Rent a car or not?

[Cindyrellablue]

In Dec, DH and I will be staying for 8 nights with a split stay 4 nights at BCV and 4 nights at BLT and need advice on whether or not to rent a vehicle for this trip.

We have the DxDP and we have quite a few TS ADRs made (at least 2 a day) both in the parks and at the resorts. I am worried that most of our time will be spent on buses and boats going from one resort to the other.

Is it worth it to rent a car when the other transport is there w/o fees?

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

At BLT, I wouldn't think you need one. At BCV, maybe. We are going almost the same time you are (11/30 - 12/5) and are staying at AKL. We are renting a car this time, as this is the first time we aren't staying at a monorail resort.

We usually get a town car two and from the airport, but this trip we're doing a car for essentially the same price. Never done ME, and from what I've heard I never really want to, your mileage may vary.

 

[esrags01]

Having a car always makes our stay more enjoyable. As you know the busses are slow. Taking a taxi between resorts is expensive--we have done it in the past. If the cost of a car rental is within your budget, I would recommend it.

 

[AnimalPrincess]

If you plan on going to other resorts I would have a car. We stayed at BWV last year (same buses as BCV) and boy what a pain! ugh I hate the buses, get a car jm2c

 

[fers31]

I've never NOT had a car and will always encourage people to rent them. Car rentals in Orlando are relatively cheap, you're not at the mercy of Disney's buses plus you can eat offsite as well.

 

[MikeNY]

We have always enjoyed the flexibility of having our own car. It works out well for:
- Arriving at the parks before they open
- Leaving the parks at closing time (to avoid bus lines)
- Jumping from park to park in one day
- Grocery shopping

 

[tjkraz]

As is often the case, you get what you pay for.

Buses are free but they often leave something to be desired. Routes are limited and wait times will vary.

One day during a past trip we went from Animal Kingdom Lodge to Animal Kingdom. After lunch we headed to Blizzard Beach and then straight to Downtown Disney in the evening before returning to our resort. With a car they were all short trips. Without a car such a trip wouldn't have even been practical. There is no bus service from DAK to BB, nor from BB to DTD.

When you have a car, your options are unlimited. Without a car you are limited to the routes Disney has in place.

Uncertainties can also cause you time. If you need to make an ADR at another resort hotel, you will probably find yourself leaving 60-90 minutes ahead of time to make sure that you are not late. If you have access to a car, it's probably a direct trip of no more than 15 minutes.

Staying at BLT and BCV helps since you do have easy access to a couple of parks. But again, you're forced to structure your plans around those resort stays.

 

[skelooch]

In Dec, DH and I will be staying for 8 nights with a split stay 4 nights at BCV and 4 nights at BLT and need advice on whether or not to rent a vehicle for this trip.

We have the DxDP and we have quite a few TS ADRs made (at least 2 a day) both in the parks and at the resorts. I am worried that most of our time will be spent on buses and boats going from one resort to the other.

Is it worth it to rent a car when the other transport is there w/o fees?

What exactly do you mean by "quite a few TS ADRs made (at least 2 a day)"

 

[tjhsr]

we always rent a car can't get everyone ready to leave at least a hr early. but when its just the two of us we really don't use the car much.

 

[jekjones1558]

Lots of ADRs at resorts? Absolutely get a car. No way would I want to deal with buses to get to meals. We always rent a car even when we don't eat on property. We like the freedom it offers. Check the Transportation board for hints on good rates.

 

[Dean]

We drive so we always have a car and we use it for everything except when we're making moves from one park to another and for MK. However, for this situation I likely would not rent a car or would rent it for just a few days mid stay from the Swan/Dolphin area or enterprise. However, it depends on your personal style, how close you are on timing and the specific reservations that you have.

 

[JWG]

We've done both, car and no car. Also have done ME and rented a car on/near property to avoid the additional airport fees.

We prefer a car because we always do at least 1-2 TS meals at a resort and getting to resorts is much easier. You don't have to transfer at DTD and allows 90-120 minutes for busing.

