If you are staying at resort do you need a car?

[marriedmarylander]

We know about buses to the parks, but what about Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island? Can we go out and come home on a bus at 2 AM? Or should we rent a car? Is parking free on the resort and DowntownDisney?

 

[powellrj]

We always rent a car because we like to go off-site too. Many people never rent cars and seem happy with their choice. Its really a personal thing. Yes the parking at resorts is free and I know its free during the day at downtown disney (we have never been at night). If you are staying on site parking at the parks is free too. There are some really great prices on car rentals right now, so its really not that much more to rent a car.

 

[Sandi]

Buses go to Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island from the resorts. They run as late as needed. I believe the buses are not as frequently dispatched to DTD as to the themeparks.

If you have a car, your resort will give you a parking pass that you put in the front window. You can park anywhere for free. (There is no charge to park at DTD for anyone.)

Some of the resorts have boat service to DTD (PO-R and PO-FQ, for example).

I always like having a car for the convenience of getting to other resorts for meals, etc., but you do not really NEED a car.

You might want to post on the Transportation Board as well.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Can someone tell me which are the car rental places on the Disney Property? We have the Magic Express so we get the free bus from the airport already.

 

[Dismom63]

Just a different opinion - we never rent a car! We drive a bazillion miles in our real lives and really like to use Disney transport. Between the buses, boats, walking and the monrail - there is always a way to "get there."

 

[henrylovespooh]

We stay at the WDW resorts when we go and always use the bus system. To date, we haven't gone off property yet. Never had any trouble. This past visit we called a taxi to take us to Boma for dinner after AK had closed and it was only $7 from ASMo. Lots of people like to have a car, but DH would get so lost there it would be a nightmare for us. I figure if there's somewhere in the Kingdom we need to go and a bus can't get us there, a taxi can do it for less than $20.

 

[tubachick]

Can someone tell me which are the car rental places on the Disney Property? We have the Magic Express so we get the free bus from the airport already.

I believe it is Hertz, if you have AAA, give them a call and set it up. It is at the car care center near the MK entrance.

 

[marriedmarylander]

mousesavers.com indicates it is Alamo and National..but I'm sure others are nearby

 

[copper68]

We just got back from WDW on Sunday evening...were there for 5 days...

The last 2 trips were the first time that we have not rented a car...and I think they are the last 2...
Personally, I was not happy with Disney transportation...The monorail is excellent, and the boats are usually ok, but the bus schedules are terrible...

We stayed at BWV....for one trip to AK we walked out to the bus stop...the wait for the bus was about 20 minutes...ok...we then had to stop and make pick-ups at the Swan, Dolphin, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Blizzard Beach, and then finally get dropped off at AK...the entire trip took probably close to an hour...

DTD was the same thing...we waited 10 to 15 min for a bus...had to stop at all those stops (including a handicap pickup which I do not mind - but it added about 5-10 minutes on), and what would be a 5 minute drive in a car, turned into a 45 minute, extremely crowded bus trip....

Just my opinion, but I will not ride a bus again - unless it's 2am and I am drunk leaving PI...

 

[pepe of ohio]

Been over 30 times to WDW, have flown and now take the train and inbetween have drive there and never have I used an auto. When we used to drive to WDW, we'ld leave the car parked the whole time never attempting to drive in that choas. At night when all h... breaks loose and the parks dump out, its like the Daytonna 500, except its dark and not to my liking. Part of our fun and vacation is Disney transportation. Its slow sometimes but I'm going to see and do everything there with time to spare and I'm on vacation, whats the rush. It's like driving at home, person passes me up going 80 MPH just to be at the same traffic light as me but I went 55 MPH to get to the same like. Whats the rush, life that fasted paced are they afraid of missing something. To be, relax and let the driving, worry to the professionals! My opinion only!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Dh and I stayed at AKL this past fall and did NOT rent a car. It was nice to go out at night and not have to worry about drinking too much. The flip side was that the buses returning to AKL from DTD/Pleasure Island made several stops at the BW and BC before returning us to AKL. I'm really not sure why. Every other bus trip was on a bus just for AKL. Needless to say, the many stops made for a loooonnnnnngggg trip home that evening. Still, it beat driving ourselves.

