Rent a Car vs Disney Transportation

[JimMIA]

One thing we do sometimes is to just do bus roulette. We'll go to the closest bus stop, and whichever is the first themepark bus to arrive, is the park we go to.

Let me see if I read this correctly... Our uber-planning guru/engineer plays bus roulette???

 

[50 years Too!]

We mostly use a rental car. We didn't have one on our very first trip in 1991.
Every trip since has included a rental car!
We don't mind taking the boat from VWL to MK or Contemporary, or the monorail from Epcot to MK, but drive everywhere else. On our spring break trip (with 6 kids),we split up. DH and DS took the car to surf lessons while I took the girls to Chef Mickeys. Caught the bus from our resort BWV. Waited 20 minutes for the bus, stopped at Swolphin, spent 15 minutes for wheelchairs and strollers to load (issues about the lift). Stopped at BCV, waited for strollers, approx. 10 minutes, stood the rest of the way (gave up our seats to parents with little ones), 10 minutes to monorail. Waited 10 minutes for monorail, got to Contemporary 10 minutes late for our reservation that we had allowed an hour to get there.
Not my favorite form of transportation.

Deb

 

[LIFERBABE]

In the beginning we were diehard have to have a car people. But there is something to be said for using Disney transportation.

We've learned to enjoy the leisurely pace of things while at WDW. We talk and laugh and have a little more freedom when we are not worried about missing our turn or looping around or all the crazy drivers that want to play chicken with the busses.

Dh and I definitely get on each others nerves alot less when we take the bus or boat or walk, so Im all for Disney Transportation!

We still drive to the waterparks, if we have our pov, but I can definitely see trips in our future where if we fly, we wont have a vehicle at all. ME has definitely given us more pause about renting a car when before it was a no-brainer.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We live in Virginia and always take our car on the AutoTrain to Florida. We much prefer having our own transportation. Sometimes we don't use it during our complete stay, but sometimes we want to travel out on our own. Plus, we pack everything we need into the car including some groceries. Works out cheaper that way.

 

[squirrlygirl]

I'm enjoying hearing everyone's reasoning behind this! Every trip DH and I say we're going to just use ME, and every trip we end up getting a rental. We currently plan on being without a car in February, but that gives me 53 days to change my mind

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We've ALWAYS used Dis transportation even when we've had our own car with us. The only reason I would consider using our own or renting a car is to eat off of WDW property. Otherwise, we're on vacation! We honestly don't mind if it takes a little longer to get somewhere just because we have to hop busses or wait on one for a few minutes.

 

[Olaf]

Normally fly down and always rent a car. Get off the plane, grab the suitcases and head to the Emerald Aisle. I can't stand wasting my precious vacation time waiting around for the buses. We've also needed it at times for emergencies--trips to stores and emergency room.

 

[castleri]

We mostly use a rental car. We didn't have one on our very first trip in 1991.
Every trip since has included a rental car!
We don't mind taking the boat from VWL to MK or Contemporary, or the monorail from Epcot to MK, but drive everywhere else. On our spring break trip (with 6 kids),we split up. DH and DS took the car to surf lessons while I took the girls to Chef Mickeys. Caught the bus from our resort BWV. Waited 20 minutes for the bus, stopped at Swolphin, spent 15 minutes for wheelchairs and strollers to load (issues about the lift). Stopped at BCV, waited for strollers, approx. 10 minutes, stood the rest of the way (gave up our seats to parents with little ones), 10 minutes to monorail. Waited 10 minutes for monorail, got to Contemporary 10 minutes late for our reservation that we had allowed an hour to get there.
Not my favorite form of transportation.

Deb

BW and BCV are the resorts that I would consider using a car more than any others. The couple of times we stayed there the bus service was awful because of the five stops at the time. Don't know if they still do that or not but would walk through EPCOT and take the monorail to MK if they are when we stay there again before I would take the bus and I love riding the buses.
There are five stops at SSR and OKW but they seem very quick unless ECVs or wheelchairs are loading or unloading so don't mind those. Depending on what our plans are after leaving AK we have taken the car there also especially if eating at the RC for dinner.

It always amazes me the number of people with stollers and numerous packages piled in them who wait until the bus is stopped in front of them to begin unloading it and folding it up. The child is often being held or running around so they could have everything ready to load if they wanted to. As someone else said however we don't mind a few extra minutes and find the transportation so much better than dealing with the traffic. Since owning DVC our whole vacation style is more relaxed and there in no longer the need to get efverywhere in a hurry. It will be there the next time we come if we miss it this time. (with possibly a few exceptions)

 

[dianeschlicht]

(snip)One thing we do sometimes is to just do bus roulette. We'll go to the closest bus stop, and whichever is the first themepark bus to arrive, is the park we go to.

We have done "bus roulette" too! We often also change our mind while we are at the bus stop. Of course, we only do that when it is just the two of us and we don't have guests in tow!

 

[browniemtb]

We use some of the WDW transportation....From the airport we do a round trip with a local limo service. Very quick and efficient especially with kids. I've read many stories of the DME and the time it takes to get your luggage and some waits at the airport. We have done the rental car thing but find it to be a waste of money and a pain, picking up and returning the car, installing seats and such. Once in Disney we use all Disney transportation, the kids enjoy this as much as the rides themselves at times.

