If you've gone to WDW without a car...

[grinningghost]

...did you like it? We've never done WDW without a rental car, but this time we decided we're going to be slaves to WDW property - no car, no driving, no gas worries - almost sounds heavenly.

Am I going to be sorry?

 

[Laurajean1014]

In the past 10 years and 33 trips, we have only rented a car (full stay) for 4 trips. It's nice, but not necessary. WDW transportation is great. We take a cab for PM's at Contemporary and Poly instead of transferring.

If we feel a need to visit the outlets, we get a car for the day or a limo.

 

[wdwlver]

We never rent a car. Using WDW transportation is easy and it almost contributes to a sense of being in a special place, separated from the real world!!

 

[KarenB]

I kind of enjoy not having a car at WDW.....it seems to make if feel more like a vacation. The only thing I do miss is being able to make a grocery run. We stay in the DVC resorts and like to take advantage of the fridge, toaster, etc. Fortunately, the last few trips my in-laws have driven up from the Cape Coral area and they take us to a grocery store to stock up in goodies.

Karen

 

[lovewdwdvc]

the only thing that we miss is the grocery run but we found wegoshop on the internet and that takes care of the grocery worries

have a wonderful trip

 

[marksor]

Four week-long trips under our belt- always stayed on the property and never rented a car- had to use a cab a couple of times to go to other resorts for a meal or church off-site. We also used Mears to get us to/from Universal one time. I drive too much at home so I like going a week without driving. Also, I love Disney's transportation (buses, boats and monorail) and find it convenient. We always meet other people- especially on the buses.

 

[BunnieGene]

We never rent a car, either...and have never really needed one. Even when we went to Universal...ONCE ...we just took a cab.

 

[twojo21]

disney is one of those few places where a car is so not necessary. we never use a rental car at disney & my family & i have gone over 20 times there is tons of transportation provided to the parks, resorts & dtd via bus, monorail & boat ntm golf courses & offsite via taxi. you wont even miss the rental car, enjoy your trip!

 

[LadyDulcinea1]

The past 4 trips we've driven or taken the autotrain down and after parking our car upon check-in didn't see it until we left! We love the WDW transportation! Very easy to navigate and we also agree that it adds to the magical feel of "the world." Going carless on this trip as well so you're not alone!

 

[lovesdumbo]

We loved using a limo service last trip. Loved the grocery stop and the fast service to resort and back to airport. I'm taking a quick trip with DS in a few weeks with a friend and we are going to try ME. I've got a limo (van) booked for our October trip.

 

[RescueRanger]

We drive to WDW. However, once we get there, I park our car and it doesn't move til we check out. That's one of the perks of WDW... not having to drive.

 

[ccw]

I'm undecided, too...have done the Disney trip with a car and without and not sure which way to go for my next trip. Without ME as an option , I would definitely rent a car BUT i am anxious to try ME and we are a group of 7 or 8 coming on different flights which could get complicated with a rental car. What i am thinking about is renting a car from the Car Care Center or a Downtown Disney area hotel site the day we arrive so that i can make a grocery run, keep the car two days so that we can quickly get to our dinner at Calif. Grill the second night, and then return the car the day before we all head home. Will use ME to get to airport. For a minivan which will handle our group, it looks like about $100 for the 2 day rental and I'll bet i can find even cheaper as it gets closer. So that's my compromise of sorts on the rental car quandry!

 

[magicmouse2]

Once in september we didnt have a car and I loved it. DH hated it cos he couldnt drive to walmart (we did a grocery stop on trip from the airport)He also didnt like not going to the offsite chinese buffets. I didnt miss it one bit. The transportation is awesome.This time we have a rental and we always get a minvan as thats what we have at home and are a bit spoiled with it.

