How badly will I regret not having a car for 2 weeks?

[Finally08]

(sorry this is long, thinking out loud)

So here's my issue - we have always driven to WDW. It is 10.5 hours drive time (not counting stops or unforeseen issues). Usually we are there within 12 hours or less.
I can fly for my next trip for about the same cost as driving....because gas prices are now so high, and it's only me and dd so we need just 2 tickets. I think the flight is only about 1.5 hours...but of course you have to add the headache of being at the airport so early so that makes the trip longer. I have only flown once in my life (well twice since it was round trip ) and I remember having to get to the airport about 2 hours early for my flight...is that about right?

So drive 11ish hours each way....or fly and spend about 4 hours or so (at least) each way tied up in the airport/on the flight.

This will be the longest time spent at WDW...and my dd still uses a stroller. And we are staying at a value (gawd, the horrible crowded buses)....these things all make me think I might really regret leaving my car behind.

So if you have taken a long trip...stayed at a value....and relied solely on Disney buses to transport you...would you do it again if you're really only saving maybe 6-8 hours travel time each way?
I feel like we'll lose far more time than that getting around without my car. Ugh.

 

[Planogirl]

From my perspective, I can't stand not having a car. I dislike the buses plus I love to be able to go offsite when I wish if only to buy a Coke Zero.

Many others love parking their cars if they have one or just not bothering so you might just enjoy not having to worry about driving. It'll be a good experiment if nothing else.

 

[squirrel]

I fly to WDW. I don't rent a car and rely on WDW transport for my two week trips.

Do you normally leave Disney property to go shopping or to dine?

I go during Free Dining so I don't need to get groceries or save $ by eating off site.

I'd rather not drive around in a city I don't know. I like letting Disney drive me around. I do have to wait in the heat for a bus. If I were in a car I would be in a hot car until it cooled down. It may take a little longer (don't know for sure) but it's less hassle for me.

 

[squirrel]

From my perspective, I can't stand not having a car. I dislike the buses plus I love to be able to go offsite when I wish if only to buy a Coke Zero.

Many others love parking their cars if they have one or just not bothering so you might just enjoy not having to worry about driving. It'll be a good experiment if nothing else.

I'm sure I recall Coke Zero at Pop in the dispensers.

 

[Lidian]

(sorry this is long, thinking out loud)

So here's my issue - we have always driven to WDW. It is 10.5 hours drive time (not counting stops or unforeseen issues). Usually we are there within 12 hours or less.
I can fly for my next trip for about the same cost as driving....because gas prices are now so high, and it's only me and dd so we need just 2 tickets. I think the flight is only about 1.5 hours...but of course you have to add the headache of being at the airport so early so that makes the trip longer. I have only flown once in my life (well twice since it was round trip ) and I remember having to get to the airport about 2 hours early for my flight...is that about right?

So drive 11ish hours each way....or fly and spend about 4 hours or so (at least) each way tied up in the airport/on the flight.

This will be the longest time spent at WDW...and my dd still uses a stroller. And we are staying at a value (gawd, the horrible crowded buses)....these things all make me think I might really regret leaving my car behind.

So if you have taken a long trip...stayed at a value....and relied solely on Disney buses to transport you...would you do it again if you're really only saving maybe 6-8 hours travel time each way?
I feel like we'll lose far more time than that getting around without my car. Ugh.

We drive and once we arrive at the resort, we don't see the car again until we're packing it up to go home. Granted, we did use the car twice last year to drive to ADRs at resorts because we were short on time. We have since decided no other-resort ADRs for this upcoming trip, so we can park the car and not see it again until we're done. In 2009, we stayed at ASMovies - there was 8 of us, and we never touched our cars until the last day. So, it can be done. But its really more of a preference. We're lazy, and we'd rather be on a crowded bus letting Disney drive us around than driving ourselves (and maybe getting lost).

 

[MistressMerryweather]

We love being without our car. Our last trip was 14 nights with our 22 mos, 5 and 7yo. We fly down, don't have to check or take 3 car seats and it's great.
We really like the Disney transportation and we really dislike the whole parking lot, tram thing. We do the dining plan, but we also order groceries from WeGoShop and have them delivered an hour after we arrive to our room.
I love the "all-inclusive" type feel of not having a car available to us. Otherwise, I know my family, and we would be running out constantly. I find that half our vacation we are in the car.
Plus, it's way less tiring getting on a plane and off, than it is driving. Even a 5 hour drive is tiring. I'd rather get there refreshed and peppy.

