Would you rather rent a car or take Disney transportation?

[EclecticWAHM]

We were there mid-July and it was wicked hot and very crowded, yet we never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus or boat. We were very happy with the transportation. I don't see us ever renting a car down there. We might occasionally use a taxi if we felt the need, or rent a car for a day if we were going off-property, but for an exclusive Disney trip, there's no WAY I would bother to rent a car!

 

[Pineapple Whip]

You get off the plane, walk across the street from the baggage claim, rent a car. Zip from MCO to WDW. Zip from AKL to parks, and resort guests don't pay parking. Parking is fast because you're directed to a spot in the park lots. You can walk from any parking spot to the main entrance within 5 minutes, or you can take the tram which you may wait 5 minutes for, but has you at the gate in 1 minute.

When you leave, you either wait for the tram, or walk to car. You crank up the AC and sit down and say "We survived the park, it feels so good to sit in the car now." You turn up the music and take your run directly to the hotel.

Turtle nut milkshakes at Steak 'N Shake.

Krispy Kreme.

Waffle House breakfast.

DTD activities and you can shop without worrying about where to put your bags, or having to lug them back.

When trip is over, you go to your car, zip to MCO and return car, walk across the street to departures, and get on plane crying.

$125 is worth time saved and some peace.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

I've done both, I prefer car, however- I do not have a commute (neither does DH) so we aren't sick of driving by the time we hit vacation. I also love to drive, and losing that on vacation is kind of disappointing to me.

That said, AKL has some of the best WDW transportation because it only makes 2 stops and they are both at AKL (Jambo & Kidani) and then straight to the park. It is far away, but unlike the other resorts it's not stopping anywhere else, either.

I find the commute comment interesting. I vacationed here from NYC and wanted to drive rather than take another awful bus or train (my daily commute). I enjoyed finding parking spots easily here vs NYC where I had to decide whether a car ride was worth losing my parking spot.

I've always been a "driving enthusiast". Even when I had a 45 min daily drive to work, I never got tired of it and actually preferred it. It gave me time to decompress before and after work.

Really boils down to personal preference I guess.

 

[jessrose18]

we always rent a car

 

[ougrad86]

We enjoyed the time we brought our van, but flying in this time and cannot see spending the money for Florida rentals - the extra fees they tack on that $40/day rental can double your price (I work with expense reports on a daily basis).
We are staying at AKL with friends. Since AKL is out there, it has it's own dedicated bus - there are busses that share with other resorts or have several bus stops within a resort. This is a dedicated bus, and she said they loved it. And she was with us on our last trip, when we had our van.
We are, however, splitting the price of a town car - we will stop at a grocery for a couple of things and then get straight to the hotel, and no waiting for ME to stop at other stops before it finally drops us off (or sitting at the airport waiting for them to leave).

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

I would rent a car, when we stayed at AKL we had the WORST bus service. We waited for over 45 mins for a MK while 3 buses for Epcot, 2 buses for HS and 3 AK for 2 days...of course over 100 people trying to get on the MK when it did come. We waited over 45 for DTD to eat dinner but then my husband said lets go back inside to eat b/c my son was getting hungry.

 

[IluvBelle]

I'm a car renter myself. I agree that the buses are part of the experience and some nights, I'm not loving driving after being at the park all day. But getting on the car tram thing and then getting to the car, for me, always seems faster then the bus. We've waited for a bus and then sometimes can't even get on the first bus. We've also had to wait 40 mins one night.

I do agree that to MK the car is a PITA as you have to park at the ticket center, but I do love the monorail. Also the nights where we want to have drinks and kick back we take the buses. It's so hard though to go from hotel to hotel with buses. We went at Christmas and visisted all the hotels to check out decorations and no way could have done that by bus. Also I find it much quicker from the airport. Make sure if you get one you get from one of the rentals at the aiport. We always use alamo as it's the cheapest. Plus with either a BJs or Costco coupon we always save money (book online from their website)

An unnecessary expense? Yes. Worth the extra money? Definately. I do feel it's a personal choice.

 

[ols386]

We rent a car. We don't like waiting on the busses.

We used to always use the Disney bus transportation. But after renting a car one year, we've never had a desire to go back to using the bus.

 

[hayanyujah847]

I always do the Disney transportation. I absolutely LOVE the free transportation and we feel like we know all the routes/when they will be busiest and are comfortable with waiting for the buses.

 

[skiingfast]

The problem with renting a car is all the time it takes to get from the lot to the gates or gates to the lot. It will always be more than taking a bus unless you get a parking spot that doesn't require using the trams.

End of August shouln't cause thirty minute waits for buses unless you hit the bus stop at a really odd time. Such as the coming bus breaking down.

 

[gwb]

Been to WDW many times and always rented a car. Took the bus a few times and hated every minute of it. Screaming crying out of control kids, long waits.
We are DVC members and at SSR saw full buses go past and waited over 1/2 hour till 1 came that wasn't full.
Have talked to other people at WDW and many take bus due to cost but many hate it due to waits, crowded buses and very rude riders.

Read a comments about not wanting to go into hot car after long day at park but that depends on what time of year you go and here when it get to 95 degrees car never takes more then a few minutes to cool down.

