to rent or not to rent

[elipa]

Hi--I'm taking my disabled adult sister for a long weekend trip to WDW for her 40th during the first week in December. We're probably staying at the Pop Century. She only wants to go to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I've heard that it's a hassle getting to/from the airport and from park to park. I'd rather not spend the money on a rental car if I don't need to, but if we're going to spend half of our trip waiting for transpo to get from place to place, I'd happily pay the bucks. Any input would be greatly appreciated! I've never been to Disney and can use all the help I can get!

 

[cranbiz]

Here is the deal. A lot depends on the time of year, type of handicap, places that you wish to go to.

I have used both private transportation and Disney transportation. Both has it's pros and cons.

Relying on Disney means that you will stay onsite for everything (not a bad thing) You will get to and from the airport for free, back and forth to the parks for free and back and forth to DTD for free. Some resorts have better bus service than others.

What you lose is flexability. It is time consuming to go from the parks to DTD as you must go to a resort to get to DTD, going from resort to resort is time consuming as you have to go to a park to go to a different resort. You may need to wait an extended time for a bus to show up (this is dependant on the time of year) You may need to wait for an additional bus at park closing time (peak traffic period).

I am never without a car, but do use Disney transportation frequently when staying onsite but there are certain times that I will always drive to a park.

 

[elipa]

Thanks for your reply. As I said, she wants to stay at the Pop Century, so that's probably where we'll stay. I read on an info site that buses come there pretty frequently and they go directly to the Magic Kingdom. Do you have any first-hand info on this? Also, you said that we can get to/from the airport for free?? Can you elaborate? Do I need to sign up, or is there just a shuttle that comes and goes?

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks for your reply. As I said, she wants to stay at the Pop Century, so that's probably where we'll stay. I read on an info site that buses come there pretty frequently and they go directly to the Magic Kingdom. Do you have any first-hand info on this? Also, you said that we can get to/from the airport for free?? Can you elaborate? Do I need to sign up, or is there just a shuttle that comes and goes?

Each Disney resort has buses that go from that resort to one specific park. That is, at Pop there will be buses for MK (and only MK), buses for Epcot (and only Epcot), etc. The identical set-up for the trip back to Pop from a park.

The free airport transportation is Disney's Magical Express (DME). DME is free (through October 2006 or so) and is available to ALL guests at WDW-owned resorts (that means not Swan, Dolphin, SOG, the hotels across the street from DTD) who fly into Orlando. It's a motorcoach, and you will be grouped with people from up to 3 other resorts. You have to reserve it in advance. You'll also need to find out the accessibility of those motorcoaches. The other nice perk of DME is the luggage delivery. If you reserve DME, you will get special luggage tags mailed to you. Before you leave home, you place a tag on each piece of checked luggage. After you check it in at your home airport, you won't see it again until it "magically appears" in your resort room a few hours after your flight arrives. You don't have to go to baggage claim, it all happens automatically. You check in at the DME desk at the airport, then get on a bus to your resort with only your carry-ons. You don't have to wait in your room for the luggage to be delivered; it will be delivered inside your room whether you're there or not. In addition, people on certain airlines also get the same luggage treatment on the return to the airport (and also get to actually check-in for their flight and receive their boarding passes).

DME has been great, by the way. I've read maybe one bad story (and the problem was quickly well-handled) and lots and lots of good experiences, including mine. I have, however, read a lot of people wary of DME and posting their theoretical worries about it, but those worries have proven to be unfounded. Despite that fact, a lot of people claim to have read a lot of bad reviews about it, but I consider that to be one of those "urban legends," something that's not real but has a life of its own anyway.

ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

-- Eric

 

[elipa]

Thanks for the great info--DME sounds like the way to go to me!!

 

[pumpkinboy]

You don't mention the type of disability. Would it mental, physical, both? You may want to take a gander over at the DISabilities board her on the DIS for a wealth of inforation that might apply, to help develop a touring strategy or reservations strategy or whatever.

