renting a car vs. buses

[Vivaciousbee]

Hello.
Alright, I am sure this is posted already, but instead of searching forever I thought I would just start a new post. I hope that is okay!

Going to Disney and staying at SSR in December. We have gone 2 times before with our kids. We have always thought it would just be easier, less expensive, and more convenient to take Magical Express to our resort and ride Disney buses.

But I was pondering renting a car at the airport and then using the car while we are there to drive back and forth from the parks and our resort.

I always assumed that parking was really expensive and it would be a total hassle to drive. Is it?

How difficult is driving on Disney property and finding parking everyday at the parks? More of a hassle than what it is worth? What kind of things do we need to know? Any helpful tips or hints on navigation and parking.
We are staying for 8 nights and we have kids that still need car seats and potentially a double stroller or 2 single strollers.
Thanks for any advice!

 

[NurseKim]

If you stay onsite, then parking is complimentary.

I enjoy renting a car, especially when my kids were younger. There was nothing worse than being on a bus alone with 2 little kids with a double stroller. Or waiting at a busy bus stop for the next bus, and sometimes waiting for the bus after that.

We usually stay off site, but I rent even if I stay on site. I can make a grocery run for cereal, water, gatorade etc.

I have GPS on my phone. It can sometimes is wrong for complete directions, but once I get on property, I have no problem. Signage is easy to follow.

Some people don't want to drive on vacation. Some people (like me) like to be in control. You need to decide what is good for your family.

You can usually find good deals on car rentals with a little homework and checking rates daily. And subscribe to your monthly car rental thread here on the DIS.

I hope this helps! =) Feel free to ask more questions if you need to.

The only park that is a pain to drive to is Magic Kingdom.

 

[Vivaciousbee]

That is really helpful. THank you for the response!

We are doing the park hopper and might visit more than one park a day. Do you have to walk miles to get from the parking lot to the park entrances? Instead of waiting for buses are you waiting for trams?

I don't know why I didn't think about doing this on our other vacations. The last one we stayed at POR and had a double stroller and it is awful to have to load the bus with those!

It would be so much nicer if we could just throw it in the trunk. That is if parking isn't a total pain. Now knowing that parking would be free as long as we aren't parking miles from everything, maybe it would be the better way to go.

Thanks again!
\

 

[epsmith921]

You can skip the tram and walk in the park parking lots. It may be easier anyway as strollers have to be folded on the trams as well. I have not taken a stroller on the tram, but the last time we waited for the tram we wished we had just walked at the end of the night. On the way in it was no problem. Again, no stroller at the time though.

From what I understand, getting to the parks early means getting a better parking space of course. You could also always decide you feel like taking the bus at some point and do that.

Oh, and lots of folks prefer to take the bus to MK specifically because of the parking at the TTC rather than pulling up on the bus right outside the gates.

 

[wdwrich]

We've done WDW trips both with and without a rental car, and based on our experiences, we always rent a car now. Parking at your resort and at the theme parks is included, so no extra cost there. Driving to/from the theme parks we find to be quicker by car, the only exception being MK where it's really a toss-up. (We split up our group once- some taking the bus and the rest of us driving. We all arrived at the MK gates within a minute or two of each other.)

Since we are rope-drop types, we almost always get to park close enough to the park gates that we don't have a need for the trams.

Leaving a park at closing time, it's much nicer getting into our own vehicle as opposed to cramming into a standing-room-only bus with other tired, stinky and grumpy people. Not our idea of vacation fun.

The big win for having a car is when we have dinners at other resort hotels. Resort-to-resort travel on Disney transportation is a real pain unless both resorts are on the monorail line or are within walking distance. Using buses later at night requires a transfer at a theme park or DTD. Doing that can make a trip between two resorts take up to 90 minutes.

 

[NurseKim]

You're welcome!

We are rope drop people so we are often at the front of the parking lots so we almost always walk. Even when I had the double and had to walk further than the front few rows, I chose to walk rather than try and jam the thing in a tram LOL

I can't comment on how often the trams come.

 

[puffkin]

We have done both and now ALWAYS rent a car. I refuse to do Disney without a car again.

SSR has quite a few stops so I definitely would get a car there. With the way the buildings are set up, you should also be able to park very close to your room most of the time.

Throwing a stroller in the back is so much easier and you and your kids are always guaranteed a seat.

Parking is free for onsite guests. Disney is very easy to get around and minimal traffic except for around Downtown Disney.

The trams are ok, but usually you can walk in from the parking lot. It sometimes is closer than some of the bus stops (ever walk in from the far bank of stops at Epcot? Its far!).

Going offsite, to other resorts or the grocery store is a breeze. Disney does a really good job of making you feel secluded....but there are tons of restaurants, grocery stores, drug stores, etc just a few minutes from property.

 

[mickey1968]

Another recent convert to renting a car and driving to the parks. I am definitely not a rope dropper, I usually manage to get there by 10am, so I don't get the closest parking but I didn't mind the trams at all. However, I don't have the stroller issue. I like to stay until close after the fireworks especially at MK. That is when the bus lines are the craziest so I believe driving to MK is also the only way to go.

 

[mikehn]

Back in the day when car rentals were dirt cheap, it was an easy decision. Now that car rentals are sky high, its an extra expense to consider, especially if you already have complimentary transportation.

