DVC without renting a car?

[Sy-]

Most of the time when on vacation with my family we rent a car. Renting a car is fine and all but I don't want to be forced to rent a car. I want to have the flexibility to be able to do a trip without having to rent a trip. Ideally have Disney's Magical Express pick me and my entourage up at MCO and drop me off at my DVC resort. From there I want to be able to walk to my room and have groceries delivered. I want to be able to walk to the bus stops to catch the buses to the various theme parks. And I want to catch the Magical Express back to MCO at the end of the trip.

Now the only resorts I'm looking at are AKV, SSR, and OKW because I don't want the deed to run out before I plan on dying . I hear that OKW can be a pain without a rental car. Does the same hold true for the other 2? Can I walk from the check-in desk at AKV to my room at Kidani? How about SSR?

Thanks!

 

[WKSumner]

SSR is huge, however when you check in they will take you to your building on a cart. Most will point out pathways and bus stops. I have only stayed at SSR on the DVC, but we did stay at WL and bus stops were easy there as well. We never rent a car and have been there the last 3 years in a row. You can go almost anywhere from your resort except to another resort. For instance if you were at SSR you could go to Downtown Disney and change buses there to go to another resort. I am sure more seasoned DVCers could expand.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Starr W.]

I've done 3 trips to SSR, 1 VWL and 1BCV without a car. Used DME coming and going to airport. Absolutely no problem, but I'm one who plans my dining around where I'm staying and what parks I'm going to. I'm not one who will plan an ADR at Boma for dinner unless I'm at AK, not going to try to get over to AKL from SSR without a car.

We are going to get a car for this Thanksgiving as we are going to be done with the parks Wed. by noon. or sooner. We're planning day trips to either Daytona or KSC or just going to the beach.

 

[macosx]

I'm not one who will plan an ADR at Boma for dinner unless I'm at AK, not going to try to get over to AKL from SSR without a car.

It's not that difficult to get a connection. AKL/AKV is very close to AK, so just go SSR->AK and transfer. Another alternative is to go via DTD. On average, works out ok, just prepare 30min-1hour for the worst.

 

[Starr W.]

It's not that difficult to get a connection. AKL/AKV is very close to AK, so just go SSR->AK and transfer. Another alternative is to go via DTD. On average, works out ok, just prepare 30min-1hour for the worst.

I know I can do it, we just don't want or like to do the bus just to go to dinner somewhere. It's a big waste of time. You're probably looking at closer to an 1hr if you don't hit the bus schedule just right or take a DTD bus.

For a newbie it's a guarantee to induce writing a whining thread about the bus service when they get back.

 

[DMKEDM]

Getting around the resort--either OKW or SSR, both of which we've stayed at for 4 of our last 6 trips--is easy.

At OKW, you check in at Hospitality House...the furthest villas from there are about a 15-minute walk. Or, you can hop a bus that goes thru a loop within OKW...the furthest villa from any bus stop is the equivalent of about 2 short city blocks--maybe a 5 minute stroll.

It's a similar situation at SSR...maybe 15 minutes from check-in at the Carriage House to the furthest villa in the Carousel section (obviously most villas are closer)....the "trick" at SSR is that it's very hard to figure out which building is which (they're not clearly marked) the first time you try...after you figure out which way is Congress Park and which way is "out," then it's very easy...but that very first walk can be a bit "dizzying"...but you can avoid that by letting the bell hop folks take you on their cart to your villa...you'll see all the bus stops as you go...

Buses to the parks come regularly...it IS trickier to get to a different resort...you catch a bus to any Disney resort from any of the parks or from Downtown Disney...it can get a bit tricky if you have a reservation before parks open (for a b'fast, for example, at another resort), or getting home after Jelly Rolls closes on the Boardwalk (which is after the parks close and thus after the resort buses stop running)...but cabs are $10 to $15, depending on where you start from and where you're going...

In short, Disney transportation is very easy and pleasant, so long as you are not in a hurry and so long as you don't mind 15 minutes (or so) of walking (worst case)...

We're working on around 20-25 trips (I've lost count) to DisneyWorldover the past few years (number of trips skyrocketed once we bought DVC 2 years ago!), and we never ever use a rental car...I'd far rather wait for a bus, or take a stroll or a boat ride, than drive myself!

