How Should I Get to Disney World?!

[gabzee]

Hi everyone! I am trying to plan our upcoming trip to Disney but I'm having some problems. We are FL residents and have always driven to Disney (its about a 3 hr drive). This trip my mom and I will be arriving at Disney on the 5 or 6 (haven't figured that out yet) to have some mother/daughter time and my dad and brother will be arriving on the 8 for the family part of the trip. My mom and I will be staying at a different resort than we will with the family. All four of us will be leaving Disney at the same time. If both my mom and I and my dad and brother take cars we will have two cars up in Disney when we solely rely on Disney transportation while there, we will have to pay for two times the amount of gas, pay for valet for two cars, and will have to drive home at the same time in two different cars. My mom and I will also have to transfer resorts in the middle of our stay. It seems like it would be slightly easier to transfer resorts without having to transfer our car too (simply have disney send our luggage to the new resort and checkin later in the day at our convenience).

Other than driving to Disney, the other option would be flying. I know crazy! The closest airport to us that has a direct flight to MCO is 1 hr 13 minutes away from us according to mapquest. I found a flight that leaves at 7:45am and arrives at 8:43am (58 minute flight). The flight itself is $49.89 per person! We would then take the DME to our resort.

Which option would you choose? We have never taken DME so I think it would be nice. Is DME easy? Do you have to wait a long time for the bus? How long does it take from the time you land to the time you arrive at your resort? I would truly appreciate your input!! Thanks!

 

[SteveMouse]

There's no point in flying. It would take you longer to fly than drive, and I doubt you'd spend more than $60 each way on gas (depending on car).

If staying on property, parking at the resorts and the parks is free- There's no need to valet. You could certainly leave your car and use Disney transportation (It IS kind of nice to have a personal vehicle to go places like DTD or Boardwalk, if not staying at the BW/YC/BC).

You didn't say what resort you are transferring TO during your stay. If your transferring to a monorail resort or WL, make that day a MK day, have bell services from your 1st resort transfer your bags, you drive to the new resort, get a car tag, park, and monorail to the MK (or boat if @ WL).

If transferring to BC/YC/BW, make the transfer day a EP or HS day, drive to the new hotel (bell services transferring bags), get a tag, park, and walk or boat to the park.

You could, of course, valet only one day @ resort #2 (either way) if you were running late and didn't want to walk back from the parking lot- just relocate it within 24 hours.

-s

 

[gdrj]

Trying not to be rude, but really? Please tell me you posted this as a joke. Easiest solution is just don't go. 3 hour drive for 2 extra days and you are worried about $30 bucks for gas, so worried about the cost and having to drive home in 2 cars that you might fly? AND you will drive over an hour to get to the airport.

Why valet? Walk from the parking lot, you'll be walking in the parks

If you dont want to lug your luggage have them transport it OR tip the few bucks and have them put it in your car, I would think you would be tipping if they transferred the luggage

Hi everyone! I am trying to plan our upcoming trip to Disney but I'm having some problems. We are FL residents and have always driven to Disney (its about a 3 hr drive). This trip my mom and I will be arriving at Disney on the 5 or 6 (haven't figured that out yet) to have some mother/daughter time and my dad and brother will be arriving on the 8 for the family part of the trip. My mom and I will be staying at a different resort than we will with the family.


All four of us will be leaving Disney at the same time. If both my mom and I and my dad and brother take cars we will have two cars up in Disney when we solely rely on Disney transportation while there, we will have to pay for two times the amount of gas, pay for valet for two cars, and will have to drive home at the same time in two different cars.


My mom and I will also have to transfer resorts in the middle of our stay. It seems like it would be slightly easier to transfer resorts without having to transfer our car too (simply have disney send our luggage to the new resort and checkin later in the day at our convenience).

Other than driving to Disney, the other option would be flying. I know crazy! The closest airport to us that has a direct flight to MCO is 1 hr 13 minutes away from us according to mapquest. I found a flight that leaves at 7:45am and arrives at 8:43am (58 minute flight). The flight itself is $49.89 per person! We would then take the DME to our resort. One of the things that my mom is having a hard time accepting is that we will have to drive an 1 hr 13 minutes south to go north to Orlando.

Which option would you choose? We have never taken DME so I think it would be nice. Is DME easy? Do you have to wait a long time for the bus? How long does it take from the time you land to the time you arrive at your resort? I would truly appreciate your input!! Thanks!

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree it makes absolutely NO sense to fly. You have a 3 hour drive to Orlando. A 90 minute (to make the math easier) to the airport. You need to be at the airport at least 90 minutes (airlines prefer two hours) before your flight. Then you you have an hour flight. Then at least an hour (closer to 90 minutes) to get from DME to MCO. So your flight would take 5 hours "door to door" vs. the three hour drive time.

You'd spend $100 to do fly, plus paying for parking. A 3 hour drive is ~180 miles, so 360 round trip. Averaging 20 mpg, that's 18 gallons. 18 gallons @ $4/gallon = $72.

So driving is not only cheaper, but it's quicker. I will usually always recommend flying, but it makes absolutely no sense to me in your case.

