Staying offsite... need help!

[brocklesnar69]

I am staying at an 'off site' resort, the Quality Inn at Maingate West. And I was wondering if I will still be able to ride the park hopping transportation buses and stuff. The first day I arrive, I wanted to go to Downtown Disney and shop around so I dont waste a full day on my ticket. Since Im staying at an off site hotel, can I still get transportation to DTD and back aswell as to the other parks?

Normally how does transportation work for off site guests?

 

[Mich Mouse]

It depends on where you are staying. I would seriously consider renting a car if you will not be onsite since off site transportation will not be convenient. If your hotel does have a shuttle to WDW, it will not run very frequently. You will wind up wasting alot of time. Once you are on Disney property you are allowed to ride the buses where ever you'd like to.

There is a transportation boards here on the DIS, you might find some better information there.

 

[katytrott]

We always stay off site. As long as you can show your valid park ticket (I might be wrong on this, but I think it has to be more than just a one day/one park ticket) you can use any of WDW transportation. In the past we have driven to the first park and then driven to the next park when park hopping, just because it is more convenient. I supposoeif you do not have your own car, you would have to find your own way to the first destination, and then can use the transportation within the WDW grounds, and then get your own transportation off grounds. I am sure I read, on the info I recieved when prebooking my 7day pass exclusive to UK guests today, that it does include complimentary use of Disney transportation. Just hope I am correct

 

[WillCAD]

Sure, you can still use the on-site transportation if you stay off-site.

Just in case you might be thinking about it however - you will NOT be able to park yoru car at Downtown Disney and take a bus to the theme parks, because there are no busses that run between DTD and any of the parks. Disney eliminated them a few years ago to prevent off-site Guests from taking up all the spaces at DTD in an attempt to avoid the $8 parking fee at the theme parks.

If you are staying off-site with no car, I second the recommendation to spend the extra money and rent one. Staying on-site with no car is possible, but if you are off-site you will be pulling your hair out by the second day because the shuttle busses to and from most off-site hotels run only 2 or 3 times daily, and you will have to arrange your schedule around the shuttle busses, which can severely cut into your park time.

Rent. It's the smart thing to do.

 

[brocklesnar69]

Do you think going with a cheaper rental company would be good? I dont have unlimited funds so I kinda have to think cheap.

 

[Dan Murphy]

As for rental companies, there are a LOT of variables. I really would run the question by the folks on the Transportation board, they know that stuff very well. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=16 If you do, list all you can that might help them give you advice.

I personally most always use National.

 

[AJKMOM]

Your best bet is to find out what is available from the resort you are staying at. Some have lots of shuttles, others are very disappointing to the visitors.

You can get around WDW without a car, but it is tricky. You could take your resort shuttle to a theme park, and rather than going in the park, take a internal bus to a WDW resort and wait for a bus to Downtown Disney. The bus stops to the resorts are outside the main gates to each theme park.There are no busses from resort-to-resort, or from the theme parks to Downtown Disney.

 

[Tina1]

We used to stay off site. I find its cheaper to stay on site, on site you don't need a car-free bus from the airport to the resort. Also if you rent a car you have to pay parking per day at the park. Tina

 

[brocklesnar69]

I might have a problem getting a car because I am only 19 and all the car companies say you got to be 21. Any idea how much a taxi would cost for two people going from WDW to a CLOSE off site hotel? (Within 2 miles)

 

[Mich Mouse]

Yes, you will have a problem renting a car if you are only nineteen.

Can you stay at the All Star resorts or is that too costly? Do you have AAA? You can often get a reduced rate at WDW hotels and car rental comapines if you do. It would solve all of your transportation problems if you stay onsite.

One time before I became a Disney nut, when I was in college we booked a Comfort Inn that was advertised as being five miles from Disney. It tooks us about forty minutes to get to the parks because of all the traffic, and we had a car. This is a worst case senario, as we were there during a busy time, but you need to know the best/worst.

I don't think it is a good idea to consider staying offsite with no car, IMO you will really not be saving any $$ since you will be losing valuable time in the parks. Those tickets are expensive!

I'm not sure about the taxi, but I would guess a minumum of $20.00 each way. Remember Disney is huge and if you are two miles from the gate then you still may need to travel another five miles to arrive at your destination.

Hope we can help you figure this all out so that you will have a magical vacation with no problems.

 

[AJKMOM]

Problem with a cab is that they charge a minimum amount, whether you go 2 miles or 20. I hope you get an answer. Your best bet might be to call the hotel you are staying at and see what they recommend.