Help... settle a debate, on transportation.

[LovesTimone]

My friend and her large family is coming to WDW in December. She and her DH are empty nester, they have 4 children, 2 who are married and each of them with kiddos ( total of 6 grandkids 3rd grade and younger). 1 DD who just got married no kiddos, and a son in the military who is engaged. They will be coming from different parts of the country, all landing at different times and days. They will be here for 10 nights over Christmas and New Years.

My friend thinks that they each( family) should get a car service with one stop, or ride DME and later get a taxi to Wal-Mart to pick up items for the room, or order from garden grocer.

Her DH on the other hand thinks it would be smarter, to rent a SUV for 2 days, and he can pick up at airport and stop where needed, pick up son and fiancée on Sunday morning, making one final stop at the store before returning the SUV Monday. Then everyone can ride DME back to Airport, or if they can get a good enough rate on the SUV just keeping it the whole trip.

So what do you think?

 

[rwdavis2]

SUV. It's so much more flexible. I'm guessing that it would be cheaper than all the car service costs plus a taxi to Walmart.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I'd say just have everyone ride DME both ways and then have a delivery from Garden Grocer. Much easier. Much less running around for DH. They won't be able to use the SUV during their stay anyway--not enough room for everyone--or at least that's what I assume. Yes, delivery of food may be a little bit more than shopping yourself, but not when you add in the cost of vehicle rental or car service.

But I'm someone who likes the luxury of having Disney do all my driving for me!

 

[rwdavis2]

I'd say just have everyone ride DME both ways and then have a delivery from Garden Grocer. Much easier. Much less running around for DH. They won't be able to use the SUV during their stay anyway--not enough room for everyone--or at least that's what I assume. Yes, delivery of food may be a little bit more than shopping yourself, but not when you add in the cost of vehicle rental or car service.

But I'm someone who likes the luxury of having Disney do all my driving for me!

Yep. I missed the Garden Grocer part. And I'm someone that always rents a car. Depends on one's perspective, doesn't it?

 

[PlutoPony]

IMHO DME is the way to go at what is the busiest time of the year for Disney and the Orlando area. Do the families plan to bring car seats on the plane with them? If not, they would need to rent car seats with the SUV. And since car rental agencies don't guarantee car seat availability (at least that's what I've been told, YMMV) would think there's a decent risk of them being "out of stock" during the busiest weeks of the year. Also, Orlando traffic can well be worse than usual - especially in airport area - before Christmas. Add in flight delays, potentially not knowing when people are REALLY going to land and imo it could end up as an unpredictable hassle. DME will get them to the resort no matter when their flight gets in. And one of the grocery delivery services should be able to get whatever you want without having to drag tired kids through a busy grocery store (again - before Christmas all stores are crazy busy!) on their way to the resort with a car service.

 

[goofy4tink]

All ride DME, place one large order with Garden Grocer. I assume that all of them will be at the same resort, so the groceries can be divvied up.
They could rent an SUV and drive back and forth, but that's time consuming....not to mention time spent in strange grocery stores.
But, each family needs to decide what works best for their group.

 

[lilclerk]

I'd say just have everyone ride DME both ways and then have a delivery from Garden Grocer. Much easier. Much less running around for DH. They won't be able to use the SUV during their stay anyway--not enough room for everyone--or at least that's what I assume. Yes, delivery of food may be a little bit more than shopping yourself, but not when you add in the cost of vehicle rental or car service.

But I'm someone who likes the luxury of having Disney do all my driving for me!

I prefer renting a car, but I would go with DME/Garden Grocer in this case, too. Definitely seems easier.

 

[hardis5]

Since all coming different times/days, DME makes the most sense to get most to Disney avoiding the time, tolls, and parking cost at the airport not taking into account the car seat issue the PP raised.

The one exception I'd look at would be the first two arriving; maybe rent an economy car that could be returned to the CCC car (if reasonable) to get yourselves to Disney, grocery shop or pick-up any other supplies needed for the extended visit (10-nights sure sounds nice). For us and minimizing luggage weight, we buy the heavier toiletries, sunscreens and other vacation supplies (i.e. alcohol) while down there during a single quick off-site shop at the start. This also allows us to save on a meal off-site to offset the rental cost.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd say just have everyone ride DME both ways and then have a delivery from Garden Grocer. Much easier. Much less running around for DH. Yes, delivery of food may be a little bit more than shopping yourself, but not when you add in the cost of vehicle rental or car service.

But I'm someone who likes the luxury of having Disney do all my driving for me!

YES!!!!!! I HATE spending time grocery shopping while on vacation!!!!Have everyone take DME over, and get a big order together and split the cost..... you will be so much more relaxed that way! (ugh, driving back and forth to the airport and walmart that many times takes up SO much time) (my DH loves grocery shopping on vacation,so my fave trips are when we can't do it!)

