Staying off site - cheapest way to and from the parks?

[cinderelly828]

Hi there budget-savvy DISers! DH and I are taking a two week+ trip to Orlando from 11/17-12/3. We'll be doing WDW for 8 total days with 2 nights at POR. The rest of the trip we'll be staying at my MIL & sFIL's place which is about 10 minutes from the parks. We're trying to figure out the least expensive way of getting to and from the parks on the days that we're not staying on-site (12/28, 12/29, check out 12/30). Any tips for cheap parking or transportation? We may be able to have access to my MIL's car or possibly sweet talk her or my sFIL to drop us off in the mornings, but am not sure that they'd be willing to pick us up every night. Any advice is super appreciated!

 

[Accident]

If you drive and don't come with someone that has an annual pass and free parking your looking at $20 per day just to park.

Uber would probably be about $12 each way being 10 minutes away from property so borrowing a car would be less money even with paying parking (smallest uber, larger car would cost more). You have the added time to get from the car to the park (mk being the longest) and back to the car though and not sure if that is work saving $4 on your MK day. Also for epcot you can walk from boardwalk or beach club (I usually use boardwalk as it's a shorter drive) and go in the international entrance depending on what you want to do in epcot that might be better. MK you could get dropped off at contemporary and walk or skip the tram to ttc park and normal guest dropoff at the ttc. You also get the advantage of someone who isn't dirt tired or enjoying alcoholic beverages driving you home so the $4 might be worth it to be safe (it is to me).

Family dropping off and picking up is cheaper than everything but a possible inconvenience to them (and ammo for future family get together jabs that they needed to drive you).

If they are near a bus stop, there is a public bus that goes to the TTC and other that goes to springs depending on where they are. once on property switch to disney transportation to get around. (not timely but you have to do what you have to do sometimes). buses aren't as plentiful and not that many routes compared to other major areas with buses.

 

[cinderelly828]

Uber would probably be about $12 each way

I was thinking that Uber may be the best way to go and we'll just have to save up for it over the next month. My hope is that we can be dropped off a few days and take Ubers home in the evening rather than have to pay for Uber both ways. Our MK days we're at POR (other than our night at MVMCP) so that will be nice to be able to use Disney transportation those days.

You also get the advantage of someone who isn't dirt tired or enjoying alcoholic beverages driving you home so the $4 might be worth it to be safe (it is to me).

I totally agree with you here! Also, it would be me driving my MIL's car, which I'm not super comfortable with when I don't know the area.

Family dropping off and picking up is cheaper than everything but a possible inconvenience to them (and ammo for future family get together jabs that they needed to drive you).

This is the one thing I'm worried about with asking to be dropped off...

f they are near a bus stop, there is a public bus that goes to the TTC and other that goes to springs depending on where they are. once on property switch to disney transportation to get around. (not timely but you have to do what you have to do sometimes). buses aren't as plentiful and not that many routes compared to other major areas with buses.

I looked for busses from their place to the parks and it looks like it'd take around 3 hours!!! So that's out.

Thanks so much for the advice!!!

 

[scrapquitler]

Hi there budget-savvy DISers! DH and I are taking a two week+ trip to Orlando from 11/17-12/3. We'll be doing WDW for 8 total days with 2 nights at POR. The rest of the trip we'll be staying at my MIL & sFIL's place which is about 10 minutes from the parks. We're trying to figure out the least expensive way of getting to and from the parks on the days that we're not staying on-site (12/28, 12/29, check out 12/30). Any tips for cheap parking or transportation? We may be able to have access to my MIL's car or possibly sweet talk her or my sFIL to drop us off in the mornings, but am not sure that they'd be willing to pick us up every night. Any advice is super appreciated!

Personally, I'd find a way to save enough money to rent a car. I personally (and I'm NOT projecting anything on you by saying this), would not be comfortable staying at someone's house and then asking them to borrow their car or have them drop me off and pick me up that much.

If that's not possible, then I think your best solution would be to sweet talk them into dropping you off in the morning (and giving them gas money and probably doing something else nice for them like taking them out for a nice dinner or buying them flowers) and then taking Uber back at night.

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm in the rent a car camp. Last trip I was able to rent a minivan for 10 days for less than $200 (using codes found on the transportation board). I've also had good luck using priceline closer to my dates to get a car for a week for about $125.

If your in-laws can do pick-up and drop-off at the airport you can save quite a bit on a rental car.

 

[Nayan]

I would rent a car. That way you can come and go as you please without infringing and you'll just have to save a bit extra for parking.

 

[LovesTimone]

I would rent a car, you could possibly find a compact that would do the trick. I personally would want to have my own way around while on vacation, and if asking the in-law make you uncomfortable... I would bite the bullet and go with a rental, so that you won't have to listen to if you can't afford to come why are you spending X amount at Disney.... See if your in-laws have a local car rental near their home, that might work out better for you. Check to see if your jobs offers discounts with a certain company, DH's does and it has saved us a bundled a few times. Check out Expedia and other outlets you might find a deal. I know that there is a rental counter at one of the hotels on hotel plaza blvd, you could drop off the day you check in at POR, would save some money. Drop family at resort, then drop off car, walk to DS ( Disney springs) then catch a boat or bus back to your resort.

