Rent a car? Why or why not?

[ellmnop]

When I first started planning our trip, renting a car was on my list, but I have noticed that a lot of people here don't rent cars.
We will be at DL for 4 nights/5 days with DD5 and DS2 (flying into Long Beach). We don't have any plans other than Disney, but I like the concept of having a car so that if we feel like driving to the beach one evening, we can. On the other hand, I would rather not spend the money if we aren't going to use it. (I'm wondering if it's like Vegas, where the first time there we rented a car and on subsequent visits we didn't bother.)
So why do you or don't you rent a car while at DL?

 

[tink2dw]

We flew into San Diego to see family and then to go to Sea World and to drive to DL. DH had stuff one day. and then we turned our rental back in. It was Enterprise Rental Cars so when Dh dropped it they drove him back to our hotel on Harbor. And we had 6 lovely days in DL with out a car. To see how we got to LAX to fly home check my signature.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

I figure it will cost me alsmost the same to take a taxi as it will renting a car so we rent a car.

I just booked a car from alamo longbeach for 121.00 tax and everything for 6 days.

I found a coupon on the alamo site for 25 bucks off for 5 days or longer and also if you prepay it is 10 percent off also. Youy can use both to get a great rate.

I like having a car just in case I want to venture off when disneyland closes early.

 

[ORMom2Four]

We also like to rent a car. The shuttle price really adds up for us. We paid $25/day for a mini van using pricelines bidding option. I have read that you can get smaller cars for much less than that, more like $13/day.

We like the freedom of being able to go to the store to stock up on supplies. It's also easier on us with all of the gear we have. (luggage and two strollers) We also like to check out the fast food places that we don't have in Oregon, or run down to Krispy Kreme for some glazed doughnuts in the morning.

 

[Hound 109]

For us the cost of a rental vrs. a shuttle is close to a wash. I agree it's nice to have in case you NEED to make a quick run someplace.

But another reason not mentioned is that if you like to go to the parks on your departure day (we normally take a 5pmish flight home)....then we would typically leave 60-90 min. after the shuttle would force you to leave.....giving you more park time.

 

[Disney_Villain]

We usually do the car rental, as opposed to the airport shuttle. The cost on a weekly car rental isn't that much more.

That way we can stop in Hollywood to see a Disney movie at the El Capitan and enjoy Disney's Soda Fountain .

 

[mikayla73]

We rent a car too (or used to until we moved close enough to just drive ourselves ). We always did other things while we were spending 7-10 days there. We enjoyed eating off site at places we couldn't get at home, like In-N-Out (although we don't have to worry about that one any more ). We also always went to the beach for a day and once we drove the PCH from beach to beach checking them all out (Newport, Huntington, Seal, Long Beach etc...). It was a fun and relaxing day. We always timed our trips with Angels Baseball games too, so we drive over for those.

There are lots of things to do in the area where you could spend part of the day or evening doing that are fun, that you don't have to give up an entire day at DL to do.

 

[gottagetback]

How about getting around and traffic? We are absolutely unfamiliar with the area and nervous about driving from San Diego to Anaheim and then to LAX.

 

[abby]

we have been 4 times and I never rent a car. I don't like driving those freeways (I don't mind driving in San Deigo, but hate the LA area. And we just don't need one. We take a shuttle or cab to the hotel and walk to DL from there. It just seems easier without one.

 

[bluegrizzlies1]

How about getting around and traffic? We are absolutely unfamiliar with the area and nervous about driving from San Diego to Anaheim and then to LAX.

GPS is your friend I use my cell phone works great.

 

[mariezp]

We have rented a car on several of our earlier trips. However, we have not rented a car for the last 2 trips and it has worked out just fine. We have now decided it is more hassle than it is worth to have to pick up and drop off a car, as well as try to find a parking place for the car to sit in for 2 weeks. It is so much simpler to just take a cab.

Truth be known, I much prefer a cab drive to my DH driving since he does not normally drive in so much traffic. Let me tell you they do not drive like we do in Texas! He is a nervous driver which in turn makes me nervous. He expects total silence from the kids while driving in traffic too. So in our case it just makes better sense to grab a cab and keep us all sane!

We don't do anything else besides the park and we stay within walking distance to the park so we really don't have much need for a car. We have pizza and groceries delivered to the room so that pretty much covers any needs we have.

 

[Chereya]

How about getting around and traffic? We are absolutely unfamiliar with the area and nervous about driving from San Diego to Anaheim and then to LAX.

GPS is your friend I use my cell phone works great.

For us the cost of a rental vrs. a shuttle is close to a wash. I agree it's nice to have in case you NEED to make a quick run someplace.

We like the freedom of being able to go to the store to stock up on supplies. It's also easier on us with all of the gear we have. (luggage and two strollers) We also like to check out the fast food places that we don't have in Oregon, or run down to Krispy Kreme for some glazed doughnuts in the morning.

This is my first trip to DL in over 8 years and the first time with my DH and 2 DS's. I bought a GPS on sale at Amazon to prep for this trip as I, too, am nervous about the LA freeways even though I have braved the streets of NYC! The cost of the RT shuttle trip was a little less than renting a mini van for a week but if I have to bring my car seats anyway, I might as well have a car to use for grocery and food runs at my convenience.

 

[FourM's]

We rent a car also. We have had a couple minor medical emergencies
(pink eye, yuck!) on our vacations and were glad to have a car so we could run to a pharmacy. Also DH forgot to pack any socks, ran to target for socks. Grocery runs have saved us $ too. As everyone else has pointed out- for a family the cost of a car vs. shuttle are very similiar. Good luck on your decision.