Brownie

 

[Laurabearz]

We drive everywhere including the Magic Kingdom. In fact I dont think we have ever taken a WDW bus anywhere...

 

[JimC]

We only live 15 minutes NE of MCO so we now drive our own car. Before, when we lived in PA, we rented a car because we have a wheelchair with us. Used Disney transportation for years until the busses became prone to breakdowns (the wheelchair lifts on the older series that used to be the mainstay of the fleet).

 

[yxe dad]

I rent a car at MCO. We used ME a couple of times but really found it took alot longer to get to the resort as we were the last stop each time! We started packing only carry-ons so we get off the plane and into the parking garage in about 10mins. Then a quick stop at Publix for snacks, beer, and breakfast foods it's off to the resort. All said, we are usually at the resort in an hour and a half.
We also like to take the afternoons off from the parks and go to the outlets or somewhere for a bite to eat and having the car at the parks allows us not to waste extra time going back to the resort first.
The only park we do not drive to is the MK, for the reasons stated by others.

 

[DVC Mater]

Wow I had no idea so many people rent cars, and I have never given it that much thought. The cost of M/E vs rental car is pretty significant but you get a lot of convenience with your rental car. anyone know how much the towncar/limo option is?

 

[Kathi OD]

My choice wasn't really covered. We always rent a car for getting back and forth to the airport and to have for grocery shopping and doing inter-resort dinner reservations, but we always use Disney transportation for parks and park activities.

We also follow this plan. Just how we like to do things. Rarely have we had a problem with DT and as PP said, not driving to the parks keeps us "in the bubble."

 

[crisi]

My dh and I would be divorced if we took a rental car. Disney transportation means that I don't have to read a map!

Did you know there are three signs for the Tower of Terror between the MK and Epcot? I know this because we pass the sign three times whenever we drive. Usually, the third one is passed just before my husband starts to get mad at me.

We don't drive. There are a number of reasons for this.

Disney transportation is decent. Cabs fill in the gaps.

I'm married to a car snob. There are two things I don't want to do on vacation - listen for a week to how the Ford Focus is a POS car or pay a gazillion dollars to rent a car my husband won't complain about.

Neither of us like to drive strange roads. Both of us have an impaired sense of direction.

We don't currently leave Disney property.

When renting cars in Orlando, I've had lousy luck. ME is no less convienent that an off property rental, and my experience with on property rentals have left a bad taste in my mouth (no car, overcharged, two hour wait for carseats).

I do rent a car when in Orlando on business - as does my husband - we both go to Orlando on business with some regularity - he more than I do. But when in Orlando on business, we aren't on Disney property.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Did you know there are three signs for the Tower of Terror between the MK and Epcot? I know this because we pass the sign three times whenever we drive. Usually, the third one is passed just before my husband starts to get mad at me.

We don't drive. There are a number of reasons for this.

Disney transportation is decent. Cabs fill in the gaps.

I'm married to a car snob. There are two things I don't want to do on vacation - listen for a week to how the Ford Focus is a POS car or pay a gazillion dollars to rent a car my husband won't complain about.

Neither of us like to drive strange roads. Both of us have an impaired sense of direction.

We don't currently leave Disney property.

When renting cars in Orlando, I've had lousy luck. ME is no less convienent that an off property rental, and my experience with on property rentals have left a bad taste in my mouth (no car, overcharged, two hour wait for carseats).

I do rent a car when in Orlando on business - as does my husband - we both go to Orlando on business with some regularity - he more than I do. But when in Orlando on business, we aren't on Disney property.

Well said, and yes these are some of the same reasons we have not rented a car. I think to go to universal for the day, we will just get a cab, even though I know we will pay more than for a rental car. We will, however, be renting a car from MCO to go to Vero Beach. I here this is a very easy drive, we shall see!!

 

[jjj623]

Wow I had no idea so many people rent cars, and I have never given it that much thought. The cost of M/E vs rental car is pretty significant but you get a lot of convenience with your rental car. anyone know how much the towncar/limo option is?

We've used Tiffany Towncar many times with great success. It's $90 for a sedan, and about $120 for a van. The luxury of having a driver waiting to help with bags and get us out of the airport quickly is well worth it for us. Plus, they will stop at a grocery store on the way to the resort.

Once on site, we always use the busses. It's not a perfect system, but it's more relaxing to us to let others do the driving...

Jeff

 

[bblanch]

... but would walk through EPCOT and take the monorail to MK if they are when we stay there again before I would take the bus and I love riding the buses.

How does that work at parks closing? Say you want to get back to BCV from MK.

 

[shellbelle1971]

Our choice wasn't really covered either. We typically us ME to get luggage, kids & me to/from the resort & airport. While I'm moving the kids on ME, DH picks up or returns the rental car. We use that most of the time to get around while at WDW, although ocasionally take a bus, boat, or monorail.

Having said all that, I'd rather have my own car, but can't figure out how to get it to/from WDW when the whole family is flying.