When you fly do you rent a car or use Disney Transportation?

[DebbieB]

I always rent a car. I consider the busses more of a hassle than driving a rental car. I just don't consider getting jam packed on a bus a vacation, many times standing holding onto a pole. I'd rather get behind the wheel, turn on the AC and the radio and relax. I've driven around WDW so many times, it's just like driving at home, I don't have to worry about getting lost. I like to go offsite to the outlets and to the grocery store.

 

[Delaware Mike]

I always rent a car. I consider the busses more of a hassle than driving a rental car. I just don't consider getting jam packed on a bus a vacation, many times standing holding onto a pole. I'd rather get behind the wheel, turn on the AC and the radio and relax. I've driven around WDW so many times, it's just like driving at home, I don't have to worry about getting lost. I like to go offsite to the outlets and to the grocery store.

I wholeheartedly agreed! I can't stand (no pun intended) standing on a crowded WDW bus, packed with tired, cranky, screaming vacationers (and that's just the adults...we find the children are always so very well behaved ).

It use to be, and maybe it still is, the bus to DTD was the same bus servicing TL during the day. Man, sitting on a bus seat previously used by someone having gobs of SPF30 on, and getting it on my clean clothes...then waiting for the WDW driver to finish her/his break...not my idea of being on vacation.

No offense, but gimme that freedom to control where I'm going, when I'm going, and whom I'm going. Ah, freedom... freedom from that four-letter word: WORK, freedom to drive around property at my own (legal) pace, freedom to go to the grocery store, the shops, the liquor store (not necessarily in that order)...

 

[pilferk]

We've done it both ways....renting cars MOSTLY prior to DME's existence.

Of late, we've just used Disney transportation. It's far easier, and it gets me out from behind the wheel, which is a nice break.

That being said...we're now skipping the flying and driving down, it looks like. So we'll probably use our car most of the time...though I can envision us using Disney transport a bit, too.

For us, the car was always a nice option....so we could get offsite for "groceries", or more easily hop between parks, resorts, and DTD. Sometimes you just wanna do MK in the AM, MGM in the afternoon, and Fulton's for dinner.....and for days like that, we found the car to be the most convenient way of travel.

 

[Anal Annie]

We're the frugal type and have always relied on Disney Transportation to keep the cost down. We do plan to rent a car for just one day on this next trip bcuz we want to go to Universal Studios for a day scared1: yes we're leaving WDW for a day)!! Our DS will be 10 by the time we go so he should be able to do more over there (he's a ride fanatic). We'll probably do that early in our week so we can make a beer / wine / grocery run and then return the car.

 

[DiznEeyore]

On our second trip (about 7 years ago), we used Tiffany Towncar and Disney transportation. Never again!! It was way too limiting (for lack of a better word).

We always, always rent a car! We love having the flexibility of our own transportation. It comes in especially handy if you have to run off-site for meds (something we've had to do more than once, unfortunately).

 

[crisi]

We usually just use Disney Transportation - we suppliment with cabs for those times when Disney Transportation isn't ideal - which is resort to resort travel, wanting to get to the MK at opening and not wanting to stand, or seeing the bus pull away from the stop when you are trying to be somwhere in a hurry.

 

[D&R love Disney]

We always rent a car. Love the flexability and convenience. We mainly use it to go to the other resorts at night for dinner and going to Downtown Disney.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

We usually drive but when we fly - we use Disney ME. If you are there for a longer stay, you may want a car for side trips. But maybe you don't need to rent a car for the whole time you are at DVC.
There is a car rental near MK. I'm sure someone here knows more about it. Perhaps a shorter rental may work if you REALLY need to touch reality when you are there!!! LOL!!

Last time we stayed at Disney we rented a car to travel to Miami to catch a cruise. We took a shuttle down to the onsite rental location (National I think). Shuttle was late, line at the rental location was a two + hour wait and the car was filthy.

Nobody seems to work at that location. One or two people at the counter acted like it was their first day. It took them 20 minutes plus to get a rental agreement completed for each customer.

WE WILL NEVER RENT FROM THE ONSITE CAR COMPANY AGAIN!

Bets bet is to contact an off-site company that is will to actually help their customers. They will alos pick you up or even drop the car off at your hotel.

 

[DebbieB]

In traveling on business, I've found that renting a car from the airport is the best bet. When I've rented off-airport, I've run into problems. Like last month I rented a car at the Glendale CA Hilton (Avis), I got onto the highway and noticed I only had 1/8 tank of gas! I know I should have checked it before I left but it was in a dark garage and I didn't notice. Some Off-airport do not credit frequent flyer miles either.

