Practicality of using a rental car

[pad406]

Hi all, we ill be making our first visit this Christmas/New Years. We will have a rental car with us and be staying on site somewhere, still can't decide where. For at least some of the time we are thinking of staying in the Animal Kingdom, which seems a bit out of the way from the maps. As it's sooo busy and the transportation will be stretched to it's limits, is it practical to use the car. As we are on-site can we park it up without charge at any of the parks or do we pay again? If we drive and park are we coming in a different entrance and can't get in for the early/late resident only hours? Anyting else to consider

 

[MinnieVanMom]

If you do pick AK I would definitely rent a car to save time. The only park AK Lodge is close to is AK, the rest are a bit farther and the busses do take time.

 

[eliza61]

We are absolutely hooked on a car whenever we travel to Disney. It is always much quicker than the buses. when my kids were small, I absolutely hated the stroller issue on buses.

Never go without one now.

 

[madthemouse]

Another vote for using a rental car. First five years we used Disney Transportation. The last eleven years, we have used a rental car. IMO, that works so much better for us, going to the parks, dinner, DTD and off site. I would never not rent a car.

You do enter the parks just as everyone else does. No special entrance. But you do get a cool ride on one of the Trams from the parking area to the entrance. I look at it as being the first ride of the day.

And parking is free, when you are staying at a Disney resort.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A couple of warnings.

First, it is ALWAYS easier and more efficient to use WDW transportation to get to and from the Magic Kingdom. The bus (monorail/boat if applicable) will drop you off right by the park entrance - couple of hundred yards away, maybe). Driving, you will either have to walk or take a tram to the TTC, then the monorail or ferry to the MK entrance plaza.

The other reason you may want to consider using WDW transportation is the timing of your visit. It's very possible that, at least some days, one or more parks will be at some stage of closure. I believe the first stage is that they close the parking lots, so that only WDW buses - and, therefore reasonably, WDW onsite Guests - can get into the parking lots. This wouldn't be a concern first thing in the morning, but if you were to leave a park for a midday break and drive somewhere else, you would want to check - with, for example, your hotel - before driving to that or a different park.

 

[shoes99]

As Kay said, you are going at the busiest time of the year. The MK lot usuallys closes to capacity at 10AM, and they reroute the cars to the Animal Kingdom parking lot. I would use WDW transportation to all the parks the week between Christmas and New Years. You can try driving to AK, but expect big crowds even in that parking lot.

 

[pad406]

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify, if we drive to one of the car parks, we don't have to pay as we are on-site, but we will not be able to enter the park early?

 

[dburg30]

If you are staying on site you can enter the extra magic hours park that has AM hours...
And correct, onsite guests park for free at the parks.

 

[Ln42]

We stayed onsite and went to the evening magic hours too but there was no capacity issue at the time of our visit.

We always used DIS transportation when the family was young..easier, no thinking and we did the meal plan. Now as we have grown up, we love the car as a way to go to DTD, offsite eating, and shopping. We also load it up with our jackets and drinks so we can just run out mid day and change for the evening temps. Just remember what part of the parking lot you are in as they are huge!

 

[TheWog]

From AKL the farthest park is MK and that is about a 15 minute bus ride tops. I would take the bus there as others have mentioned for the ease of getting to the gates. AK is less than 5 min bus ride so another easy one to get to. DHS and EPCOT are your call. If the bus lines are full you could take your car, but that is your call. We really like the WDW transportation.

 

[airhead]

Can't imagine not having my own transportation when I need it. I'm all for renting!