 

[goofy4tink]

Have you considered renting a car for the drive to WDW?? Would the whole family be able to fit into one car going home??
Otherwise, I would just say drive your own car. Why do you have to valet park each day?

 

[skelooch]

Rent a car for one day near home, assuming there is a major rental company nearby. Drive to WDW and return the rental car there, either the same day or within 24 hours of when you picked up the car. Most major companies have locations in Disney or nearby DTD resorts. (National or Alamo would be the most convenient as they have several locations within Disney.)

You will only have to pay for gas and/or tolls oneway, and can drive home with Dad and Bro.

 

[goofy4tink]

Rent a car for one day near home, assuming there is a major rental company nearby. Drive to WDW and return the rental car there, either the same day or within 24 hours of when you picked up the car. Most major companies have locations in Disney or nearby DTD resorts. (National or Alamo would be the most convenient as they have several locations within Disney.)

You will only have to pay for gas and/or tolls oneway, and can drive home with Dad and Bro.

That's what I meant to say, but it didn't come out quite as clearly as your post did!! Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

Keep in mind that the $49.95 probably doesn't include taxes and fees. Also, how are you going to get to the airport? Are you going to drive yourselves and park ($20 for gas each way and then the daily parking fee?) Are you going to have someone drop you off (close to the same amount of gas as just driving to WDW and making someone else spend 2.5 hours driving?)

And, like everyone else, I perplexed as to why you'd pay to valet park 2 cars everyday when you can self-park for free.

 

[Lewisc]

Looks like the OP is younger then 25. Renting a car won't work if Mom doesn't want to do the driving. Three hour drive--probably won't need to switch drivers.

 

[richmo]

I wish I had the problem of being only 3 hours driving distance from Disney. I'd be there a lot!

Just piling on...flying is silly and much more expensive and more time consuming. In general, flying doesn't make much sense until you get over 300 miles from your destination, sometimes more (and yes, there are exceptions, but this isn't one of them).

The only thing I might at least look into, as has been mentioned, is that one of the cars going to Disney could be a one way rental. Chances are, that would still be more expensive than the gas + tolls for one way.

And again, if you're worried about saving a few bucks, valet parking seems like an unnecessary expense.

 

[gabzee]

We are trying to figure out the most convenient option not necessarily the cheapest. We have no problem spending the extra money on gas for two cars, etc. but I was simply trying to state the fact that we would have to do everything twice since we would have two cars. While the flight would take longer (4.5 hours) compared to the car (3 hours) it would be worth it if was more convenient for the remainder of our stay.

The two biggest negatives regarding driving in cars for us is that we would be driving home in two separate cars to the same end destination when we would be able to fit everyone in one. My mom is fully capable of driving for 3 hours but our return drive would be at night and she is not as comfortable doing that. If it was up to my dad, he would drive home. The other negative is that we will be switching resorts at least once during our stay. We would have to either take the luggage in the car with us and drive it over there and check-in or have the luggage sent over and drive the car there. Most of the morning we have breakfast ADRs and while it is perfectly doable it seems like it could be somewhat of a hassle.

If we flew, we would get to take the magical express (which just seems so magical ). When we transfer hotels, we would be able to have our luggage sent over to our new hotel, go about our morning as if nothing has changed, and when we want a break or at the end of the day, take the bus from where ever we are to our new resort and check-in.

To the PP that asked which hotel we were staying at, we are transferring to AKL but are not positive of where we are staying for the first part of the trip as of now.

To the PPs that suggested renting a car... I will definitely look into that. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Lewisc]

Another option is for the OP and her Mom to drive the family car. Let Dad and brother take a rental car.

OP wants to drive home together. Plane is going to cost around $100 + transportation to airport + possible checked luggage fees. One way/one day car rental should be way under $100. Add gas and tolls and the cost should still be less.

Price a rental with a drop off at a location near WDW. Can't get a good rate price with a drop off at MCO. Still can't get a good rate. Price with a pickup at the nearest airport to your home.

 

[richmo]

I have to agree with Lewis' post above. You should be able to get a one way rental for less than $100. One way dropoffs within Florida generally aren't penalized, although I'm sure there's exceptions. It seems to make sense for the group arriving at Disney last to do the one way rental, unless you have issues back home getting to the rental agency and picking up the car. That way you can do it all in one day and drive both cars to the Disney area rental agency and go wherever you like after returning the rental.

A couple other comments:
- Lewis also commented that you are under 25. Most rental agencies will not rent a car to you, or it will be very expensive. The rental will have to be for your mom or dad (unless your brother is 25+) and they will have to drive it.
- Most of the major rental agencies have dropoffs near Disney. The easiest is Alamo or National - they're at the Car Care Center (near Hess station) outside the Magic Kingdom exit and the Dolphin. The others are on or near Hotel Plaza Blvd, which is opposite Downtown Disney Marketplace. Dollar is at the Wyndham (used to be the Regal Sun), I believe Budget is at the Doubletree and Avis at the Hilton and Enterprise is at the Royal Plaza. Enterprise is the same company as Alamo/National. It's possible you might be able to drop an Enterprise rental at the CCC/Dolphin, but I'm not sure about that...you'd have to check. A possible advantage for Enterprise on your home end is that they claim "they'll pick you up"...not sure if that works for a one day rental though.