ETA: I do wish Disney had "zip" cars. This is the one trip coming up where I would like to take one day to take my kids to IOA to see Harry Potter and Dr. Seuss, but there is no easy inexpensive way to get there.

 

[Redbudlover]

I fly and could afford to rent a car while there, but prefer not to. I don't want to worry about traffic or getting lost or getting from parking lots to the park. I take my dgd alone by myself and have when she was 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2 and 4 years old - with a stroller.We took busses, monorails, boats and taxis. When we were running late or were tired or going to a different resort for dinner we cabbed it. With cabs between $12 and $18 per trip you have to take a lot of cabs before you equal the cost of renting a car. The only time I get irritated is leaving MK late and having to wait in line for a long time when we are tired for a bus. You cannot get a cab there, you have to go to the TTC for one, so it is a pain if we leave late at night. We go next time in October and she is now 5, so no more strollers. That will be both easier and harder...

 

[SplashMo]

(sorry this is long, thinking out loud)

So here's my issue - we have always driven to WDW. It is 10.5 hours drive time (not counting stops or unforeseen issues). Usually we are there within 12 hours or less.
I can fly for my next trip for about the same cost as driving....because gas prices are now so high, and it's only me and dd so we need just 2 tickets. I think the flight is only about 1.5 hours...but of course you have to add the headache of being at the airport so early so that makes the trip longer. I have only flown once in my life (well twice since it was round trip ) and I remember having to get to the airport about 2 hours early for my flight...is that about right?

So drive 11ish hours each way....or fly and spend about 4 hours or so (at least) each way tied up in the airport/on the flight.

This will be the longest time spent at WDW...and my dd still uses a stroller. And we are staying at a value (gawd, the horrible crowded buses)....these things all make me think I might really regret leaving my car behind.

So if you have taken a long trip...stayed at a value....and relied solely on Disney buses to transport you...would you do it again if you're really only saving maybe 6-8 hours travel time each way?
I feel like we'll lose far more time than that getting around without my car. Ugh.

I love not having a car. It seems like more of a vacation. Stay at All Star Sports or PoP. THe other all starrs have worse bus service...

 

[Finally08]

I like reading everyone's perspective...I am still torn.

To comment on a few remarks - I do not intend to leave property at all. All my dining and everything I need is on property. However...I have a few resort meals booked and know they will be a major PITA to get to without my car.

I don't worry about getting lost....I know Disney property like my own city.
And that can be bad too, lol because I had a major panic attack on a bus last fall when the driver missed the exit we needed for Pop and exited the property. I was standing at the front of a jammed bus trying to hold onto my sleeping (and standing) 6 year old, a stroller, bags, it was about 2am, and there we were whizzing around Orlando. I cried. Real tears.

Anyway...MK is always a bear because of the monorail/boat thing but the other 3 parks are just SO EASY to drive/park/hop out and go. We never even bother with trams...we are always parked within a reasonable walking distance. We like to do rope drop, especially at HS and MK, and I have this fear that even if we show up at the bus stop at 7am for a park opening at 9am, we won't make it there.
We are staying at Pop - and I know the difference in the bus service when you are in a value. If I were staying deluxe I'd leave my car in a hot minute, but it doesn't matter how slow the time of year it is the buses at the values are always jammed and always have lines. I guess Disney just pulls the buses and uses less when it's slow....they seem to take better care of the deluxe guests.

But the drive home is what is always killer for me. Last trip I had to stop twice and sleep for about 20 minutes because I was just SO exhausted. And my husband worries about that most..... I never get tired on the way to WDW but the way home is torture. I guess all the long days, exhaustion, etc catch up on you by the time you leave.

 

[Mamu]

Sometimes we have a car, sometimes not. It's depends on how long were staying and where were staying.

It nice to let Disney do the driving sometimes, but don't think I would last for 2 weeks without one.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

It sounds like you would prefer to fly but fear Disney buses. We stayed at Pop in September and had no problem with buses. Going in with the right mindset can make a huge difference. We got to the buses 1 hr prior to rope drop and made it each time. When it comes to some ADR's which you say will be difficult to get to/from, have some $ set aside for a taxi. MAybe if you take a taxi from time to time when you get frustrated, it will ease your anxiety.

 

[kaybird]

We are also one who drive to WDW and fly about 50/50. We never rent a car, and like many of the other pp's, never use a car when we are there. If you really feel like you may panic on a bus,then you have your answer. We love to park hop, and find that so much easier with Disney transportation.