 

[hsmamato2]

yes...or the 2nd option is the first peeps that arrive rent a small car to drive in, stop at walmart ONCE and buy for the whole crew for the 10 days,then return that car at Disney! but I still like the service option better,that many people plus that many days you can't go wrong getting a delivery service!

 

[winterman]

I am always in favor of renting a vehicle but I don't think that the OP should bother with an SUV. Even if the first 2 arriving rent at the airport, they would have no problem fitting themselves and their luggage into a smaller vehicle. No vehicle is going to fit the entire group, so just save some money and go with something that is smaller and cheaper but will still meet their needs.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since dh is suggesting this, I assume he has reasons. Perhaps he loves driving. Maybe picking people up at the airport is part of how he shows he cares. Perhaps he likes the time alone on the roads. Maybe he likes to go to grocery stores (I've tried to get a grocery order together but at heart I'm an aisle wanderer no an online grocery orderer) If the car seat question can be worked out, his wife should find out the "why" behind this and maybe just let each group decide. And it kinda sounds like DH wants a rental. . I know I always do! Bonus fun when you get to try out a car you haven't driven before

 

[sam_gordon]

It's also possible DH doesn't realize the time it would take to shuttle back and forth to MCO. Add in keeping up with flight delays, and you can waste 1/2 a day. In the OP's scenario, I would either:

Option A
Everyone rides DME and use garden grocer to deliver to a central location

Option B
First family arriving gets a rental, makes a grocery stop (everyone else sends a list of wanted items), and can either return the rental at CCC or keep for the week.

Not everyone would be able to fit in a single rental (add in the car seat issue).

Since I'm not big on driving once on Disney property, it comes down to the cost of a one day car rental vs. Garden Grocer delivery.

 

[Traveliz]

Semi local here and I STRONGLY recommend avoiding driving to or from MCO if you don't need to over the Christmas/New Years holiday. In addition to the staggering amount of holiday travel you also get the teams coming in for the Citrus Bowl/assorted bowls and they totally close the road down while they travel along it - why I do not know but I have gotten caught up in that more than once! All of the routes toward the airport and back are very busy over the holidays and we haven't even touched upon the construction going on on the various roads that doesn't ever seem to stop in Orlando (they work nights/weekends, etc)

DME and garden grocer is the way to go.

Liz

 

[tobikaye]

OP: I think the DH has a bit better plan, at least in that a rental vehicle might be cheaper than the town cars. Everyone, except for the DH, can still take the DME to their resort. He could then make the grocery stop as needed. If they find a good deal for the week, great, but if they only keep it for the 2 days, see about dropping it off closer to WDW.

I know everyone says to use GG and I could see this if they are all in regular rooms or studios, but if they are in any villas or the FW cabins with full kitchens, they may need more than just snacks. I know if I were making meals that included meat, I would rather pick that out than have someone do this for me, especially at the prices GG charges for meat.

 

[goofy4tink]

Like I say....every family has particular needs. I have had GG deliver food to my villa many times....and not just snacks. But, then again, I don't make huge meals when I'm on vacation. I do have a friend that does cook...and they rent a car and she goes to the grocery store after they get all checked in. For me, not cooking is a huge part of my vacation!!!!

 

[LovesTimone]

IMHO DME is the way to go at what is the busiest time of the year for Disney and the Orlando area. Do the families plan to bring car seats on the plane with them? If not, they would need to rent car seats with the SUV. And since car rental agencies don't guarantee car seat availability (at least that's what I've been told, YMMV) would think there's a decent risk of them being "out of stock" during the busiest weeks of the year. Also, Orlando traffic can well be worse than usual - especially in airport area - before Christmas. Add in flight delays, potentially not knowing when people are REALLY going to land and imo it could end up as an unpredictable hassle. DME will get them to the resort no matter when their flight gets in. And one of the grocery delivery services should be able to get whatever you want without having to drag tired kids through a busy grocery store (again - before Christmas all stores are crazy busy!) on their way to the resort with a car service.

Yes they will be bringing car seats, and boosters for the kids. Most of the kiddos are in boosters, I think really only 1 of them is in a car seat. My Friend and her DH are from Orlando originally, so they know the traffic, and I live here ( Orlando) so I have warned them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If the children aren't going to be riding in a car (SUV, taxi, town car), there's zero need for booster seats.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

to LovesTimone: to the other know that booster seats can not be used in airplane? only approved carseats with harnesses but boosters that use seatbelts can not be used, must be checked unless backless which have to go in overhead

 

[CdnKayDee]

Once you rent you won't bus again. So rent for the whole trip is my vote. Also I agree take DME to resort at least and get rental from near by hotel.