 

[puffkin]

Back in the day when car rentals were dirt cheap, it was an easy decision. Now that car rentals are sky high, its an extra expense to consider, especially if you already have complimentary transportation.

Really? Rentals at Disney are dirt cheap! I've been renting for almost 10 years, 2x a year. I've never paid more than $200 (full size) and usually $120-$150 for a 7-8 day rental. Lowest I ever got was two years ago for $67! We leave Thursday and I have a 10 day full size rental for $197 right now. It would be about $50 cheaper if we were picking up/drop off on Orlando...we are picking up in Tampa so a little more. Yes it's an extra expense...but not really that expensive and well worth the price and ease in my opinion. I probably make up half the rental cost alone in grocery savings down there.

 

[Stitch_Is_King]

Our trip in April was our first trip where we rented a car and I can safely say we will not do another Disney trip without one. It was so nice to not have to wait for the Disney buses. At the end of the night being able to get into our own vehicle more than made up for the expense. Plus being able to go off property for groceries or see some of the other attractions is a huge bonus.

You can usually find a good deal on a rental if you do a little searching. I personally prefer National for its Emerald Isle and when I have done some rate shopping they have usually come out with the lowest price.

 

[mickey1968]

The rates started high but came down a bunch the closer to the trip I got. I ended up with an economy from Alamo for $136 tax included for a week. I am looking at rates now for November and they are about a $100 more right now, but I know I can book now and just keep an eye on the rates and rebook to get the lower rates.

The only thing I miss about not having the car is Magical Express. I enjoyed that bus ride, but the dread of end of the night crowds makes renting a much better deal for me. My next trip I will also be going to the "dark side" for one or two days so that will make the car even more valuable.

 

[scdak]

I am another driver chiming in, I will NEVER use Disney transportation again, its too time consuming esp when trying to go to another resort as others have said, and we love to go to other resorts to dine! Driving around Disney property is a breeze, well marked and once you get a day or so under your belt you won't even need the signs. I will say that Onstar sent us to the wrong area at AK but it was a fun adventure, the guard at the gate to the back lots of the area just laughed and said it happens all the time, he gave us great directions and we were on our way quickly, it might have cost of 10 minutes of our time. On the other hand, we had given the car a "vacation" one day and gone to DTD via boat from POR and decided to take the bus back, 90 minutes later we arrived! We had a broken down bus and waited for the next one, then it was driver change time at next bus stop at DTD so we sat on the bus 15 minutes. This wouldn't have even bothered us if the A/C was working, but crammed on a full bus with no A/C was not a fun Disney experience by any means.

50 plus trips driving, 3 trips allowing Disney to drive............not even a question in my mind now what we will choose!

 

[Donald - my hero]

I would never go to WDW WITHOUT renting a car, hubby just can't take the extra time required for disney transit. My advice? Take the ME from airport to your resort and rent from the Car Care Centre -- they will send a shuttle to your hotel and take you back to get the car, at the end of your holiday just reverse the process. That way you don't have to worry about struggling with luggage at one of the airport rentals.

OH, the way we get around the distance from parking lots to MK? Park at EPCOT and ride the monorail from there, you can just push the stroller on can't you? Have a great trip

 

[ampersand]

Would you guys say the same thing to people staying at shades of green, though? $22 a day seems like so much money for parking. ($17 at the parks and $5 at the parking garage at SOG)

 

[Brian Noble]

In general:
* Disney will probably get you between SSR and MK a little faster than you can on average, but driving is much more predictable.
* Driving is a somewhat faster on average between SSR and the other three parks, and much less variable.
* Driving between SSR and any other destination (water parks, other resorts) will be much faster and more convenient.

The routes to the various destinations are all well-marked. It's pretty easy to get back and forth. If you have a halfway-decent GPS (and if you have a smartphone, you do) then it is even easier.

But, the difference is not that pronounced, especially if you are staying at SSR and only planning to go to/from the four main parks and DTD. So, the way to decide is to ask which of these sounds like more of a vacation:

* Never having to touch your keys and actively drive somewhere.
* Never wondering when the bus will come and whether you will have a seat.

If you like the idea of letting someone else do the driving, and you also have a few "bad" trips (to other resorts, etc.) consider taking a cab for those few odd routes. Also, Uber is starting in Orlando, which provides another very attractive option. I'm a big Uber fan.

 

[bumbershoot]

So, the way to decide is to ask which of these sounds like more of a vacation: * Never having to touch your keys and actively drive somewhere. * Never wondering when the bus will come and whether you will have a seat.

I like the way you put that.

 

[Gracie09]

My husband has a three hour round trip daily commute. For him not driving is a luxury. Also we have two kids who need booster seats so dragging those along is never fun. We have had good luck with buses even at akv, but the last couple trips have been to resorts where we can walk or monorail to two parks (at least). And we only stay to the fireworks one night so we don't fight the masses emptying out the parks. I agree with the idea that it depends on what is better for you.

 

[MillauFr]

I like the way you put that.

Agreed. I always respect people who tend to give the positive and negative aspects of any decision. There is no right/wrong answer to renting a car versus taking the bus. Only opinions which people (myself included) freely share.

 

[MillauFr]

Speaking of Uber I see they just went live in Orlando. Disneyworld should prove to be a very popular for the Uber drivers. They will decimate Mears business in Orlando.