We have a wheelchair bound 7 yr old son, who loves WDW. We rely almost exclusively on Disney transportation. The buses are great, and are all wheelchair lift equipped. One issue that can be troublesome is if you are at the last stop on a multi-stop bus route; sometimes the buses fill up and there is no room for a wheelchair. Now usually they simply send another, but some friends stayed at PORa couple of years back and had four buses pass by before one was able to accommodate their wheelchair-bound child. Things have improved since then but for safety's sake, you may want to plan on getting a room near the first bus stop at POP.

Again, the buses, boats and monorails that make up Disney transportation have been just great for us and our son. We were too early for DME this April, but look forward to trying it out in a couple of weeks.

I would recommend against renting a car, as it is frequently more hassle than using the Disney transportation.

Have a great trip!

 

[elipa]

Thank you, too, for all the great info! Have a great trip!

 

[ryan840]

Here's my two cents (I haven't read the other replies yet). If you don't want to spend the time waiting, rent a car! We rented and opted a couple of times during that trip to use Disney's transportation, and it just seemed ridiculous to us. We were really glad we shelled out the bucks (and it wasn't even that much). By renting you have the ability to get from place to place much quicker, on your own timeline and without having to worry about a thing. If the money is tight, you can certainly rely on their transportation and probably still have a pleasant experience (referring only to transportation, of course the parks will be great! ) just allow for a lot of time and you'll be fine.

ETA- just some things to think about- taking DME is very convenient (from what I hear, I've never used it) but it can take a very long time to get to your resort, where as driving will only take about a half hour (based on my trip) and you can make stops along the way (for groceries, attractions, whatever....). Since you only plan to go to two parks, I'm assuming that you don't plan on park hopping, in which case renting a car might not be worth it to you. Just realize that you are confined to Disney's schedule and it does take longer to get from place to place on the busses/boats/monorail than it does in your own car. Another perk to having your own car is being able to leave some stuff in it if you aren't sure you'll need it that day, and then you only have to go back to the car instead of all the way to the resort (or lugging it around). You'll find out everything you need to know here on the DISboards before your trip, so don't worry. Have a great trip!

 

[clkelley]

Hi--I'm taking my disabled adult sister for a long weekend trip to WDW for her 40th during the first week in December. We're probably staying at the Pop Century. She only wants to go to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I've heard that it's a hassle getting to/from the airport and from park to park. I'd rather not spend the money on a rental car if I don't need to, but if we're going to spend half of our trip waiting for transpo to get from place to place, I'd happily pay the bucks. Any input would be greatly appreciated! I've never been to Disney and can use all the help I can get!

Welcome to the DIS!! From your posts, it looks like you haven't made reservations yet. You need to make those ASAP!! Although the first week of December is not that crowded, the weekends at the value resorts are harder to get reservations, as folks tend to book value resorts for quick inexpensive weekend getaways.

When you book your resort, tell them what flights you are on and that you want Magical Express. They will set you up and your materials will come in the mail.

If your sister's disability involves a wheelchair, Disney transportation wins hands down. Unloading and loading your own chair is a lot of work. There are no trams from the handicapped parking areas.

There are many helpful resources on the disAbilities board.

Carol

 

[elipa]

Wow! I've gotten such great input from all of you responders! Thanks very much! To clear things up, my sister has a learning disability and is also legally blind. I will probably try to get one of the special cards for her so she can get close up seating at the shows. Other than that, she probably won't need many accomodations. It's just a very special trip for her and I don't want there to be any glitches. I will follow your advice and try to nail down reservations ASAP. Thanks again!

 

[Chuck S]

With those types of disabilities, assuming she doesn't have trouble waiting a reasonable amount of time for busses, I would not drive. The busses should be the simplest.

My mom is in a wheelchair for the parks and usually travel with our own chair, so we do often drive to the parks, but NOT the MK, the handicap parking is not covenient at MK at all.

 

[elipa]

Thanks, Chuck!!!