HAving a Rental Car at WDW??

[MarkLem]

I've read alot of posts from people who have a rental while staying in a WDW resort, and avoiding the Disney public transportation.

For those that like to do this:

Don't you still have to park at the public parking lots, say, at Magic Kingdom, and walk or take a shuttle bus to the park?

How does having a car rental benefit you? Are there special parking lots for those that stay in the park?

Would having a car help out on New Year's Eve?

Thanks

 

[Starz723]

Im leaving for WDW tomorrow and was going to take the WDW transporation for the first time. I changed my mind last night and rented a car. Ive been to WDW over 10 times, stayed on property and rented a car.

Here is my reason: Im a get up and go now type of person. I like going to restaurants at the hotels. WDW transporation does not go directly to hotels from hotels. That can be time consuming ( for me). For me, its about the freedom to come and go as I please. Parking is free in the lots. Yes you shuttle to the park, but its very fast. Im at WL, so I take the boat to MK..I love that. I also like to venture outside of WDW. I like going to the publix to pick up water, snacks, etc. (much cheaper then buying from your hotel) So its a freedom thing

I really think thats its an individual decision. I heard the transporation is really good. I just dont like to wait for buses cause that what I do all the time here in NYC..I take public transportatation to everything. To me, driving is a luxury! Also, when I do the math, it breaks even to rent a car. Taking a car service to and from airport is $95+ tip ( I wont take the mears, nothing against them, but its too slow for me). Then I would take a cab to and from hotels or DTD...thats another $40 r/t ( depends on where your hotel is). So, Im about what it costs to rent a car.

 

[MarkLem]

So the hotels have their own parking lots? What prevents just anyone from parking there?

Can I park at a resort hotel I am not staying at and leave the car there while I do the park, thus avoiding the public parking lots?

If the public parking lots fill up (New Year's Eve) sounds like a rental would do me no good?

 

[timkin]

We have done both. I prefer renting in order to see other sights in the area. This is how I justified renting. About $80 for transfers to and from MCO, $200 for a rental for 8 days. That works out to about $15 a day to have the freedom to go where ever you want. Places where I think the car comes in handy. Water parks, DTD, resort hopping, going to the beach for a day. Being locked down in Disney is not such a bad thing, but having that freedom to roam around is rather affordable.

 

[wdwrich]

Regarding your questions about parking at the resorts, each resort entrance has a manned security booth with gates. Upon entry you must show your resort ID or display the WDW resort parking permit you receive at check-in. Parking for resort guests is free in all WDW lots with the exception of valet parking which is $6 per day.

If you want to park at a resort other than the one you are staying in, you may be issued a temporary parking pass which is usually good for 3 hours. This is done to prevent folks from parking at say the CR or Poly and going to the MK for the day.

 

[Eeyore1954]

My DW and I always rent a car. At WDW we use a combination of Disney transportation and the car. For example, while I am sure it is excellent, I'd never take Disney transportation to DTD -- I'll drive. Other times it depends on what we have planned. Sometimes we like to explore things outside WDW (GASP!). So having a car gives us that freedom. Also, if we are up early and want to go, we can.

I think Disney transportation is great, but I love the freedom a rental car gives me.

 

[crisi]

We skip the rental but I'll try and answer your question.

Cars can be very handy. Buses get full, you need to stand, you need to wait. Sometimes you need to transfer buses to get somewhere. With a car, you get in your car and go. You don't need to worry about how to get to and from the airport. You can go offsite easily. And if you have a car, you can still use Disney transportation for those times when having a car isn't convienent (Kungaloosh!)

But its arguable if having a car will be significantly more convienent. Disney parking lots are huge - and onsite guests park in the same lot with day guests from Tampa or guest staying at the Days Inn. For instance, driving a car to the MK means parking your car, walking to the end of the aisle where you catch a tram (a golf cart on steriods) to the Ticket and Transportation Center. Where you catch a boat or monorail to the MK. This is the worst example - the other parks tram you right up to the entrance. A bus will drop you right off in front (but will probably be very crowded). Even the hotel lots can be quite large - particularly at the Deluxe resorts - (the moderates and values have their parking lots interspersed with the units - the Deluxes tend to have one large lot - and landscaping between the hotel and the lot so even those people looking at the parking lot aren't looking right at the parking lot). And, if you are getting to or leaving the park at peak times, you may spend as much time in your car getting in and out.

For us, we have a navigation problem and end up lost. Plus we tend to stay at places were park access is easy (BWV last trip) and supplement liberally with taxis. I've come to the conclusion this last trip that the taxi is actually the ultimate form of DW transportation.

 

[llane]

We've rented and not rented. We've gone twice without a rental car and going to dtd or bb took sooooooooo long.

We prefer renting a car. Depending on where we are going will determine if we will use it or not.