To rent a car or not to rent a car?

[coachYO & my 3 girls]

To rent a car or not to rent a car, that is the question. I am going in June, staying at POR. We would like to get off property sometimes and also I was wondering if own vehicle will help at some spots to get around easier and faster. I saw someplace where you could get a parking pass from AAA that would allow you to park close. Anyone know about this or have an opinion on renting a car? Anyplace that it would be a really bad place to have a car as it would take longer and be more of a hassel? Thanks.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

We have found it much easier and cheaper not to rent a car. With the WDW transportation, we didn't need a car. The AAA pass is only for parking in a "closer" area of the parking lots. You still pay regular price for parking. There are rental agencies on site. What we're thinking of doing is renting a car for just a couple of days out of our trip to go to US and Seaworld. I guess it would matter how many times during your trip you are going to go offsite to see if it would be worth it for you.

 

[MarkLem]

Disney transportation gets you from resort to parks, but they do not provide resort to resort transporation. If you are staying at Coronado Springs, and are having dinner at Grand Floridian, with Disney transportation you need to take it from Coronado to a park, say, Magic Kingdom, then take transpo from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian. I read that it could take an hour or more to make this trip via Disney at busy times. With your own car, 10 minutes. You could always take a taxi in that case, which would be much less than a day's car rental.

Otherwise, it seems to be a toss up using your car vs. Disney for getting from your resort to the parks.

 

[MarkLem]

I might add that the first time I went to Disney (what is now Shades of Green but was Disney Inn then) I had a rental. It sat in the resort lot except for the day we went to MGM - I drove and parked at MGM instead of taking the bus. Otherwise never used the rental.

The second time we went (Contemporary) we had no rental. I noticed no difference travel-wise, and saved some $$ not having a rental car sit in the resort lot.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

CoachYO & my 3 girls

First, Welcome to the DIS.

One of the reasons I enjoy staying on property is we park the car and don't see it until we leave.
Not sure about where off-property you want to go to or how many will be in your group? Maybe less expencive to take taxi's...if for only one trip.
The age of your children maybe a factor (How much trouble is it to get them in and out of auto) Will you need car seats? Will you have stroller?
Disney transportaion is great...and my neice's and nephew's had rather ride the bus then some rides at the Parks.


PIXIE DUST

 

[yecats]

Hi and welcome to the Dis.

To rent or not? Personnally, I perfer to have a vehicle. Let me do the pros and cons list or renting vehicle:

Pros to renting vehicle:
* When staying on Disney property (which you stated your staying at PORS) parking anywhere on Disney property is FREE.
* No waiting in line for a bus, no standing on a full bus and especially no hour plus long waits for a bus when the parks close (we have all been stuck waiting for buses after the fireworks at MK and those waits can easily be up to and over an hour in wait time)
* Renting a vehicle allows you to move off property easier to do shopping and certainly dinner (which helps to keep cost down)
* If you intend to visit any other Disney Resort this will keep time down to a minimum as when using Disney transportation, you'll have to transfer depending on which resort you want to visit.
* Having the freedom to go and come at your own whim.
* If doing US or SeaWorld it makes it easier to get there without having to call Mears or hire a taxi (which isn't cheap)

Cons to renting vehicle:
* Cost of rental vehicle (sometimes this can be offset a bit by eating off grounds for dinner). Also some people mention the traffic, personally the only time I run into it is when on the interstate, I have never experienced vehicular traffic on Disney grounds.

Personally, I usually drive and love having my vehicle. We usually go off grounds at least 3 times per trip to go shopping at strip malls, etc. as Disney items are cheaper offsite (ie. got these cute Minnie and Mickey dolls for my vehicle offsite at $3.00 each, on Disney grounds they were $5.75, etc. on T-shirts and a few others all of which had the registered Disney logo on them). We also ate a few times off grounds at night and to tell you the truth, had better meals for less money than eating on grounds. I would tell you to plan out your vacation and if you intend to leave Disney more than once, get a rental.

 

[antmaril]

We ALWAYS rent a car. I really can't imagine not having a car. We like to the flexibility a car gives us. It's usually cheaper to have some meals off property. We like to go to Universal and, of course, that is easier with a car. We like to go to the malls.

We feel a car is a must.

Just my two cents.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

We always fly down and rent a car. You can't beat the convenience of a car(DD, resort hop,off-site restraunts,grocery stores,etc).

For usually around $160 you can have a rental car for 5-7 days. So in essence it would only cost you a few dollars more for the week, for having the convenience of a rental car, compared to the prices of a limo or Mears rt transportation.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I too always rent a car. Be sure to checkout mousesavers.com for great discount codes. You can make a reservation online and cancel it if you find something cheaper. Be sure to rent from an agency at the airport. The cost of a shuttle/towncar to and from airport will pay for most of the car rental.

 

[pattyT]

It depends...

when we went in 2002 we also went to Discover Cove and Sea World. One night we went to eat at Olive Garden too!

We stayed at WL and the parks we could go by boat or monorail we did.

But our 1 attempt to use the buses failed miserable! the trip was long and the bus overcrowded. so after that we used the rental and never had to park tooo far - except Animal Kingdon, but they have these little go-cart train things so we didn't walk 50 feet!

