How long should we rent a car? (it's complicated)

[belle118]

My husband and I are taking our four year old son to disneyworld on December 12-17! So excited! We are then visiting my grandma in coral springs on the 18th, then flying back on the 19th. The question is: should we rent a car for the weekend only, or for the whole trip? I would like the best combination of saving money and time. If we don't rent all week, I am considering taking a cab from disney board walk on one night and a cab from spirit of aloha on another night. (This is because I do not want to wear out my little one much later than 10 pm even though I am planning naptime, and both these locations would require a bus to downtown disney, then another bus to all-star music, as far as I understand-- side question, I learned TTC is within walking distance from the polynesian, would it still be open after the 8 o'clock aloha show (~10 pm) on wednesday, dec, 15?)

So, factoring in sam's club and visa coupons, which is the better choice for economy and convenience, two taxi trips and a weekend car rental, OR renting a car all week? I know there are some better discounts on cars the longer you rent, and I am unsure about the convenience of renting a car from the hotel versus from the airport, I don't want to miss out on the disney magic trying to rent a car on a friday morning or afternoon! As you can see, I am leaning toward renting the car all week. But I need your advice! My husband wants a little better than a bottom of the line rental, and it is unlikely he will want to rent all week unless I give him a compelling reason. Also, I need to know a solid amount of time it takes to make a bus transfer through downtown disney, because 30 minutes from the polynesian to all-star would be reasonable, but an hour and a half would not!

(assume $50 for two taxis, and $100 difference between renting a cab a week versus a weekend)

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Lewisc]

Rent a car for the entire week. Price it out. The cost to rent for 7 days is likely to be $30-$50 more then the cost to rent for 2 or 3 days.

Two taxi trips will almost wipe out all your savings.

 

[skiingfast]

Overall I would consider if the price is cheaper for the week or weekend to decide.

You can get a rental at the airport by using DME as your transport to WDW and back to the airport on check out day to pick up the car.


Also you probably can use Disney Resort Transport to get to your dinners.

You may be able to go from the boardwalk to the international gateway of Epcot and walk out the front of Epcot to the buses. This will depend on if you dinner in the BW ends before the park closes.

Also for the Poly you will most likely be able to walk to the TTC and get on a bus or take the Monorail to Epcot and get a bus there.

 

[skelooch]

You can get a Full size from Alamo for the week for $135.36 incl taxes and fees, using costco codes. (7014267 and AD8221SDF) Just checked it a minute ago.

I used pick up 12/12 at noon and drop off 12/19 at noon, It could vary if you change the pick up and drop off times. Such as pick up at 10am and drop off at 4pm. As long as you use the same times for each it seems to stay the same.

 

[belle118]

Everyone replied so quickly and with such great advice! I am so tempted to just rent the car at alamo for a week with the costco discount, what a great deal! But it is also nice to know I have options if we end up just getting the car for the weekend. Gives me plenty to stew over for the next couple of days. Thank you all.

 

[Lewisc]

Book the rental car NOW. There is no penalty if you cancel a normal reservation. Just don't select the prepay option. Make two reservations. One for your entire trip (pickup and drop off at MCO)and one just for your drive to Coral 'Springs.

After you decide what you want to do cancel the other reservation.

 

[belle118]

ok, made the reservation as per suggestion, I booked at Alamo using Sam's club codes, $137 one week for standard pontiac G6 type car, including extra driver. Renting for the weekend was I think around $122 so I didn't even do it. The price for weekend rental was even worse if I tried to pick it up at the swan and dolphin. I could have tried more codes and combinations but got bored. This and dining reservations are wearing me out, if DH can find better deal, more power to him. Otherwise, I am happy with this and.... DONE!

Someone please tell me my next disney vacation will go much smoother because I will have booked it more than two months in advance and will know what I'm doing next time around! You all have no idea how much planning I've been putting in to get the disney magic right the first time! These forums and all of you are wonderful!

next on my list... try to figure out how to apply my visa points for hotel rooms Friday and Saturday night! I can't believe we'll be in WDW in 24 days!!!