 

[cinderelly828]

Looked into renting a car and my MIL said that it was "stupid" since she has her car and doesn't do much during the day. I feel like I'm going to hear about something no matter what we do.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Looked into renting a car and my MIL said that it was "stupid" since she has her car and doesn't do much during the day. I feel like I'm going to hear about something no matter what we do.

If she said she doesn't do much during the day, I'd get the impression that she would be more than happy to drop you guys off in the morning...nothing wrong with family helping each other a bit! If she does do that for you, just think of a simple way to show your gratitude such as taking her out for a nice lunch or dinner!

 

[cinderelly828]

If she said she doesn't do much during the day, I'd get the impression that she would be more than happy to drop you guys off in the morning...nothing wrong with family helping each other a bit! If she does do that for you, just think of a simple way to show your gratitude such as taking her out for a nice lunch or dinner!

Yeah it's looking like having MIL drop us off in the mornings (and treating her to a daily morning Starbucks or something! Breakfast in bed?) and taking Uber home at night might be our plan. And we are definitely planning on taking them out to a nice dinner or two or three for hosting us and potentially schlepping us to the parks. Hoping to get them to the parks with us at least one day!

 

[danielw888]

I dont agree with the rent a car people. Add up all the costs, and it will be cheaper to Uber everywhere you want to go. If you rent a car, you still have to pay the $20/day parking. Uber would only cost you $24/day to go roundtrip to the park. That $4 difference will be much less than the cost of a rental+gas. One person posted that you could get a rental for $125/week. That is a very good price, but break that down, and for 7 days that is still $17/day plus another $20-50 in gas over the week.

The only time I would suggest renting a car making financial sense is if you plan on going to Bush Gardens, or on a road trip outside of the Orlando Metro area.

 

[Sagginit]

I vote uber and lyft too. We just used this on our trip to DL as we didn't have a car and it was great. Lyft was doing a promotion that gave me $10 off my first ride with a referral code my husband sent to me, he then got $5 off his next 4 rides after I used mine. Since we were new to the app this was a great deal as our rides in the Anaheim area were mostly $12. On our trip to CA last year Uber had a promotion so again we both signed up for the app and used it that time. We have since used both services in NYC as well and always find the prices to be reasonable (we just avoid using them at surge price times).

Uber and Lyft drivers will drop you off as close as they can get you to the park entrance, I hate the stress of driving on vacation when I don't have to. I only rent cars for trips that are road trips. Rental cars you also have to find a deal, double check insurance, and worry about getting it back to the rental lot with a full tank of gas on time the day of a flight. That is enough to make me not want to rent a car when I can get a lyft or uber.

 

[penguin29]

Hello!

My husband and children and I are staying on site, my parents are staying off site and taking care of our children for two of the nights we will be there. They are planning on dropping them off in the morning, but instead of getting dropped off at our resort and then taking the hour long bus ride, we figured the could get dropped off at the park at rope drop and meet up with us. Is this possible and how close to the gate can the drop off happen? Thank you for your help!

 

[penguin29]

On another note, my mom plans to join us at the park for one day, could she drive to our resort, park there and then join us for the bus ride, or is that a big no-no? I mean, I can imagine that is not allowed, but worth asking about.

 

[KiniShakenBake]

We went for a Universal, then Disney Split in 2014.

I found a deal on Orbitz for our airport shuttle, because the Lynx bus (legit public transit!) didn't go as conveniently to Universal. I think it was $44 each way to Universal for the two of us.

From Universal to Disney was where the rubber met the road for us: My CC (I have three from one company) company offers a discount on Uber for the first ride. That got us to Disney with credit to spare, but it was a one-ride credit, so no carryover. We could have done that three more times for me, and another three for him using discount codes, email addresses, and credit cards. Combine them and you might have enough to get free Uber rides for most of your trip.

I wouldn't rely on family rides unless they'd offered it already, honestly. They are already giving you a place to stay. Disrupting their routine is way more than I'd feel okay about doing. The day your mom goes with you, that's a different story.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi there budget-savvy DISers! DH and I are taking a two week+ trip to Orlando from 11/17-12/3. We'll be doing WDW for 8 total days with 2 nights at POR. The rest of the trip we'll be staying at my MIL & sFIL's place which is about 10 minutes from the parks. We're trying to figure out the least expensive way of getting to and from the parks on the days that we're not staying on-site (12/28, 12/29, check out 12/30). Any tips for cheap parking or transportation? We may be able to have access to my MIL's car or possibly sweet talk her or my sFIL to drop us off in the mornings, but am not sure that they'd be willing to pick us up every night. Any advice is super appreciated!

Are your dates wrong for your POR stay? You say your trip is Nov 17-Dec 3, but you say you are staying at POR Dec 28-30. I was going to suggest you get to the parks early if you are there Christmas week. But now I'm not sure when you are there.

 

[cinderelly828]

Are your dates wrong for your POR stay? You say your trip is Nov 17-Dec 3, but you say you are staying at POR Dec 28-30. I was going to suggest you get to the parks early if you are there Christmas week. But now I'm not sure when you are there.

Oops yep that should be November 28-30. We're here now and ended up getting a rental car as a Christmas gift!