Limo vs. rental car

[Mylove2002]

Which would you pick? Limo service or rental car. We (me and 2DDs) arrive at 10:00 pm for a 4 night stay. I've got a car rented with Alamo. Don't really want to stand in line and driving myself in unfamilar area, but hate to be without a car incase we want to visit other resorts or go outside park. Price is about the same. Which would you chose?

 

[ktglads]

For a short stay, I would say go with the towncar. Although it makes you dependent on the Disney transportation, I have never had a problem and it would be easier for you to just get off the plane and meet the driver who could help you with the bags (not sure how old your dds are) and take you straight to the resort rather than getting a car and then attempting to get the Disney by yourself.

Also, it saves you about a half hour or so leaving since you are dropped off at the door and just have to check in for your flight rather than having to return the car and then go check in.

If you feel the need to go off property, there are taxis readily available and two rental locations on property that you could rent from if you deemed it necessary.

 

[Amirah95]

I like to go when I want to so I always get a rental car even if I don't use it often.

 

[disneyag]

We always use a towncar service. Depending on your length of stay, it could be cheaper than a rental. We rented 10 years ago, parked our car at the BC lot and didn't move it the entire time we were there. Towncar service is so convenient.

 

[sbdw]

Can anyone suggest a good limo service. I've used Mears before and was happy with them. My parents will be meeting us for our next trip and I though it would be nice to have a towncar waiting for them rather than have them wait for a van or bus.
Any suggestions?

 

[Fire14]

I've used Tiffany town car and been very happy and there is a 5.00 off coupon on website or 8.00 off coupon in back of passporter.
Also FLtours is offical town car of Dis.

 

[sbdw]

Thanks! that gives me some great ideas.

 

[dj2]

especially if it's the same price.

if you want to visit other resorts (which is fun for meals, pressed pennies, etc.), then a car will save you lots of time.

check www.mousesavers.com to see if you can get your rental car rate down even cheaper.

go south out of the airport and the driving is really simple to wdw. if i can do it, you can too!

dj

 

[vandalengr]

I always rent a car now.

First, in almost all cases I have been able to rent a car, even for an entire week, for little more, and often less than Mears charges.

Second, with the exception of the Magic Kingdom, I have found that it is almost always faster to drive from my hotel, even a Disney hotel, to any Disney park.

Having a car gives you a great deal of flexibility. Not to mention, you never have to wait for the bus or shuttle, deal with others screaming children at the end of the day, etc.

If you think you might want to go anywhere off of Disney property, even to a restaurant, pharmacy, or grocery store; a car is a must.

To avoid the lines or delay in picking up a car, I:
- Always rent from a company that is at the airport. Offsite rentals can add a great deal of time.
- Avoid Alamo. It always seems to have the longest lines. Other agencies I have often been able to get my rental agreement, even before my luggage is ready to claim.

 

[Amirah95]

I agree with vandalengr! Welcome to the Dis!

 

[Disnutty]

Totally agree with vandalengr and Amirah95!!! If its the same price then rent a car. It gives you a great deal of versatility and if there is an emergency at home you are not dependent upon a car service and their schedule. Even if it just sits there all vacation the peace of mind is more than worth it. Go with the rental car.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Ah...another tough decision. We did both on our two trips this summer.

At one time, I would have said go with the transportation service - it seemed so much easier than renting a car. We did it this way almost everytime we went to WDW.

But, now I am in the rental car camp. You never have to wait on transportation and you are always guaranteed a comfortable seat - neither of which is offered by the WDW transportation.

You also skip those awful, long and sweaty lines after the parks close and standing body to body on a rocky bus ride. Eliminating that is worth something.

Even if the rental car is more expensive and a bit of a hassle, we'll probably rent a car from this point forward - even when staying onsite.

 

[SherGoof]

With only being there four days, you probably won't have the time to go off-site. Leave the hassle to someone else and get the towncar, they'll load your bags, meet you at the airport and you can relax. Short visits are wasted on rental cars (IMHO).

 

[marcdavd]

Count me in the towncar camp. We rented our first trip and while it is convenient to have transportation at your fingertips, you still have to drive to the park, park the car, wait for a shuttle to and from the park...

This last time we went with the towncar and found it to be the right fit. We even did used it to go to universal (gasp!) a couple of days. It was convenient and well worth the price. We used Payless Transportation. While they don't have the brand spanking new vehicles that Mears and others have, Sam and his employees did a great job in getting us to the airport and back, as well as our abovementioned sidetrip. Relying on Disney transportation isn't all bad - it gets you where you need to go.

If you don't plan on going anywhere but Disney, go with the towncar and avoid having to go to the rental counter - probably outside the airport - and hassling with a rental.

Have a great time.

 

[SkipperBubba]

We (DW and I) were planning our first trip to the World together and she was in the car camp and I was in the Disney transport camp. She came up with the idea for a convertible and I was sold on the car idea the second I saw the bus lines at ASMo. We still rent the car, even though we've taken to staying at the WL, and we use it for everything except the MK. It's a lot easier to drive to Epcot or MGM, flash the AAA Diamond parking voucher and park up front. So, if the cost is equivalent, you might prefer the car route for the convenience and the "what if?" factor.

 

[dj2]

I still vote car.

we decided to try the disney transport system one day on our recent trip. we took the bus from POP to MK in the morning and that was fine. then we took the monorail to GF for the Cinderella dinner at about 7:30 p.m. after we we're done eating and watching the electric water pageant, MK was closed for more than an hour, so the only way back to POP was to take a bus to downtown disney and then take another bus to POP. it took *over an hour* to get to our resort, traveling on a hot, crowded bus, and we agreed we'd always take the car from then on.