Found Out I Can't Rent a Car - Should I Go Anyway?

[kleigh1969]

I have a 5 night solo trip planned in less than 2 weeks. I have been renting a car for many years now because I like the freedom to come and go when I like, and the ability to go other places in and outside of the bubble. For example, I love going to Wawa (we don't have them in MN) and going to Boma even though I am not staying at AKL. I believe it has been 10 years since I went without a car.

I applied for my real ID/drivers's license a month ago, which has not arrived. I just learned from Alamo that my old license with the holes punched in it along with the paperwork, will not allow me to rent a car with them. Called about the status of my new real ID/driver's license and they said pretty much no chance it will come before I leave.

So I can cancel, which I prefer not to do, or rely on other modes of transportation. I was thinking Mears shuttle to get to the hotel (All-Star), obviously Disney buses to get to the theme parks. I have never taken an Uber, but I have an account set up because I get an Uber Eats credit from a CC I have. So that would probably be the easiest ride share for me to do.

I guess what I am looking for is reassurance that I will be OK without a car. I am getting old, and therefore kind of set in my way of doing things, so finding out I won't have a car is throwing me for a loop.

Would anyone be kind enough to share your thoughts? Thank you!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I think you should definitely still go! The amount of time you spend in the car vs the entire trip is only a small fraction if time.

You can experience new modes of transportation and leave the cares of driving up someone else!

Hope you go and have a blast!

 

[Dave006]

I guess what I am looking for is reassurance that I will be OK without a car. I am getting old, and therefore kind of set in my way of doing things, so finding out I won't have a car is throwing me for a loop.

Forget renting a car, will you be back home before May 7th when a Real ID is required to Fly if you don't have a Passport?

Yes it is easy to get around WDW without a car. You covered that basic options but you might want to add a Lyft account to your list as it will allow you to use Lyft in addition to Uber, and more important it also allows you to book a Minnie Van (they use the Lyft app).

Dave

 

[Sparrow'sLady]

You do not need a car. There is a lot of transportation available, and overall, it will most likely cost less than car rental.

 

[kleigh1969]

Forget renting a car, will you be back home before May 7th when a Real ID is required to Fly if you don't have a Passport?

Yes it is easy to get around WDW without a car. You covered that basic options but you might want to add a Lyft account to your list as it will allow you to use Lyft in addition to Uber, and more important it also allows you to book a Minnie Van (they use the Lyft app).

Dave

Thank you, I will get a Lyft account. I will fly back home May 2nd. I have a passport and a Global Entry card. I may just bring both of them for back-up! Even without the Real ID requirement (before May 7th), I am now unsure if the "hole punched" driver's license will get me through security!

 

[kleigh1969]

I think you should definitely still go! The amount of time you spend in the car vs the entire trip is only a small fraction if time.

You can experience new modes of transportation and leave the cares of driving up someone else!

Hope you go and have a blast!

Thank you. You make a good point about just relaxing and letting someone else do the driving.

 

[kleigh1969]

You do not need a car. There is a lot of transportation available, and overall, it will most likely cost less than car rental.

Yes, I was actually running the numbers on what the Mears shuttle costs plus a few rideshares and I will save money!

 

[Dave006]

I am now unsure if the "hole punched" driver's license will get me through security!

Does your old DL still show as Valid with an expiration date? I think the punch was a State thing to indicated your Real ID is in process. It should be fine but you can present your Passport as valid ID for domestic Air travel without any issue.

Dave

 

[kleigh1969]

Does your old DL still show as Valid with an expiration date? I think the punch was a State thing to indicated your Real ID is in process. It should be fine but you can present your Passport as valid ID for domestic Air travel without any issue.

Dave

Yes, the date is still good on the old DL. They said the paperwork plus that is now my license and is good only until July, even though the original license date is after that. But hopefully it will come before July! The person I spoke to today thought it would come in mid to late May....

 

[fla4fun]

You can get around the Disney bubble just fine without a car. I drive to WDW and once I park the car at my resort on check in day it doesn’t move until I leave to return home. Just remember to allow plenty of time if you are traveling to a dining reservation or other scheduled event so you won’t be late.

 

[georgina]

I have a 5 night solo trip planned in less than 2 weeks. I have been renting a car for many years now because I like the freedom to come and go when I like, and the ability to go other places in and outside of the bubble. For example, I love going to Wawa (we don't have them in MN) and going to Boma even though I am not staying at AKL. I believe it has been 10 years since I went without a car.

I applied for my real ID/drivers's license a month ago, which has not arrived. I just learned from Alamo that my old license with the holes punched in it along with the paperwork, will not allow me to rent a car with them. Called about the status of my new real ID/driver's license and they said pretty much no chance it will come before I leave.

