Should I get a rental car?

[ErinInCT]

I can rent a car for $138 thru Costco. We are staying at AKL Kidani the first week of September. We are planning one evening at DTD and then some hopping btwn MK and EPCOT and spending our last day at DHS. No plans to go to AK despite being right next door.
I was planning to use Garden Grocer or WeGoShop to get food for our villa but if I had the car we could just stop at a grocery store on the way down (no plans to go to the park the first day) and not pay the delivery fees).
We probably wouldn't drive to MK but would it be beneficial to have a car to get to DTD and EPCOT? The last day we'd just pack up and get to stay a bit longer at DHS if we didn't have to be back at the resort 3 hrs prior to our flight to catch DME.
Do you find it more convenient to have the car?
Also, if we wanted to go to the Boardwalk one evening after EPCOT, do we have to pay to park at the hotel?

 

[artesian]

I am in the camp of yes get the car. Just having it to go outside to shop or eat is big for us. Certain parks I do not like relying on the bus system. It's a personal choice but for the price you have it will offer you some flexibility to do things you won't have by relaying on the buses.

 

[robinb]

It's close for me. I love having a car and just hopping into it to get to the parks. BUT we also drive to Tampa every trip to visit family so we need it. How much is the grocery delivery fee? $40? That leaves about $100 for convenience. What time are your flights? If you are arriving very late DME make be more of a PITB than it's worth. The same goes for when you leave. IIRC they want you to leave WDW 3 (or more) hours before your flight. With a car you will be able to arrive at the the resort a bit sooner, have your bags right away and leave WDW later. On the car downside, I think that the parking at DTD may still be messed up when you go. As for Boardwalk, you can self-park there for free after you leave Epcot. Or, you can pay to valet park there in the morning and then just enter/exit Epcot via the International Gateway.

 

[ErinInCT]

We arrive at 11:15am and leave at 6:30pm. We are going to DTD on a Tuesday night so I was hoping it wouldn't be as crazy!
We aren't spending the full day in EPCOT, just going back for dinner and Illuminations. Can I self park for free at BW around 6pm, go to EPCOT thru Intl Gateway, have dinner, watch fireworks and then go to the Boardwalk back thru Intl Gateway?

 

[robinb]

We arrive at 11:15am and leave at 6:30pm. We are going to DTD on a Tuesday night so I was hoping it wouldn't be as crazy!
We aren't spending the full day in EPCOT, just going back for dinner and Illuminations. Can I self park for free at BW around 6pm, go to EPCOT thru Intl Gateway, have dinner, watch fireworks and then go to the Boardwalk back thru Intl Gateway?

You are not supposed to self park at Boardwalk to go into Epcot, but in this case I think it's OK since you will only be in Epcot for a couple of hours and be hanging at at the Boardwalk after IllumiNations. Since you're staying at a DVC resort you might even get a "Welcome Home" .

 

[mdinme]

Get the car. You're spending several thousand dollars on vacation, another $138 will be worth it. Put a cooler in the trunk with water and snacks you'll be happy when you head out of the parks.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Do NOT drive to DTD. Traffic's horrid and the parking lot and the "police" (actually CMs drunk with power) are a PAIN!

And at Boardwalk they have REALLY clamped down on the "free parking trick" THey are basically forcing everyone to valet which made me furious as a guest (I did get them to reverse the charges for valet LOL!)
I would not even try it, if you get really lucky they MIGHT let you park in the overflow lot across the street, but even that's tough now

 

[robinb]

Do NOT drive to DTD. Traffic's horrid and the parking lot and the "police" (actually CMs drunk with power) are a PAIN!

And at Boardwalk they have REALLY clamped down on the "free parking trick" THey are basically forcing everyone to valet which made me furious as a guest (I did get them to reverse the charges for valet LOL!)
I would not even try it, if you get really lucky they MIGHT let you park in the overflow lot across the street, but even that's tough now

Was it busy when you last tried? We parked at BCV last month and didn't have a problem.

