HIFS- rental car or shuttle??

[MMARCAVA]

Planning our 1st WDW visit 3/26-4/1 with DH, 5 yr DS, 3 yr DD, can't decide if we should rent a car or use their shuttle service. We'll be spending all of our time at the 4 theme parks, to date we have reservations at AK breakfastosaurus, and dinner at Chef Mickey. Between these reservations and trying to see the fireworks and Spectromagic I'm concerned that the shuttle service might be too rigid.... What has everyone thought? When I called HIFS guest services, they were pretty vague about the scheduling...

 

[goofiesgirlies]

Rental car. I have not tried the shuttle but from what I understand you need to sign up the night before in order to use it. I wish I could help you more regarding the schedule etc. Hopefully someone else can do that.

I'm sure your busy schedule will be much easier to control with a rental car. The parks are very easy to get to and I think it would be a lot less stressful to drive on your own.

Hope you have a wonderful trip whatever you decide. The HIFS is great for kids. They will love it!

--Judy

 

[MMARCAVA]

Thanks for the info! We're very excited about the trip, it's our 1st time so I've been overwhelmed and really torn about whether to stay onsite or off. But after reading all the threads about on site properties and HIFS, practicality won out over the "magic" of staying onsite. I don't think there's really any wrong decision just personal preferences anyhow!

 

[zaxmom]

RENTAL CAR!
We drove there, but decided to use the bus one day. It was terrible. We did have to make reservations for it the night before. Getting there was a nice, easy ride. Getting back was terrible. We sat on a stuffy bus with two little kids on our laps for 20 minutes while they crammed more and more people on that bus. The driver said that we were not going anywhere untill everyone was on and he meant it. The aisle was so jam-packed. I am not claustrophobic, but I was feeling panicky and found it hard to breathe. If that bus were to flip over, my children would have been smothered.
The schedule was not that accomodating from what I remember. It may have left every two or three hours after the morning rush.
I would definitely rent a car. You might want to ask the front desk for direction going to the parks and coming back. We got a little lost every time coming back from the park. We still made better time than waiting and sitting on a bus.
HIFS is a very nice hotel and very close to the entrance.

 

[Robinrs]

I have to agree with the rental.... I love the HIFS but their shuttle service is very restrictive, especially if you're depending on getting to character meals on time.

I also have to add that there is nothing close to the HIFS so if you choose to go to a supermarket or restaurant outside of the parks you're out of luck or have to take a high priced taxi!

 

[MMARCAVA]

Thank you all for the input, we're going to go ahead with the rental car. You confirmed what I was concerned about regarding restrictive schedules, etc.. THANKS!

 

[TreeOfLife]

Late, but not to congratulate you on renting a car.

Their buses are panifully pathetic and criminal on kids. You'll travel standing up most times, will have to stick to a schedule that may keep you waiting for hours before you get picked up, and.. oh, don't get me started!
I'll just say I did it once and will never ever again.