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

[Brian Noble]

I don't know how badly *you* will regret it. *I* would not want to go that long without my own wheels. Getting to and from the parks is okay. Getting to and from anywhere else will be between adequate and inconvenient.

But, I'd just as soon fly and rent a car, and save a half-day's drive in each direction.

 

[sweetdana]

Since you are going for 10 days, I would totally be okay without a car. Shorter time you will miss stuff 10 days gives you 2-3 days at every park, if you lose 1 hour getting to a ressie at the Grand Floridian .. then you have 8 more tommorrow to make up for it.

I only rent a car, if we go to the beach, (or next trip to US YEAH!) I do not miss them when I do not rent them. It is a little different trip, I do less resort ressies and more park ressies, but still do them.

I love the relaxing, no driving, no rushing out of the park after fireworks kind-a days no car always provides. I wouldn't pay the 200 - 300$ a car would cost you to maybe save 2 hours of tranportation time for a couple ressies. I have never taken a bus trip from value, mod or Del that was more than 45 mins even with wait. Pop is about 25 mins from every park at most. Add 30 mins waiting for a bus, (it is never that long).. an hour is way more than enough.

 

[ccgirl]

(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.

IMHO, I would never rely solely on the buses with a stroller. Would you be opposed to renting a car? Check out carrentalsavers.com. Our last trip I got a full size car for $175 for 10 days. The only time I don't rent a car is when I stay at BWV/BC and can walk to Epcot and DHS. IMHO, it is so much easier with a car. The stroller goes in the trunk and everyone is guaranteed a seat. The stroller stays in the trunk and you don't have to wheel it back to your room. A car is direct. You go from hotel to park. You don't have to wait 15 minutes for the bus and go to other resorts before you make your way to the park. As you can see, there are different opinions on this. I just stood holding a sleeping infant one too many times.

 

[Disney Ron]

We were just at WDW last week. We always rent a car but this time decided not to. NEVER again!!! We will always rent a car from here on out. In fact we're going back in September and we're renting a car.

I love the people who say they're on vacation so they rather have Disney drive them around. Well with a car you actually have more vacation time and less sitting on a bus time. Take going from resort to resort for an ADR. If two families are staying at the same resort and are in the pool and have ADR's at another resort at the same time the family going by Disney transportation will have to get out of the pool an hour earlier to make the ADR than the family with a car. To me that's vacation more pool time and less bus time.

All I know is last week taught us a valuable lesson, with a car we can enjoy more things about our vacation than without one, but to each his own.

 

[Pembo]

Two weeks and no car sounds awful to me.

We've both had a car and not and it's a PITA when we wanted to mini-golf or go to DTD and had to rely on buses. I loathe waiting for the buses, especially at the end of the night. After I witnessed a 3 bus pile-up at the MK, I'll never stand on a bus again.

If you are used to a car then I think you'd really miss it, especially for that long of a stay.

I vote for fly and search for an inexpensive rental even if you only get it for part of your trip.

 

[Finally08]

I think I have decided I will drive. Unless I see some killer airfare deal (which I doubt).

I know the buses...I know 'em well. That's why I don't want to rely solely on them for 2 weeks (I am there 13 nights).

I think the more I thought about standing in the heat for half an hour waiting for a bus so I could start my journey...eh....I'll take my air conditioned car! I do like being able to shower, change, and feel nice for a dinner ressie, and if we have to catch a bus to do a transfer to get to where we're getting...well you see where this goes. Aside from the extra hour of transport, you have to consider that's an hour spent - in the sun baking - under the clouds getting rained on - on my feet when I could be sitting - listening to my child whine because she is tired of standing.

I guess ultimately I don't think the pay off will be worth it to fly....sure the getting there and getting back will be nice but I am afraid the 13 days in between will make me live to regret it.

I can't afford to rent a car too...I checked around the lowest I could find was over $300.

 

[bumbershoot]

What about budgeting for taxis for those resort meals? If DD still needs a booster, that could be checked with bell services at the resort you'll be at.

 

[Finally08]

What about budgeting for taxis for those resort meals? If DD still needs a booster, that could be checked with bell services at the resort you'll be at.

That's something I am considering...I think it would be the only way to go (unless I could get free upgrade to the contemporary...haha!).
So I am still checking airfare a bit....man....darn that free dining making me want to eat all over the world!

 

[eliza61]

I can't go 2 days without a car, let alone 2 weeks. LOL

I hated dealing with a stroller and crowded buses and I still break out in hives thinking about the one year we did it and at the end of the night with park closings and the thousands upon thousands of people trying to cram into the buses with strollers.... I still have war flashbacks. LOL

I love the ease of having a car, the area around disney/universal is ridiculously easy to get around. As much as I love disney, the food there leaves much to be desired and since we don't do the dining plan we enjoy every once in a while having a meal we can honestly describe as awesome.

Disney transportation may be convenient but if you are going resort to resort (for a meal) or to dtd, it is slow as molasses. It once took us 2 hours to go from our resort to OKW. we laughed because that's the time it takes for us to fly to wdw. LOL. We missed our adr (called PS back then) and the only thing that saved us was that we were eating at Olivias and they were able to seat us. never again.

Truthfully, I could probably do it for 4 nights but after that, I budget for a car. There is an onsite car rental, maybe you could split it, 1 week with, 1 week without

 

[2DisPrincesses]

I would go without a car if my girls were bigger. With a stroller and all of the stuff I bring to make the day easier with them a car is priceless to us.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

while Disney transportation does it's job, it's an ENORMOUS time-guzzler. I need a car.