I'm stressing. Should I rent a car?

[Carolc]

Help! I'm trying to decide whether or not to rent a car.

- it will be me and three kids under 12
- staying at POP in mid August
- want to make it to parks at opening
- on two nights, have evening ADRs at other resorts (1 night 7:30 at WL, another night 7:15 HDDR)
- departure flight at 5pm, would like to do Typhoon Lagoon that day.

We are staying 7 nights at Pop. The rate is somewhat manageable if I pick up car on way to HDDR at CCC (on our non-theme park day) and return at MCO on departure day... this 5 day rental is $114 including taxes.

I don't plan to do anything else besides Disney. I primarily am considering the car for convenience for the evening dinners, EPCOT, MGM (won't use for MK), and return to MCO.

Since DH won't be on this trip, I am hoping to avoid stress where possible.

I would appreciate any input on this... as I am going nuts!.

Thanks!
Carol

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The rental is so nice to have. You can make your evening ADRs at other resorts without having to take your kids on 2 bus trips each way. EMH is a breeze because you won't have to wait in line for a bus with everyone else at the resort who wants to make it to park opening, too. Make sure the company you rent from has a location IN the terminals at the airport, rather than off-site. The website for MCO tells you which companies are located on-site.

I can't imagine visiting without a rental car. It never takes more than a few minutes to get anywhere on property. The parking lots at Pop are really convenient, too.

Good luck!!!

 

[aristocat]

Might be worth it to rent a car with 3 young kids.

 

[laurabelle]

I think you got a great rate on your rental! If you can fit it into your budget, I say go for it! I've taken my kids to Disney by myself too and rented a car. It was so worth it. Next trip, we'll also be at POP, though hubby will be with be there too. We have ADRs at resorts some nights, a DTD night after going to a water park... we'll be renting this time. We'll use Disney buses for MK, but having our own car for everything else is so worth it.

Some tips I learned from these boards... tie a ribbon or something (not a Mickey head, everybody has those!) on your car antennae to help you find your rental in the lots. Buy a cheapo styrofoam cooler to keep cold drinks in the trunk, lovely on a hot summer day! I stopped to fill up the tank at the Hess station across from DTD before I drove back to the airport and the gauge stayed on full, so no need to worry about finding a station close to the airport.

Have a magical trip!

 

[we3disneygo]

get the rental, there's no way I'd want to spend my time riding a bus on vacation!!! I went with my mom and dd and I did all the driving. Have fun!

 

[Carolc]

Wow... thanks for all the quick replies!

You convinced me to at least make the reservation. With National, I should be able to cancel without penalty, right?

Do I remember reading somewhere that I can get a ride to the Car Care Center from POP?

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The majority of rental car companies allow you to reserve a car without any form guarantee in the way of a credit card hold involved. Sometimes I will reserve more than one if I am debating arrival and departure times. Just cancel the rest before you go. I would be interested to know if there's a shuttle from Pop to the CCC. Last year, I saved the Airport Concession fee on the rental car and picked one up from Budget at the Doubletree hotel next to Downtown Disney. I dropped it off at the airport on my return without penalty.

Good luck! You will be VERY glad you rented the car!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Wow... thanks for all the quick replies!

You convinced me to at least make the reservation. With National, I should be able to cancel without penalty, right?

Do I remember reading somewhere that I can get a ride to the Car Care Center from POP?

Yes, you can cancel within 24 hours. And by all means make the ressie NOW before the rates go up. And keep on checking. The rates may go down. If they do, make a new ressie at the lower rate and then cancel the old one.

Yes, you can get a ride to the CCC from POP. Call them (CCC) the day before to schedule a pickup time.

Ed

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I grabbed this off an informational website:


By Car: Alamo® Rent A Car, the Official Rental Car of the Walt Disney World® Resort, is conveniently located at the Orlando International Airport and at the Car Care Center near the parking exit of the Magic Kingdom® Park. For Emerald Club customers, National Car Rental® is also located at the Car Care Center. Shuttle service to and from your location is provided seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Shuttle service should be scheduled at least one hour in advance. Call (407) 824-3470 for shuttle service and reservations.

