Second Guessing Car Rental

[jbhodj]

I’m starting to second guess if I need to rent a car or not. As of now I have a full size car Alamo rented for our trip Dec 9-19. Booked through Costco Travel rate is $487 total for entire trip.

We start off our trip staying at Royal Pacific for 2 days then to Kidani Village for rest of vaca. We have a day planned at Discovery Cove as well. We want to hit the Disney Charecter Warehouse and a Wal Mart or Publix to get some items for our stay at Kidani.

At first glance one would summize yea I need a rental car. It makes it convenient to get around and I’m not waiting on alternative transportation if needed. But the Dutch in me keeps looking at the close to $500 I’m spending on a rental car, money that can be used for other modes of getting around with money left over for things like dining or gifts ect.

I guess I’m just trying to justify it in my head that this is the best bang for the buck for getting my family of 4 around while we are there. We plan a pretty full schedule. The thought of a rental car just sitting not being used for a couple days bugs me to no end but it’s convenient since we have plans for things like Dis Cove and Hoop Dee Doo and having a car can be valuable.

 

[Smittolis]

Uber, Taxis and the like will cost $20-35 a pop just pottering around. Take 10 trips i.e. 1 per day, and you are pretty close. IT sucks having a car sat there doing nothing when you are paying for it, but from experience having the option of using it makes it cost effective. One thing you may consider is handing it back early when on disney property, reduces costs and allows you to rely upon onsite disney transportation.

 

[bumbershoot]

Keep on checking as time goes on. Rental costs do sometimes go down. My most recent reservation went down by hundreds (I was not going to keep it if it were the original coat) in the last week before my trip. Check regularly.


We go to Sweet Tomatoes and Yard House for food in Orlando. There’s an amazing hand made frozen custard shop bar yard house (right near the Orlando Eye attraction) that is sooo worth it. We go to grocery stores, to the outlet mall, etc. I drive to all parks (though maybe not “all” on my upcoming trip where we are staying at Boardwalk lol). Having a rental car is worth it to me. Let’s face it; I like having a car, so I make it worth it.

 

[Smittolis]

To add to my previous point, I rented a car for the first week while we were off site, rented a Premium SUV for a week for $491... brand new suburban! It was lush. We then went over to the contemporary and the Poly for the 2nd week so handed the car back. We too went through Costco Travel. However, to drop it off at the car care center on Disney property instead of returning it to the airport was $365 extra.... ridiculous! lol.. So i just returned it to the airport and got a lyft back the TTC, cost me $33 ;o)

 

[VAfamily1998]

Are you DVC owners? Because if not, you will have to consider the new parking fees in your total cost as well.

Also, I'm not sure having your own car will make it that much easier to get to Hoop de Doo, as you will still have to park at the Fort's lot in the front, and then take their internal transportation.

 

[nelsonkg]

We are DVC so I do rent but as VAfamily pointed out daily parking fees tack on I think $25 a day at a deluxe so that will be another $200 for you it sounds like. I do not like relying on buses so I think I would use lyft if the buses were running slow . If you do not mind the buses I would ditch the car . I also think you may be able to get a better deal once the dates get closer.

 

[jbhodj]

In regards to the parking fee. We made our arrangements before the fees came into play so as I understand the parking fee of $25 won’t apply to us since our reservation was made well in advance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

However, to drop it off at the car care center on Disney property instead of returning it to the airport was $365 extra.... ridiculous! lol.. So i just returned it to the airport and got a lyft back the TTC, cost me $33 ;o)

In the future, you can book Magical Express without flying in.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’m starting to second guess if I need to rent a car or not. As of now I have a full size car Alamo rented for our trip Dec 9-19. Booked through Costco Travel rate is $487 total for entire trip.

We start off our trip staying at Royal Pacific for 2 days then to Kidani Village for rest of vaca. We have a day planned at Discovery Cove as well. We want to hit the Disney Charecter Warehouse and a Wal Mart or Publix to get some items for our stay at Kidani.

At first glance one would summize yea I need a rental car. It makes it convenient to get around and I’m not waiting on alternative transportation if needed. But the Dutch in me keeps looking at the close to $500 I’m spending on a rental car, money that can be used for other modes of getting around with money left over for things like dining or gifts ect.

I guess I’m just trying to justify it in my head that this is the best bang for the buck for getting my family of 4 around while we are there. We plan a pretty full schedule. The thought of a rental car just sitting not being used for a couple days bugs me to no end but it’s convenient since we have plans for things like Dis Cove and Hoop Dee Doo and having a car can be valuable.

What jumps out to me is whether you need the car for all 10 days. I'd try to set it up so I could return the car after 2-3 days.

 

[jbhodj]

What jumps out to me is whether you need the car for all 10 days. I'd try to set it up so I could return the car after 2-3 days.

I’m thinking this as well and great point. Maybe after I get done with US and to WDW bubble I can drop it off and Uber from then on out for travel. Maybe save a little.

 

[snappy]

I don’t like being trapped in the Disney bubble. I rent cars and book an Uber if I have a few drinks.

 

[jbhodj]

I don’t like being trapped in the Disney bubble. I rent cars and book an Uber if I have a few drinks.

Good point