 

[n2mm]

I'm sure you can get everywhere you need via Disney buses, it just takes time.

For us, no way, we would never not have a car. We like our freedom, we like going to the outlets, and grocery store to pick up adult beverages and breakfast stuff, and we don't like using Disney buses. It doesn't matter where we are staying, we just would never not rent a car.

 

[Laura727]

You are right about resort ADRs being a PITA. We did it one year without a car and it was downright miserable. We had to figure about one hour each way commuting time to make it to various meals and my kids were just exhausted. The ease of having a car to make those meals was lovely when we went last trip. That being said, no way would I drive to and from WDW. Have you priced rental cars? We rented one for a week through dollar rental car and it was less than $200 for the week. There is a whole section on rental car codes and discounts in the Unofficial Guide.

 

[imthatgirl]

We prefer to have a car, that being said we will be taking our first trip without a car next month. We have gone on trips where we started off without a car and then gotten one...but I don't think we will this time. I personally think 2 weeks is way too long to be dependant only on WDW transportation. I know people always say they feel it's more like a vacation without a car. but I just don't get that. I mean what could it possibly be about a car that takes away from the WDW experience, that would actually make you feel like it's less of a vacation?

I say either drive or rent a car.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our transportation board.

 

[Avery&Todd]

You're reading my mind with this question!!

The last 2 trips we drove - I just didnt want to spend the money to fly when we're supposedly only 10 hrs away, but can make it in like 8.5-9 with DH driving....

We also drive like 7 hrs the first day, and then stay in a hotel just beyond Jacksonville, and then just jump outta bed and zip to the hotel - heck, last year we were checking into the WL at 10:30am!!

Anyhoo...for our next trip in 2012, I was assuming we were driving and I mentioned it to DH and he said he'd be willing to look at flying..we could be in Orlando in like and hour and an half...

and I looked at airline tickets at the same dates we would go this year (if we were going) and for the family of 4 it was $1,200!!!

that just seems CRAZY expensive - is it? you think? I normally only fly for work so I dont notice the air prices..

but we're looking at staying at BC and will do the DxDP, so I dont want to shell out an additional $1,200 to fly..

am I crazy??

 

[finedice]

We are in the "must have a car" group. We always fly (30 hour drive), but always rent a car. To us, regardless of what people say, the car is absolutely the way to go - even staying on property. The convenience is wonderful - the ability to have a change of clothes in the car is great for things like Kali River Rapids, the AC is a nice bonus, the quiet family time is wonderful while driving between points on property, and yes, if park hopping, it is a godsend. What you can reasonably do in a single day is greatly increased by having a car, I would never have it any other way.

Example - on our first trip to POR several years ago, we took the riverboat to DTD one evening to shop and eat, but missed the last boat back in the evening. We were very tired, and had to wait 15-20 minutes for the right bus to come, and then it took another 1/2 hour+ to get to our stop at POR. The drive would have been less than the wait time just to get on the bus.

I see the bus stops at closing time in the parks, and walk past them knowing I'll be in my pajamas or in the pool at least an hour before many of the people waiting in line for a bus to the resort.

As mentioned above, it is also key in being able to eat wherever you want to on a given day without worries about connections at the TTC, or how long it will take take to get to that great Boma buffet from CBR or POR.

If you fly - consider the rental - overall, car rentals at MCO are really cheap compared to many other areas of the country - I've rented a car for like $18/day at times with discount codes.

 

[hsmamato2]

we;ve done it both ways.....having a car with my DH meant lots of extra running around.bleh. I wanted all disney all the time,and my kids(older) feel like it's all disney all the time only if we do buses,not a car. getting to meals wasn't an issue for us, we just relaxed,and put an extra hour to travel there in our schedules- we were never late,and it was more relaxing than having a car and running everywhere! If you have a grasp of buses,using them to travle the whole WDW resort is SO easy! Plus, you can make us of boats,monorail,etc. when needed to. We had the MOST relaxing week.....and all along we thought we needed that car! not anymore.plus we loved the whole ME experience,checking in,luggage service,checking out,
I would take a 1/2 day flying over all that driving any day of the week!

 

[CPT Tripss]

Two weeks, no car dependent on WDW transit!

Unless you plan to never go: off-site, to another hotel (for a meal or just to look around), pop over to DTD, or try mini-golf then a car won't be helpful.