Tell me your Top 3 reasons that you rent a car.

[zulaya]

I'm a big believer in renting a car while on a Disney World vacation.

Here are my main reasons:
Control - I have to be in control of my transportation. It's a Type-A thing. I can't rely solely on the buses. I can't explain it. I just can't do it.

Off-Site - We do go off-site to eat and shop sometimes.

Flexibility - I can get up and go to the airport when I'm ready and not have to adhere to a schedule that Magical Express gives to me.

Please share your Top 3 reasons for renting a car.

Thanks.

 

[Tara]

Mine are a lot like yours, although I see offsite access at part of flexibility.

Flexibility - we go to and from the airport when we want; we can go get our own groceries or supplies if we want; if we run out of something or forget something, we can get it; if I want a Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuit or chai latte from Starbucks, I can get it


Privacy/space - we can go from place to place alone, not having to hear other people argue or fuss at their kids (or hear other kids cry); we can have conversations freely; most importantly, our own car can be a comfort to my son (who has Asperger's) when he's overstimulated as it's a quiet, uncrowded, familiar space. Plus we always get a seat.

Control - I'm not at the mercy of any bus schedule, I go when I want to go and the way I want to go (no stops at other hotels on the way).

 

[n2mm]

Saving Money: Yes, most folks find this strange, but we are often there 2 weeks (3-4 trips a year) and make several runs to the grocery store for breakfast and lunch items and beer and adult beverage fixings and snacks. I can buy the mixings for maragritas for $22 and make enough for the week saving me about $100 making my own to take the pool per week. Same theory for the beer too. We are usually in a studio or larger unit so have a quick breakfast and lunch on our balcony. Saving us alot of money. We just returned from a 2 week stay (last night) and the money I saved on margaritas alone paid for the rental car. Having the rental car saves us around $400 or more in this area alone. Going to the outlet to get our Disney fix: We zip up to the Disney outlet at least twice per trip to buy stuff. This trip they had princess backpacks for 5.99 (reg. 18.99 at WDW), and thermal pullovers that were in the parks just a couple of months ago for only 9.99 (vs. 39.00). Also assorted teeshirts for 5.99. My daughter got 3 outfits for dress up Minnie that were marked down to 5.99 each and they no longer sell them in the parks. We did not buy anything while in WDW. Bought around $300 worth of merchandise for less than $100. The granddaughters were happy to choose a couple of things and we were happy with the prices (5.99 for most plush animals).

We enjoy dinner at the resorts: Having a car and allowing 15 minutes or less to get to a resort gives us more pool time than having to use the buses. This saves us time and cab fare if late at night. Going to USF or Seaworld. Again a savings over paying for transportation. We are AP holders for USF so parking is free for us and we don't have to buy tickets anytime we feel like going over. Often we just drive over to eat at CityWalk -- Margaritaville!

We are not bus fans at all. I take public transportation during my regular life every week which includes a commuter train and subway (DC) which takes 5 hours a day. Being on public transportation is not a vacation for me. Our rental car this stay costed us $142 (total) a week for a Ford Explorer that seated 7 people (we were 4 adults and 2 little ones). Gas costed us $20 for the week. Having the rental car saved us money and gave us flexibility to come and go as we please. We stayed at BWV week one, so no driving to DHS or EPCOT. Stayed at BLT week two so walked to MK and took the monorail to Grand Floridian for dinner.

Another thing I save on on vacation is transportation to the airport. My adult kids always drive us the 1 hour trip (each way) to and from the airport, so we NEVER have to pay to park at the airport (which could be expensive, esp for the 2 weeks as it would've cost us $140 this trip alone). Don't feel too sorry for them, as we are DVC owners and they get their room in WDW for free whenever they want to go with us, or pop in while we're there. I guess it all depends on what's important to folks during a vacation. I save a ton of money renting a car even after the expenses. And it gives us the flexibility and comfort we enjoy. My husband enjoys driving and we also enjoy exploring the area. Every now and then we decide to take the bus, esp. from WL to MK and it always reminds him why he enjoys renting and driving while in WDW. We also drive ourselves to the port when we take the cruise.