 

[Carolc]

BetterlatethanNever: you mean 24hrs prior to my pick up time, right? (not 24hrs from now).

ExPirateShopGirl: thanks for the text... what website did you find that from?

Thanks!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

ExPirateShopGirl: thanks for the text... what website did you find that from?

Thanks!

It was from an informational page for WDW convention attendees. I called the number (407) 824-3470 and it belongs to Alamo/National at the Car Care Center. You can call and get reservations or schedule a shuttle pick up.

Yay!

 

[Marseeya]

With a great rate like that, I'd rent the car!

But, I have to say we had a lot of luck between buses and cabs on our trip. The cheapest rates for car rentals were around $320 for our 10-day trip.

Getting to the parks before opening, you won't find a ton of other guests doing that, so I don't think the buses will be crowded, although I can't speak for the situation at Pop. When we went from resort to resort, we took a cab and it was never more than $15. Most of the time, there was a Checker cab waiting right there.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I would rather NOT rent a car with 3 small children and no other adult to read the map-help watch road signs. I guess maybe your 12 year old could do that.

I think bus service will be fine at Pop in mid August. Especially if you really do get at the bus stop early. Getting to WL will be relatively easy-bus to MK and boat to WL. Same with going to HDDR-bus to MK and boat to Ft Wilderness. HDDR is a very short walk from boat dock.

How small are the children will you need to bring car seats for them? If you drive to the parks you'll still have to take the tram to the park entrance.

 

[LoraJ]

Definitely rent the car. On our last trip, whenever we would take a bus, we'd have to wait 30 minutes for it. Never again.

It's great to have for when you have ADRs at resorts. You can easily go back to your hotel to freshen up and then drive over to the other resort.

Don't worry about a map in the resort area. There are signs everywhere.

 

[plutospup]

We drive our rental car to all parks, EXCEPT MK. By car you go the the MK parking lot, tram to the TTC, monorail or boat to MK. Disney bus goes from your resort to the Magic Kingdom. Surpisingly, we've found it faster to take the bus than to drive to MK.

Also...When you drive to the HDDR, you will park at the FW enterance. From there you will need to take Disney's FW Internal bus to HDDR.

 

[powellrj]

After reading all the bus threads lately, there is no way I wouldn't rent a car! We always rent a car because we like the freedom you have with it. You can come and go as you like.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Ive said it before and I will say it again, with small children, a rental car is a must. It gives you the priceless freedom of traveling when and where you want, and its usually faster then riding a bus (especially at POP). Here's just a simple example. Last year, we had decided to go to lunch from Carribbean Beach to ESPN Club at Boardwalk. Between waiting for the bus to MGM, and taking the boat to Epcot, it took us around 45 mins. The next day we went back to Boardwalk to visit the shops and by car, it took around 12 mins. Car rentals in Orlando are usually very resonable if you can find good discount codes and coupons. Try www.mousesavers.com to find some.....

 

[Carolc]

Thank you all for your replies... I've rented a car both times I've been to WDW. Though we rented a car in '91, we just used the (offsite) hotel's shuttle... it was okay for the most part, but was overcrowded at MGM and we were left waiting for the next one in the rain (and I was sick, following our wedding). When we came in 2004, we drove to the parks everyday, which worked out good with all the gear we had with the kids. I was hoping to get away without the expense this time, since we are onsite (for once! ) and can use the Disney buses... but I do worry about having the kids out late for the ADR's. I'd also like to stretch out our last day a little more (I don't think we need to leave as early as we would have to if we catch ME back to the airport).

Anyway, thanks again... you have made me feel better about spending the extra money. I think it will be worth it in my situation.

 

[mom23boys]

We always rent a car. We have three boys (12,7 and 4). We like that we can drive and not rely on the busses. We also make alot of ADR at hotels so having a car makes it so much easier.

Also those late night runs to the store for diapers or medicine that of course I forgot makes it worth it.