Kidani Car Rental? 6 Adults, Costco Savings?

[MumziMom]

I can't decide if it is a better value to rent a car or not. We are staying at a two bedroom dvc rental at Kidani in August. I could rent a minivan for 7 days at a really good price ($288 in August for the week) so I can do quick shops to Costco (beer, wine, snacks...) and have quick transport to the parks/other resorts. Or should we have snacks and alcohol delivered?

Buying with a car at Costco, I can save about $100 on alcohol (we are not huge drinkers, but 2 drinks a night x 6 nights x 6 adults ends up being substantial savings - I can get a Prosecco I love for $6.99 a bottle, versus about $12.99 a bottle). We will also be going to other resorts to eat dinners, so resort to resort would be easier with a car.

I don't anticipate cooking much, but quick breakfasts in our place, as well as afternoon snacks would be great. I prefer not driving while there, because I think about "time off site" but I also am wondering about the resort-to-resort times. No matter how far, the calculators seem to double the time for the buses versus driving. In August my husband and I tend to go to parks early, hop to another park, come back to the room to rest/swim (or go to a water park for the afternoon), then go out to dinner on the late-ish side, then to whichever park is open late. We don't anticipate the other adults following our time schedule, except at dinner, when we will all eat together, but are considering a van because when we all go, we will need to seat 6 tall adults. Advice? Thanks!

 

[kydisneyfans]

You've hit all the reasons to rent a car while visiting. Resort to resort, especially from Kidani, is much easier by car. Taxi/Uber isn't that expensive though. A grocery run offsite saves a ton of money. While it's doable, if alcohol is a big part of the purchase, I would not have it delivered.

On the flip side, I don't know where Costco is in relation to the airport vs Disney.

Unless it has changed, Kidani is the last stop of 4 after airport pickup, and the first of 4 heading out. 2 1/2 hours after landing isn't unusual for us. With so much sitting, I bet we could get the rental, hit the store, and be at Kidani before the bus would even show up.

Keep price checking the van-we have been under $200 in July but that price didn't hit until the last few weeks. I bet that price may drop a bit more, keep checking. That will make your decision even more worthwhile.

 

[MumziMom]

You've hit all the reasons to rent a car while visiting. Resort to resort, especially from Kidani, is much easier by car. Taxi/Uber isn't that expensive though. A grocery run offsite saves a ton of money. While it's doable, if alcohol is a big part of the purchase, I would not have it delivered.

On the flip side, I don't know where Costco is in relation to the airport vs Disney.

Unless it has changed, Kidani is the last stop of 4 after airport pickup, and the first of 4 heading out. 2 1/2 hours after landing isn't unusual for us. With so much sitting, I bet we could get the rental, hit the store, and be at Kidani before the bus would even show up.

Keep price checking the van-we have been under $200 in July but that price didn't hit until the last few weeks. I bet that price may drop a bit more, keep checking. That will make your decision even more worthwhile.

Kydisneyfans, that was a great answer, thank you so much! My husband said that your answer is swaying him to rent a car. I had one question; was your $200 in July including taxes and fees, or your base price? I am currently seeing $217 + $71.07 taxes & fees, (which includes a second driver.) If I can get the total for under $200, it will be an easy decision.

 

[Judique]

I can't decide if it is a better value to rent a car or not. We are staying at a two bedroom dvc rental at Kidani in August. I could rent a minivan for 7 days at a really good price ($288 in August for the week) so I can do quick shops to Costco (beer, wine, snacks...) and have quick transport to the parks/other resorts. Or should we have snacks and alcohol delivered?

Buying with a car at Costco, I can save about $100 on alcohol (we are not huge drinkers, but 2 drinks a night x 6 nights x 6 adults ends up being substantial savings - I can get a Prosecco I love for $6.99 a bottle, versus about $12.99 a bottle). We will also be going to other resorts to eat dinners, so resort to resort would be easier with a car.