 

[wdwrich]

We arrive at 11:15am and leave at 6:30pm. We are going to DTD on a Tuesday night so I was hoping it wouldn't be as crazy!
We aren't spending the full day in EPCOT, just going back for dinner and Illuminations. Can I self park for free at BW around 6pm, go to EPCOT thru Intl Gateway, have dinner, watch fireworks and then go to the Boardwalk back thru Intl Gateway?

As mentioned, they are being strict about parking at the deluxe resorts with direct theme park access. Why not park in the EPCOT lot? Since you're staying on property, parking is free in the theme park lots.

 

[rwdavis2]

Always. Especially at that price. It gives you so much flexibility of when and where to go, it's worth it.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Absolutely I would get one, especially that cost. We use our so much, besides picking up groceries and eating off site, we had a pediatric dental emergency we just hopped in the car and got to the Orlando dentist. Once I needed a pharmacy run and to add a taxi or other service would have been an unplanned cost.

I find the buses are packed, I wait at closing far too long, and I rather hop in my car with our personal items. You really will be happier knowing it is there, also the savings cost of groceries will off set a good part of the car.

 

[ErinInCT]

As mentioned, they are being strict about parking at the deluxe resorts with direct theme park access. Why not park in the EPCOT lot? Since you're staying on property, parking is free in the theme park lots.

I am just not sure how to go back and get the car after we are at the Boardwalk? EPCOT will be closed so how do I get to the parking lot? We were going to have to take a cab home if we didn't have a car so I don't mind paying if I have to. But we'll only be on the Boardwalk for probably an hour or so. Even if we drive to EPCOT and then leave EPCOT at 9pm to go to Boardwalk I'd still need to park at Boardwalk Inn to go onto the boardwalk right? Anyone know the price to pay to park to go to the boardwalk?

 

[wdwrich]

I am just not sure how to go back and get the car after we are at the Boardwalk? EPCOT will be closed so how do I get to the parking lot? We were going to have to take a cab home if we didn't have a car so I don't mind paying if I have to. But we'll only be on the Boardwalk for probably an hour or so. Even if we drive to EPCOT and then leave EPCOT at 9pm to go to Boardwalk I'd still need to park at Boardwalk Inn to go onto the boardwalk right? Anyone know the price to pay to park to go to the boardwalk?

You didn't mention doing anything at the Boardwalk, just that you wanted to park there and go into EPCOT for dinner and Illuminations. So what do you plan to do at the Boardwalk, and will that be before or after you go into EPCOT?

 

[robinb]

You didn't mention doing anything at the Boardwalk, just that you wanted to park there and go into EPCOT for dinner and Illuminations. So what do you plan to do at the Boardwalk, and will that be before or after you go into EPCOT?

She did in her OP but you missed it . I would just try to park at Boardwalk. They do get very strict when it's busy but I don't think the first week of September is really busy.

 

[wdwrich]

She did in her OP but you missed it . I would just try to park at Boardwalk. They do get very strict when it's busy but I don't think the first week of September is really busy.

Okay. I was replying to this post:

We arrive at 11:15am and leave at 6:30pm. We are going to DTD on a Tuesday night so I was hoping it wouldn't be as crazy!
We aren't spending the full day in EPCOT, just going back for dinner and Illuminations. Can I self park for free at BW around 6pm, go to EPCOT thru Intl Gateway, have dinner, watch fireworks and then go to the Boardwalk back thru Intl Gateway?

 

[ErinInCT]

We wanted to go to Boardwalk after EPCOT. Enjoyed it so much last time when we stayed at BWV. It may be a moot point because I read the performers are only there Thurs - Sat and our only free evening for Boardwalk is a Wednesday night. We only wanted to go to watch the performers.

 

[wdwrich]

We wanted to go to Boardwalk after EPCOT. Enjoyed it so much last time when we stayed at BWV. It may be a moot point because I read the performers are only there Thurs - Sat and our only free evening for Boardwalk is a Wednesday night. We only wanted to go to watch the performers.

Got it. Hope it works out for you.