Renting a car vs rideshare

[bluezy]

Yeah we usually find Disney transportation pretty easy to parks. No so much resort to resort, but parks they make it easy. I don’t mind busses. I know some people do. Worst case we’ve just grabbed a uber if we didn’t want to deal with a bus or going to a resort.

I keep thinking maybe I’ll use a car if I have it, but honestly I’m not sure.

Disney transportation to resorts can be ok depending where you're staying. We have stayed at AoA twice since the Skyliner has opened. That's a game changer for getting to other resorts. Just hop on it and take it to DHS. Then take a bus to whatever resort you want to go to. You can do the same basic thing with the monorail/boats at the MK resorts -- get to MK and take a bus to whatever resort. It's not as efficient as driving or taking a rideshare to get to a resort, but it works. And it's free.

 

[EACarlson]

There are also locations at MCO where you can pick up a transponder and you drop it off when you leave. If I remember correctly, at one point, it was only in one terminal, that may have changed.

Visitor Toll Pass is now available at least at both A and B, that changed last year. I believe there is one at C but I've never used C so I'm not positive. It's not really a transponder, it's a hang tag that you put on the mirror. It's a $10 deposit so if you forget it, you do have to pay that, but since it's at MCO, many of the rental companies will drop it in the box for you if you forget.

 

[leebee]

I really hate the Disney buses and used to rent a car for every trip, but they have gotten pretty expensive since the pandemic. Although it's convenient to hop in my car to go to the parks or dining at other resorts, I also am not a fan of drinking adult beverages and driving- especially not driving a rental car! Now we take Mears bus to our resort and back to the airport. It might take a little time, but it's so much more affordable! I also don't have to worry about filling a gas tank before returning the car. ['Horror' story from a friend; she filled up at Disney Springs the night before returning her rental, but didn't top up the tank enough- she had to pay something stupid, like $29, for gas when she returned the car as Dollar said the tank wasn't full.] We get a grocery delivery from Kroger so I don't need to uber to a store (and waste my vacation time AND money, hahaha). If we aren't planning to go offsite (like to KSC, or to visit friends in the area), I don't get the car.

If you do want to rent a car, check out carrentalsavers.com. Lately they've had the best prices, IMO. I avoid renting from Dollar like the plague; they have tried the car insurance "bait and switch" thing, insisting that I have to buy their insurance (not true, according to the FL attorney general). If you rent a car and don't already have an EZPass, use the Visitor Toll Pass. The 'kiosks' (actually more like vending machines) are right there by the car rental places in the terminals. Also, when returning the car, there is a gas station at the south exit of the airport. They aren't the cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive, and they are right there at the airport so easy, hard to get lost.

Honestly? I never thought I'd say it, but renting a car just isn't cost-effective anymore when there are only one or two of us traveling. I find as I get older, I worry more about the hassle of renting (filling the gas tank when returning, getting there on time, being charged for parking lot dings or whatever) than it's worth for the convenience.

 

[jimmymc]

The drive is pretty easy from MCO to Disney, as is getting around property. The only bad drive IMO is going up I-4 to Universal.

In my experience, it's not worth it while staying on Disney property and just going to the parks. Ubers are available everywhere on property. The cost for supplementing Disney transportation with rideshares has always been much less than a rental car.