To Drive or Not WDW

[sarina]

My daughter is not comfortable driving in a place where she thinks she will have problems with directions. I keep telling her that it has to be easy to get from the airport to WDW. We are going July 17-24 and I am thinking that a car would let us get to Universal and to other WDW sites a lot easier than the buses - your thoughts!!!

Thanks

 

[KayleeUK]

Moving this to the Transportation Board for you.

 

[disneymom3]

Driving to WDW is quite easy from the airport. Keep in mind, that the rental agents anywhere you go are pretty darn good at giving directions to the major places people come to go to. (Oh what a grammatical nightmare that is!) Anyway, they can get you started in the right direction and then there are about a million signs that tell you where to go.

Keep in mind, that like half of the people driving around the Orlando area are tourists who don't know where they are going, one fourth are retired and apparently not in any hurry and the rest of them are sick of the rest of us. I have always found dealing with the other drivers to be more of an issue than actually finding my way from place to place. That said, I have been to WDW once without a car and will never do it again.

 

[inkkognito]

I am divided on the topic, so I'll give you both sides:
Usually, I am very lazy on vacation, so we use Happy Limo to get to WDW and then rely on their internal transportation and take a Mears shuttle if we want to go to Universal. Not having to drive helps me maintain my "vacation mode."
But we are in Orlando a lot for business now, which forces me to drive. We rent cars via Priceline, and the signage on Disney property is EXCELLENT. If you miss one turnoff, you'll be able to get back to where you wanted to go pretty easily. Also, U-turns are legal in FL. If you do drive, take 417 from the airport. It's more expensive in tolls, but there is way less traffic.
Barb

 

[debbie655]

That said, I have been to WDW once without a car and will never do it again.

I guess everyones opinions differ but ohhh how I agree with that statement. I have never been to WDW without a car and WOULD never. I have only stayed at WD property once at the CBR and I felt kind of isolated as it was WITH a car. Not sure where you're staying but all the hotels I've ever stayed at in the area, Royal Pacific Resort, Holiday Inn Family Suites, Marriott Horizons, Wyndham Palms CC, Gaylord Palms, etc. were not within walking distance to anything unless you are willing to walk very far. Like I said, everyone feels different I guess, but I like to be able to get around, go to the souviner shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and not feel stranded at a hotel.

 

[chicknoodle99]

We always rent a car in WDW. We like being able to come and go as we please and not rely on Disney Transportation. We will go off-site for dinner sometimes and we usually do another theme park like Universal or SeaWorld. We find it pretty easy to manuver around the world and DH is good at directions so he always drives! I would recommend it to anyone..its worth it we think!

 

[sarina]

Thanks for all the replies - we WILL rent a car. Now for the next question - is it about the same (pricewise) to go ahead and rent the car when we get there or should we reserve a car before we go? I am a AAA member.

 

[chicknoodle99]

I would reserve in advance just in case you cant get a car. Going in July it may be busier. That is just my recommendation though...you can get deals through AAA but also check websites for each car rental agency and I always call as I get different rates usually. Good luck!

 

[Geoff_M]

We are in the "must have a car" group. WDW transportation is fine when it comes to a number of routes (most notably MK), but we find the car to be a lot quicker in general. We also like to go off-site for an occasional meal, grocery run, and the obligatory trip to the Belz Outlet.

By all means reserve a car before you get there. Unless you're using a site like Priceline, within the travel industry usually the most expensive thing to do is to buy something on the spot. Go to www.mousesavers.com and look at the rental car discout codes that might work for you.

As for driving, if you take 417 you've basically got two turns to make from the MCO rental car garage to WDW: The one for Boggy Creek Rd south from the airport, and the turn onto 417 from Boggy Creek. Tolls are $3 total on 417 to WDW. As you approach WDW on 417 there are tons of signs and several exits that will get you to your WDW destination.

 

[sarina]

we are into coutdown now and everyone is getting excited. We leave on the 17th of July - me from BWI and my daughter and grandson from Greensboro, NC.

Couple questions - When I booked the hotel the agent told me to call for the van service directly (he gave me the number) when I arrive at the airport. He said this way I will probably get it with not a lot of people on it and it will take a shorter time to get to the hotel - that is if we don't rent a car - thoughts?

Can guests who stay at one Disney Resort use the pools at the other Disney resorts?

 

[disneymom3]

Originally posted by sarina
Can guests who stay at one Disney Resort use the pools at the other Disney resorts?

No, and do yourself a favor and DON'T ask this over on the resorts board. You'll get way more than you are looking for.

As far as the hotel shuttle, I have had to do this at other airports and it worked fine. I have called when we got down to the baggage claim area but before I got my luggage and the vans have been waiting when I got outside. What hotel is this? How far do they have to come to get you?

 

[sarina]

Thank you for the heads up on the use of the other pools! We are staying at The Port Orleans Riverside in WDW.

 

[NCRedding]

Sarina: to further confuse the pool issue. Since you are staying at POR, you CAN use the pool at PO French Quarter. You'll love POR. Also, I agree with everyone else--driving is fairly easy (avoid I-4 if possible).

 

[sarina]

What is I-4?

What is the best building for a family of three (non smoking) with a 7 year old in tow at the POR?

 

[disneymom3]

Originally posted by sarina
We are staying at The Port Orleans Riverside in WDW.

Uhhh, I am confused. Port Orleans has a hotel shuttle?? Where have I been? Or are you using Mears if you don't rent a car?

I-4 is interstate 4 and is the main interstate running through Orlando.

 

[sarina]

No POR does not have a hotel shuttle that I know of. I am referring to the van shuttle. When I called to make my reservation the WDW operator told me to take the number and call for the van when I got there instead of booking it as part of the package. He said it would be a faster ride if I called for it when we arrived at the hotel and I was inquiring about this. We were trying to decide if we wanted to do a car.

My daughter gets nervous about driving in a new place and we wanted the most direct and quickest route to our hotel and WDW.

Is I-4 to be avoided because of congestion and would an alternate route be just as direct?

Sorry for the confusion about the van.

Does anyone out there have any recommendations for us re rooms, floor preferential at the POR?

 

[NCRedding]

Our prefered way to get to WDW from the airport is to take the south exit and go on 417 which is a toll road. We've never seen it crowded, and it is a very good road. I dislike I-4 because it is congested, with a good bit of construction--although that may have been completed by now.

 

[sarina]

Well, we are definitely into countdown (leaving Saturday, July 17) and I want topersonally thank everyone for their tips, etc. We have already used alot of the ideas.

One more thing, the voice of doom (someone here in the office) was just at my desk and exclaimed "oh my god, you're picking up the car from the airport? it's under construction and you will get lost trying to get out of the airport and to your hotel!" Just what I needed to hear right now!!!!!

From previous posts it looks fairly easy to find our way to the POR and WDW - thoughts, tips?

 

[disneymom3]

You'll be fine!! Don't worry. Ask at the rental counter and they will tell you where you need to go to get to the right main road. Lots of signs for the WDW area. Besides, even if you get lost, it's not the end of the world--just stop at a gas station and ask for directions.

Have a great time!!!

 

[sarina]

We just heard that It's A Small World is under construction and the Electric Light Parade is no longer. Is this true???