 

[disneylifer]

and never drive.

We usaually park the car when we arrive and it doesn't move until the day we leave...

But it really is a matter of personal taste. I guess some start to feel restricted by not being able to get out on their own. We drive a lot of miles in a very congested area on a daily basis, so we both have no desire to drive, especially since we usually drive 19 hours or so to get there. I also think that never driving seems in some small way to add to the feeling that DIsney is taking care of us... providing for us, or part of the entire experience.

I do disagree with some who site reasons of renting a car based on time. I have waited for a bus for fifteen or tweny minutes before... but I have also walked up to the bus stop on occassions where it is just getting ready to depart. How long does it take to get to your car whenever you leave your resort? To find parking at your destination? To get from your parking spot at your destination to th gate? To get back to your car and out of the parking lot(s) when you leave?

You get the idea...

Really, it is a matter of preference.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We know about buses to the parks, but what about Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island? Can we go out and come home on a bus at 2 AM? Or should we rent a car? Is parking free on the resort and DowntownDisney?

We are using the magic express service when we arrive and then renting a car from Budget in Downtown Disney the next day. Ended up costing us less to rent there instead of the airport (no surcharge) and this way we can get out and see Kennedy Space Center, etc and do a little shopping, too.

 

[Joann]

Alamo has a big car rental place right in disney and out of all of them they seem to be the cheapest from what my husband has pulled up we were gonna rent one from home for there then we looked on the site and is way cheaper doing it there here is the link http://res.alamo.com/ type in the city orlando and your info ect it will show choices of different orlando places pick the disney one the prices are great at least 300 less then if we booked it here with a travel agent ect.

 

[jfsdrv6]

We usually rent at the airport from National, because I like to choose our own car, and it's convenient and quick. For our visit this May, we have a weekly rate of $95. incl all taxes for a midsize, thanks to Mousesavers. They have locations at the Car Care Center right near MK, at the Dolphin, and one other place in LBV. In December, I dropped the car off at the Car Care Center, and National's shuttle took me to the Yacht Club, I think they'll pick you up from your hotel, too. At the airport, there has never been more than two people ahead of us in line, and you just stroll across the street w/your luggage to get your car.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Its a personal thing, but you can stay on site without a car and get around perfectly fine. My parents, and now my husband and I always make sure we have a car when we are there. Were extremely spontaneous so we never know if well decide to head off site or where we will decide to go next. Having a car just makes the vacation a lot funner for us and more flexible. We never rent there though (we've had one too many bad experiences with renting cars!) but we drive down from Northern Ohio everytime. Having a car is really worth it to us.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We have never rented a car on our trips to WDW since staying onsite. The buses, boats and monorail are great and for Pleasure island we have come back on the bus well after 1am. We dont see the need for a car as we dont go off site for anything.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

My wife and I made the decision not to rent a car and for us it was the right choice. The transportation services (Monorail, Boats and Buses) really do a great job all things considered. For us the reason not to rent was one of relaxation, not having a car means that we are really on vacation there is no need to rush.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Part of our 'vacation escape' is not needing to drive and we set our expectations accordingly. We love the Disney transportation, and have never had any issues with it.

 

[the kabuki]

Our last trip down in Jan was our 1st time renting a car, and we loved. Didn't use the buses once. No waiting for buses, no lines, no standing room only once on them, no carrying sleeping children, no folding strollers, carrying packages. Oh, it was terrific. Plus we got to listen to the radio!!!

Getting around was a breeze. Studied a map before we left so I'd have some idea where things were. Leaving the parks at night was no biggie. We're never ones to get into the mad dash out. Just take our time, and by the time we get to the car, parking lots pretty emptied out.

And... we were able to go to the grocery store, which saved us a ton of $$. Stocked up on waters, breakfast foods, snacks. Plus, going to the offsite soveneir stores was great, things were much cheaper. with a family of 5 that kind of stuff can really add up. Eating off site was less too, although honestly we didn't do that too much.