Vacation Rental-Transportation Advice

[islandgirl672]

I am amazed at all the information here and how helpful everyone is. I am hoping that I can get some advice.

We will be traveling to Disney March 19-26, 2011. We will be a group of 12 (8 adults and 4 kids 16,9, 6,and 2 1/2) and decided to rent a home. It is an amazing house, but I am a little concerned with transportation.

The house is 0.45 miles away from an ART stop near Best Western Pavilions on Katella (route 9). I realize that this is much further away than most would like to be from Disney, but we are giving ourselves 5 weekdays in the park and are looking forward to down time at the house (pool, games room, etc).

For transportation to and from Disney (would like to leave in the afternoons more than likely too) would you recommend any of these options or is there something better I am not thinking of?
1. Rent a car(s) at the airport
2. Walk to the ART stop
3. Taxi
4. ?

I am also wondering about the location of entrances into Disney. We are south of DCA and Katella. On Google Earth there looks like a Disney parking lot to the left of DCA (corner or Katella and Walnut). Is that something a person can cut through and get to an entrance?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer us.

Melody

 

[pixiewings71]

I think I would rent a couple of cars and just use them to get back and forth, once you pay for parking you have in and out privelges so you can leave and come back later in the day. That sounds like a great trip!! have fun!

 

[CrazyDuck]

Also check your proximity to the new Buzz Lightyear Lot! Katella/Convention Way

 

[islandgirl672]

Thank you so much for the replies. I was leaning toward the car rental too, but then read some posts on the boards that made me think maybe that was a bad idea. I also read some posts about the ART that worried me too...my head is swimming lol.

I tried to post a Google Map pic showing the location, but I don't have enough posts yet.

Have you done the rental car route before? Was it much of a hassle with the parking/tram?

Thanks,
Melody

 

[islandgirl672]

Also check your proximity to the new Buzz Lightyear Lot! Katella/Convention Way

It looks like we are a fair distance from that lot, unless we could cut through the actual Convention Center building. I was also reading that it isn't always open, maybe a kind of overflow lot?

Thanks for the suggestion, will have to try find out more,

Melody

 

[CrazyDuck]

BTW... Welcome to the boards! You a fellow Hawaii person?

 

[islandgirl672]

British Columbia, Canada Thanks for the welcome!

 

[tdashgirl]

I would rent a car. Not a big fan of ART

 

[Lissame]

I would rent a car. Not a big fan of ART

Ditto this. You could play around with different scenarios--maybe rent a mini-van or SUV and one person could chauffeur everyone to the park, drop them off, then go park the car. I don't know if I'd want to stomach the cost of two car rentals + DL parking for two cars just for getting to and from the park. In that case, taxis might end up being the cheaper option.

 

[islandgirl672]

Ditto this. You could play around with different scenarios--maybe rent a mini-van or SUV and one person could chauffeur everyone to the park, drop them off, then go park the car. I don't know if I'd want to stomach the cost of two car rentals + DL parking for two cars just for getting to and from the park. In that case, taxis might end up being the cheaper option.

Thanks for the suggestion! I will have to look further into how much taxis might cost. Does anyone have experience with using taxis there?

I am not sure about having one car only because I am not sure all the people will be on the same schedule or even want to always go to the same place. My DH and I have two small children and his sister and DH have older kids. Then there are two sets of grandparents.


Melody

 

[pixiewings71]

We had Premium APs so we were able to drive and park. A few times we stayed farther away (and our timeshare property is farther away) so we drove in and parked in the Mickey & Friends structure, it was never a problem, it took time but it was easy enough. The trams are very easy to find and easy to ride.

We also have taken taxis, they are easy and pretty cheap, we paid about $5 when it was just DBF and I, we took a taxi back to the hotel at night and walked in the mornings. My idea would be to call the hotel and ask if they know how much it might cost.

 

[islandgirl672]

We had Premium APs so we were able to drive and park. A few times we stayed farther away (and our timeshare property is farther away) so we drove in and parked in the Mickey & Friends structure, it was never a problem, it took time but it was easy enough. The trams are very easy to find and easy to ride.

We also have taken taxis, they are easy and pretty cheap, we paid about $5 when it was just DBF and I, we took a taxi back to the hotel at night and walked in the mornings. My idea would be to call the hotel and ask if they know how much it might cost.

Thank you so much for your reply. It is reassuring to hear from someone who didn't find bringing a car a problem. I will look into taxis further also.

I know we will almost for sure leave the park every afternoon to return to the house for a swim/naps etc. and dinner. We will then want to return for the evening as I think the park will more than likely be open late during our stay.

So much to decide, thank goodness we still have 200+ days

Melody

 

[pixiewings71]

No problem. Ask away with all your questions.

 

[islandgirl672]

No problem. Ask away with all your questions.

Thanks so much! Our trip is still over 200 days away and so I know I will have a lot of questions