Uber/Lyft versus car rental while staying on site?

[StarLime]

I’ve never rented a car while on property before. However, I found a good deal on a rental, and from what I understand Disney resort guests get to park for free at the resorts as well as the parks - correct?

Just trying to decide what is more affordable. We will be staying on property the whole week, with the exception of 1 day where we are going to universal. I’m not sure if it makes more sense to rent a car or just use ride share.

 

[mco65]

Resort guests get free parking at the parks.. I prefer to drive and park at all the parks except for Magic Kingdom. Last i heard, they charge you a parking fee at the resorts. Its bundled into your resort stay. fun fun! Its been a few years since i have stayed at a resort other than fort wilderness, which by the way does not charge you to park... but parking is limited depending on the size of your rig!

 

[Mle8308]

No parking fees for Disney resort guests at either the Disney parks or resorts (resort parking fee was recently rescinded). Depending on how much you will spend to get from the airport to Disney, then the potential cost of a rideshare to Universal, versus how much the rental is, may help you decide to keep the car. A car will give you freedom to go off property to eat or grocery shop, but if you are more comfortable letting someone else drive, then maybe cancel the rental.

 

[loves to dive]

I would just Uber or Lyft. I always drive down so do have a car but I park it and don't get in it again until I leave or change resorts for a split stay. I hate driving at home, I'm certainly not going to drive in Orlando or on Disney property.

 

[_19disnA]

We always prefer to have a rental car. Makes it way easier if we decide to go shopping or out to dinner. You can probably save enough eating somewhere other then Disney to pay for the rental car. Also feel more comfortable having our own car compared to getting into the car of a stranger from one of those online taxi services.

 

[DebbieB]

I was at Riverside last weekend, we used Uber or Lyft several times, they come quick. Bus Service was also good. We stopped at GF Friday night, it made sense to just hop in an Uber to get back.

 

[Jimsig]

It can depend on a couple things. Such as, without a rental how do you plan on getting from MCO (I'm assuming you are flying in?) to WDW and how much will that cost? When we took a ride share from MCO to WDW it was roughly $40 each way for 2 of us and luggage. You can do an estimate for Lyft (probably Uber as well) on their website to figure out how much that will cost, so figure that for to and from MCO and also to from Universal and what the cost of parking at Universal is. Do the estimates around the times you figure you will be using the rideshare. Then compare to how much the rental is and add approx $35 for gas depending on what kids of car you have. Also figure if you want to stop at a store to pick up snacks or any groceries, a case of water is much cheaper at a store then buying individual bottles at the parks. IMO it's easier to make stops with a rental then a Lyfy with luggage.

As has already been answered parking is again free at resorts and always has been at the parks for resort guests.

 

[nolatravelgirl]

Rental car was the best option for us, even with staying onsite. By the time you spent money on rideshare to/from airport and to/from Universal you aren't saving much. We also stopped at Walmart and picked up groceries. Made a trip to the outlet mall and an offsite dinner. Overall, we preferred driving. We followed everyone's advice and took Disney bus to MK and regretted it as we ended up standing on a miserably packed bus on the way home after fireworks. The second time we visited MK we just drove and end with having to take the monorail/ferry it was still a way better option for us.