So I can cancel, which I prefer not to do, or rely on other modes of transportation. I was thinking Mears shuttle to get to the hotel (All-Star), obviously Disney buses to get to the theme parks. I have never taken an Uber, but I have an account set up because I get an Uber Eats credit from a CC I have. So that would probably be the easiest ride share for me to do.

I guess what I am looking for is reassurance that I will be OK without a car. I am getting old, and therefore kind of set in my way of doing things, so finding out I won't have a car is throwing me for a loop.

Would anyone be kind enough to share your thoughts? Thank you!

I've gone solo and stayed offsite without a car. I think you will be fine the one or two times you may need an Uber. To get to Boma, take a bus from your resort to AK and switch to an AKL bus. If leaving AKL after AK is closed, take a bus to Disney Springs and switch to an All Star bus, or bus from AKL to another park that is open and change buses.

 

[kleigh1969]

I've gone solo and stayed offsite without a car. I think you will be fine the one or two times you may need an Uber. To get to Boma, take a bus from your resort to AK and switch to an AKL bus. If leaving AKL after AK is closed, take a bus to Disney Springs and switch to an All Star bus, or bus from AKL to another park that is open and change buses.

Thank you!

 

[kleigh1969]

You can get around the Disney bubble just fine without a car. I drive to WDW and once I park the car at my resort on check in day it doesn’t move until I leave to return home. Just remember to allow plenty of time if you are traveling to a dining reservation or other scheduled event so you won’t be late.

Maybe I won't miss dealing with the car and will go car-less henceforth!

 

[GoingSince1990]

You will be fine. As others have mentioned, get a Lyft account too, and take a couple of practice rides using both Uber and Lyft in your hometown before you go on your Disney trip so that you get to know how they work.

 

[dizneedoll]

Im the same as you, I always rent a car, I love the freedom of the car too. If I had to go without one I would use Lyft/Uber and Minnie Vans but I doubt I would cancel.
I applied for my real ID last month and it came in about 3 weeks. I live in California where you think it would take forever. I also had kept my old license and no hole punches here.
Have you tried calling any other car rentals to see if they will accept your license/paperwork as it is?

 

[becks59]

Thank you, I will get a Lyft account. I will fly back home May 2nd. I have a passport and a Global Entry card. I may just bring both of them for back-up! Even without the Real ID requirement (before May 7th), I am now unsure if the "hole punched" driver's license will get me through security!

I don’t know if it’s all airports, but I was able to use a hole punched ID just fine when I flew last year.

How late can you cancel your car rental? I would wait until the latest possible time just in case the license does come. Otherwise, you can use Lyft/uber, shuttles, monorail, etc. you could see if your hotel has a shuttle to the parks at all too. I know DL area hotels do, but I have no idea if WDW area hotels do too.

 

[loves to dive]

Like another poster, I drive down, park my car and never get in it again until I leave (unless I'm doing a split stay then it's just to move it to the new resort). For context since you said you weren't getting younger. I'm a 68 year old woman and go solo at least twice a year, sometimes up to 4 times a year. I also rarely use Uber or Lyft. I have used Uber twice. Once when we (my adult son and I) were staying at YC and had a reservation at V&A's which was going to end late. The second time we had a late reservation at Topolino's and were staying at the Dolphin (which you can see just right over there from the balcony of Topolino's). That's it. Otherwise I rely totally on WDW transportation. If I'm eating at another resort I try to make reservations early enough that there will still be transportation running to a park. My son and his SO did use a Minnie Van once when they were staying at All Stars and I was at CSR and was going to babysit that night. They needed to transport all the baby stuff and while they could have driven their car and parked it at CSR overnight it was just easier to use the MV for that. Otherwise, they too, park their car and never get in it again and they usually have a stroller and a little one.

 

[Lewisc]

Wait to installed the Lyft app. They frequently give new user discounts which have a short expiration date.


Ride Shares are very available in Orlando. Probably more available then where you live. Experience at home may not match availability in Orlando.

 

[kleigh1969]

You will be fine. As others have mentioned, get a Lyft account too, and take a couple of practice rides using both Uber and Lyft in your hometown before you go on your Disney trip so that you get to know how they work.

Good idea!

 

[hes122]

If you're not in a hurry to get to your resort on arrival day, the Mears shuttle is cheaper than an Uber/Lyft.

I used Uber/Lyft for the first time last summer when I flew down for the day for the AP preview for Tiana. It worked out just fine and gave me the green light to suggest using it again during my August trip.