 

[Nikisha421]

I never rent a car when I go to Disney; however, it is always a little extra planning plan when you plan a whole trip around ME. I am late every where I go so I dont mind taking ME because it keeps me on the same schedule that I am always on.

Good Luck

 

[kimberh]

We never move our car once we arrive. There are several bus stops at the larger resorts. At VWl and Akl Jambo house, there is one bus stop, very easy to get to. Kidani is still being built, so I don't know how many stops will be there. I too, eat around where I am staying and what parks I am going to. I make my trip as easy as I can.

 

[WolfpackFan]

We've stayed at SSR, OKW, BWV and AKV all with having no car. Had no problems at all. The secret to SSR and OKW is to make sure you use bell services to take and pickup your luggage and get a ride with them to your room when you check in (especially if you're doing it at night - we learned this the hard way at both resorts).

 

[Laxmom]

We leave in 3 weeks for our first vacation ever without a car. We always rent a car and this time decided to give it a shot. We will be at OKW and using ME from MCO so it was great to find this thread. We are prepared to just roll with it and consider this trip and adventure! Thanks for the info guys!

 

[Tink-aholic]

I would never stay at SSR without renting a car! We were there last July (not members yet) and just there earlier this week. They did not bring us to our room in a cart either time, even with four suitcases and golf clubs in the middle of the day during the summer heat -- and we were in the Paddock (far, far away from the front desk)! It took us twenty minutes to walk to our room! We didn't know about all of the buses the first time, but doubt we would have been able to do with all of the luggage. The second time it was after midnight and just my DS and I. I didn't know how long the buses ran and just wanted to go to bed, so we hoofed it. I specifically asked about a cart and was told they don't do that.

AKV is our home resort and while there is a lot of walking, a car isn't a necessity. These are the only resorts we have tried.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

If you are staying at SSR and happen to be in a room furthest away from the front of the resort all you have to do is hop on any bus that comes by. The last pick up stop for the bus is very close to the front of the resort- actually it is across the street from the Rock Springs pool- so you can hop off when it comes to this stop.

 

[PutnamDS]

No car for us at WDW - ever! We live in a rural area - I drive 15 miles to work and pass maybe 2 cars and that's the way I like it. Now if I have to drive a car with traffic all around me - well, let's just say it would not be pretty. So, for us, it's no car at Disney. So far that has been just fine for us.

We leave tomorrow for SSR - can't wait!

Deb

 

[Sully]

When we come down for a short time, 1 week or less, and stay in a studio, we use DDE. We fly in, use ME to SSR, and never rent a car. We are able to walk, good exercise and use Disney transportation. When we come down for the month of Feb., we do drive our own van and then use it only for grocery shopping, still staying in a studio.

 

[WolfpackFan]

The only real disadvantage we've found to not having a car is not being able to buy groceries. We don't do any cooking in our room, but we do like to get sodas, water and beer. I know you can use delivery services, but from looking into them they seemed rather expensive to me just to get what we need. Also, the prices for these items in the resort stores are ridiculous. What we do is to go to DTD (PI stop) and walk across the street to the Hess, they always have cheap prices for canned sodas, water and beer. Then just walk back to the bus.

 

[Brian Noble]

I ordinarily rent a car, but it's perfectly possible to do without. When I'm without, I'll use a taxi for resort-to-resort transport (including from/to the International Gateway) and will call Bell Services for luggage assistance. Most internal cabs are ~$20 give or take, and Bell Services usually warrants a few dollars in tips.

To the poster who walked 20 minutes to the paddock: next time, stop by the bell desk on your way out from check-in. If you ask, they'll be happy to shuttle you over, but sometimes you have to ask.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We just did our 1st trip as DVC members at AKV. We did ME both ways and had grocery delivery from wegoshop.com. I loved it!!! It saved us around $300-400 on renting a car to fit my family of 6. The grocery delivery was awesome, Marge at wegoshop.com was awesome. She went to two different stores to get my wine and didn't charge us a second stop. Some one chime in if I am wrong, but won't Kindani have it's own check in desk and bus stops. I doubt we will ever rent a car for our Disney only stays.