 

[Debi]

I always rent a car. I'm spoiled by having the freedom of going off site for shopping, etc. I've also found it more convenient to get to Downtown Disney and the Animal Kingdom (I own at BWV so I can walk to MGM and Epcot, and will only take the bus to the Magic Kingdom).

 

[TomD]

We have used sunraytransportation

Another vote for Sunray. Bob was awesome!

 

[50 years Too!]

We always rent a car. Except for our first ever visit. We HATED the buses.
Got stranded at DTD for what seemed like hours one night. Didn't enjoy it at all.
Now we are more than happy to use the monorail and boats, but if it takes a bus, we drive.
We also enjoy being able to stop at the store on our way.
If we only planned to stay in the Epcot area, we would be satisfied without a car.

 

[jco_direwolf]

We normally rent a car. If it's a short trip (2-4 days), we'll use DME. But we've had a number of problem with DME. Add to that the wasted time using the DME (it can take an extra 2-3 hours over renting a car.)

But my wife and I like to be able to stop at the Target, exit 12, to get soda and smackerals.

There is also the on property flexibility, you can STILL use Disney Transportation even if you bring a car.

johno

 

[BriarRose59]

We're the frugal type and have always relied on Disney Transportation to keep the cost down. We do plan to rent a car for just one day on this next trip bcuz we want to go to Universal Studios for a day scared1: yes we're leaving WDW for a day)!! Our DS will be 10 by the time we go so he should be able to do more over there (he's a ride fanatic). We'll probably do that early in our week so we can make a beer / wine / grocery run and then return the car.

We are doing the same thing. My DD's love the coasters at USF so we are going there for 1 day. I priced renting a car, but since it's spring break, the rates are outrageous! Instead, I have hired a car and for $80 roundtrip, they will pick us up at the front SSR and take us to USF, pick us up at USF when we request and take us back to our unit. I like the Disney transportation and have always used it whether we had our own car, a rental or no car at all. I enjoy chatting with everyone on the bus to see what they are doing for the day or how their day went at the end. My DD's are older now (16&19) so I enjoy seeing the younger ones on the buses. Its so magical to see Disney through a child's eyes.

 

[tink2020]

We always fly, and ALWAYS rent a car -- no matter how long our trip. We have never once driven off property, and yet still find it essential. I hate driving at home, but there is one thing I hate worse -- being on someone else's time. True, Disney is "pretty good" at the bus routes, schedules, etc. But it's my vacation, I want to be in control of when I get where I'm going. JMHO

ETA: If this is of any concern, it is also VERY easy, we think, to get around Disney property. Have a good trip!

 

[Figment56]

We usually rent a car when we fly. The prices of rental cars are sky-high this year, so we may end up doing DME! I don't want to, but if prices of rentals don't come down, then that may be our only choice. Last year, we paid $96 for a full size. Right now a compact is like $250! Yikes!

 

[Rainman]

I would vote for rent a car. We have gone both ways. Recently our local airport has added direct flights int Sanford Airport, so now we will always rent a car. It is nice to have the option to drive if you want and take disney transportation if dont feel like driving. In our trips there have been times someone has gotten sick so we have needed to get to a full service drug store.

You can always take ME and grab a car latter from the rental car company at the transportation center. I think it is National.

 

[byoung]

Used to use Tiffany's, now ME and all Disney transpertations.

 

[pjb_hockey_mom]

Happy Monday. We use a car service, and love it. We've been using them for about 4 years now and almost every trip we've had the same driver. When he picks us up its all hugs and "how have you been", they'll stop at the store for us, etc, etc.

 

[Mom B]

We ALWAYS fly (so far, anyway...too long a drive for us from MN!) and we have gone both ways, with a rental and without. The key to doing it without a rental car is PLANNING. If you plan to go to dinner at another resort, etc., be sure you allow extra travel time when you make your ressies and plans for the day, because it will take a couple of hours out of your schedule and time for other things. Otherwise, if you don't want to do the rental, plan your dinners, etc., for places that are easily accessed by Disney tranportation (Epcot, for example).

Above all, be aware of silly little things like the problem we ran into in January...we planned to pick up an extra rental car (van, actually) so that the "kids" (30 somethings) in our group could take the grandkids and themselves to Universal...great, EXCEPT that traffic was all rerouted and roads closed because it happened to be DISNEY MARATHON DAY and we couldn't get into the Car Care Center (driving rental car #1 picked up a couple of days earlier) to pick up the rental! Finally ended up getting one from another location after a few phone calls, much driving around in circles and a slight delay in the travel plans...WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS WHEN WE MADE THE RESERVATIONS, YES? (Sorry, done venting now!)