Early morning ADRs...

[DisneyGuess]

Debating the rent a minivan vs. using Disney transport for our stay & using DME. I have an 8:05-8:10 ADR for breakfast each morning. Based on that alone, would it be worth it to keep the rental? I got a rate of $360 with Budget.
If we cancel the rental & just go with DME & Disney buses, what time would we need to be out the door, headed to a bus stop for the early ADRs? How hard is it to use the buses for early ADRs?

WWYD?

 

[joelkfla]

8 a.m. ADR's are not a problem.

For restaurants in a park, one hour should be plenty of time.

For restaurants at a resort, allow 1 1/4 hours. For any MK resorts (including WL), take the bus to the MK, and transfer to a monorail, boat, or bus (for WL). For Boma, transfer at AK.

The Epcot resorts are the only ones that are a bit of a problem. Normally you would take the bus to DHS and transfer to the boats, but the boats probably won't be running that early. So you'll have to walk from DHS to the resort, a distance of about a mile. Or when you get to DHS, check at the Bus Info window to see if they will get you a bus to the resort, but no guarantee.

Or just get a taxi from your resort. The Epcot resorts are at the center of the property, so a taxi from anywhere shouldn't be more than about $15. You can request a taxi van, which which carries up to 7 passengers -- much cheaper than renting the minivan.

 

[eangel12]

We rented a vehicle. For us, with a toddler and needing to make reservations at 8am most mornings (he is usually up at 6am), it was easier in our heads to just drive ourselves. We will also have a jogging stroller with us, so we figured it would be easier. We also like the flexibility of popping our toddler into his carseat and letting him sleep in the car on the drive back to the Beach Club, transferring him to his crib in the room and each of us taking turns heading to the pool or doing spa treatments...or heck even sleeping. Waiting for the bus seemed like a hassle the more we thought about it.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would skip the rental, and if you are concerned about making your ADRs, call and have a taxi van sent for you. Depending on where you are going, it should be around $20 a trip.

Disney states you should give yourself and hour and a half to get someplace using their transportation. Which is more than enough time, but they have a cushion in their in case you just miss a bus, or one doesn't show for some reason. If you use a taxi you only need spend half an hour getting where you need to go.

 

[DisneyGuess]

Does anyone know the rules for carseats in one of the taxi-vans? & are the vans more expensive than a regular taxi cab?

I'm thinking not renting a car maybe the better option for us. Taxi's for 3-4 meals, if necessary, plus getting garden grocer to deliver cases of water & coffee, is much cheaper than renting a minivan & putting gas in it.

I know I'm annoying but last question....we're flying Southwest. Where is the DME check-in in relation to the Southwest gates?

Thank you all so much for your advice. DH just says"Do what you think it best" & that's no help!

 

[joelkfla]

Does anyone know the rules for carseats in one of the taxi-vans? & are the vans more expensive than a regular taxi cab?

The rules are the same as in a private car, but I don't know what those rules are. I believe most Mears taxis carry at least one car seat for passenger use; I've seen 2 in the back of some vans. I think the responsible adult is charged with ensuring the car seat is properly secured, not the taxi driver. You might want to bring along some individually wrapped disinfectant wipes for your own peace of mind.

Mears taxi vans have exactly the same metered rates as their traditional sedan taxis.

 

[Laketravis]

We'll be staying at the CSR and plan on using a cab each morning to get to other resorts for early breakfast ADR's.

Is it safe to assume that a cab will always be available or should we call the front desk every morning? If so, how much lead time should we allow?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

THe buses start running every morning by 6:30am. They don't run quite as frequently as the 'regular' park buses do, but they get the job done. Now, it is harder to get to resort ADRs early in the day...you have to go to a park and then get to the resort from there. Not an issue if it's at the CR, Polynesian, GF, or even BW, YC/BC. Just take a bus to MK for the first three, or the bus to DHS for the last three.
If you choose to take a cab, there are usually cabs at each resort, just waiting. If there isn't, Bell Services can call one for you. I would allow about 40 mins from resort to ADR using a cab....budget in for the calling of a cab, so it could quite possibly take much less time.

 

[DisneyGuess]

THe buses start running every morning by 6:30am. They don't run quite as frequently as the 'regular' park buses do, but they get the job done. Now, it is harder to get to resort ADRs early in the day...you have to go to a park and then get to the resort from there. Not an issue if it's at the CR, Polynesian, GF, or even BW, YC/BC. Just take a bus to MK for the first three, or the bus to DHS for the last three.
If you choose to take a cab, there are usually cabs at each resort, just waiting. If there isn't, Bell Services can call one for you. I would allow about 40 mins from resort to ADR using a cab....budget in for the calling of a cab, so it could quite possibly take much less time.

Ok, so since my breakfast ADRs are at GF one morning, Poly one morning & BC one morning, we could probably manage easily without using a cab? The rest are in parks, those seem easy, just bus to that park.

 

[Laketravis]

I've been playing around with Google Maps, calculating drive times from one resort or park to another, and it's coming up with pretty short commute times.

Like 7 minutes (2.3 miles) from CSR to YC.

And 9 minutes (4.0 miles) from CSR to Poly.

So it looks like the ride itself in a cab won't be very long. The question is, then, how long it takes to get a cab.

Sounds like good advice to call Bell Services 30 minutes ahead or so and let them know what time we'd need a cab.

I'll confirm when we check in, but that sure sounds like a better option that waiting for a bus. Even better than renting a car. Looks like most cab rides with tip won't be more than $20, and I'm looking at a total of 12 cab rides throughout our stay. That's certainly cheaper than renting a car for 9 days and paying valet parking plus tip at each of the resorts.

 

[joelkfla]

Like 7 minutes (2.3 miles) from CSR to YC.

And 9 minutes (4.0 miles) from CSR to Poly.

Looks like most cab rides with tip won't be more than $20, and I'm looking at a total of 12 cab rides throughout our stay.

A 4 mile cab ride should be about $11 plus tip.