 

[pepe of ohio]

In over 30 trips to WDW, in the beginning we drove, throw in 3 times by plane and then some more driving trips and now we have been using Amtrak for the pass 6 years, we have never used or rented a car at WDW. Part of the magic to us is using the transportation system there. Its a vacation, you're susposed to relax and smell the flowers. Can't be in a hurry, nothing is gonna change or leave or move. Everything can be seen and done at the World without going commando and the traffic of cars and people heading to the parking lots and then leaving same is funny as we either board our bus or monorail for a leisurely trip back to our resort. The red tail light parade leaving the park lots is a sight all in its own and unless you know where you are going at night with all the traffic looks like a chinese fire drill.
Even with our car in the resort lot, we never use it, like the idea, after driving 1200 miles to get to WDW, that I don't have to see that thing until its time to leave and drive the 1200 miles home. Really got to hate driving and don't really care to fly and for me and wife, the train is the most relaxing, pleasant way for us to go the 1200 miles now. We plan on using wegoshop.com this trip, but have walked to Goodings for supplies but thats a long walk and coming back worst with all the bags. Its each his own on how you do the World, this is just our way and my opinion.

 

[Leota]

Out of all my trips, I've only had use of a car 2x & that was because the friends I traveled with are car people & both had mobility issues which made a car slightly easier.

I hate driving on vacation. There is nothing relaxing to me about finding my way around a new place, esp one full of other lost drivers suddenly switching lanes & turning. I don't have to worry about finding a parking spot at the beginning of the day, nor finding my car at the end. No gas worries - someone else can do all that work & I'm a Happy Passenger. The fact that I may have to wait a few minutes for a bus is fine with me. I'm sitting & relaxing while I wait. We aren't so commando that it bothers us to give up a few minutes of touring.

That's just my style in general tho - even when vacationing in other places where I have my car, I tend to park it & take cabs for the peace & ease of it.

 

[bdcp]

Two prior trips. One we drove and never moved our car til the day we left. The second, we got a towncar from the airport and did not miss a car at all. This time, driving, but will park and probably not move it the entire trip. Why fool with parking, traffic, etc when provided transportation will do it or if you really need a car you can get one for the day?

 

[bigbabyblues]

We've only gone twice, the first time we drove, so we had our car; the second time we flew, and we didn't have a car. We used Disney transportation the entire time both trips, when we arrived in our car, we parked it at CBR and didn't go near it until we were packing up to come home.

We don't like driving in unfamiliar places, and if there is free transportation, I'm on it!

 

[becka]

Until our last trip we never had a car and it worked great. We really enjoy the WDW transporation and find that it really feels like a vacation when you don't have to drive. However, on our last trip we rented a car for the first time because we had DS with us who was not quite 2 at the time and we loved the convenience of having a car with such a young one. We did do the busses a few times but especially for resort to resort the car was so much easier and faster with little kids. Until my kids are older we will still with a car but whne they get older I see us going bakc to using WDW transportation exclusively.

 

[rileyroosmom]

We have always used WDW transportation in the past. However, we stayed at the Poly in May and we ended up using our car a lot and we really enjoyed doing so! First time we ran for the car was while waiting for a bus to AK (which seemed to be taking forever to arrive) and my DD4 threw a "hissy fit", you parents know what I am talking about, and all the other guests were staring at us! No way was I getting on that bus now! We headed to the car, which got us there faster (no bus had yet arrived by the time we got to the car and drove away) and it just seemed a little more hassel free. Didn't have to lug the carraige and the huge bag holding our stuff. Coming back at the end of the day was heavenly. No waiting at the bus stop with hot, cranky kids and you had a garunteed seat. From then on, we took our car to Mgm, DTD, and other resorts for dinner.
To be fair, staying at a monorail resort, you can't beat the monorail to MK and Epcot, so we didn't use the car for the enitre trip. It's kind of a toss up to what we will do the next time. Both ways have their advantages.
Guess I really didn't help here at all!!!!

 

[vanyel]

I feel like the odd one out here. I went once without renting a car and regretted it. Personally, I prefer driving, most of the time. We do go off-season so the crowds and driving arent' bad. Sometimes we use wdw transportation to take a break in the afternoon then get our car when we finally leave the park. We often park at Epcot, spend some time there, take the monorail over to MK then head back to Epcot for the evening. Then our car is right there rather than waiting in the bus lines after illuminations.

We usually make several grocery runs, and we like to drive around the area and just look so not having a car puts a dent in that.

Maybe I'm just not good at waiting in the bus lines and I know my DH's patience isn't the greatest so I always rent a car.