To rent (a car) or not.......

[moredisneyplease]

Hello fellow DVCers....I'd love your opinion. I'm an extremely seasoned WDW visitor and I have a trip coming in up 17 days . It will be me, DH, DS3, DS 5 months old, and a mommy's helper. DH and I are celebrating a 10 year anniversary and right now I'm debating a minivan rental. I've gone back and forth on the pros and cons and would like you're thoughts and suggestions. Pros and cons:

Pro: much easier at MCO to go up to the rental car desk, check in, get car, and go (Last few experiences w/ ME have been loooong)
Con: even though I'm locked in at a great rate of $190 for an 8 day minivan rental, its still $190 when ME is free and WDW transportation is free

Pro: we're staying a villa and i like to cook in so with a rental car we'll be able to go grocery shopping and get what we want at a reasonable price (versus grocery delivery)
Con: I tend to over shop for groceries at WDW and then have massive left overs but if I have the groceries delivered i'll only pick what i need/want

Pro: DH and I are doing the early morning surfing at TL as an anniversary present and there are no buses at that time so we'd just hop in the car and go.....without car we'd have to pay for a taxi
Con: I dont see a con on this one

Pro: easier w/ an infant to hop in car and get to park/water park/DTD....... quicker than waiting for a bus coming and going
Con: I have to either bring both carseats or spend even more money renting them through the car company (yuck)

I could list more but these are the ones that are sitting at the top of my thoughts. What would you do? Rent the minivan for the flexibility or just stick w/ ME/WDW transportation and order the groceries?

Thanks!

 

[pilferk]

Hello fellow DVCers....I'd love your opinion. I'm an extremely seasoned WDW visitor and I have a trip coming in up 17 days . It will be me, DH, DS3, DS 5 months old, and a mommy's helper. DH and I are celebrating a 10 year anniversary and right now I'm debating a minivan rental. I've gone back and forth on the pros and cons and would like you're thoughts and suggestions. Pros and cons:

Pro: much easier at MCO to go up to the rental car desk, check in, get car, and go (Last few experiences w/ ME have been loooong)
Con: even though I'm locked in at a great rate of $190 for an 8 day minivan rental, its still $190 when ME is free and WDW transportation is free

Pro: we're staying a villa and i like to cook in so with a rental car we'll be able to go grocery shopping and get what we want at a reasonable price (versus grocery delivery)
Con: I tend to over shop for groceries at WDW and then have massive left overs but if I have the groceries delivered i'll only pick what i need/want

Pro: DH and I are doing the early morning surfing at TL as an anniversary present and there are no buses at that time so we'd just hop in the car and go.....without car we'd have to pay for a taxi
Con: I dont see a con on this one

Pro: easier w/ an infant to hop in car and get to park/water park/DTD....... quicker than waiting for a bus coming and going
Con: I have to either bring both carseats or spend even more money renting them through the car company (yuck)

I could list more but these are the ones that are sitting at the top of my thoughts. What would you do? Rent the minivan for the flexibility or just stick w/ ME/WDW transportation and order the groceries?

Thanks!

We drive to WDW.

My answer is: it depends.

The killer for us would be the car seat fiasco....renting ups your costs by $20 a day-ish, carrying with you is a pain in the keister AND might count as a 2nd piece of luggage for 2 of you, adding $50 to your plane ride.

IF I were staying at one of the Epcot resorts, I'd likely nix the car. I might not use ME, either, and opt for a limo/shuttle ride that included a grocery stop...but that solves the problem of the car seat, and ability to buy food. Then it's just about the taxi ride...which would be inexpensive enough one way.

If I were staying at AKV, OKW, or SSR...I'd likely opt to rent the car (maybe NOT SSR...but probably). Access to dining choices and the parks becomes a little bit easier with your own vehicle, and it becomes a bit easier to get BACK to your room for that mid day break, or to run your DS 5 months back to the room for any reason. Oh...and I'd likely bring my own car seats with me.....pay the additional fee, and check them as baggage (so put a luggage tag on 'em). It's a pain, but you and the kids will be more comfortable. You, in installing a car seat you're familiar with. The kids because it will be familiar to them.....

 

[spiceycat]

went without a car at AKV, ssr and OKW - not a problem.

would go with DME and grocery deliver - but do it NOW.

DME does not allow walk up anymore.

grocery delivers service can get too many request.

the DME has improved greatly!~!!! no long waits. You will probably wait longer in line to register for the bus than your wait in the bus line.

now that doesn't mean you get to go.... the wait after you are on bus can be 20 minutes. while more people get on the bus. then they still wait....

that say free is always better in my book. less worries for you.

to get to your early morning thing -what is the day - you are certain that it is not emh for the water parks right?

when you check in ask the manger about your transportation options - Disney to Disney can be free.

 

[skelooch]

Absolutely, positively rent the car you will so glad you did. No waiting for up to 45 min in the heat for a crowded bus you might not even get a seat on, and with a stroller no less. If you want to visit other resorts or go off site for dining etc, it's a pain to get there without a car.
Your pros definately out-way your cons
I would never even consider not having the convienence of a car at Disney.

