First Trip Home...Do I need a car?

[Ethan Baby]

Hello,

I am sorry to post this question because I know that it has been answered before but the server is too busy for me to do a search. It seems it is always too busy now a days. I am going to be at VWL for my first trip and I was wondering if it would be necessary to rent a car? I know some people complain about the transportation problems. I also wanted to ask what is the latest and greatest advice on getting groceries? If I do need to rent a car, any ideas on the nearest grocery store? Again, I apologize for asking a question you all may have answered a ton of times.


Marsha

 

[Pa@okw95]

You should do ok without a car at the WLV. There is a general store right on the site where you can get stuff to eat in your room. There is also some very nice restaurants right there. You should have no problem getting food, there is a snack bar there also.

 

[rwcmath]

We stayed at VWL in December and we always used the buses or boats& monorail to go to parks and resorts. We only use our car 1) for church 2) for groceries, once we have our villa, we use the Publix that is by the shrine Queen of the Universe, I'm starting to know where everything is located and 3) on our last day, we take the car with suitcases to the park we want to spend the 1/2 day in. This is usually Animal Kingdom, we do the 1/2 day and leave from there for MCO.

This is the pattern that we've fallen into. If you don't need the car for anything offsite, don't go to the expense, ME has been wonderful the times we've used it for 1 way transportation for 1 of us.

rwc

 

[littlestar]

When are you going to VWL? Roaring Forks won't be finished with their remodeling until March. We stayed in January in the main lodge and could have used a car this time because of Roaring Forks being partially down. There were some wind advisories on our trip in January and they shut the boats down so we were stuck a few nights with limited transportation at the lodge for quick food. If you're going after March, you'll be fine without a car. Of course, it would have helped tremendously if we had been staying in a VWL studio instead of a basic room in the main lodge. (Really missed a fridge, microwave, sink, and toaster that we get with a DVC studio). And the main lodge rooms are starting to show their age. It's time for the old girl (I dearly love the Wilderness Lodge) to get an update on her rooms. She deserves it (yes, I think of the lodge as a person almost). You're staying in the villas, so you'll be fine. The villas rooms still look great and have a lot more amenities than a regular room in the main lodge. The one and two bedrooms are really wonderful.

We did end up renting a car for two nights on our trip in January. We rented through National/Alamo at the Walt Disney World Dolphin hotel. My husband rode the Wilderness lodge bus over to MGM park and then took the walking path over to the Dolphin to pick up our car. It worked out fine. We went grocery shopping at the Winn Dixie over by Downtown Disney. (get the Winn Dixie card - it will save you money). I've heard Publix has good prices, also.

You could also try one of the grocery delivery services that deliver direct to the hotels, too. I think there is one advertised on the DIS home page.

Good luck with your trip.

 

[slindamood]

We have done without a car on shorter trips for the two of us, but if we are "moving in" as a family we generally rent a car at the airport and do a grocery run at a nearby Publix. Then before 24 hours are up we take car to the return place on site and enjoy the rest of the vacation with no car.

The general store is good for pick up shopping, and you can make a full meal out of the selections available. We have used Mears and we get by with what is available at the general store and figure the slightly higher cost saves the cost of a rental.

 

[jdvm]

We have always had a car and with my gang of four daughters I don't think we had much choice. We sometimes used the transportation but more often than not found it easier to drive to the parks. If you're staying at one resort and want to go to dinner at another one, it's a bit of a nightmare to use Disney transportation. For example, I wouldn't dream of trying to get to and from Boardwalk or Animal Kingdom Lodge from Wilderness Lodge for dinner. We also like driving to and from the airport and let's just say every visit involved more than one trip to various malls in Orlando. We very much treat DVC as a second home.

Now, having said all of that one of the reasons we like Old Key West and don't particularly like Wilderness Lodge is parking. At Old Key West you can pull up to your door. And let's just say you'll get plenty of exercise getting to or from your car at Wilderness Lodge (or Boardwalk for that matter). I will also acknowledge that for every person like me who doesn't feel like they're in control if they don't have a car, this probably another person who thinks having a car is a waste. We're all different. Hope this helps

 

[MLK-RI]

Sorry but I think this is one of those "it'll depend" subjects. We usually spend a week on site and haven't had a car for the last 4 trips. We have at least 5 in our group often more. We don't do everything together by any means but the transportation system works out fine for us. A glitch here or there, you must be flexible. Also if you are going out late to dinner or where ever it might be a good idea to take a taxi company number with you (this is a fail safe for us but we've never had to use it).

If you are going to meals at other resorts you need to be creative in transport, and leave plenty of time if you have ADR's at restaurants etc. Busses run a certain time before and after parks close, but you need to keep track of where you will be when. For example going from VWL to Boma (AKL) for breakfast is easy just take a bus to AK in the morning and grab one to the lodge from there. But AK closes earlier than other parks so a dinner at AKL will be tougher to get home to VWL from - but it certainly is doable.

Thing is how many children and what ages will you be putting on transport and will they be okay with the 1/2 hour bus ride here and there, or the wait at the bus stop when things aren't going as well as usual?

So it'll depend But we do it all the time.
Have fun.

 

[byoung]

Disney's transportation is part of the majic to me.

 

[Ethan Baby]

Thank you for all of the responses! I will be traveling on Feb 11 thru the 17th with my parent's, a friend, my son, and myself. What is Roaring Forks?

I really liked the suggestion of renting a car for just a day because my son needs to drink goats milk and he hates the powder version. I need a health store or something like it that may carry the Meyerberg Goat's milk. Talk about specific needs. Soy milk won't due. Any idea if these stores or any stores that would carry the stuff? If I need to go on a hunt then a car will be a must. I do like the other options of using taxi if needed and I would love to experience the Disney transportation magic.

Any ideas for the milk

sorry for typos-carpal tunnel

 

[MLK-RI]

Ethan Baby -
According to their web site you should be able to buy the milk in Florida in Publix, Winn Dixie, Walmart Supercenter etc.
Click here for their locations page
It might be a good idea to call the store to be sure they stock it. Rentng a car for the day is a good idea or you could also get your groceries delivered from WeGoShop.com (Lake Buena Vista delivery area) or GardenGrocer.com. Not sure if Garden Grocer will pick up special items not on their site.
Anyway just alternatives to renting a car and taking time out from your vacation to do it and shop.
Enjoy

 

[Ethan Baby]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate everyone's help. I am so excited about the trip that I feel like I am going to burst My son is too small to understand but this will be one of many trips

 

[MLK-RI]

Oh sorry forgot to answer about Roaring Forks. It is the "snack bar" type restaurant at WL. I am afraid the refurbishing won't be done before you get there but someone I did read that they have some snack area open but nothing like the whole area.

You can see photos of the old Roaring Forks area at AllEarsnet.com WL Photos

It's a great place to get quick food and beverages. It was also where you did the refillable mugs.

 

[littlestar]

Roaring Forks is the quick food place at the lodge. Roaring Forks is very limited right now with the remodel going on. NO refillable mug program. And the only hot food was pizzas and hot dogs. Some grab and go cold items were available. The mercantile store/gift shop had lunch meat, frozen pizzas, soups, chips, donuts, milk, etc.

If you decide to rent a car for a day or two, rent it in advance before your trip (should save you some money). Alamo/National is in the Disney Dolphin hotel. I also think there is an Avis or a Hertz at the Hilton at Downtown Disney (anybody know for sure on the Hilton?).