I justified it because I used a code and got a GREAT rate... only slightly more that mears transfers. Then the additional fact that I went to a supermarket, bought styrophome coolers and cases of soda, water, and beer as well as a bunch of kids snacks - I am sure that saved us a bundle!

I say if you are getting a great rate -
even if it collects dust you have the comfort of knowing you are not 'forced' to go with what is available!

saying that - I am planning our next trip and I will not get a rental if I can't get a great rate and if we stay in a deluxe.
I am a pretty relaxed person - and DS will be almost 4 instead of almost 2 so we won't have to drag a stroller, huge diaper bag, etc..

 

[swatts1]

I've been to WDW at least 15 times, stayed on site each time and have gone with and without a car. I prefer having the car. Last week, for example, I had 6 people flying in at different times and staying at the WL. I factored in the price for everyone to get to and from the airport and ended up only paying about $100 more to rent the car for the week. With no parking fee at parks, we drove to all parks except MK and that saved us some time that would have been spent waiting for buses. We also like to go to Downtown Disney and the Boardwalk. Bus transportation to those places can be lengthly/and or difficult. If I needed to really save money I'd be happy to go without a car, but if it wouldn't break the budget then I'd rent one.

 

[DebbieB]

We always rent a car. Using codes & entertainment coupons with National, I can usually get a car around $120 for a week (Intermediate, Emerald Aisle, usually get an upgrade). Subtract that from what it would cost for a town car from the airport (hate Mears), and you're practically even. The only place we take a bus sometimes is to MK. When staying at BWV, we use the boats to Epcot & MGM or walk. When staying at OKW or elsewhere, we drive. Always drive to AK. We like to go offsite to get groceries (staying in a DVC villa) and to the outlets. It's nice to just get in the car, turn up the AC and the radio and go where you need to go. Better than a crowded bus, standing and holding onto a pole while the bus whips around corners. Last trip a kid vomited all over my mom's shoes on the way to MNSSHP. Not my idea of a fun time! I think the roads around WDW and Orlando are easy to drive.

 

[MarkLem]

As you can see, it depends on your situation and the time of year you go. A rental for me and my family for 12/29-1/3/2004 is $472 for a minivan from Budget. I am not going to leave WDW so it's not worth it. We are going from Coronado Springs to GF for dinner one night, and that will take time and be a little bit of a hassle to get there, but not worth $472 for the convenience of a 10 minute drive. I will probably take a cab for $10-20 that night.

If it fits in your budget and you want the convenience around WDW or you go off-site, then go forit. Otherwise, ...

 

[Hawk]

Two years ago we stayed at FW with our new travel trailer. We drove from Vermont. This was our first time with a car (SUV) at WDW. While we haven't been back with our camper, we now always rent a car.

"Yecats" is right on with the pros and cons.

You can always find good deals on rental rates and this can be set off by the transportation costs to and from the airport. This is convenience only, WDW has some great transportation and it is not necessary to have a car.

Hawk.

 

[staylor]

We always rent. I just got a full size from national for 4 days 3 nights $71 including taxes. I got the discount codes at mousesavers.com It is always nice to have the freedom of the car and not be stuck on disney property at all times.

 

[magsmom]

Hi,
We always have a car. Our 1st 2 trips we rented (at great rates) and on our last trip in August we drove (from Western Mass!). On our trip in February we will continue to rent. It is nice to get off property every now and again. It will cost you $ to take a taxi from MCO to Disney. Add to that that what you save by going off-property once or twice for dinner, and you have more than covered the cost or renting.
Try the Ale House in Lake Buena Vista! You can get a filet mignon for $12.95!
You may even luck out on the rental - on our 1st trip we rented a Jaguar for $289 for the week!!! That in itself was a little bit of pixie dust!
Good Luck!

 

[powellrj]

add me to the list of car renters, we always rent a car because we like to get away and have some meals non Disney, plus do some outlet mall shopping. With the codes on mousesavers we usually get a car for what we would spend on airport transportation. We also use the AAA passes and yes the parking is free,but if you are staying onsite its free anyway, but it was nice to be right outside of the gate, we never rode the trams, we just always walk in the gate.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by DebbieB
We always rent a car. Last trip a kid vomited all over my mom's shoes on the way to MNSSHP. Not my idea of a fun time!

....................

 

[CindyAnn]

We always rent a car, too. If you're renting, the convenience of renting from one of the on-site rental companies at the Orlando airport is HUGE compared to having to take a shuttle to an off-site company. We've used the Emerald Aisle at National twice, and it couldn't have been easier.

DH travels to work by public transport and doesn't like being at the mercy of public transportation while we're on vacation. Many of the complaints about Disney hotels relate to bus transportation, so we've decided not to take on that potential headache. We will, however, use the monorail and boat transportation.

We find that roads on Disney property are well marked and not particulaly crowded - even over NYE. The only place where we saw any kind of traffic jam was near Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island.

Have fun!

 

[swilphil]

I like being on vacation from having to drive a car. We had a car service from the airport that included a free grocery stop. That was the only reason we needed to go off property. The money we saved by not having to rent a car allowed us to upgrade our hotel to the Dolphin. It was such a great location to MGM/Epcot and bus service to other parks was excellent. We considered taking a cab to some resorts for meals, but we were able to find plenty of great restaurants within walking distance at Epcot or the other hotels in that area. We also were able to walk through Epcot and take the Monorail.