First Time w/ Car On-Site

[bsmcneil]

So, up until about 2000, I had only stayed off-site and drove to WDW. But since then, I've stayed on-site and relied solely* (except for 2 Rideshares during my last trip a couple of weeks ago) on Disney Transportation. Enter the 2022 trip where many of us are figuring out how to navigate transportation in a post-Covid, no DME, Rideshare-palooza, but also have kids world, lol. I had been planning to just do Mears Connect and Disney buses (staying at AKL) like usual; but, with my last trip, I realized a couple of key things.

(1a) there are times where I really needed something faster than the buses and Uber/Lyft met that need; but (1b) I was alone and that's a lot easier than traveling with kids who need boosters, etc.
(2) I have some physical stuff and it might be better for me to drive than deal with bus drop-offs and/or rideshare drop-offs (these aren't terrible and luckily my Sept resort is the same as the upcoming January one - so I have them down). But with needing an ECV/wheelchair, having a handicapped parking permit (and also having 2 little ones who also have muscular dystrophy and haven't really done WDW before), I feel like ease of transportation on our own terms is helpful.
(3) #2 really only makes sense because I'm renting DVC points and as a resort guest, theme park parking is free. If we had to pay a daily/nightly fee, that would shift the cost considerably. Even still, it's pretty high (given all of the rental car stuff and technically I'm planning to be there for slightly more than a week, though I may pull back some).

But since I've not had a car on-site before, what are some things that perhaps I should know/plan for that I may be oblivious about. Since we only ever did off-site before, I'm aware of (for instance) TTC (though I did think MK might be a day we took the bus) not being where the bus would drop you off. There are a few resort restaurants we'll want to visit - will an ADR/KTTW/MB be enough to demonstrate that I'm staying on points (or does that even matter)? How often do you (especially if you have young ones) go off-site for things like food (if you're staying on-site, I mean)? Already I've been asked if WDW has McD, etc etc and my answer so far has been, "They have all the types of food we normally eat but at their own restaurants." I have one especially limited palate child (who has been slowly/recently doing better at trying new things!).

Or, how are others handling this? I've thought about purchasing two of the travel booster seats (my youngest is just at the size necessary for one) - and maybe I could make that work with Uber/Lyft (I recognize you can request them with car seats, etc but have gotten the sense that there aren't a ton, aren't predictable, and even then - getting two in the same vehicle could be difficult). Is there anything super obvious I'm missing? Are there break-ins in the WDW parking lots (I assume not - but my last vacation/tourist rental car experience was Hawaii - and if you're familiar, that's one of the first things you learn about renting a car there)?

 

[tobikaye]

But with needing an ECV/wheelchair, having a handicapped parking permit…

If you have a HA parking plate/tag displayed, parking at WDW resorts, including valet parking, is free. So, in future, you would not need to rent points for free parking.

As for visiting other resorts, whether staying onsite or off will have no baring. Some resorts have been limiting guest access to resorts to those staying at that particular resort and those with an ADR. This is mostly MK/Skyliner (EP) resorts.

When heading to the parks with a HA tag, make sure it is displayed so the CMs directing traffic can send you the right direction, usually following the blue lines on the roadside. At TTC, you will walk/roll from the car to security and take the monorail or ferry to MK. (I love the ferry to MK.) Since parking lots are not opening quite as early as years past, it can back up first thing in the morning.

There is a McDs on-site just outside the All Stars, not far from AKL. I sometimes go offsite for food, groceries, etc…, but others I haven’t. It is not hard to go offsite if needed or wanted.

Some suggestions:

• Do not rely fully on gps based devices. Signage is pretty decent on property.
• Spend some time reviewing maps before going so you at least know kind of where places you might want to visit.
• I have never had an issue with a car break in at WDW, but like anywhere, they can happen so use basic common sense with keeping items out of site an doors locked.
• Come up with an unloading and loading plan when going to the parks with the mobility devices and littles. It can be very busy with lots of people. My sister parks her EVC at the rear tire of the passenger side so I can put her in the car with her oxygen and then put her EVC in the vehicle.

 

[maxiesmom]

Remember the shuttles are not running from the parking lots to the park gates.

 

[tobikaye]

Remember the shuttles are not running from the parking lots to the park gates.

Just a reminder that even when trams are running they do not pickup from HA parking, nor transport EVCs, so would not be used in OP's situation even if running.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just a reminder that even when trams are running they do not pickup from HA parking, nor transport EVCs, so would not be used in OP's situation even if running.

Wasn't sure if the HA lots being full was ever a problem. Or if there may be a time where the person/people the HA tag is for is not in the car.