is it necessary to rent a car

[chasidar]

We're planning on visiting Disney in a few weeks - 2 adults and a teenager. I'm wondering if it's necessary to rent a car or if we can make do without. I'm thinking about staying in one of the value resorts to take advantage of the free transportation options.

Any thoughts?

Fern

 

[goofy4tink]

Welcome to the DIS boards and to the Transportation board specifically!!
I only rent a car if I'm going to be heading off-site. And that is usually at the end of my WDW stay...I sometimes will head over to Tampa to visit my ds, or down south to Pompano Beach to visit my dad during the winter months.
But, other than that, I don't use a car. The buses work out very well. Yes, they sometimes take a bit more time than a car, but I'm on vacation...I don't usually feel the need to rush from one place to another.

 

[Missytara]

I can honestly say that one of the things I love about my annual Disney vacation is that I don't have to drive a car the entire time I am there. It is sooooo relaxing that way.

 

[WillCAD]

Strictly speaking, it's not necessary; Disney transportation will take you anywhere you want to go on-site.

However, I always rent a car at WDW. Driving myself saves me a lot of time each day, particularly if I'm going from one resort to another, since there is no direct transportation from resort to resort.

But even a simple trip like a bus ride from Pop Century to Pleasure Island can take up to 50 minutes, while it takes only 15 minutes by car.

Having your own car also means that you ALWAYS get a seat, NEVER have to wait for another bus to come along if one gets full before you get on, don't have to listen to other peoples' conversations and phone calls, or bask in the aromas of folks whose deodorants quit (four days ago) in the Orlando heat.

It also means going where you want, when you want, any time of day or night, on-site or off-site. You can go off-site for shopping, groceries, dining, photo downloads, or to visit other attractions like Universal or SeaWorld.

Since I've never been a person who feels that driving myself is "SUCH a chore" and needs to be driven around all the time, I prefer to control my own destiny, save up to an hour per day of my precious, limited vacation time, free myself from bus schedules, and never have to stand up going from one place to another.

I also don't miss the cheerleaders singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer REINDEER!!!" on the bus at the tops of their lungs during the Pop Warner tournament in December.

 

[n2mm]

Not necessary, but it's a personal decision. For us, we always rent a car and would not go if we didn't. We like to eat at other resort restraurants and spend 15 minutes by car getting to and from. On the bus it can take well over one hour to get to that resort from your resort (and sometimes longer). We also like to zip up to the grocery store for adult beverages and other food and snack items. We like to go to the Disney outlets to check out the sale stuff. It's mostly a control thing. We mostly stay at BWV or BCV so only drive to MK and AK. My husband likes to play minigolf and having the rental makes that easy too. It really depends on how much time your want to spend on the buses.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

As others have stated, its not a requirement to have a vehicle, Disney Transportation will get you where you are going. You just have to figure out if the cost of renting a car is worth it in comparison to the the time loss by taking the free transportation. For us, we ALWAYS rent a vehicle, but my partner has taken the bus system before and found it adequate during mid-season, not exceptional and it took a lot of time if you were trying to go elsewhere besides park to resort.

 

[jobie61]

I always rent a car. Its my personal choice.

The only park I take the bus to, is MK. The reason for this is the parking lot drops you off at the TTC, while the bus drops you off at the Entrance.

It comes in handy when going to Universal and Seaworld.

For me, a rental car is a must.

 

[Jestocost]

I never rent a car. It's my personal choice.

We don't go off property when we do a WDW trip and Disney transport is perfectly acceptable to us.

A substantial percentage of the fights my DW and I have involve driving and/or parking. I also dislike driving; especially when I don't know my way around and/or many other people don't know their way around. The former can be fixed, the latter…not so much.

For me a car is a must not.

 

[pooch]

I can honestly say that one of the things I love about my annual Disney vacation is that I don't have to drive a car the entire time I am there. It is sooooo relaxing that way.

Since WDW has turned into an annual DD & me trip, I love not having to drive. We don't go anywhere but WDW and always have the free DDP so we don't eat off site either.

I don't (usually) mind Disney busses, certainly not enough to spend money on a rental car.

 

[beccasmom]

It's certainly a nice thing to have, but not essential. However, in the following circumstances, I'd opt to rent a car -- if you're on a budget, it is certainly optional.

- ADR's at different resorts - much easier with a car, but very doable if you plan ahead and leave sufficient time for the commute
- Traveling with infants/toddlers and all their assorted "stuff"
- Traveling with seniors or anyone with ambulatory or other physical issues
- Heading off to Universal/Sea World, etc.
- Want to try some off-site restaurants, shopping, etc.

 

[francie57]

We always rent a car. Basically the only time we use it at Disney is to drive from the Boardwalk to Animal Kingdom. We use the AAA parking pass and can park closer than the bus drop off at this park. Other than that we really don't use it but we like knowing if we wanted to go somewhere outside Disney at night we can. We also like that we don't have to leave for the airport as early as ME makes you leave.

 

[jaycat]

We always drive to Disney and after parking our car have never use it the entire time were there. I really don't think you need a car Disney transportation is great.

 

[Alexander]

For me? ABSOLUTELY! I would be a danger to many people if forced to ride Disney transportation! Seriously, I just do not have the patience to wait for the busses, or tolerate many of the people on them. I am an absolute control freak and I cannot control the WDW transportation. I can however control my own rental car.

 

[Alexander]

I can honestly say that one of the things I love about my annual Disney vacation is that I don't have to drive a car the entire time I am there. It is sooooo relaxing that way.

That is soooo funny! I find just the opposite. If I have to wait for WDW Busses to transport me around, I am anything but relaxed!That's just me though--different strokes for different folks!

 

[ntsammy5]

For the first 41 trips we always rented a car - the 42nd was in May at POFQ and we didn't get a car for the first time - no regrets what-so-ever.

 

[Lewisc]

We're planning on visiting Disney in a few weeks - 2 adults and a teenager. I'm wondering if it's necessary to rent a car or if we can make do without. I'm thinking about staying in one of the value resorts to take advantage of the free transportation options.

Any thoughts?

Fern

I'm not sure if I'm reading your post correctly. You want to visit Disney in a few weeks but you haven't made plans? Last minute airfare can be expensive. N/S flights with good flight times might be sold out, or only available at full fare. You may not be able to get restaurant ADRs (reservations) at the restaurant and time you want.

I agree with PP, you don't need to rent a car.

 

[TheWog]

We're planning on visiting Disney in a few weeks - 2 adults and a teenager. I'm wondering if it's necessary to rent a car or if we can make do without. I'm thinking about staying in one of the value resorts to take advantage of the free transportation options.

Any thoughts?

Fern

No, it is not necessary to rent a car. We have gone twice and didn't rent a car either time to get around Disney. They do an excellent job transporting people.

 

[thepwa]

I don't think it is necessary either, but I prefer the flexibility of having my own vehicle, so I rent a car.

Certainly Disney transportation will get me where I need to be, and sometimes I use it even with a car.

 

[B&WMickey]

If money was never an option I'd rent a car. I like the freedom, especially when it comes to dining at other hotels.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you're staying at a Disney resort and only plan to do the Disney parks then you'll be just fine,sure it'll take a bit longer to get places but Disney transportation will get you where you need to go.If you're staying at an offsite hotel no way would I trust one of those free shuttles to the parks,I've heard things like if you miss an 8:30 am shuttle you have to wait until 11am for the next one,if staying offsite rent a car.If you plan to do other parks like Sea World,Universal or Busch Gardens,rent a car,there are transport services but with what they cost I would just spring for a rental car plus you'll get there faster,rental cars can be found pretty inexpensive online.