Use ME or stick with rental car?

[hulagirl]

Hi all,

I'm having a tough time deciding between using ME and a rental car for our trip at Thanksgiving. We are a family of five, 3 little boys ages 11, 6, and 5 and have always rented a car before but the savings (around $260.00 for the rental car) seems like a good reason to try ME. We're staying at POR and it will be very busy during that time but we will be there for 11 days or so and we go often so we don't need to rush around. Still, I'd love to hear your opinions about this...given our usual behavior. Is this a bad time to try WDW transportation? What are the buses from POR like? Please help me decide!

 

[Bashful2]

Just back yesterday and used ME. The only good thing I can say about it is that it's free. We landed at 10:37 in Orlando on the 1st. We didn't get to our hotel until about 12:45. Of course, that was partially my fault because I couldn't find the ME check-in area. However, when we finally did find it and checked in, there was a long line waiting to go to our resort.

The day we left to come home, everything went more smoothly. Our bus was to be there for us at 5:15 for an 8:10 flight. At the time, I thought that was a little early since the ride to the airport is only 30 minutes. However, it's a good thing we left that early because it took us almost 2 hours to get to the airport. We were the 1st stop of 4 and each one took awhile.

We've decided to make other arrangements for our next trip.

 

[ncbyrne]

Our trip is coming up next week. We have decided to use ME one way. We'll take it to our resort (CSR) so that we won't have to deal with waiting for our luggage. Then, later on that evening, we are renting a car from the Car Care Center at WDW. We are returning the car to MCO. This way we will have the car at our disposal if we want it, and it will also give us extra time on our departure day. We rented the car based on the timing of our departure flight and the time we will have to be at the airport. This way we are saving a full day of rental costs. Seems like the best way to enjoy both ME and a rental car!

 

[bavaria]

For me, it's rental car all the way. I can usually get a car for around $100/week or use free rental days. It's a matter of personal preference, but why I rent

- this way we have at least one car for grocery runs, etc; often my friends who come don't drive
- the car comes in handy for dinner at the various resorts and cuts down on travel time
- I take a bus to MK, otherwise I like the convenience of the car and don't have to worry about bus arrivals/departures

I think that it's a matter of personal preference, but I know that I like to get to WDW as soon as I can. In fact, I can often do it in 45 minutes from the gate to my resort!

Only you can decide what is best for your situation and your family.

Have a good trip!

 

[DrTomorrow]

Howdy, Hulagirl!

We always get a rental and it's even more important now that we're DVC owners (stops at the store for food, etc.)

In your situation, 11 days is a loooong time - don't you think you'll want/need to go offsite once or twice?

Be well!

 

[annie1995]

Then, later on that evening, we are renting a car from the Car Care Center at WDW. We are returning the car to MCO.

I never knew that you could rent a car at WDW. Do you have any idea what it is per day? We would like to rent one for just one day next time we go, so we could try and do Seaworld, but never knew if renting one or taking a taxi would be cheaper. Any suggestions on that front??

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Check Nationals website for rates. You can rent at the Dolphin or the car care center near the MK.

We liked ME, but only used it on the way to our resort. We picked up a rental at the Dolphin half way into our vacation. ME was great - I loved not having to deal with the luggage. We didn't wait at all for our bus, but this was the end of August and it was very slow.

We will be using ME on our next trip (while it's still free). If we can get a good rate, we may rent a car for a couple days, just to make going to other resorts to dine easier, and to leave later for the airport.

 

[julielovestigger]

Annie,

The resort actually booked my rental car. I pick it up at MK and drop it off at MCO when the trip is done. I am using ME when I get there and picking up the rental car a few days into the vacation. The rate was cheaper throught the resort than what I could get on my own.