Rental car or not??

[sunshine77]

We are heading to Disney World at the end of Oct. We are staying at a Hyatt nearby, but we are debating whether or not to get a rental car. The hotel says it has a shuttle there and back twice a day. That just doesn't seem like much to me. We usually go to Disneyland as we live in AZ, so I know the layout of that area well. I do not know the Orlando area well. I haven't been in about 12 years, and I know a lot has changed. Do you think it would be wise to get a rental car to get back and forth. Plus we may want to go to more then one park a day. I don't think the shuttle will do that. We are also going to do the Halloween party on Halloween night. We have never done that either. If the park is closed to the general public, I am assuming that the hotel shuttle will not be back to pick us up after the party. I will be calling the hotel to check on this information as well, but I am just looking for any advice from all of you. You all seem to know what you are doing here!! Thanks in advance for any information you have

 

[Hannathy]

I would get the car. Hotel shuttles tend to have very limited runs at set times. On most it is impossible to be there for opening or staying till the parks close. To come back to the hotel after the party you will have to take a cab. If it is just going back and forth to the parks you could get a small car very reasonable.

 

[powellrj]

we always rent a car even when we stay on-site. It just makes it easier. We also like to try different resturants around the Orlando area and do some off-site shopping.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you are staying off site I think a rental car is 100% necessary. Esp. if the shuttle from the hotel only runs 2 times a day. From what I understand, most off site shuttles pick up guests at many different hotels before heading to the parks. You just will not have any flexibility without a car. Plus, if you head back to your hotel and then want to head back to dtd for dinner or something like that you would have to rely on a cab.

 

[LaraK]

As long as we have to lug around a stoller, we will rent a car. We tried the busses once with two kids, a stoller and a diaper bag on a bus...NEVER AGAIN

 

[sunshine77]

Thanks so much for all your responses I knew I could count on all of you to help me out! I will for sure look into a rental car then. It does seem to make more sense. It looks like it could be a bit pricey...the daily parking fee at the hotel, the daily rental fee for the car as well as the parking fees at the parks. Any money saving ideas???

Next question: Do you know if I drive to a park and pay the parking fee for the day, is there a monorail system between the parks? Or would I have to drive to each different park and pay to park at each one?

 

[disneyohana]

The monorail goes from MK to Epcot. By the way, when we rented a car last time 2003, it wasn't hard to figure out where we were going, especially once we were on the onsite roads. I was surprised how easy it was.

 

[shoney]

Thanks so much for all your responses I knew I could count on all of you to help me out! I will for sure look into a rental car then. It does seem to make more sense. It looks like it could be a bit pricey...the daily parking fee at the hotel, the daily rental fee for the car as well as the parking fees at the parks. Any money saving ideas???

Next question: Do you know if I drive to a park and pay the parking fee for the day, is there a monorail system between the parks? Or would I have to drive to each different park and pay to park at each one?

I remember only paying once and then just showing the paid ticket at the booth when entering the second park. I believe the fee was for the entire day.

I too have small children (no more strollers, though) and I just couldn't imagine waiting for buses at the end of a long day. Last year we rented a minivan and it was only $500 for 2 weeks. Well worth the money!

 

[all4fun]

I remember only paying once and then just showing the paid ticket at the booth when entering the second park. I believe the fee was for the entire day.

I too have small children (no more strollers, though) and I just couldn't imagine waiting for buses at the end of a long day. Last year we rented a minivan and it was only $500 for 2 weeks. Well worth the money!

Yes, the fee for parking is for the whole day and is transferrable to other parks. Disney is really nice that way... although you still pay a pretty hefty price for parking. But it is well worth it IMO when you're off site. I would hate to rely on on hotel transportation esp. if it is only 2x a day. That isn't adequate for off site at all.

Also, like a pp said the monorail runs between Epcot and MK, and you can take a nice boat ride between Epcot (outside the World Showcase exit) and MGM so if you want to park hop w/out driving it is possible.

hth.

 

[sunshine77]

Thanks again for all your great information!! I went ahead and rented a vehicle for our week there. I think it will be much easier then relying on hotel transportation! We only stayed off site once in Disneyland and had 3 kids under 4 and a stroller and tried to catch that stupid bus. And whoever said they pick up at other hotels is right, it would have been a disaster and would have been frusterating.

That would be awesome if the parking is transferable to the other parks. Or even if we just wanted to go back to the hotel for a bit during the day. I know we will have to go back to get changed into our costumes for the Halloween party Can't wait for that!! Only one month to go!! The countdown begins...