Okay, car renters- convince me

[jenelope]

I'm going to WDW in late Sept-early Oct with friends who are staying at a different hotel. Not only have I never rented a car to get from MCO to WDW, I've never rented a car, period. But this time, with everyone staying at a different hotel, I think it would be much more convenient to rent a car. Easier to meet my friends in their lobby than at the MK gate, and all that. Convenience isn't even a question. The question for me is, would it be worth the money? If I rented a car, it would probably be just me riding in it and if I were travelling completely alone, I would be taking Magical Express, no question.

I've got a long time to plan. Should I spend it looking for a great rental rate or planning out my bus route and communications plan?

 

[Lewisc]

What hotels will you be staying at? Will both families have cell phones available? Do you want a car so you can go to Universal or go to the outlet malls?

If you're both staying at Disney hotels I'd just meet in the park. Take Disney transportation back to one of your hotels. Worse case just take a cab at night.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I wouldn't want to try to convince you of anything one way or the other, but I will say that we always rent a car for the convenience. If you think it's worth trying, go for it (although that Magical Express thing is really tempting.)

To make renting as easy as possible, you might want to go to SW Airlines' website - www.southwest.com - and click on "car". They have a very easy way to compare rental rates, and then to rent a car, even if you aren't flying on SW. You can make a reservation that looks good to you - remember to use a discount code if you can; AAA, Costco, for example, are common ones. Then if you decide not to use the reservation, just go back to the car rental section of the SW website and cancel it, even just before you go to the airport.

I would make a reservation as far out as possible, and if it's worth your time, check back once in awhile to see if you can get a better rate. Doing this now gives you options if you decide just before your trip that you really would rather have a car.

 

[JDarling]

We used disney transportation in 1999. After being stranded at the bus stop at the TTC after Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party, we decided never to do Disney Transportation again. We didn't have cell phones, so calling a cab wasn't do-able. After about 3 hours (by this time, it's 3am) security gets a bus to come get us (and the other party that was stranded as well). It was really cold and it was NOT fun. So now we rent a car to be more masters of our own destiny. We'd rather lose our rental in a parking lot than get stranded again.

That said - SHOP AROUND! Travelocity has a great car comparison list too. How many people do you think you'll be carting around? Go for the smallest car you think you'll need. Odds are, you may get a cheap/free upgrade at the desk.

 

[Lewisc]

I always figured a car rental, with good codes, isn't that much more than what you'd spend on ground transfers.

With ME being free the analysis changes. Unless you're planning to go offsite, outlet malls or Universal I'd skip the rental car. Disney transportation is decent and you can always grab a cab if you wind up being at a resort late and you don't want to go to DTD to transfer.

 

[jenelope]

Okay, some more details. I'm staying at Pop Century, everyone else is staying at either the Beach Club Villas or Boardwalk Villas. There aren't any children in our group, so we won't have to wrangle any little kids (just big kids!). Presumably, we'll all have cell phones. I know for a fact that I'll have mine charged and ready.

I've always liked WDW transportation and I never leave Disney property. Usually, it's MCO -> Mears -> Disney Busses for a week -> Mears -> MCO. You read that right- I'm a Mears apologist. Makes it even harder to decide to rent a car.

Thanks for all of the advice so far! It's making that decision a little easier.

 

[tinkerbelle22]

We're staying at the Dolphin this time and will be renting a car for the first time - previously it was always MCO to WDW via taxi and back again. We would also take taxis while in WDW to places like the water parks or if it seemed that the buses were being slow etc. The first time we took the Mears Shuttle from MCO to WDW I realized that the per person fee was the same as a taxi to the hotel - and less aggravation. That's why we've always taken taxis. Anyway, I figured that a weekly rate for a premium car from Emerald (big enough to hold 4 plus luggage) is cheaper than all the taxis. I hope, at least. Plus we joined Emerald Club (Nat'l) so that we can go straight from plane to car. I think I will also enjoy the independence. On the other hand, we just heard that there is a new parking charge at the Dolphin (used to be free everywhere if you were a WDW resort guest) so I will have to add that to the equation. Let me know what you think of my logic...

 

[cruiseonmagic]

We used disney transportation in 1999. After being stranded at the bus stop at the TTC after Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party, we decided never to do Disney Transportation again. We didn't have cell phones, so calling a cab wasn't do-able. After about 3 hours (by this time, it's 3am) security gets a bus to come get us (and the other party that was stranded as well).

I'm just curious--how did you get stranded at TTC? If the transportation was running to get you there, it should have been running to get you out of there as well. The cab stand is at TTC so you shouldn't have had to call them. It was cold, and you waited there for 3 hrs--instead of walking next door to the Poly. TTC is also transportation base, so there are bus drivers, maintainance people, and security there 24 hrs/day. Come on...let's hear the whole story.


Jenelope,
I would think that it would be a heck of a lot more convenient just to meet them at their bus stop when you are supposed to meet some place. No need to get up even earlier than normal, go get the car, drive to BC, park, drive to park, deal with parking and trams, then track down your car at night.

There are a lot of people who complain about having to stand in line for a bus back to their hotel from MK, so they drive themselves---and stand in line for a boat or monorail to TTC, then stand in line for a tram to parking, then walk to their cars, then wait in the traffic line to get out. But at least they didn't have to wait for the bus.