ME and renting near property is the best of both worlds for us. We love the anticipation and excitement of ME to the resort (especially our DD), and we also like not paying airport fees when renting. Often times, we can rent one-way from the resort back to the airport, avoid the fees and avoid the early pick-up times ME requires back to the airport.

Or, even better, priceline is great for getting a car. They're always either through National/Alamo/Hertz for the most part and you can get some good rates. $10/day compact for sure (if just two of you) and $10-$12 for intermediate is possible as well.

 

[mel&me]

Only once did we not have a car. Hated it. now we always get a car.

 

[mdsd8700]

We always get a car. We like to visit most of the resorts on each of our trips. We either have ADRs or just like to visit just to look around. For us we love the ability to get anywhere.

 

[PKWallaby]

Another vote for renting a car. We have gone without in the past and really missed the freedom of setting our own schedule. Well, that and the fun trips to the outlets for my discount Disney fixes (just love getting deals on real WDW merchandise!).
Since we enjoy the benefit of using ME (can't stand waiting for our bags when those buses are ready to take us away!) we rent from Alamo/National and pick up at Dolphin (use code ORLR74 for Alamo ORLR13 for Natl). The pick ups and drop offs are a breeze (never a line and just return to the valet when you are done). Of course, you don't get to pick out the rental like at the airport, but we have always been pleased with what we are given.
If you can swing it, I'd say go for the rental (and check Mousesavers for great discount codes!).

Good luck!!

 

[rlovew]

Well I will be going against the grain here. We always drive as we live less than 3 hours away but we park our car and never get back in it until we leave on most trips. We just use Disney transportation because we feel it is easier and many times for us it has been quicker than using our own.

From BLT getting to resorts for reservations is easy as you can get a bus direct to a resort by walking over to the MK bus stop. There are so many great places to eat in the BCV area that I would guess that you could easily make the reservations for those places on nights you are there. Also it is a fairly easy and quick boat ride to DHS where you can again pick up a bus to any resort.

Now we tend to eat early enough where getting back to our resort is fairly easy or we are leaving dinner for a nightime show and just heading to a park but I would have to say that at the resorts you are staying at I wouldn't bother renting a car except maybe for 1 day (if it was a good enough price) to get food for the room if you plan on snacking/cooking there.

 

[jimmytammy]

We enjoy having our car, especially for between resorts. If you can weighout how important your time is, that may be your best deciding factor. I would say best case scenario for getting from park to resort should be around 45 mins. Resort to resort, 1 hr. 30 mins. So depending on what scenario you are most likely to be in, see which works best, costs of rental vs. loss of time.

Another factor in having your own vehicle, being able to go offsite to get supplies. Good ex., we have friends at OKW right now, been there almost 2 weeks. He was at Walgreens last night getting meds for nasty cold he get while being on vacation. Tough to justify those things when having to get transportation by other means. Just saying

 

[dbs1228]

This thread is interesting since we are going to BLT for 5 nights in Dec with friends and have been discussing whether to get a car or not. We have never NOT had a car since we always traveled with kids and wanted the convience of coming and going as we please. I keep hearing about not needing a car but after this thread I am convinced I will be lost without one!

I do have to say one year I forgot to reserve a car for Feb early and when I did go to do it the prices were crazy so I looked offsite and found the same car (dollar car rental) return it to the airport on the day we were leaving for 300.00 less! Car company picked us up at our resort (stayed off site for 2 nights before moving)

 

[disneynutz]

The last few years we always get a car. Renting from Alamo at the Dolphin is very easy and the money spent is well worth it.

In addition to the above reasons, having a car makes it real easy to visit the resorts if you want to tour the holiday decorations.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

The last few years we always get a car. Renting from Alamo at the Dolphin is very easy and the money spent is well worth it.

In addition to the above reasons, having a car makes it real easy to visit the resorts if you want to tour the holiday decorations.

Bill

We are doing the same this summer and did it last summer as well. We are paying about $150 less to pick it up there the day after our arrival (returning to the airport) then if we pick it up on arrival day.

So, we are taking ME to BCV and will pick it up the next day.