I don't anticipate cooking much, but quick breakfasts in our place, as well as afternoon snacks would be great. I prefer not driving while there, because I think about "time off site" but I also am wondering about the resort-to-resort times. No matter how far, the calculators seem to double the time for the buses versus driving. In August my husband and I tend to go to parks early, hop to another park, come back to the room to rest/swim (or go to a water park for the afternoon), then go out to dinner on the late-ish side, then to whichever park is open late. We don't anticipate the other adults following our time schedule, except at dinner, when we will all eat together, but are considering a van because when we all go, we will need to seat 6 tall adults. Advice? Thanks!

You may not be able to get that bottle of Prosecco at the Orlando area Costco stores.

I will say that buying a bottle of wine in the resort stores at Disney was 'almost' reasonable. Buying a beer = no!

 

[MEM]

We are renting a car next month for our split stay at BCV/AKV. We will have a 1 BR with 3 adults and I will be preparing at least two meals per day in the villa, possibly three. You can see the Super Target from Kidani. I really don't mind as we have been so many times that I like a reason to go back to our villa for a rest. This trip we are also spending a day doing only the Harry Potter attractions at US/IOA. I was able to reserve a full-size sedan for a week for $200, picking it up at the Swan/Dolphin. For some reason DH does not like renting at/driving from the airport. I wonder now if I can do better than $200?

 

[Hisgirl]

We have done it both ways, used the ME and rented a car. Every trip, we have needed a car to do a late night run to a drug store, or had to go buy an unexpected item (tennis shoes etc) off property. It's always something. I tend to go with, it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[KalamityJane]

We are renting a car next month for our split stay at BCV/AKV. We will have a 1 BR with 3 adults and I will be preparing at least two meals per day in the villa, possibly three. You can see the Super Target from Kidani. I really don't mind as we have been so many times that I like a reason to go back to our villa for a rest. This trip we are also spending a day doing only the Harry Potter attractions at US/IOA. I was able to reserve a full-size sedan for a week for $200, picking it up at the Swan/Dolphin. For some reason DH does not like renting at/driving from the airport. I wonder now if I can do better than $200?

We have an SUV in May as well (2-9) and I am at 160 from about 2 months ago. It hasn't dropped, I think that once they announced the AP and DVC previews, that ship sailed

 

[MumziMom]

Hi All,

I looked closer and saw in the fine print: "The reservation may be cancelled at any time, without penalty, prior to pickup of the vehicle." - so I went ahead and made the reservation. For mid August I have a reservation for a minivan for 7 days, $217 + $71.07 taxes & fees, (which includes a second driver.) Total: $288. Through Costco, an Enterprise rental.

I'll keep checking. Everywhere else was close to $200 more.

 

[Branflakes]

I'd say you'd have a tough time finding a better car rental deal than Costco. And I'm pretty sure they will competivitly match for the same class at the same rental agency, enterprise etc.
Have you considered an Amazon delivery? We are going to have my husbands mandatory daily Monster delivered. And some wine as well. I understand there are some benfits to the first use of prime now. Something to look into.
Others in here may have direct info for you.

 

[MumziMom]

Have you considered an Amazon delivery? We are going to have my husbands mandatory daily Monster delivered. And some wine as well. I understand there are some benfits to the first use of prime now. Something to look into.
Others in here may have direct info for you.

Hi! I am looking into an Amazon delivery for a few items. I didn't know that they did wine delivery to Florida, thanks for the tip! We are not huge drinkers, but on vacation we will have two drinks a night, and with 6 adults that really adds up. I need to call the Costco stores in Orlando next, as their Kirkland brand prosecco was the reason renting a car came up in the first place. It is delicious, and at $6.99 a bottle, for a DOCG label (better quality, usually along with higher prices) is an amazing price. I also like their prices on organic vegetables, and sometimes in hot August all I want for a lunch is a salad since we will have big dinners out. I know that there is a Super Target nearby, and will be looking online at their prices as well. Thanks for the Amazon tip!

