Transportation to WDW & Express Walk Offs Pros and Cons

[RobinVanellope]

Howdy~

Background:
First DCL cruise, 11 day Southern Caribbean in July. Six of us - my parents, my husband and I, and my two college age sons. My mother uses a walker and moves very slowly. We are book ending our trip with a night at Disney World the night before and the night after the cruise.
Question :
To get the most out of our two days at Walt Disney World we would like to possibly rent our own transportation off the ship (and not use the Disney transportation)to get to WDW quicker. We were also looking into Express Walk-off. We heard that it could take a couple extra hours using the Disney transportation to WDW.
Do you think that's the best way to go? I know we would have to carry our own luggage, but I think we would get more time at WDW this way.
Thoughts? Pros/cons? other suggestions?
Thanks and cheers

 

[dcassetta]

Howdy~

Background:
First DCL cruise, 11 day Southern Caribbean in July. Six of us - my parents, my husband and I, and my two college age sons. My mother is disabled and moves very slowly and will be using an ECV. We are book ending our trip with a night at Disney World the night before and the night after the cruise.
Question :
To get the most out of our two days at Walt Disney World we would like to possibly rent our own transportation off the ship (and not use the Disney transportation)to get to WDW quicker. We were also looking into Express Walk-off. We heard that it could take a couple extra hours using the Disney transportation to WDW.
Do you think that's the best way to go? I know we would have to carry our own luggage, but I think we would get more time at WDW this way.
Thoughts? Pros/cons? other suggestions?
Thanks and cheers

Express walk off will get you to your resort faster, as the Disney resort buses do not start running until 9 AM. One person from your family could go ahead very quickly without any luggage at all and head over to the rental car area. They could then come back to the terminal to pick up the rest of the family. My only concern with your plan is making sure that you're renting a large enough vehicle to fit the ECV. If for some reason that vehicle isn't available on your disembark morning, what would be your back up plan? I think in your situation, I would arrange for a car service. This would be more expensive than renting your own car, but you could make sure and get one that would absolutely be able to take the ECV.

 

[RobinVanellope]

Express walk off will get you to your resort faster, as the Disney resort buses do not start running until 9 AM. One person from your family could go ahead very quickly without any luggage at all and head over to the rental car area. They could then come back to the terminal to pick up the rest of the family. My only concern with your plan is making sure that you're renting a large enough vehicle to fit the ECV. If for some reason that vehicle isn't available on your disembark morning, what would be your back up plan? I think in your situation, I would arrange for a car service. This would be more expensive than renting your own car, but you could make sure and get one that would absolutely be able to take the ECV.

Hi,
We are renting the ECV and it will stay at the port. We are renting a new one at WDW. Thanks for asking that. Yes, your plan looks good. Thanks so much for your time.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You could also use a private transportation company to have a vehicle there to pick you up, if you didn't want to be driving.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

nevermind

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Private transport will be faster than car rental, if speed is the goal. Car rental, you end up using a shuttle to the car rent and then have to come back for the rest of the family, or everyone has to hit the shuttle. The shuttle is not always there when you walk off. Private transport you can book a time and they should be there, barring unforeseen mayhem.

(And such mayhem would make WDW transport and rental car also mayhem.)

 

[RobinVanellope]

You could also use a private transportation company to have a vehicle there to pick you up, if you didn't want to be driving.

Thanks

 

[RobinVanellope]

Private transport will be faster than car rental, if speed is the goal. Car rental, you end up using a shuttle to the car rent and then have to come back for the rest of the family, or everyone has to hit the shuttle. The shuttle is not always there when you walk off. Private transport you can book a time and they should be there, barring unforeseen mayhem.

(And such mayhem would make WDW transport and rental car also mayhem.)

Great advice. Thanks