Transportation and Other Questions from a Newby

[Robindianne]

Aloha,

I am a new member and am going to WDW for the first time April 5th. I'm so excited I can't even stand it! We are not doing a package and are looking at transportation options. Forgive me if this was asked and answered before, but what's the best/easiest way to get from the airport to the WDW resorts when arriving in Orlando late afternoon? Is it necessary to rent a car (we'll be staying for 10 nights)? If so, is it best done from the airport and for the entire vacation assuming we make it to Universal and other things away from the parks for a couple of the days? We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside if that matters.

Also, I copied all the posts about freebies and such. You all have such good ideas. I've got a reservation for my husband and I to do the Epcot Dive Quest. Anything else not to be missed (except that of course everything is really not to be missed, right?)

Thanks for your answers,
Robindianne

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Probably the easier way to get from the airport to your Disney resort would be to take a towncar service back and forth. They pick you up right at baggage claim and even handle your luggage for you. The cost is under $125 for roundtrip service. TiffanyTowncar and Florida Tours are two very reputable services.

The downside of using a towncar service is that you are stuck on Disney property without a car. This isn't a problem if you have no intention of leaving Disney property but if you plan to go to Universal, Sea World, the beach or Kennedy Space Center, you've got transportation issues. In that case, I would recommend renting a car from National, Alamo, Budget, Dollar or L&M. Those rental agencies are located within the airport and it that makes it so much easier to pick up and return the car.

Check MouseSavers.com - Discounts on Rental Cars for more information about how to bring down the cost. Keep in mind that you're planning to go during spring break and that alone affects the cost of rentals.

One last possibility is to take the towncar to/from your WDW resort and rent a car for a day or two while you're there in order to get to your offsite destinations. Alamo and National have locations on property at the Car Care Center and the Dolphin hotel. You can have them shuttle you from your hotel to their location where you can pick up your car. When you return the car, they will shuttle you back to your hotel.

 

[Robindianne]

Thanks mad4themouse. That's just what we'll do: only rent the car if/when we need it and right from our resort.

 

[sarahsmom73]

I am arriving with DD 3 on the 5th too! We are using FL tours after the amazing job they did last April! It even turned DH (He is going away on business and can't join us on our girls trip) into a town car lover!

 

[firetaz]

When we were at WDW in Dec 04, we used Tiffany Towncar as transportation to and from the Airport. They were wonderful on the trip to the airport, but were late 45 minutes returning. We barely had time to make our flight. We used Mears for anniversary trip in Jan 05. The problem about mears is that they usually pick you up 3 to 4 hours before your flight which means you could lose 2 hours at WDW. We will be using the complementary transportation in Nov 05. Just a thought.

 

[Robindianne]

Thanks for all your tips. I just reserved the Prestige Towncar service. First choice would have been the Disney Express service but that won't be in operation when we are there (Apr 5 to 15, '05) and I like the idea of stopping by a store on the way to the resort. Is it worth it to rent a fridge at POR or better to pick up a cooler at the store on the way from the airport? Wahoo we are nearly there!

BTW I was reading the posts about "you've been on DIS too long when. . ." and especially loved the ones about getting sad just before a WDW trip because it was too close to being over (or something along those lines) so dh and I have decided to start planning the next trip immediately when we get home from this one (my first, his second).

I'm so excited I can't think! At H &R Block today they were playing Elton's "Circle of Life" so I was of no use to either DH or tax lady atall.