To rent or not to rent a car over Memorial Day weekend / SWW

[aiminator]

I am weighing the pros and cons of renting a car at Disney over Memorial Day weekend. I will be staying onsite at the Wilderness Lodge. I heard the bus service from WL can take quite some time and was considering renting a car to get from point A to point B quicker.

Is parking usually ample at the parks... namely, HS - during Star Wars weekend?

I was concerned that with being a holiday weekend and SWW that the parking lot may close and I'd be stuck with a rental car and no where to park it.

I also plan on taking mid-day breaks at the WL.

Thanks for your help

 

[MichelleVW]

We always rent a car since we're not crazy about Disney transportation. Once we had an early breakfast at the MK so we drove early and got a front row parking spot....we took Disney transportation back for our mid day break (which took forever and we remembered why we like to have our own car!) and when we left the MK for the night we had a front row parking space to walk to...it was awesome!

 

[pigletto]

We did 4 trips in the last few years without a car. We never really minded the buses and happily used Disney transportation.
This trip last week we had a van.
I didn't know what I was missing. It was so much easier!!! We loved it!!
Being able to come and go as we pleased without waiting for buses was great. The only place it wasn't so great was the Magic Kingdom because you still have to park and then take the monorail or ferry over. So MK is still time consuming.

I can't really imagine not having a vehicle now. I would still use Disney transportation but I would miss the freedom.

 

[MichelleVW]

We did 4 trips in the last few years without a car. We never really minded the buses and happily used Disney transportation.
This trip last week we had a van.
I didn't know what I was missing. It was so much easier!!! We loved it!!
Being able to come and go as we pleased without waiting for buses was great. The only place it wasn't so great was the Magic Kingdom because you still have to park and then take the monorail or ferry over. So MK is still time consuming.

I can't really imagine not having a vehicle now. I would still use Disney transportation but I would miss the freedom.

That was us. Our first trips we NEVER drove our car around, I would park it and leave it, but once I figured out how fast and easy it is, I haven't looked back! Occasionally we will skip the car...but it's usually for budget reasons and regret it!

 

[aiminator]

We will likely use Disney transportation to MK since WL isn't too far. I was thinking of using the rental car to get to HS, Epcot, Downtown Disney, etc. Thanks everyone!

 

[kirsangel]

I am also on the fence about renting a car over memorial day/SWW. I have always used Magical express and Disney transportation so a car would be a first for us! We are doing a split stay CBR-AKL. I am also worried about parking overflow at HS. Is it faster to rent a car at the airport, get your own luggage(the horror!), and drive to WDW than the ME bus? Also, what are the car seat/booster requirements in Florida for a 9 year old and 6 year old? I really don't want to bring the boosters if I don't have to. Can they just sit on a small suitcase so they are taller in the seat? Sorry for hijacking your post!

 

[rlduvall]

We always have a rental car - I'm too OCD to wait around on buses. That being said, when I stayed at Wilderness Lodge in December of 2008, I decided to test the slow bus theory for this resort . . . and absolutely found it not to be the case. I never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus.

 

[Greysword]

Can they just sit on a small suitcase so they are taller in the seat?

Also, what are the car seat/booster requirements in Florida for a 9 year old and 6 year old?

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes...ng=&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.613.html

 

[aiminator]

We always have a rental car - I'm too OCD to wait around on buses. That being said, when I stayed at Wilderness Lodge in December of 2008, I decided to test the slow bus theory for this resort . . . and absolutely found it not to be the case. I never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus.

This makes me feel better! I have a tour guide book that had the Disney transport times vs car. Perhaps the quoted time takes into account waiting for the bus and not just time in transit.

I am still concerned with Star Wars Weekend since people line up during the wee hours of the morning. I would likely get there 30 minutes before opening.

 

[aiminator]

I am also on the fence about renting a car over memorial day/SWW.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2791638&page=55 post 823 - the poster said they have been denied parking at HS during SWW in the past. Something to consider. I'm sure there is parking at other locations but since it's my first time there I think I'd get lost if I couldn't park at HS haha.

 

[CarrieR]

We used the busses last year over Memorial Day Weekend (albeit from Pop) and had no problems. We pretty much always use the busses, though, so I may not be the best judge, lol...

 

[SteelerCountry]

Would never use disney' s transportation...we valet for free so that does help. We park GF for Mk and YC for e pcot and MGM...doesn't get any easier!

 

[aiminator]

Would never use disney' s transportation...we valet for free so that does help. We park GF for Mk and YC for e pcot and MGM...doesn't get any easier!

Can you park at YC if you aren't staying at the hotel? I wasn't sure if you had to have official business there (lunch, etc) to park. Thanks for your patience with this newbie

 

[SteelerCountry]

We are on premium plan and some of our party on deluxe, we eat where we park!