To rent a car or not?

[pjynx]

We'll be at WDW in June for 11 days. We're first-timers. BIL/SIL who've been there several times advise us to rent a car, that it's well worth it, since we plan to park-hop. We're not going to any of the other parks (Universal, etc). But we do intend to go to the malls and make a couple grocery shopping trips (we're staying in FW cabins so we have a full kitchen we can stock to help us save on meals). Renting a car for the entire time won't break our budget, but I'm wondering if it's actually a "necessary" expense?

Granted, we could take a taxi to the grocery store and malls, or even rent a car for a single day if needed (or rent one the first day and again somewhere in the middle if we need to replenish food). But what about for getting from park to park? I realize that WDW provides transportation (buses, monorail, etc) to get around, but we're going in mid/late June (very busy time of year). Realistically, how long will we have to wait to use these services? Since time is money, would we be better off to rent a car and drive from place to place ourselves? Which parks have the parking lots so far away that even if we drove we'd still need to use WDW transportation to get to the admission gate?

If we chose to get a car for only a couple select days, which on-site resorts have car-rental agencies? I remember reading in one of the planning books that some resorts have this, but I can't remember which ones they are.

So many questions.....so little time, LOL! Thanks!

 

[Ms. Belle]

For me, having a rental car is a "necessary" expense. You can waste alot of time waiting and then getting from place to place on the Disney buses, it's much easier to get in your car. National has a rental desk at the Dolphin Hotel.

 

[pjynx]

Thanks for your thoughts.

Anyone else? Agree or disagree?

 

[OntFamily]

Because you want to go to Malls, plus as you'll be needing to buy groceries for FW, you may find the rental car worthwhile (howver, not for the full 10 days).

You won't need your car for transportation within Disney (especially the theme parks). Some people (like myself) find a car easier to visit DownTown Disney.


You may only need the car for the first 4 or 5 days -- allows you to get the groceries you want, and to visit the malls you desire. Then you can return the car (Alamo/National have a rental depot @ the Dolphin and Magic Kingdom parking lot)

 

[DebbieB]

I wouldn't go on a regular vacation without a car (long weekend maybe). I just don't consider waiting for busses and standing on crowded busses a vacation. One time we took the bus a kid puked on our shoes. Rental cars have really gotten cheap. I have a full size reserved for May 7 to 13 for $100 total, an intermediate would have been $94.

 

[pjynx]

Thanks for the input!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Elsewhere, I love driving and hate buses, but the Disney ones are not bad. Disney's parking lot for the MK is one of the biggest lots in the world. After you park your car, they have a tram to take you to the park, because the walk is often that far. I don't really see how driving around the property really saves that much time. The bus service is really good, it drops you off right near the park entrances, or right near the entrance to your hotel, and nobody has to remember where the car was parked. Also, the weather is great. One of the reasons I hate buses in the real world, is because I hate having to wait in the cold or the rain; the Disney buses all have covered shelters. Plus, I don't drink much, but I like to have a few on my vacation, and I won't drink and drive. It is nice not ever having to worry about having a designated driver while on property. Last, Disney property is confusing to drive around. It is pretty well marked, but I still find it confusing, and I've been there many times. Many of the Disney roads are like small highways. If you make a mistake, it can be hard to turn around, and who wants to deal with that when you're tired? (or excited)
Having said that, I like to rent a car. I consider it my security blanket. Most of the time, we either don't drive it once we get to the hotel. About the only exception would be to get a few groceries or maybe like a trip to a pharmacy or something. For me, it is just relaxing to know that I have it IF I needed to go somewhere.
Having said THAT, if I were going while Disney's free shuttle service was going on...I'd be very tempted to use it and save the extra money! (Or maybe if I had a large group, we'd rent one economy car among us, and most of us would use the shuttle service)

 

[Uncleromulus]

We always rent a car and always use it for park to park trips--not to mention all those other things that a car helps you do. Also--if something strikes you on impulse to do (say see a movie at Pleasure Island, maybe miniature golf, etc) it's a snap in a car--not so easy on a bus.
Now I am in complete agreement that Disney does a remarkable job with their bus transportation. But you do lose any flexibility on a bus--and who wants to have to STAND (as we used to do all the time on Disney transportation) on a bus after walking around the parks all day?? Or listen to folks gab on their cell phones the entire trip??
Rent a car---

 

[antmaril]

We ALWAYS rent a car while at WDW. I just can't imagine being there without a car. I DO NOT want to wait for a bus (especially in June) and I want go where I want, when I want.

I highly recommend you rent the car. It gives you so much flexibility.

 

[tinkerbelle22]

This will be the first time that we are renting a car. Never did before because I feel that being transported around by monorail,or buses or taxis was more of a complete vacation...I spend my whole day driving the kids around when I'm home. But we're going to Universal one day and would for sure take a taxi to Typhoon Lagoon (hate waiting for a bus in a wet bathing suit with towels, paraphernalia,etc. Plus, we've always taken a taxi from airport to hotel and back. Once I added it all up, it was clearly cheaper to rent a car. We signed up for National's Emerald Club which says that you can go straight to your car from baggage claim (no counter stop necessary) which was an added bonus!

 

[DisneyElf]

We usually rent a car when we go down. The only park we always take the WDW buses to is MK -- since once you get off the bus you can walk into the park - vs. taking the tram to TTC - then monorail or ferry

 

[Kaitysmom]

Another vote for renting the car. You sound like you want the flexibility to come and go as you choose - a car will make this so much easier. We like hopping in the car and going, especially since you'll be at FW. I avoided this by having a car, but have heard that the transportation system in FW can be really time consuming - this may have changed though. Definitely take the boat launch from FW over to MK. We would also take the boat over to CR then grab the monorail depending on what we wanted to do, but this takes time from your touring.

Finding the best route can get confusing as stated before. Get a map and navigate yourself. We found that the official road signs will often send you the long way around. Don't worry though, if you make a wrong turn you will easily find your way back around. Once you get acclimated, you'll have no trouble at all. One great short cut - take a left out of the FW parking lot, go to the first set of lights and take a right. We always went this way to go anywhere - DTD, Typhoon Lagoon, MGM, etc. Seems like a no brainer when you are staying there, but the signs don't direct you that way on your way back to FW.

Have fun!