Staying at AKL - nervous about buses - should I rent or taxi?

[skelooch]

Wow - thanks so much for ALL of the info, everyone! I so appreciate hearing other people's experiences. My ex-hubby and I stayed at POR once 10 years ago and rented a car and never used it at all! Total waste. But, that was a long time ago and not as far away from some things as AKL.
We lived in NYC and Miami for some time so we really like the ease of using taxis. If they are plentiful and we just want to go back to the resort and not wait around I'd be happy to pay for that quick service. I'm just wondering now if there is anywhere that I can check on prices from certain resorts to destinations for taxi fare.....
Of course, I'm still unsure now! Lol - so many different opinions! I'm taking the DME which is a great savings. The plan right now is to see how we do with buses for the first day - arriving around 4, heading to MK around 8 for EMH hours and then back to AKL. If all goes well with buses that night, I'll probably cancel my reservation for the car. If it is awful, we'll just go pick up the car the next morning and return it the night before we leave and take the DME back again.... I guess I'm winging it sort of.

I did a little research if you do decide to rent a car for part of your stay.
You can get a compact for $88.00 or mid size for $102.85 incl all taxes and fees, from Alamo.
Pickup at the Car Care Center on 8/28 at 8:00am and drop off there on 8/30 at 6:00pm. I believe they will provide transportation to and from your resort.

You could also get a compact for $121.35
Picking up at the Airport on 8/27 at 5:00pm and returning to the airport 8/31 at 5:00pm (don't know what time your flight is) and not have to use ME.

If you would like to reserve it I will give you the discount codes I used.

You could probably spend that much on a few taxis with tips.

 

[cranbiz]

While walking to the bus stop, a bus was just pulling out of the bus stop, I waved at him to stop, he saw me wave, shook his head NO and continued driving.

That's exactly what he should do and that's company policy.

Once a bus pulls out of a designated load zone, it is now a safety hazard to stop. You may think that a few feet is not a problem but it can be. A bus partially out of the load zone can be a traffic hazard, the unexpected stop could cause injuries to guests on board, etc.

 

[cranbiz]

The DTD bus does make 2 stops at the HH. 1 upon entering to work as the internal shuttle and one on exit. Sorry Katie, wrong on this one. (hey, first time for everything )

Now 40 minutes from OKW to TL, doubtful. To be that long, the traffic would have had to been really bad (which, BTW would effect your car as well), or it was time to change drivers. If it was not time to change drivers and traffic was normal, 40 minutes travel time is a bit exaggerated.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The DTD bus does make 2 stops at the HH. 1 upon entering to work as the internal shuttle and one on exit. Sorry Katie, wrong on this one. (hey, first time for everything )

Now 40 minutes from OKW to TL, doubtful. To be that long, the traffic would have had to been really bad (which, BTW would effect your car as well), or it was time to change drivers. If it was not time to change drivers and traffic was normal, 40 minutes travel time is a bit exaggerated.

You see me as wrong, I consider myself half-right (lemonade out of lemons and all that).

I actually even see that poster's point, that he could have driven to Typhoon Lagoon faster - he would have gone in the opposite direction on leaving OKW... had he not made the concious decision to allow other members of his party to use the rented vehicle to get to a theme park, via an apparent non-stop bus.