Talk to me about getting to the parks when staying offsite

[bbak3030]

Hi all!
DH and I are tossing around the idea of buying APs next year so we can do a few more trips. We have taken 2 "big" trips-- 7 nights, on site with all kinds of extras.
Our favorite part about staying on site is the ease of getting to the parks via the busses. We stayed at POR last month and it was seamless getting back and forth.
So my question is--how to you get back and forth to the parks when you stay off site. We may drive or fly. So may have a car or may not. So I would like to hear experiences on both.
Also, where do you like to stay? We don't need fancy, just a standard hotel room is fine. There are 4 of us. DH and I and our girls are 4 and 8.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[kalynn]

Most people use one of 2 method:

1. Hotel shuttle. You're at their mercy for schedules though. Not very convenient.

2. Rental car. This is what I did last time, loved it. I could get to the park nice and early, go back to my hotel around 2, then come back after dinner.

 

[powellrj]

We always have a car even when we stay on-site. I have a problem letting others drive! I am not sure I would ever stay off-site without a car.

 

[HopperFan]

I would never stay off-site without a car. The time lost and potential fees and rigid times don't make saving the cost of a rental car worth it. Not worth the stress to me.

Since you are getting APs there will be no charge for parking at the Disney parks for you.

If you are seriously considering relying on shuttles I highly suggest you check each resort you are looking at for their shuttle service.
- Are there fees and will it be x4 people?
- What is the schedule (some actually only offer a couple times in am and back in pm? Can your two girls commit to the full day?
- Do you need to reserve a spot on the shuttle?
- Where do they drop you? some only go to EPCOT and then you have to get on Disney transportation to get to all the other parks. Lots more time out of your day.
- And if you miss the last shuttle be prepared to have cab fare back which in Orlando is expensive.

Plus you now have to add to your costs the fare for getting to and from the hotel & airport you are staying at.
http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/taxi-fare-estimator/

 

[Mysteria]

I would never stay offsite without a car.

 

[Goofey Drool]

Not to hijack this thread but what is a car rental out of Orlando going for right now....possibly a 4 dr. economy no frills. We are going to be near Disney but I have heeded the warnings of not relying on a resort shuttle.

 

[bbak3030]

I have no idea about a rental car, sorry!

 

[HopperFan]

Not to hijack this thread but what is a car rental out of Orlando going for right now....possibly a 4 dr. economy no frills. We are going to be near Disney but I have heeded the warnings of not relying on a resort shuttle.

Really depends on the time of year, how many days and if you want the big name brand company or not. Also if you are willing to do a pre-purchase the rate is often lower. I've seen 4 dr economy for less than $16 a day plus all the fees you have on any car. Just looked at June for 5 days and total came to $132.00 with a smaller company for Economy Kia Rio. Taxi fare alone to the Lake Buena Vista area hotels would come to close to $100.00. If your hotel shuttle has fees your rental car could be even less than not renting a car. Worth spending an hour researching all the rental options and finding the best deal.

 

[Goofey Drool]

Thanks Hopper Fan.I think we will go for the car rental even though we are staying near DTD and have shuttle service. I am sure we will want to go out on the town at least one day. Plus I would like to come and go on our schedule.

 

[bankr63]

Goofey Drool - hit the transportation board here on DIS for all the latest codes and tricks to getting the best rate for the period you are travelling. You can save a bundle.

bbak3030 - you can find lots of recommendations here for places to stay, but a lot also depends on how far out you want to stay. Orlando is a very spread out place, so make sure you pick something relatively close by. Commutes can be anywhere from 5 to 50 minutes. Regardless of where you stay, I will second (third? fourth?) the motion that a car is pretty much mandatory off site. We own a couple of timeshares, both very close by Disney and wouldn't dream of doing Disney or the rest of Orlando without a car. And since you have AP's you have free parking; parking cost is one of the biggest detractors for those who drive.

I know you say a standard hotel room, but consider the cost of a 1BR or 2BR villa at the many fine resorts in the area. Once you realize how absolutely wonderful it is to put the kids to bed and still be able to sit up for some adult time, you won't look back!

 

[jaykorf001]

Not to hijack this thread but what is a car rental out of Orlando going for right now....possibly a 4 dr. economy no frills. We are going to be near Disney but I have heeded the warnings of not relying on a resort shuttle.

We have been able to snag great rates in orlando at the airport thru Cost Co. I'd look into it and/or Sams if you are a member. Around $20 a day, unlimited miles, for a full size car. Also, the travel board as a PP suggested.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[jaykorf001]

Goofey Drool - hit the transportation board here on DIS for all the latest codes and tricks to getting the best rate for the period you are travelling. You can save a bundle. bbak3030 - you can find lots of recommendations here for places to stay, but a lot also depends on how far out you want to stay. Orlando is a very spread out place, so make sure you pick something relatively close by. Commutes can be anywhere from 5 to 50 minutes. Regardless of where you stay, I will second (third? fourth?) the motion that a car is pretty much mandatory off site. We own a couple of timeshares, both very close by Disney and wouldn't dream of doing Disney or the rest of Orlando without a car. And since you have AP's you have free parking; parking cost is one of the biggest detractors for those who drive. I know you say a standard hotel room, but consider the cost of a 1BR or 2BR villa at the many fine resorts in the area. Once you realize how absolutely wonderful it is to put the kids to bed and still be able to sit up for some adult time, you won't look back!

Agree. Check out Wyndham Bonnet Creek. So much space, very nice, and economical.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[christineann]

We have stayed at the DTD hotels, and though we drive down from SC, we park the car and don't drive it again until we leave Orlando. (We don't like to drive once we reach our vacation destination.) We used the buses from the hotel (most recently Best Western) and found the transportation to be reliable and convenient. There was a 7:25 a.m. bus from our hotel. No driving in traffic, no parking lots.

We were going to stay there again last December, but we got a rate at Pop for about $10 more than the Best Western and decided to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours.

 

[asmit4]

We stayed onsite for my adult life- and I didn't believe that it was so quick to drive to the parks on our own....but it WAS. MK was the only one where the buses were faster. Otherwise- driving was AWESOME!

 

[zoie101]

We drive our car from pa
Use a rental house from global resort homes in Windsor palms area.
Will never stay on property again it's a 5 min drive to alk