Magical Express or rental car?

[***tink386]

We have a ten day trip planned for the end of September. We will be staying on property at POR. My husband has just told me he would like to spend a day at Universal. We also have 3 dining reservations at different resort hotels and plan to do both water parks. Do you think we should rent a car at MCO and just have the car for our use while we are at WDW? Would it make it easier to just use Disney Transportation or have our own car? I just looked at Dollar, and I can get a car for the 10 days for $253.60. Any help would be appreciated....

 

[cvs2kids]

I think we're going to be there the same time (Sep 19-30?).

Unfortunately (for you ), I'll be staying at POP.

Well, here's a $$ way to look at it.

Using Disney, transportation extra costs would be;

Town car (return) to US $65. (Mears charges $15pp for a common shuttle for a cheaper route)

Return fares from Other resorts.. $40 x 3= $120. Depending what resort you're going too (say Contemporary), Disney Transporttation isn't to bad (bus to MK, monorail to Contempary). Or use DT to ADR resort and then taxi back to your resort.

DT to the waterparks and back was good from the All stars (my experience), so I'm assuming from your location too.

So for under $200, you could use a combination of ME, taxis and busses. Compare that to 253.60 plus gas plus parking fares, you would be cheaper to forget the car.

For convenience, the rental car is great.

 

[Lewisc]

You might price a one week rental with a pickup/drop off at S/D. Seven days should be more than enough.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Agree with the poster that said to use the Dolphins site for a rental. Alamo & National has a location there. They are open until 4pm and you can rent for one day or as long as you'd like. The rates tend to be higher than at MCO, but you won't need the car for the whole week.

I am going mid Sept. and still a little undecided which we are going to do, but here is what I found.... some discount/coupon codes:

Thurs pick up 3:30p midsize car until Sunday 3:30 pm $63.00 including all taxes & fees at Dolphin location.

Thurs pick up at 10:30 MCO midsize car until Wed. 4:30pm $152. including all taxes & fees.

 

[***tink386]

Thanks for the help. Did you find coupon codes on Mousesavers.com? If not, can I ask what the codes are? Thanks...........

 

[justplaingoofy]

I don't mind you asking.. always like to help a fellow dis'er!

We have a Bjs card. Found the best deals w/ Bjs, Sams, etc. (but I think you may have to show the card)
Heard some people have gotten great rates with American Express.

Check mousesavers for discount codes. In the past we have used Walmart codes. You have to play around with them.. When i checked again the other day when I added Nationals code ?ad something? my rate went from $63 to $200! Guess which one I kept?

 

[LoraJ]

For the sake of convenience, I would get a rental car.
It's also great to have if you want to head over to a grocery store to stock up on bottled water, soda and snacks.