Magical Express AND a car

[amery]

The details:

We will be kidless for our upcoming trip in Dec and will be staying at CSR for 8 nights. We will NOT be in a park on our arrival day and WILL be visiting the 'other' guys for the next 3 days. We will be in AK on the day of departure (7:30 flight).

The questions:

1) How soon can we expect to see our luggage on arrival day using ME?
2) When would we have to return to CSR for our ME trip back to MCO?
3) Can I arrange for a rental at the resort?
4) Realistically, how often might I want to use the car INSTEAD of buses and/or the monorail to get to and from the parks or to DTD?

It's a no brainer from a cost standpoint that it will be cheaper per day to have the car for our entire stay versus only 3 1/2 days but can I justify the extra dollars for little to no use once once we confie ourslelves to the world?

Thanks

 

[kaytieeldr]

1 - it can take up to three hours after you check in and your room is available for your luggage* to magically show up in your room, whether you're in it or not (you don't need to be).
2 - your assigned bus will depart about three hours before your flight does; you'll need to be waiting at the pickup spot with your entire party and any carry-on luggage** fifteen minutes prior to that time.
3 - you can, but expect spur of the moment rentals to be expensive. Alamo and National are are the Car Care Center and will send a shuttle for you.
4 - NO idea. I'm perfectly content to use WDW transportation... except, a couple of years ago, I was meeting people for tea my last day and didn't expect to make it back to my resort in time for the DME bus. I was there for nine nights, and I knew my options: taxi or town car from GF to the airport; taxi from GF to OKW in time for the bus; or rent a car for the last day. All were about the same price ~$60.

I kept checking the car rental rates, and ended up with an amazing deal - something like $74 for eight days. I had to go back to the airport the day after I arrived, and Magical Express will do that for you since each Guest is allowed one round trip during their stay Now, I used the car three times and never to go to a park: once to move from SSR to OKW; once to go food shopping; once to go buy cigarettes but yes, it was worth the money in that case.

*Always always always always always always always have a carry-on with: valuables, travel documents, medications, and whatever items one will need for the first 24 hours at one's destination!

**If you're not flying home on a participating airline, you'll also need to have the luggage you're checking

 

[Pembo]

4) Realistically, how often might I want to use the car INSTEAD of buses and/or the monorail to get to and from the parks or to DTD?

We used our car alot! It is so nice to have the freedom to "get there" quickly. I especially like for DTD, bus service there always seems very slow to me.
We also used our car for the parks except MK. We parked at Epcot much closer than the bus stop. ST parking was just beyond the bus stop but we used a tram and it was easier.

Also the trip from the airport is quick. I used ME one time and waited over an hour for a bus to WDW. We split up for car rental. I get the bags, DH goes to the rental counter and then we meet up to go get the car. We can be at WDW in about 45 mins.