Maybe you could get by with a smaller car for only 5 people, and save a few bucks, but that is a very good rate for an eight day rental. I just reserved a mini van for May 25 for 6 days and the best I've been able to do so far is $212

 

[ruzer28]

Absolutely, positively rent the car you will so glad you did. No waiting for up to 45 min in the heat for a crowded bus you might not even get a seat on, and with a stroller no less. If you want to visit other resorts or go off site for dining etc, it's a pain to get there without a car.
Your pros definately out-way your cons
I would never even consider not having the convienence of a car at Disney.

Maybe you could get by with a smaller car for only 5 people, and save a few bucks, but that is a very good rate for an eight day rental. I just reserved a mini van for May 25 for 6 days and the best I've been able to do so far is $212

My sentiments exactly. A 10 minute "World" commute in your rental car can take 45 min to an hour on the bus.

 

[brack]

Absolutely, positively rent the car you will so glad you did. No waiting for up to 45 min in the heat for a crowded bus you might not even get a seat on, and with a stroller no less. If you want to visit other resorts or go off site for dining etc, it's a pain to get there without a car.
Your pros definately out-way your cons
I would never even consider not having the convienence of a car at Disney.

Maybe you could get by with a smaller car for only 5 people, and save a few bucks, but that is a very good rate for an eight day rental. I just reserved a mini van for May 25 for 6 days and the best I've been able to do so far is $212

My sentiments exactly. A 10 minute "World" commute in your rental car can take 45 min to an hour on the bus.

I think everyone should rent a car ..... it will make more room on the buses for cheap people like me.

 

[Lildalejrfan]

We always rent a car. It's so much easier than waiting for the ME or shuttles. Last week DH & I arrived in the morning got the rental (SUV) plus, car seat. We were not charged for the car seat since we belong to Hertz#1. The rest of our family arrived later that night via ME. They landed @ 5:30PM & didn't get to OKW till 8pm. The luggage arrived @ 8:15pm. Hubby said it would have been easier to have gone & pick everyone up. Our daughter said the ME was not worth it especially with a 19 month old. The bus was warm & they had to wait for other people to arrive. Of course the baby was getting cranky & tired.
Another plus with having a car is were able to go to the grocery store anytime we want plus, we do alot of other things off property. Ex. Sea World, Universal etc. We all like going to Old Town & doing the Sky Coaster and Go-Karts.

 

[felway17]

you say $180 for 8 days... that sounds like a good deal.

I got $100 for luxury car for 5 days... I used priceline to get my deal. you should also check kayak.com to see if you can get cheaper.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I would highly recommend the rental car. YOu got a really fantastic rate. With your size party and the younger kids in your party, the rental car will offer much more flexibility.

Although it is an added cost, we figure that at least while our kids are so young it is best and less stressful to drive ourselves around rather than waiting on buses. We've traveled when both of ours were 5mo, 1yo, 2yo, etc. Next trip our daughter will be 3yo and our son 1yo. Having a rental at this point in our vacationing style is necessary.

 

[moredisneyplease]

Thanks for all of your advice! I think I will get the minivan just for sake of convenience!

 

[browniemtb]

We travel with the little ones as well......I've given up on rental cars. The convenience of a rental car does not outway the expense. Nor have we tried DME at all......We hire a limo/van service and get picked up in a suburban with car seats ready. The service is there at the airport waiting for us and we have the option of grocery shopping on the way but we usually use garden grocer and get stuff delivered. We find the buses at WDW not a problem, sure you may have to wait a few extra minutes but it still is part of Disney my kids actually enjoy. We have also used the same service to go offsite, last time we went to Universal and got picked up right at the front door it worked out great. One of the biggest reason for me was the trip back.....we, as a family, are late for everything and the trip back to MCO can be crazy. So just eliminating the rental car return and stuff is a huge weight off my shoulders.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We travel with the little ones as well......I've given up on rental cars. The convenience of a rental car does not outway the expense. Nor have we tried DME at all......We hire a limo/van service and get picked up in a suburban with car seats ready. The service is there at the airport waiting for us and we have the option of grocery shopping on the way but we usually use garden grocer and get stuff delivered. We find the buses at WDW not a problem, sure you may have to wait a few extra minutes but it still is part of Disney my kids actually enjoy. We have also used the same service to go offsite, last time we went to Universal and got picked up right at the front door it worked out great. One of the biggest reason for me was the trip back.....we, as a family, are late for everything and the trip back to MCO can be crazy. So just eliminating the rental car return and stuff is a huge weight off my shoulders.

What car service do you usually use?
Do you travel at the same time every year and if so, when?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm always curious as I like to get a really good eval for all the options.

 

[browniemtb]

What car service do you usually use?
Do you travel at the same time every year and if so, when?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm always curious as I like to get a really good eval for all the options.

We use MH Transportation, I put their link down below if the op lets me. They do a great job...family run. I've used them quite a few times for both business and pleasure. Travel times have been in March, April, and November. All in all it works out the best for us but many may feel otherwise.

http://www.transportation2disney.com/

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for all of your advice! I think I will get the minivan just for sake of convenience!

For this trip, with your plans, I would go with the rental car.
Bobbi

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We use MH Transportation, I put their link down below if the op lets me. They do a great job...family run. I've used them quite a few times for both business and pleasure. Travel times have been in March, April, and November. All in all it works out the best for us but many may feel otherwise.

http://www.transportation2disney.com/

Thanks for the info!