 

[francophone]

Flexibility for going to off-site locations when we do a trip combining WDW and other venues like Universal or the Space Center, and for dining off-site.

Fun factor - we like to rent a convertible on some trips as a fun break from driving our stodgy minivan and commuter car here at home, lol.

Avoiding standing on more crowded buses during peak/summer season.

 

[Glencora]

Space! I don't do well in crowds to begin with, and small crowded areas can really freak me out.

Temperature As a woman of a certain age, having an air conditioned refuge for travel (I'm horribly addicted to park hopping) is of utmost importance.

Time I just think I save so much time by driving that it basically pays for itself in extra park time!

 

[madge]

mine are similar to what everyone else has shared:

1. hate the buses. my kids love them .. so it's always a struggle to convince them they want to ride in an airconditioned, non-crowded, quicker mode of transport. LOL. we drive to all of the parks, with the exception of the MK.

2. going offsite. we always go to Publix for water & snacks, out to eat, and to the outlet mall.

3. I like knowing we can get where we need or want to go on our own, in case of an emergency, change of plans, whatever.

 

[jakenjess]

1. Krispy Kremes! Seriously, there are none anywhere near us so we make two or three trips there during our Disney stays!!

2. Time savings. It can be so much quicker to jump in the car and go to the parks or, even more importantly, to other resorts.

3. Money savings. Trips to the grocery and liquor stores, as we're usually in a one- or two-bedroom villa.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

1. Control: my DH NEEDS to have control over his transportation (especially on the way to the airport). The difference in his attitude is worth the $$$$.

2. Time: we cordinated with my in-laws via cell phone last November when we were leaving our resorts. Almost every time, we would call then once we were in the Park and they were still waiting/on the bus.

3. Comfort: our own air conditioning and plenty of room for bags and stroller.

 

[twinklebug]

I don't usually rent a car as when on vacation I prefer to sit back and let someone else chauffeur us around for a change (only time I don't have to drive!) but when I do rent my 3 reasons are:

1) Staying offsite (parent's house)... well, ok, i just take their car

2) Food shopping. Some DVC units have full kitchens and it's cheaper to rent a car for a day, fill the kitchen and eat in than it is to eat every meal out.

3) Heading off site... such as to Kennedy space center. Much easier just to plan the trip ourselves than to depend on others.

 

[Pembo]

1. Control/Flexibility - It's nice to take a quick trip to DTD or the water parks w/o having to wait for the buses.

2. Money - We stock up at the grocery store, shop at the outlets, go to Panera and get Pepsi.

3. Time - We saved a lot of time by driving to the parks in the evenings as opposed to using the bus, plus we always got a close parking spot later in the day. And I like being able to drive to and from the airport, another time saver.

I've used ME twice, for shorter trips. It was very convenient at the airport but it started the line waiting very early in the trip.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We haven't yet rented a car while at WDW. We stay on property, use the dining plan and Magical Express.

I love not having to drag our luggage, deal w/ parking trams or hot uncomfortable cars.

I plan our resort meals to coincide with the parks we are visiting (ie, 1900 Park Fare on an MK day, etc) and we don't really need to go off property..even our ILs that live locally see our visit as an opportunity to come hang out at our resort w/ us (they don't swim but like to watch the kids in the pool), and dine at WDW restaurants.

Up until recently, we weren't interested in going to the other Orlando parks since the kids were so young...so that wasn't an issue either.

That all said. We will be making a last minute trip next month to see the ILs due to some (of their) health issues and will be staying on property and renting a car. We will be spending some at their home and dh will be going over more often (I'll take the kids to the parks). The car will be returned early (car care center) though and we are using ME to get back to the airport...it is just so much easier!

