Renting Car vs ME/Cab/Dis Trans

[HubbDave]

Not to hijack OP's thread, but for those that get a rental and drive to the parks, what do you do when you hop from park to park? I'm assuming you drive to each park? This is the first time we are thinking about renting a car cause we loved having one to get around when we did Discovery Cove & Sea World last year.

I doubt we will drive to any park except AK since we are at BC. Walk or boat to Epcot and Studios, bus to MK

Not hopping this time but that would be something to consider

 

[Simba77]

For what you're doing, you'll be happy to have a car when you need it.

I'm going to be at POP for two weeks, and wouldn't dream of renting a car. No ADRs at other resorts, and I don't plan to do anything off property.

I've heard the complaints about the buses, and for the life of me, I can't understand it. I've adored WDW bus service. It's a million notches above "public transportation," for the simple reason that you're riding the bus with a bunch of Disney fanatics just like you

But really, the only drawbacks I've experienced are ones I can live with, considering I'm saving the money of the rental and the hassle (for me) of driving to the parks, navigating traffic, parking the car, nabbing a tram/monorail/ferry (or walking) to the entrance, etc. There's something relaxing about being able to get on the bus and chat with your friends/family about what you plan to do (or what you did that day on your way back to the hotel). I love watching the children point to things out the window, study park maps as they plan their day, or giggle when they talk about seeing Mickey. And at the end of a long day, I prefer to just lean back and close my eyes, put my arm around my GF, and fall half asleep in the dim serenity.

Drawbacks to the buses? You'll occasionally wait, although I'd say that honestly, 75% of the time it's less than 10 minutes. And at the end of the day, if you follow the mob out of the park, it can get crowded on the bus and you might have to stand (which can be a nightmare at the end of a tiring day), unless you wait for another bus to come. Best fix for that is to sit on a bench inside the park, enjoying the atmosphere and music until the mobs are gone

All said and done, however, those negatives just aren't nearly enough of a reason to make me pay an extra $25/day and deal with the mentally tiring aspect of driving. I just don't relish the idea of trudging to the car, following the traffic out of the lot, finding a parking spot at the hotel... I don't want to do that at the end of the day. And having to get into a Florida-sun-baked car in the middle of the day if I need an afternoon break or I want to park hop isn't fun either.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation forum.

 

[HubbDave]

Thanks! I had never been in Transportation before today (I think...)

 

[nkereina]

Some people say they don't want to drive on vacation. I personally don't want to rely on publich transit during my vacation.

Disney buses are hardly public transit. That sounds a little pretentious. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you didn't mean it that way.

For me, I commute over an hour a day every day to and from work. I want to let someone else do the driving for a week. Plus, while some would rather drive - I'd rather have a few beers. So that is the best reason of all for not driving to the parks

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney buses work just fine for most people. Yes, you have to share the bus with strangers yes, you may find yourself waiting for a bus to get to you. But it usually isn't a long wait.
But if you are planning on heading offsite, then it might make sense to get a rental car. It's up to each family to decide what works best for them. And your needs can change from trip to trip!

 

[Simba77]

Disney buses work just fine for most people. Yes, you have to share the bus with strangers yes, you may find yourself waiting for a bus to get to you. But it usually isn't a long wait.
But if you are planning on heading offsite, then it might make sense to get a rental car. It's up to each family to decide what works best for them. And your needs can change from trip to trip!

Yup!

If I had the DDP with table service, I'd be tempted to have a car to drive to the various resorts for ADRs, because it can be a hassle to resort-hop (you either have to go to a park or Downtown Disney). And if I planned to do other Orlando stuff while still on-site at WDW, that would also be a good reason.

We're staying 2 weeks @ POP, and during that time, no ADRs and no off-site activity. For me, taking Disney buses everywhere is the only thing I'd even remotely consider. Even if I had a car, I probably wouldn't use it.

After the 2 weeks at WDW, we're headed to a hotel near Universal for a few nights to do Universal/IOA. I haven't been to Universal since the 90s, and IOA has been about 10 years, so it's time. I'll be renting a car for that

 

[HubbDave]

For most of the trip the car will prob just sit in the lot. I actually had the Disney transportation planned out for ADRs. Then we decided using taxis for those and the hotel switch and SeaWorld
Then my wife got all antsy about calling cabs and waiting and paying

So now I drive. Great...

On the other hand, it gives us more flexibility. We can stop on the way from MCO for dinner at a non Disney restaurant and at Walmart or Publix

We have friends staying when we are there and we can meet up with them easier

I just wanted a week with no driving

 

[goofy4tink]

Mods, feel free to move this to the transportation sub forum (which I never knew existed. Lol)

Thanks! I had never been in Transportation before today (I think...)

I just can't believe you have never been over to this wonderful board. This is where you are going to find some of the most helpful people on the DIS!!!!
You gotta get away from the darn PodCast board!!!!

 

[cheerful chickadee]

We always rent a car right from MCO for the duration of the trip. To avoid hassle we split up at MCO, my DH rents the car and drives to the resort while my kids and I take ME. DH grabs his own luggage of course, he does not use the ME service at all. By time the kids and I get to the resort my DH has us checked in and usually has a drink in hand from the pool bar lol

We usually find a great rental rate from MCO, this time we got a full size car through Dollar for $149 for 8 days.

We tend to use the car about 75% of the time, disney busses 25%. We usually take a bus to MK unless we're going at rope drop, we drive if doing that because you get such a close spot that you don't have to deal with the trams. We don't do park hoppers so we don't have to worry about leaving the car one place and going somewhere else. We have free dining this time so we will probably use the car more to get to the resorts that we have ADR's in rather than try to figure out bus travel. Plus we won't have to worry about how long we have to wait for a bus and being late for an ADR.

 

[HubbDave]

I just can't believe you have never been over to this wonderful board. This is where you are going to find some of the most helpful people on the DIS!!!!
You gotta get away from the darn PodCast board!!!!

Lol

Been spending most of my time with the awesome BC folks. They are a hoot and very knowledgable.

 

[Eighty8Keys]

Not to hijack OP's thread, but for those that get a rental and drive to the parks, what do you do when you hop from park to park? I'm assuming you drive to each park? This is the first time we are thinking about renting a car cause we loved having one to get around when we did Discovery Cove & Sea World last year.

It depends on which parks were hopping to/from. If we're going between Epcot and the MK, we'll usually park at Epcot and take the monorail to the MK. Otherwise, we'll usually drive from park to park, although we don't do a lot of hopping.