 

[Branflakes]

Hi! I am looking into an Amazon delivery for a few items. I didn't know that they did wine delivery to Florida, thanks for the tip! We are not huge drinkers, but on vacation we will have two drinks a night, and with 6 adults that really adds up. I need to call the Costco stores in Orlando next, as their Kirkland brand prosecco was the reason renting a car came up in the first place. It is delicious, and at $6.99 a bottle, for a DOCG label (better quality, usually along with higher prices) is an amazing price. I also like their prices on organic vegetables, and sometimes in hot August all I want for a lunch is a salad since we will have big dinners out. I know that there is a Super Target nearby, and will be looking online at their prices as well. Thanks for the Amazon tip!

I'm looking on prime now for Orlando. And I am seeing everything BUT alcohol available. Everyone else delivers alcohol, maybe I'm missing it. My husband thought for sure he saw wines. This subject may need its own thread...

 

[MumziMom]

I had contacted Drizly about delivery of wine/beer, as their site says that they don't deliver there yet. I contacted their help, and discovered that they do deliver, but their database does not yet recognize the Disney addresses, but use other terms, such as Bay Lake. The woman I spoke with was glad for the information, as Drizly is fairly new, so I think the more Disney bound people who contact them, the better. They really need to add the Disney addresses to their database.

 

[SharonZ]

I like car rentals through COSTCO because they waive the 2nd driver fee.

 

[Pumbaa_]

With Kidani I would not stay there without a car. The one time we were there, we were in the pumbaa section (appropriate right? lol)

However, the walk! OMG those hallways were looonnnngggggg
we ended up using the car to go everywhere as we did not want to deal. YMMV

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

I used to love driving in and parking and never moving again. Now I have discovered the joys of having a vehicle while there. We drive to all of the parks. I go grocery shopping the day we get there and buy bfast, snacks, drinks and a couple of pizzas for the boys to have on DW and I's date night. Not to mention we always hit the Ale House for 35 fried shrimp for 11 bucks or however cheap it is. Now I wonder how I ever went and didn't use the truck.

 

[MEM]

With Kidani I would not stay there without a car. The one time we were there, we were in the pumbaa section (appropriate right? lol)

However, the walk! OMG those hallways were looonnnngggggg
we ended up using the car to go everywhere as we did not want to deal. YMMV

So true! especially after walking all day...only to walk down those endless hallways.

 

[scrapquitler]

I can't decide if it is a better value to rent a car or not. We are staying at a two bedroom dvc rental at Kidani in August. I could rent a minivan for 7 days at a really good price ($288 in August for the week) so I can do quick shops to Costco (beer, wine, snacks...) and have quick transport to the parks/other resorts. Or should we have snacks and alcohol delivered?

Buying with a car at Costco, I can save about $100 on alcohol (we are not huge drinkers, but 2 drinks a night x 6 nights x 6 adults ends up being substantial savings - I can get a Prosecco I love for $6.99 a bottle, versus about $12.99 a bottle). We will also be going to other resorts to eat dinners, so resort to resort would be easier with a car.

I don't anticipate cooking much, but quick breakfasts in our place, as well as afternoon snacks would be great. I prefer not driving while there, because I think about "time off site" but I also am wondering about the resort-to-resort times. No matter how far, the calculators seem to double the time for the buses versus driving. In August my husband and I tend to go to parks early, hop to another park, come back to the room to rest/swim (or go to a water park for the afternoon), then go out to dinner on the late-ish side, then to whichever park is open late. We don't anticipate the other adults following our time schedule, except at dinner, when we will all eat together, but are considering a van because when we all go, we will need to seat 6 tall adults. Advice? Thanks!

A couple of grocery/liquor store runs would be even less expensive if you just did an Uber a couple of times rather than renting a car