We will also be doing a land/sea trip next summer and have decided to drive down because we will be doing one day at Universal, need transportation to/from Port Canaveral and will do one day at the space center as well.

Our trip next month will be a nice experiment for me to compare using Disney Transportation vs having a car. I've never been able to rationalize the extra expense before so it should be interesting!

 

[hsmamato2]

1-FOOD we can buy groceries and snacks offsite- and eat out at local places for 1/4 the price of onsite
2-control of time- no waiting in lines and going to bus stops- plus resort hopping for sightseeing or meals is very difficult on the buses-
3- Don;t like the magical express scheduling,it's easier to just return the car when we decide it's time-
my DH would never stay onsite without a car again for the above reasons so if I want to go,we rent a car! part of the budget for us,no questions asked!

 

[DebbieB]

I like the freedom of picking up and going anywhere. Offsite to get groceries, go to the outlets, etc.

I hate crowded busses and having to stand. I always get a comfy seat in the car!

Don't have to worry about a kid throwing up on my shoes (which has happened!).

 

[francie57]

For us its necessary since we head to Universal first and it is just easier to get there on our own. We also like being able to stop at the food store before checking in to the BWVs. The last thing we use it for is to drive to the Animal Kingdom since it takes much longer on the bus.

 

[Magicbus]

I just wanted to add some balance to this thread.
I love the buses. I'm on them all the time. For those of you that rent cars, thanks. It makes more room for everyone else.

 

[Tara]

I just wanted to add some balance to this thread.
I love the buses. I'm on them all the time. For those of you that rent cars, thanks. It makes more room for everyone else.

Why does a thread titled "top 3 reasons you rent a car" need that balance? It's like posting that you like Universal in a "top 3 reasons you go to Disney" thread.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

1) Going to shop and eat at various offsite locations.

2) Taking it to Downtown Disney because that's the one Disney World bus we don't like, because it takes forever both going and coming back from the Magic Kingdom Resorts.

3) After visiting WDW in the month of December we then go to Clearwater Beach, so obviously we need a car to get there.

 

[Tara]

2) Taking it to Downtown Disney because that's the one Disney World bus we don't like, because it takes forever both going and coming back from the Magic Kingdom Resorts.

So true!

Temperature As a woman of a certain age, having an air conditioned refuge for travel (I'm horribly addicted to park hopping) is of utmost importance.

I'm the opposite - I find the buses in particular air-condition me to within an inch of my life! I'm always freezing on the bus, even in the middle of summer, so I like that I can regulate the car a/c myself.

2. Time savings. It can be so much quicker to jump in the car and go to the parks or, even more importantly, to other resorts.

We do find it saves us time, too, especially since we do a lot of resort dining.

 

[Disney Ron]

Our 3 reasons are:

Convenience

Convenience

Convenience

We love being able to go from our resort to another resort for dinner in 10 minutes instead of an hour and a half by bus.

We also love to be able to go for supplies at Winn Dixie.

And don't forget being able to go for that morning Dunkin' Donuts coffee!!!

 

[Magicbus]

Why does a thread titled "top 3 reasons you rent a car" need that balance? It's like posting that you like Universal in a "top 3 reasons you go to Disney" thread.

Seeing that you brought it up, I do like Disney because I like Universal.
Just thought I'd stick up for the underdog. Someone has to.
Below are 13 direct quotes from this thread.

1. Avoiding standing on more crowded buses.
2. I can't rely solely on the buses.
3. We are not bus fans at all.
4. Hate the buses.
5. And they were still waiting/on the bus.
6. w/o having to wait for the buses.
7. No waiting in lines and going to bus stops
8. I hate crowded busses and having to stand.
9. Don't have to worry about a kid throwing up on my shoes.
10. Since it takes much longer on the bus.
11. We don't like, because it takes forever both going and coming back from the MK resorts.
12. I find the buses in particular air-condition me to within an inch of my life!
13. Minutes instead of an hour and a half by bus.