Offsite but no car, any recommendations?

[Free4Life11]

I'm having trouble researching offsite hotels. I won't have a car and none of the sites list their shuttle information. The last thing I want to do is stay somewhere that has 3 trips a day and stops running at 8 p.m. Is there anywhere to find the shuttle information? Thanks.

 

[stacy6552]

Why are you staying off site? We'd stay at a Disney All-Star before we'd stay off site again, especially is transportation is important to you.

 

[mbb]

because they change it so much.

Friends of ours stayed at the "old" HIExpress, and didn't rent a car. They were there for 4 days, and two of those days did US/IOA, and just cabbed it in the morning, and back at night. And then took a cab to WDW, for their stay onsite at POP.

Worked fine for them, and they realized that taking a cab would cost as much $$$ as renting a car for the entire time, probably.

Driving just wasn't something they wanted to do on their vacation.

You could try calling the front desk of the hotels you narrow your choice down to...you could also try www.golynx.com That's the bus service in Orlando...they drop off at the T&TC, I believe.

HTH!!

 

[CarolA]

I think you are looking at the three trips a day unless you stay at one of the high price hotels where they often charge for the shuttle.

I know that when I looked at the schedule at off site hotels it goes in the morning and returns in the evening... that was about it.

 

[KevinM]

My in-laws stayed offsite 3 years ago and didn't want to rent a car (Sheratan Vistana Resort). They had to pay $7.00 for the shuttle daily, which was not very convenien, and not consistant. They ended up renting a car for the last 4 days they were there.

If at all possible, I would rent a car if staying offsite. Otherwise I would stay onsite, where the shuttles are free and on a constant schedule.

We always rent no matter where we stay, as it is much more convenient and with our APs parking is free! If you shop around you can get a car cheap, usually less than 150.00 weekly. It's worth it, IMO.

 

[littlelaura]

try mears transport. shuttle service that will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off to tour desired park. you just call the night before to request pickup. then you call from the park and let them know when you want to leave. we pre-bought vouchers for this from our travel agent, but if you can call from the states, will try to find the number - i've got it somewhere

 

[Free4Life11]

The problem is I can't get a car. I guess companies only rent if you are over 25? Sure wish someone would make a law to force them to change that :lol:! I always thought staying onsite would be expensive...so I just assumed offsite would be cheaper, and no free breakfast onsite I guess I could always just take a Taxi, I'm only thinking of going to one park maybe and Downtown Disney. Hope they don't gouge you....Or maybe that Mear's shuttle if it's not too expensive.

I found some link to a hotel called Buena Vista Suites that looks nice and afforable. They seem pretty close to so even if the shuttle sucks I could probably take a taxi.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[littlelaura]

ok this is a long long-shot, and a bit cheeky, but if you don't ask you don't get. if you find your hotel doesn't offer a shuttle service, ask a nearby hotel if you can use theirs ( yes i did say it was a long shot) for a small fee.

 

[Viking]

The problem is I can't get a car. I guess companies only rent if you are over 25? Sure wish someone would make a law to force them to change that :lol:! I always thought staying onsite would be expensive...so I just assumed offsite would be cheaper, and no free breakfast onsite I guess I could always just take a Taxi, I'm only thinking of going to one park maybe and Downtown Disney. Hope they don't gouge you....Or maybe that Mear's shuttle if it's not too expensive.

I found some link to a hotel called Buena Vista Suites that looks nice and afforable. They seem pretty close to so even if the shuttle sucks I could probably take a taxi.

Thanks for your suggestions.

What about trying to go through a foreign site: German travel agencies do car rental in the USA for people from 21 on at a slight surcharge.

 

[kalamazoo]

Normally I would encourage staying off-site to get the best value for your money but without a car I think you would really be best to stay on-site. If you are not going during peak season the value resorts are not too unreasonably priced and you get free transportation from the airport (Magical Express) and access to the internal transportation system from your hotel.

My only other suggestion would be to stay at a hotel which is within reasonable walking distance to DTD so you could catch the Disney bus there, but I suspect that those hotels might be more costly than a Disney value resort and you would have to pay to get to and from the airport.

