Transport questions for our trip next week

[HallsofVA]

Thanks in advance for all of the helpful guidance from all you experienced DISers! We're taking our first family trip to WDW next week (leave Wednesday) and I have a couple of questions. We'd previously planned on being carless, but I just got a car through Priceline so we'll have a car for our whole trip. So now I have some questions about transport options.

Brief background - It's me, DH, DS6 (turning 6) and DD3. We're staying at AKL for 4 nights, then doing a 4nt Disney Cruise right after.
So here are my questions:

1. Arrival at airport on Wednesday 5pm. We'd originally planned on using Magical Express to AKL after we arrive, but now we'll have the car. I've been told that we can't have Disney handle the luggage if we aren't actually riding on Magical Express. Is that still correct?

2. My husband will have to pick the car up at Hertz, which I believe was offsite at MCO the last time I checked. I'll probably have him go do that. Is there any benefit to having the kids and me take ME to AKL and have my husband pick up the car and meet us there, or should we all go in the rental car with our luggage? I have 7:10pm dinner reservations at AKL that night so I want to increase our ability of getting there in a timely manner without wasting time waiting on luggage we won't need that night.

3. Day at MK. Our first day we're planning at being at MK at least to start off with. MK has EMH that morning as well. I've read that it's a better option to take the Disney bus versus car to MK since you bypass the TTC. We've also borrowed a double stroller for our visit. Are we better off taking the bus over that morning to bypass the TTC, despite the hassle of taking the stroller on the bus, or should we take our car for greater flexibility? We do have the AAA parking card for preferred parking space and would get free parking as a resort guest so there's little to no cost difference.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Question one I don't have an answer for you.

2. If you have dinner reservations if it were me I would take the ME and let your hubby get the car. Since Hertz is off sit you would have to wait for the bus to take you to Hertz, wait in line at hertz -and the rental lines in Orlando can be rather long, very long. I have seen lines with as many as 30 people waiting and that is no lie.
So you could go to the AKL and get checked in. If you are on the dinning plan you will need to check in at the hotel first in order to get your room key which you will use for the dinner reservation you have that night. Then tell you hubby to meet you at the restaraunt which allows you to check in for the reservation and wait for him to arrive.
** to save time do online check in from home. there is a special line for people who do online check in and that line is usually nearly empty. The line moves quickly because every thing is all ready printed up such as park pass, room keys, rental agreement. I love online check in especially when the regular check in has a long line I usually can get in and out in less than 10 minutes.

3. Take your car to MK. Buses to the MK can get rather crowded and if you have kids and a stroller to carry on the bus it might be hectic. So it would be easier to take the car. Plus when you leave you can go directly to your car rather than waiting on a bus. Plus your parking is totally free and you paid for a rental car so you might as well use it. Plus if you need to make a stop at a store before going to the resort you can. Might I suggest a tip. As you are leaving the MK there is a Hess gas station by the car care center so if you need anything say a soda, chips/snacks ect. the prices here are cheap! Very very cheap. In Sept of 2009 we stopped to get a drink and ended up buying lunch for 2 people. We got 4 hotdogs, 2 bottles of pop, a bag of chips and one cookie and the total cost was $7.35.. They have an area inside with several tables for you to seat and eat.

Thanks in advance for all of the helpful guidance from all you experienced DISers! We're taking our first family trip to WDW next week (leave Wednesday) and I have a couple of questions. We'd previously planned on being carless, but I just got a car through Priceline so we'll have a car for our whole trip. So now I have some questions about transport options.

Brief background - It's me, DH, DS6 (turning 6) and DD3. We're staying at AKL for 4 nights, then doing a 4nt Disney Cruise right after.
So here are my questions:

1. Arrival at airport on Wednesday 5pm. We'd originally planned on using Magical Express to AKL after we arrive, but now we'll have the car. I've been told that we can't have Disney handle the luggage if we aren't actually riding on Magical Express. Is that still correct?

2. My husband will have to pick the car up at Hertz, which I believe was offsite at MCO the last time I checked. I'll probably have him go do that. Is there any benefit to having the kids and me take ME to AKL and have my husband pick up the car and meet us there, or should we all go in the rental car with our luggage? I have 7:10pm dinner reservations at AKL that night so I want to increase our ability of getting there in a timely manner without wasting time waiting on luggage we won't need that night.

3. Day at MK. Our first day we're planning at being at MK at least to start off with. MK has EMH that morning as well. I've read that it's a better option to take the Disney bus versus car to MK since you bypass the TTC. We've also borrowed a double stroller for our visit. Are we better off taking the bus over that morning to bypass the TTC, despite the hassle of taking the stroller on the bus, or should we take our car for greater flexibility? We do have the AAA parking card for preferred parking space and would get free parking as a resort guest so there's little to no cost difference.

 

[goofy4tink]

1. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2015788 Check out this thread for answers to luggage on DME, but not riding it.

2. Booking an ADR within 2 hrs. of arrival is always iffy. If you arrive ontime at 5pm, you won't be off the plane until 5:15ish, then it will take you about 15 mins to get to level 1, where you will find ground transportation. If Hertz is indeed offsite, plan on another 10 mins or so to get there. Then, about 10 mins (give or take) before getting the car. That's almost an hour right there. Another 30 mins or so drive to your resort. 15 mins to check in, 15 mins in your room getting freshened up...and it's now time to eat. So..if anything takes any longer than this, you may be in trouble. And that isn't even considering heading to baggage claim...that will add another 15+ mins to your time.
If it were me, I would have dh go off and get the car, you and the kids take DME. DME should take you between 70-90 mins, from plane to resort.

3. If you have AAA parking, I would take the car to MK. Much easier with the stroller. Yes, you have to get over to MK via the ferry or monorail but that's not an issue. And, with AAA parking, if you are able to get a spot, you don't need to use the tram. You can just walk over to the TTC.