Need a lot of help with the following... major dilemma

[ChisJo]

Alright, here's the scenerio. Next year, we are planning our trip to WDW and Orlando for 14 days. We are doing it on the lowest budget you could possibly think of A) because I am a full time college student, and B) we are newleyweds with little money. We were thinking of a whole bunch of different ways to cut costs for the honeymoon. Question is: should we consider renting a car compared to doing shuttles or taxis, or should we use priceline to try to get the best deal, use the car for the 7 days while in Orlando, and just do in-world transportation while in WDW? We thought about this and thought with the price of gas being so high, would it be worth it to rent? But then I think I could get a great deal through priceline, and then I would never have to wait for the cab or shuttles to take us anywhere and we would never be at the mercy of them. So, what do you think???

Joline

 

[Lewisc]

If you're trying to save money you might consider shortening your trip. Car rental agencies charge a surcharge (even through hotwire and priceline) for drivers under age 25. Most of us waive all car rental insurance (covered under our personal auto policy and/or credit card) but I'm not sure if that applies to Canadians.
I suspect when you add in the surcharges and fees you might skip the car rental.

 

[Humpbacks1962]

Nothing beats staying on property for me. Driving in Orlando is not bad at all, gas is cheap but it is just the convenience of hopping in a bus anytime and have someone else drive for you, even when you're so beat at the end of the day. Not to mention you don't pay parking at the parks!

All depends on what you are loking for. Do you just want to see the parks or head out and see Orlando in general?

I'd get discount codes, book a vacation on site if you are not interested in visiting anything else in Florida, avoid packages and keep reading the advice on these boards to save yourself some money when you go.

Wanda

 

[Saffron]

I too am a full time college student. I wouldn't rent a car whether staying on or off property.

The next time we go to Disney we will be going to IOA, US and SeaWorld in the beginning of our vacation then going to Disney World and the All Star Movies for the rest of our vacation. After much research and much help from these boards I've decided to stay off property at a good hotel (Sheraton - Studio City Hotel) which offers transportation to IOA, US and SeaWorld. When we get to Disney we will strictly use Disney transportation. Vacationing this way will save us boocoo bucks and lots of tension - I rented a mini van last time down and driving stressed me out. From the Sheraton I think we can take the Lynx bus to the Disney factory outlet stores for even more savings!

Good luck in school and Congratulations on your marriage!

 

[Cindy B]

You will get surcharged up the wazoo for the rental car if you are under 25.

Gas prices are not going to be as high as they are now, next year, just looking at projected figures.

Use on site transportation, its not bad, in fact very very easy (depending on where you stay of course) I've never had problems.

You may do better shortening the trip, that may prove more affordable.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I guess I am a dissenting opinion when it comes to renting a car while at WDW. A typical trip to Orlando for us is 1 week not 2, so the cost of a rental car may be a bigger factor for you then it usually is for us.

That being said - we ALWAYS rent a car when at WDW and find it to be invaluable. We have done WDW using the buses, etc. Found ourselves spending more time than we wanted to waiting, sitting on air conditioned buses in wet bathing suits and so on.

When we do WDW we move around a lot. A typical day for us might include all of the following: a character breakfast at a hotel in the am, a park, back to our hotel for a swim/nap, to a waterpark for a few hours, back to our hotel for a shower, someplace for dinner, then to another park at night. It would be impossible to do all this enjoyably without a car. It would involve too many busses, most of them not direct, and a lot of wasted time.

So bottom line, I believe it depends on how you want to do WDW. If you are going to get up in the am, go to a park, stay there, eat there, and not move around a lot - using transportation and not getting a car may work. On the other hand, if you want to have the most flexibility, see many different places, visit different hotels, and be able to use your hotel for midday swims or rests, I think a car is worth it no matter what the cost. Just my two cents. Good luck with your decision.