Off-site hotel with a toddler - rent a car?

[allegrator]

We will be in Orlando next week for the first time. We are staying at an off-site hotel for a business conference. We would like to spend two days visiting the park - Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

Our hotel provides shuttle service to and from the Magic Kingdom, but at very limited times. I would ideally like to bring our baby back for a mid-day nap at the hotel before returning in the afternoon.

Question: is taxi transportation fairly reliable, and do we need to provide our own carseat?? In that case, what in the world do we do with the seat when we get to get to the park?

OR

Should we just rent a car and drive/park ourselves? Is driving to and from the parks pretty straightforward and time-efficient?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[imthatgirl]

To be completely honest I would never go to Disney without a rental car...whether I'm staying on or off property. Expecially with a baby.

 

[goofy's_gurl]

We will be in Orlando next week for the first time. We are staying at an off-site hotel for a business conference. We would like to spend two days visiting the park - Epcot and the Magic Kingdom.

Our hotel provides shuttle service to and from the Magic Kingdom, but at very limited times. I would ideally like to bring our baby back for a mid-day nap at the hotel before returning in the afternoon.

Question: is taxi transportation fairly reliable, and do we need to provide our own carseat?? In that case, what in the world do we do with the seat when we get to get to the park?

OR

Should we just rent a car and drive/park ourselves? Is driving to and from the parks pretty straightforward and time-efficient?

Thanks for any suggestions!

IMO, I'd get a rental car. I heard horror stories about cabs.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think I would just get a rental car.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

First, I would rent a car. Second, depending on where you are staying, getting back to the resort for a nap may not be easy. It depends greatly where you are staying - but it could easily take you over an hour each way to get back and forth to your resort. The drive back basically becomes the break. if you want to have dinner inthe park, by the time you get back to the resort, it's pretty much time to turn around again - esp if you have a dinner ADR.

I'm not being mean, I'm just saying that often when we try to 'break,' it doesn't turn out to be very relaxing. It's more like a challenge.

It helps if you don't have a dinner reservations.

Something that has worked better for us is to simply have a stroller that reclines. The child can nap in the stroller, if your child will nap in one. Otherwise, getting out of he parks and riding around onthe monorail or a boat ride may be just the thing. You can also take a break by visiting one of the nearby resorts (depending on which park you are at.) Most of the resorts have nice quiet areas.

Another idea is simply to keep your days shorter.
There ARE some resorts that are convenient enough to make a break realistic, but also plenty of Orlando resorts that are up near Universal Studios - or even in downtown Orlando (even further!)

The one time I used a shuttle was with adults only. We quickly decided it was not worht it. Getting to the park was fine. We happened to want to RETURN to our resort at a popular time. The bus was full, and we had to wait for the next bus to show up. It was another full hour.

A car with a small child is nice for p.o.m, too. You can make that late night trip to the pharmacy; you can get groceries.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

If I were to ever stay offsite I would never rely on thier shuttles. I once arrived at Epcot at 2pm and saw a group waiting on thier hotel shuttle out in the hot blazing sun in the parking lot (in September mind you), when we left at 8 they were still out there waiting. Same group but more people. Some of the tourists had on very distinct clothing. That experience alone (and I've seen others just not that bad) would keep me from ever relying on a shutte.

Ther is no way with a baby. Rent the car.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

and
to the Dis, allegrator!

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[67mike]

You would be INSANE not to rent a car.....if you can afford to.

We stay onsite, and we rent cars! Driving by the people sweating in the bus shelter/stops on the way in your air conditioned car...then skipping the wait/crowded bus at end of the day...PRICELESS.

 

[tinka-belle]

When I have clients that stay off site I always recommend a car rental.

Yes, you will pay $14/day to park at Disney, but the off site hotel's comp shuttles only run on a limited schedule, and that schedule might not be yours. Several of those shuttles go to a few related resorts as well as the other parks, so it's not always a direct trip. Cabs can be pricey and not always available right away either. Unless it's a holiday week car rental prices in Orlando are pretty reasonable.

Drive yourself to the parks. Keep a few items you might need during the day in the car too, but be mindful of the heat and a HOT car. As the OP said, it can sometimes take an hour to get from a park to the lot to the car then drive yourself to your resort. I'd allow at least that amount of time.