To rent or not to rent?

[mom2dzb]

Hey all you Disney lovers! I'm planning our Feb 6-14th trip. We'll be staying one night at POP Century and then the rest at OKW. We are a family of 5 . . . me, dh, ds10, ds8 and dd2.5. We've been to WDW before, but that was when we lived and Florida so we'd driven our car. This time we are flying in and wonder if we should rent or just rely on Disney Transportation.
Here's my concerns:

Pro renting:
Freedom to come and go as we please
Free parking with APs
Ability to go shopping for groceries, offsight for souvenears
More time efficient (maybe?)

Pro Disney transport:
Free!
Ease of travel (although inefficient)
Free!

Anyone got anything to add?
Also, if I choose to rent, should I rent at MCO or somewhere in WDW?

Thanks!

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Do you need a lot of room in your car? If not, I say rent. Back in April we got a mid-sized SUV for $106 including taxes and fees. Getting that rate was not easy. I would check each rental company on a daily basis and use the discount codes. I would spend a good portion of my lunch break each day, but it was worth it. Now, if you need a min-van, I am not use you will get a rate that low.

 

[dudspizza]

I have done both. Here is my 2¢.

I would have my wife and girls take ME to the resort and have ME transport our tagged luggage. I would put one of my wife's tags on my luggage. I would pick up a rental (we use EA at National) and meet them at the resort.

Our luggage arrives at the resort and we now have a car so we can go get groceries or travel off site to eat. We rely on Disney transport to get us around Disney and prefer not to drive to the parks. Disney transport is so much better, IMO, but to each their own.

The car is there if we need it, but we also use Disney transport alot. My last trip was a short one with no rental car and we missed the chance to go get water and snacks off site.

Duds

 

[fofinia]

Vote here for renting a car. I have been to Disney once using only Disney transportation. I hate the buses. I know lots and lots of people love them. Not me. Lugging carriage on and off. Trying to squeeze onto a full bus. Waiting in line sometimes forever. Watching the bus for every other theme park come and go while you wait.

I love having my car. (well a rental). I always try to look for the best deal. Sometimes it is hard to find. But I use my car for grocery visits, a trip off site sometimes, and for getting to the parks and to/from the airport. Also we like to visit other resorts and eat there. Very hard to get around to other resorts without a lot of wasted time.
You'll be a OKW and will have at least a kitchenette. I like having yogurt, juices, soda and water and any other snacks in the room. We never eat a meal in our room even though we usually stay at BWV and have a kitchen. But with little kids they want to eat right away in the morning. Before I'm ready to go out, you know?

I mean of course you can have groceries delivered, take the buses (which is probably easier for going to MK because the parking area is far away) use ME. It's just not a vacation to me. I'm not a city person and am not used to public transport. And I wouldn't choose to live somewhere where I had to use it. So why would I on vacation?

I think my opinion is not the most popular on the boards though.
Good luck with your decision. Either choice I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I vote for getting a rental too. As much as we love WDW, I don't like the feeling that I'm trapped in there. We like to go to US/IOA, Gatorland, (before the fire ) Kennedy Space Center and having the option of flying in/out of Tampa if a good Ding comes up.
For us it's not a money issue, it's a freedom issue. Let's face it, when it comes to having fun on vacation, we don't always pick the absolute cheapest route. We pick what works for us.

 

[powellrj]

its really a personal preference. I was considering not renting a car on our last trip and decided at the last minute I couldn't do it. I had to rent the car. I pretty much live in my car at home and I couldn't imagine going without one. I almost have panic attacks on business trips when I have to travel without a car.

 

[anabelle]

Rent

The bus line for Pop and All Stars at park closing is always crazy.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Rent!! That's what we always do. So many more options!!
We always get the car at the airport..

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have always rented for all my Disney trips (like 15 or so). However, I use Disney transportation...buses, boats, monorail...wherever I can, and they are great. I do use the car for MCO to and from, DtD, USF/IoA and resort hopping.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have always rented for all my Disney trips (like 15 or so). However, I use Disney transportation...buses, boats, monorail...wherever I can, and they are great. I do use the car for MCO to and from, DtD, USF/IoA and resort hopping.

Dan Murphy,
Were you ever a radiologist in Philly?

 

[mom2dzb]

Thanks to everyone for the advice . . . looks like I should opt for a rental. We are a family of 5 so a midsized car would work for us, but I don't think it would fit all of our luggage so I think we'd opt for using DME and renting. Would you still suggest renting at the airport? Is it quite a hassle to rent at WDW? Are the rates different between MCO and WDW?

 

[Prairiemom]

We are thinking about renting but does anyone know where to look for the Dicount codes as I haven't been able to find thiem and I thought there was alink for them somewhere on the board

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

We are thinking about renting but does anyone know where to look for the Dicount codes as I haven't been able to find thiem and I thought there was alink for them somewhere on the board

I had the best luck with alamo and national, but I would still check the other rental companies. Good Luck.
http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html

 

[fofinia]

Would you still suggest renting at the airport? Is it quite a hassle to rent at WDW? Are the rates different between MCO and WDW?

I haven't rented in WDW before. But I was checking prices for our upcoming trip in January. And the price was about $80 cheaper to rent at the Dolphin compared to MCO. So I booked it and kept checking. Then the airport dropped and it was $3 less than the dolphin. So I switched. We like National's emerald aisle and that is only at MCO. And it's so easy. You make your reservation. And then walk out to the aisle with your type of car(or emerald aisle if that's how you booked) and then drive to the gate. SO AWESOME!!! You don't have to wait in line inside the airport. Check out Mousesavers for the link to join free.

Good Luck!!!