It's basically a personal choice based on cost, what you consider is tolerable to wait, if you like to deal with out of control crying kids, rude people, long waits when park closes and if you want the freedom of going when and where you want and not having to change buses.
And 1 big problem is that if you ever go in Dec when Pop warner is there you are forced to deal with the players and cheerleaders who feel and act that they own the whole park and push their way to the front of the line and that includes the chaperons.

 

[metsno1]

I just can't see renting a car. In all our trips, there have been very few circumstances where we've had excessively long waits-like longer than twenty minutes-and those were at park closing when we stayed at a value resort! We've literally never had a problem with mod or deluxe to and from the parks.

That being said, there is a pretty simple compromise. Set aside half the money you would have used to rent the car and use it judiciously for taxis whenever you feel like it! For our trip this coming week, I'm anticipating that we'll probably use a taxi four or five times total in two weeks. So what's that? Maybe $60? That's a whole lot better than the car rental fee, and we still have flexibility!

 

[Donut23]

I cannot remember a trip to WDW that we did not have a rental car.

First, I get free rentals with Holiday Inn points....makes the decision very easy. Second, I am now stuck in a scooter following an accident 2 years ago. I would NEVER subject myself to a disney bus on a scooter....ever. Read a thread or two about scooters and disney busses and you will understand.

What we do find with our car rentals.....we travel sooooo much faster, there are no crowded busses, hot sweaty bodies...it's just too convenient and FAST in a car.

We generally stay at EPCOT resorts and sharing a bus with up to 5 resorts (depends on the time of year...sometimes it's only 3)....just is CRAZY.....especially for what you pay for that room.

We find rental cars far more convenient. If we want to head to Riverside to see Bob...hop in the car and we are there. Want to meet friends at Kona Cafe for lunch.....car takes us there in a few minutes.

I understand cost is a big factor for many and I'm happy everyone has the choice of a bus transport. Also, we travel to WDW and DL so often, we are no longer park intensive guests so we find the car more convenient to drive other places.

For us......just not even interested.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

I rented out of necessity (going to Universal and day trips to Jupiter and Tampa) I got a rental for $14 a day (mid-size) so it's not costing me a whole lot.

 

[si-am]

I drive to Disney so I always have my car with me... but I don't touch it once I'm on Disney property!

The buses aren't bad. Especially at AKL, you don't share with any other resorts so it's a direct trip. They don't drive any slower than you do in your car so the only extra time you'll be spending is waiting on it to arrive. The waits aren't that bad. I don't think I've ever waited for more than 15 minutes.

Leaving at the end of the day can be crazy, but if you run out ahead of the crowd (like right before the fireworks end) or linger a little while after, you shouldn't find it too terrible.

 

[disneychic]

If we can find a good rate, we rent. If we can't find a good rate, we use WDW transportation. I prefer to have a rental car, but it's not a big deal if we don't.

 

[willowsnn3]

You get off the plane, walk across the street from the baggage claim, rent a car. Zip from MCO to WDW. Zip from AKL to parks, and resort guests don't pay parking. Parking is fast because you're directed to a spot in the park lots. You can walk from any parking spot to the main entrance within 5 minutes, or you can take the tram which you may wait 5 minutes for, but has you at the gate in 1 minute.

When you leave, you either wait for the tram, or walk to car. You crank up the AC and sit down and say "We survived the park, it feels so good to sit in the car now." You turn up the music and take your run directly to the hotel

$125 is worth time saved and some peace.

Absolutely agree!!!! Having your own vehicle is so much easier, & more comfortable too. Besides I love the tram ride from the parking lot to the entrance. I get a little upset when we do get to park too close & don't get to ride the tram.... That said, we are staying at CR next month so am looking forward to the monorail convenience & walking to MK.

 

[wheeliefun]

Last year December 8, we left DHS at close (10pm). There had been a Fantasmic show and Osborne lights were showing. I had lost my park hopper and had went to Guest Relations just outside the gates. I looped back around the front to get a picture of the Xmas tree they had erected, and the lines to the bus where all the way back to the security screening. Many people as I walked the length of the line were absolutely worn down and disgusted. This could have been a freak instance, but I was sure glad I had a rental car. If not I think I would have proceeded past the bus line to the taxi stand, even if I had in theory already paid for the bus ride.

 

[willowsnn3]

The problem with renting a car is all the time it takes to get from the lot to the gates or gates to the lot. It will always be more than taking a bus unless you get a parking spot that doesn't require using the trams.

I just can't agree with that at all. We don't have to walk from our room to the nearest bus stop, we've never been behind other cars going thru the gate & are just waved thru because we have the resort ID thingy in the window, don't have to look for a parking spot cause you are guided to the next available space. Walk a few paces to the tram stop, get on, listen to the friendly banter of the tram operators, get dropped off at front. I think tram dropoffs are closer than bus drop offs. We always drive to MK, love riding the ferry or monorail.

 

[catne]

we don't rent a car because we take our own, but same difference...we love the convenience of coming/going exactly when we want to. Many people write of never waiting more than 20 minutes for a bus, but they should never get in line with us because somehow when we're waiting, the average wait time will go up to about 45 minutes, lol. Never get seats, either, somehow.

Taking our own car, we're always guaranteed a seat. And our choice of air conditioning settings (or heat, in January!) We go just where we want to, also...and have driving around WDW so many times now, we don't get lost & we know the quickest route to get from here to there. Now, about the only time we use Disney transportation is taking boats for the enjoyable ride...or using the monorail when we're at the monorail resorts. No busses, though.