantage of it?

Thanks for any insight. We've been to WDW numerous times, just never flown with the kids before.

 

[LoraJ]

It depends on your travel style. We prefer a rental car because we don't like to stand around and wait for a bus. We also like to go off property to Universal for a day. Or if we need to stock up on bottled water and other groceries.

I talked DH into using the bus one day at CSR since everyone on the DIS raved about how great it was. It was AWFUL!!!! We had to wait 30 minutes for each bus plus we had to stop at Blizzard Beach on the way back from AK and the bus sat there for over 5 minutes. It was frustrating and not the way I want to spend my vacation time.

 

[KatMark]

Buses are hit or miss at ANY resort. We always drive because we always take a day trip or go to the outlet malls or whatever. And it is much more convenient for us to take a bus to Downtown Disney rather than a Disney bus. We haven't used Disney transportation in over 10 years. But we've always been lucky and have usually not paid for our airline travel as we've been able to use miles (my DH travels a lot for business) so the expense of the car is less than what two airline tickets would have cost us.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

I have to agree that it depends on your travel style and budget. I love having a rental car because I love going to a lot of different resorts to eat. If I'm relying on Disney transportation to go from resort to resort it eats up a lot of my vacation time. If I can afford a rental car, I would get one every time.

I'm not really sure about ME one way. I would think you could easily do one way from the airport to your resort, but I'm not sure about the reverse.

 

[Donnainnj]

We rent a car. Between wanting to get to the resort ASAP and needing to go to church at least once each trip the rental becomes worth it. We also tend to eat at resorts a lot, but I have found that with good planning this can be worked around so that the park you come from is near most restaurants you would want to go to, ie. monorail resort restaurant for MK days, HS or Epcot the day of Epcot resort restaurants. Rental prices aren't to bad, but the taxes tend to kill you.
Donna

 

[seetheworld]

It depends on your travel style. We prefer a rental car because we don't like to stand around and wait for a bus. We also like to go off property to Universal for a day. Or if we need to stock up on bottled water and other groceries.

I talked DH into using the bus one day at CSR since everyone on the DIS raved about how great it was. It was AWFUL!!!! We had to wait 30 minutes for each bus plus we had to stop at Blizzard Beach on the way back from AK and the bus sat there for over 5 minutes. It was frustrating and not the way I want to spend my vacation time.

I agree with this 100%. Until recently we always used Disney busses for everything. Once we rented a car staying at the AKL, I never want to use the Disney busses again. It made everything so much easier. AKL is our favorite resort and it is out of the way and it seemed to take a long time to get places using the bus. Renting cars has saved us so much of our precious vacation time. I know for others they like being driven around, but for us, it doesn't work. Besides my family gets motions sickness easily and the busses bring it right on )

 

[OKW Lover]

You don't really need to get a rental car. Nor do you really need to rely on Disney transportation. Its a personal decision that is highly dependent on your travel style.

We prefer to rent a car and drive ourselves just about everywhere on WDW property (the MK is the exception), but we know lots of other people who prefer to let Disney do all the driving.

You need to ask yourself if you are willing to wait for the busses and take a bit longer to get places. Also, if there is any resort hopping in your plans, then doing it by bus adds substantially to the transit time, but taxi's are readily available.

 

[mjones73]

Having a car does make it easier to get around at the parks and gives you the option to go offsite to eat, shop, whatever you'd like.

The only park I'd recommend taking the bus to is MK, the trip from the lot to the main gate takes awhile because you need to take the tram in from the lot to the transportation center then take the monorail or ferry across to the main entrance where the bus drops you off up front. The other three are easier to get into from the lot.

 

[GoofyFairie]

We rented a car once. It spent the entire week in the parking lot. Yes you have to wait sometimes to catch a bus, but you also have to wait in line for attractions too. My DH has to drive for a living so not doing it on vacation is a big bonus. Save your money and spend it else where. Use the time to interact with yor kids and the people around you. We'll never rent again.

 

[nurse.darcy]

In the last year I have been to Disney 4 times. I have had a car available to me one time (last trip-stayed off property). It was awesome to be able to go where you wanted when you wanted. HOWEVER, since I do NOT do commando style touring, I could care less about waiting for a bus. In my entire 4 stays I had two times where I HATED busses.

All that being said, I think if you are prone to afternoon siestas and have children who melt down about 3, a car is your best option. you will be back at your hotel in no time and can get to the parks or dinner elsewhere in record time.

 

[tinkbyday]

We have never rented a car and have never missed one. I kind of enjoy not having to drive for the week and have found the transportation to be quite reliable.

We do not leave property, though and often stay where there are multiple travel options (boats, walk, buses).

As for DME, yes, you can utilize a one-way trip. We are actually opting not to use it at all this upcoming because we just didn't care for the service and not having our luggage right away.

 

[cara loves the poly]

never rented a car, never needed one. never would rent one.

 

[mikeandkarla]

I would say it depends on the resort. AKL has excellent bus service. It does not share with any other resorts. Straight to the park and straight to the resort. Only one bus stop for each park and DTD. You should not have to wait more than 20 min. for a bus.

 

[mmmears]

What a great question -- we're wondering the same thing for our stay at AKL. I've read here on the boards that another option is that you can take a taxi from AKL to other resorts or parks. I'm wondering if this will be a better deal for us since we dont usually drive our rental car every day, just when we go to DTD or the waterparks. Just one more option out there.

 

[Disnsyncey]

If we didn't always drive to Disney (where we leave our car in the parking lot from the time we take our luggage out until we load back up) I would still not get a car.....I like not worrying about that one more thing.....and I mean, if you hate transport to other resorts, take a cab or 2 whenever you feel like it.....it would be convenient, and less regret if you got a car and didn't use it as much as you would think.....

 

[Hopefully]

We have rented a car in the past and it stayed in the parking lot for the entire week. We prefer to not drive on vacation. We find the Disney bus system to be efficient and acceptable.
I budget for a taxi or two for resort meals, yet I still save more than if I rented a car. And also, if we are taking a taxi or bus we can enjoy an adult beverage (or two) without worrying about driving.
We will not rent a car again.
Just our preference.

 

[jdvm]

This one is pure personal preference. We always like to have a car for the freedom and control. The example like to give goes like this...the family is staying at Old Key West, decides to have dinner at Animal kingdom Lodge and during dinner decides to play mini-golf on the way back to Old Key West. Try doing that with Disney transport.

John

 

[Disney Anna]

I always rent a car. 1) Back and forth from airport to WDW at my own time and pace; 2) It's a simple route back and forth; 3) I usually get a great deal, go to Mousesavers.com for tips; 4) don't have to depend on busses, which can be very crowded and the waits can be very long - I'm on Disney time; 5) I love to travel to all the resorts - to sight see, do activities (like horseback riding, etc) and eat - can't beat the flexibility of your own wheels.

 

[Miffy]

We never rent a car and have been consistently pleased with Disney transportation, especially to and from AKL, which is where we always stay lately. Our attitude may have something to do with (1) the fact that AKL doesn't share buses with any other resort, (2) our being perfectly happy to never go off-site, and (3) our normally being public-transit riders. We live in NYC and don't have a car there, either.

We do occasionally take taxis at WDW--when we're traveling between two resorts, for example.

We've just found that it's much simpler and easier for us to not have a car. But, as you can see from other posters on this thread, that's not the case for everyone. If you're very car-dependent or unused to waiting (even for, say, 10 minutes) for your transportation, you may prefer to have a car.

 

[dbarker]

We never get a rental car. (DH would only get lost )

We use ME, then Disney transportation. We don't need a car.