WDW without a car.

[torsie24]

Sorry if this is an obvious question, or has been asked a hunderd times. I've not been to WDW since I was 7!

I'm planning on going next October? Is this a good time weahter wise?

I'm not old enough (24) to rent a car outside of Europe, and would like to know if there is easy transport from the hotels at WDW to all of the parks?

 

[tazz23]

Ahh Torsie.. Ask your WDW expert friend

Yes there are free buses to all the WDW parks from all WDW resorts. Theres even a free bus (magical express) from Orlando International to all resorts! Buses are very regular (should be every 5-10 minutes) and they run until 1 or 2 hours after closing time of the park.

Depending on which resort you choose, theres also the monorail and boats to take you to the parks!
Oh and October is a brilliant time to go, You have Mickeys Halloween party and the weather is still fairly hot. Can you go September? They have free dining usually and its the cheapest rates then as its one of the quietest times!

 

[alldiz]

I've never rented a car....you don't need one. I'll take a cab from resort to resort for dinner if I am running late....but other than that I use the Disney transportation.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[PrincessKitty1]

There's also buses to take you from any resort to Downtown Disney (in addition to all the parks).

DH and I drive to WDW since we're only 2 hours away, but once we're there, we never step foot in our car again! We much prefer to use Disney transportation.

Have a great trip!

 

[Kimberle]

I never rent a car. WDW has lots of buses, boats & monorails to wisk guest around. Just be aware, you may have to wait a bit. I find WDW transportation part of the "charm".

 

[GailT]

I always rent a car. I just find it wasier to get around and faster. I don't have the patients to get on a crowded bus late at night to get back to the hotel, did it once and never did it again. If I didnt have the choice it would be fine but with the choise I give myself by renting a car I like that better

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

I thought you had to be 24 in the states to rent a car? Has the age gone up?

 

[mickeynut1]

I thought you had to be 24 in the states to rent a car? Has the age gone up?

The last few times we've rented a car, on the estimated price page there was always a box you can check to pay for an underage driver under 25. So I guess it must be 25 and over to rent without paying a daily fee . Not sure if someone under 25 can even rent, or if that's just for an additional driver under 25 that can be added, rather than it being the primary driver .

 

[Rora]

We never rent a car when we go. There are buses that run from every hotel to every theme park and water park. In addition to buses there are the monorails which run through Magic Kingdom and *I believe* other parks. The monorails also have stops at the Poly, Contemporary, and the Grand Floridian.

If you don't think these options will work for you, you can always have a Disney CM call you a cab.

Have a great trip!

 

[Princess Jenny]

I have rented a car twice and honestly, it just sat there. I love the WDW transportation. The last time we went, we didn't rent a car and used the Magical Express from the airport and we thought it was an awesome way to start our Disney vacation! Also, another perk if you use ME, the bags magical appear in your room in a couple of hours

 

[Maine_Belle]

The last few times we've rented a car, on the estimated price page there was always a box you can check to pay for an underage driver under 25. So I guess it must be 25 and over to rent without paying a daily fee . Not sure if someone under 25 can even rent, or if that's just for an additional driver under 25 that can be added, rather than it being the primary driver .

With most rental car companies, a person 21 years or older can rent a car. However, if you are under the age of 25, you get hit with a steep underage driver penalty. There are a few agencies that don't rent to under 25 and a few that rent to 21+ all at the same rate with no penalty.

At least that's what I've seen when booking my own and other people's corporate travel.

 

[OatsZoo]

We don't rent a car, you have to pay to park at the parks and that is $10 a day. The buses are great. Don't worry about the night time buses, Disney has got "moving thousands of people all at once" down to a science. The most we ever waited for a bus was after Illuminations at Epcot for about 10-15 minutes and that was in May (when it is busier than the fall). We stayed at the All Star Movies and they had 2-3 buses pull up just for our resort. It could take you 10-15 minutes to find your car and get out of the parking lot after a fireworks show.

The only thing that can be a pain is to go from resort to resort. Then you have to catch any bus to any park or Downtown Disney and then get off the bus at the park and catch the resort bus to your destination resort. You could always take a cab from resort to resort if you plan to do that.

 

[JessLCH]

We don't rent a car, you have to pay to park at the parks and that is $10 a day. The buses are great. Don't worry about the night time buses, Disney has got "moving thousands of people all at once" down to a science. The most we ever waited for a bus was after Illuminations at Epcot for about 10-15 minutes and that was in May (when it is busier than the fall). We stayed at the All Star Movies and they had 2-3 buses pull up just for our resort. It could take you 10-15 minutes to find your car and get out of the parking lot after a fireworks show.

The only thing that can be a pain is to go from resort to resort. Then you have to catch any bus to any park or Downtown Disney and then get off the bus at the park and catch the resort bus to your destination resort. You could always take a cab from resort to resort if you plan to do that.

You don't have to pay to park at the parks if you are staying at a WDW Resort.

One can always hop in a cab to get to the harder to get to destinations rather than waiting for buses/connections.

 

[spiceycat]

you don't need a car if staying at a WDW resort. they will even pick you up from the airport.

that say you can get a car in Orlando - they will even rent to 18 years old. So you can get one. but you don't need it.

you can even order groceries (if you are staying in a DVC room or suites) from the internet before you go

 

[Cindy's Mom]

like the others we too don't rent. Two times we've rented and the car sat in the lot for 6 days.

After our WDW trip we head on down to South Florida for a week. On the last day WDW I head over to DTD to pick up the car rental. That's the only time I need at car at WDW.

We also cab it from resort to resort.

 

[torsie24]

Thanks guys for all your help!!!!

Is it worth having a couple days in a universal hotel too? Or jsut get transport from WDW?

 

[spiceycat]

Is it worth having a couple days in a universal hotel too? Or jsut get transport from WDW?

depends upon when you are going - this summer - definitely stay onsite at Us/IOA - their FOLE will save you a bunch of time.

this Sept - won't waste the money, same for Nov.

but Oct they have that halloween thing.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We drive to WDW but never touch our car once we are there, we rely on WDW transportation for everything

 

[ols386]

We prefer to have a car while staying at Disney. Sometimes the bus service is great, but we have also ran into many times when it is slow. Maybe it just depends on the time of year and/or day. But you can certainly get around in WDW using their bus transportation from resort to park and back, from airport to resort and back, to Downtown Disney and back; and as mentioned in another post, boat transportation in some locations. I wouldn't let not having a car while at WDW stop me from going. You'll have a GREAT time!

 

[larryz]

We don't rent a car, you have to pay to park at the parks and that is $10 a day.

$11. But free to resort guests.