If you do decide to proceed with the off-site idea just be careful to fully research the ammenities. There are lots of pretty awful places to stay as well as pretty nice ones and a free breakfast is not always what it is cracked up to be (for example, if you hate the food you would probably still feel obliged to eat there because it's free). Don't sell yourself short just because you are only plannning one or two days at WDW. In a way those are the times when you are looking for maximum convenience because you do only have one or two days to enjoy the parks and you don't want a transportation issue to cut into your day. Good luck with your search.

 

[spiceycat]

there are 2 companies in Kissimmee/Orlando that rent to anyone over 18.

Alamo Car Rental
ww.enjoyfloridahotels.com

eagle rent a car, inc
www.eagle-rent-a-car.com

there are several others who rent to over 21.
American Rental System
Budget car and truck rental, inc
Dollar rent a car
Enterprise Rent-a-car
Payless Car rental
Thrifty Car Rental
Value rent a car, inc.

 

[CarolA]

My only other suggestion would be to stay at a hotel which is within reasonable walking distance to DTD so you could catch the Disney bus there, but I suspect that those hotels might be more costly than a Disney value resort and you would have to pay to get to and from the airport.

.

However, Disney does not do buses from DTD to the parks and I think they have IDs for those hotel buses.
You can get a rental car, but you are not going to get a good rate. They charge a "premium" for the underage drivers.
Kalamazoo's right.. be sure you understand what the free breakfast is. I know at some Days Inns it's small little cups of orange juice and cold convinece store pastries... Not much of a selection.

 

[spiceycat]

I don't think the Disney buses require an Id yet.

but as Carol pointed out instead of going to the WDW theme parks - they go to the WDW resorts - then you would have to get off this bus and wait to get on another bus.

the bus drivers were telling guests to use the OKW bus services - now they are saying the SSR bus service. I would go with the hotel nearest the park you wish to visit.

Epcot resorts - BC/YC, D/S, BW (sometimes this is one bus) for both Epcot and Studios

MK resorts - WL, Cont, Polyn, GF (I would try for the Cont - then you can walk to the MK) otherwise you need to take either a boat or the monrail

AK resorts - All stars or AKL.

 

[CarolA]

SpiceyCat is right the DTD buses don't require ID. I was thinking if you tried to catch a bus from a DTD hotel. Sorry!

 

[Free4Life11]

You know I looked into a value resort and couldn't believe it was actually CHEAPER than the offsite hotel I was looking at! Plus being on-site would make transportation a breeze, plus all the on-site perks which I don't really know much about but am sure there are some! Thanks again!

 

[jann1033]

I don't think the Disney buses require an Id yet.



.

actually we were asked to show our room id twice over the yrs ( once at FW, can't remember which park but once at a park to get on the bus)

 

[pampam]

I don't know where you are staying, so I can't give you specifics. However, We've gone to disney about 30-40 times and have never rented a car. I'd say about half those times we have stayed on site. The other times we usually stay in the Old town area. We stay in a hotel that offers complimentary shuttle. We like the Old Town, #192 area, because if we miss our shuttle, or it isn't convenient to take the shuttle we catch the lynx bus for $1.25 from the ttc(MK).

However, there is nothing like staying on site. Mind you, when we are staying at Disney we still catch the lynx for shopping, or the go to the Saturday Night Cruise at Old Town

 

[klh999]

Free4Life..

How old are u?? There are many rental companies who will now rent to someone younger, for a small additional charge. I havent looked into Orlando but I know that I have rented a car before I was 25 years old.

 

[SSPrincessMom]

Pampam, can you tell me more about this lynx service? I've never heard of it. Thanks!

 

[angelkisses]

You know I looked into a value resort and couldn't believe it was actually CHEAPER than the offsite hotel I was looking at! Plus being on-site would make transportation a breeze, plus all the on-site perks which I don't really know much about but am sure there are some! Thanks again!

That sounds great! I think you will be much happier. We just returned for a week stay at POP CENTURY which is the newest Value Resort. We never moved our car!!!! Even if you are staying at a value resort there is just something magical about being onsite.