To rent a car or not?

[DISman13]

Hey guys, I'm trying to decide whether I want to rent a car for my trip. I'm staying a week at RPR. Will need a way to get to the hotel from the airport and then back. Also, I will be going to Disney for one day, so I'd have to rent a car for one day anyway. I can get a car for the week for about $140, which makes it seem like an easy yes, BUT then I'd have to pay $15 per day to park it at the hotel. That's more than it costs per day to rent it. So now we're at $250 and I'm wondering if it's going to be worth it.


What do you guys think and how do you do it on your trips?

 

[donaldduck352]

I would'nt.You can use A schuttle service alot cheaper then renting A car and paying to park it daily.That $250 can buy alot of souvies or food.
I recomend Mears to everyone that asks this question.Hear is the link:

https://secure.mearstransportation.com/Default.asp

 

[Pink Flamingo]

I'm with Donald ~ I would use a car service & then catch a taxi to Disney.

Using Mears Taxi Fare Estimator (http://www.mearstransportation.com/TaxiFareEstimator.asp?go=1&from=23&froma=1000%20Universal%20Studios%20Plaza&fromc=Orlando&fromz=32819-7601&to=14&toa=3111%20World%20Dr&toc=Lake%20Buena%20Vista&toz=32830& ) it appears that it would cost around $70 + tip round trip to Magic Kingdom. A car service with transportation to/from MCO costs about $100 + tip. So, that puts you at around $190. Plus, you won't have to pay for gas, tolls, resort parking, & parking at WDW like you would if renting a car.

We've never rented a car on any of our trips & have never had a problem.

 

[DISman13]

Are there toll roads in between WDW and Universal? I don't really like the idea of doing shuttles where you share a ride with strangers. It seems awkward. Maybe not. Anyone have experience? So I'd have to do the $120 shuttle to and from the airport, plus tip. Then the taxi to and from MK will be like $80 plus tip. I just figured maybe I might want to drive somewhere else on the trip as well.

If there are toll roads, there's no way I'm going to have change with me in a rental car. Who would? So what would I do there? I'm really interested in hearing if other people have done similar things and what they find to be the easiest way to do things.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

I don't really like the idea of doing shuttles where you share a ride with strangers. ...So I'd have to do the $120 shuttle to and from the airport, plus tip. Then the taxi to and from MK will be like $80 plus tip. I just figured maybe I might want to drive somewhere else on the trip as well.

The car service I'm referring to is not something you share with others. You have a driver who picks you up at the airport, does a grocery stop if you want, & then takes you to/from your resort.

I misspoke in my original price quote for the car service. We pay $120 total ~ includes a $20 tip. Sorry about that.

Don't know if there are tolls between Universal/Disney, but there are tolls between MCO (Orlando airport) & Universal/Disney.

 

[taliategan]

The tolls roads are coming from the Airport to Universal or Disney, not between the two park areas. I always prefer a car - but it depends on price. You can usually find good car rental rates, but it can take a lot of time checking rates and codes with the different rental companies in the months leading up to your trip. Many hotels, including the Universal hotels, are now charging for parking as well which adds to the cost of having a car.

 

[jenseib]

you have to pay to park your car at a Universal hotel?

 

[Pink Flamingo]

you have to pay to park your car at a Universal hotel?

Yep - it's currently $15 a day.

 

[jenseib]

Wow, I am shocked they would charge there onsite guest to park

 

[pixeegrl]

Wow, I am shocked they would charge there onsite guest to park

There has been several threads on this same topic. From what I have gathered Disney includes there's in their rates and Uni doesn't therefore if you drive you pay and if you don't you don't pay. At Disney you pay no matter what.

 

[Darcy03231]

I rent a car for our US/IOA trips when we're there for a week because there are other things we like to do in the area and I like the convenience of having my own transportation. I also like to do grocery run when we first get there to have breakfast in the room and we tend to eat several meals off-site.