I've been surprised at the number of "get a car" responses so far. I agree.
Some of this has been touched on already, but here's my input:
- Magical Express is for Disney resort guests only. If you're not staying at a Disney resort, make sure you rent a car. It is true that some outside properties have transportation to WDW, but I wouldn't want to rely on it. Especially with a 3 year old, you don't want to be tied into a shuttle schedule.
- If you're staying at a Magic Kingdom resort (Wilderness, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Ft Wilderness) the transportation to Magic Kingdom and Epcot is quite good and doesn't require a bus. From all other Disney resorts and to all the other parks regardless of resort, you'll have to bus it if you don't have a car.
- It is true that a bus should show up within 20 minutes or so to get you to or from a park. It is not necessarily true you'll be able to get on that bus. For example, last March I had left my car at Magic Kingdom and was returning to there from Animal Kingdom in early afternoon. There was at least 150 people waiting to board a bus to MK and no bus came for at least 15 minutes. Solution: I boarded a bus to Epcot and took the monorail to MK (Ticket and Transportation Ctr).
- You'll also have to decide, whether or not you rent a car, whether to bring your own stroller or rent one from Disney. There's a lot of advantages and disadvantages to both...if you bring your own, you have to transport it on the bus, or carry in your car and carry on the tram (which can be a pain). If you use a Disney stroller, you may not have the storage you're used to, it can be difficult to find and you won't have it in parking lots and Disney transport (although if you rent one in one park, I believe you can get a free replacement for that day in another park...if they're available),
- You also have the option of using Magical Express to take you to WDW and back to MCO AND you can rent a car.
Alamo/National has two onsite agencies, one at the Dolphin hotel and one at the Car Care Center, which is on the exit road from Magic Kingdom. If you're thinking of using Magical Express, it wouldn't hurt to go to Alamo's site and see how the rates compare for renting from those locations. This also gives you the option of renting a car for part of your trip. (If you reserve a car this way, you call the agency the day before you want the car and they'll come to your resort and pick you up and take you to the Car Care Center. When you give it back, they'll drop you off at a resort or a park). I've found that usually rentals are somewhat more expensive at CCC or Dolphin, but not always.
Lots to consider, but I vote for renting a car.