Rental Car or Not?

[heatherj]

Hi!!!! Looking for some advice. I am torn myself. We have never rented a car. Always got a town car from the airport and then used Disney Trans. Here's our situation this time. What do you recommend? DH doesn't really want a car. But I will try to pursuade him if it makes more sense.

DH, Me, DS 11, DS9, DS 6 (in a wheelchair/stroller - doesn't walk/talk, etc), and DD 2 in a stroller. We are staying at AKV - so buses are the only choice here. We are going at the end of Oct.

This is our first vacation to Disney with ALL of us (DD's first trip). Should we just rely on BUSES for all transportation. We will have DS 6 in a wheelchair to get on the bus. AND DD's stroller to fold and carry, etc. My oldest two sons are VERY helpful but I don't want to have to rely on them too much. Previously we just had the three kids and DS was young and small enough to use a regular stroller and carry on the bus. Now it seems so different.

Sooooo . . . . . . should we just do what we always do - use a towncar from the airport and buses for all the parks. Or should we rent a car and use it for transportation more than the buses? I just don't know. Anyone been in a similar circumstance? Even if you haven't I would LOVE to hear your recommendations.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. I am sure I will have more questions.

Heather

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

Your first problem in renting would be a vehicle that can seat six and have enough room for all your luggage, plus the wheelchair and DD's stroller. More than likely you would have to get a minivan or large SUV.

I hope you have a disabled hang tag from PA for DS6; if you don't already have one, get one so you can park in Medical Parking. The parlking lots at WDW are patrolled by the Orange (or Osceola) County Sheriff's Office, and it is a $250 ticket for illegal parking.

If you use internal transportation, for the buses one person can push the wheelchair up the ramp while the other will take the folded DD stroller onto the bus (note Federal Law does require a stroller to be folded on buses, this does not apply to the monorail).

For parking at all but MK, the disabled parking and the Disney buses are about the same distance from the entrance. At MK if you are driving you will have to park at the TTC and then take either monorail or ferry boat to/from MK.

 

[mrsfascinating]

We are in a similar dilemma ,however we have gone both ways. Our DD 7 is also in a wheelchair (doesn't walk/talk either). We have a convaid special needs stroller that we use to go out in the community it folds up to the size of a golf bag and holds up to 100lbs. She has no other needs that she has to specifically be in a wheelchair except school requires it. We always stay at the boardwalk or beach clubs for the convience of walking to Disneys hollywood studios (MGM) and Epcot. We used the buses until 2006 when we got a midsize SUV rental from Alamo for $196 for 8 days. All I can say is I loved the ability to leave MK, AK and airport when I wanted without waiting for the buses. If you have a handicap placard bring it with it helps with easier placement in the parking lots. We are visiting again in 2008 and are also debating whether we want to toture ourselves with the buses or just go with a car. I will tell you we have a car on reserve a midsize SUV with alamo again for 9 days $207. Hope this helps.

 

[lovethecastle]

Hi. Well here are the 2 sides as I see them. If you rent the car you have the freedom to come & go whenever you want(which is a big plus in my opinion)-
but with riding the bus the bus driver should load the wheelchair on before all the rest of the people. Good luck with that though- we were just at wdw & sometimes I'd have to go over to the driver & tell him we had a wheelchair to load even though he had already started to let everyone on.
All in all I find the buses annoying.

Sandy

 

[mechurchlady]

I recommend renting a minivan. The Disney transportation is great but when you add a toddler and that many kids it is better to use a minivan. On my trip to the Midwest I was able to leave stuff in the car the whole trip. The maps were in a pile on the front seat along with my water bottle while the backseat had a sweatshirt and walking shoes. I did not each day have to decide what to take as it was all in the car and ready to go. If I needed a sweatshirt, something other than my flip flops, water, maps, or what ever it was there. It was a lot easier for me to not have to have those few things not to do.

Also the minivan could be used to see other sites or a cheap meal at McDonalds or other restaurants. I suggest you think on how much energy would be spent by parents while waiting for a bus for example. I am not saying you got bad kids but am saying that for some people it might be a chore to keep a two year old in its stroller for example.

 

[heatherj]

Thanks for all your thoughts!

I think when it comes right down to it checking out a rental car is a good idea. We actually LOVE the buses though. Just makes it part of being in Disney - and riding the buses and all. I think that's what makes it a hard decision.

NOW I need to tackle: How to coordinate the airport/flight I have no idea on what we will need for DS there and how to carry it all!!!! YIKES!!!!!!

Heather