Would you rather rent a car or take Disney transportation?

[pipervali]

I'm a self professed control freak when it comes to having transportation available at all times during vacation. I even drive to New York City instead of taking the bus, which is really only a two hour trip. I'll spend the ridiculously overpriced parking fees, just to have that peace of mind that if anything comes up, I have my car right at my disposal and I'm not on anyone else's timetable.

If money isn't too much of an issue, I'd say lean to the safe side and have one.

But that's just me.

 

[leebee]

It's unfortunate that we need to keep an eye on our finances, so when we stay at Disney we use Disney transportation. DME makes it possible to not have to rent a car, but means we have to rely on the bus system for getting to and from the parks. I KNOW I could be home and in bed faster than waiting in line for a Disney bus, as we stay in the parks until closing time. The shortest wait we had for a bus back to the resort at park closing was 45 minutes. Yup, my feet were NOT happy. We go to WDW on Tuesday, and will once again rely on Disney transportation. I just couldn't afford the cost of a rental car this time around.

If I could afford it, I'd ALWAYS rent a car!

 

[Pirate4Ever]

Call me crazy, but I think the busses are part of the Disney experience. We had a rental once and it just didn't feel like a true Disney vacation.

 

[kaligal]

If you can afford it, rent the car.

If you can't, don't. Yeah, it's more time in the heat. You have to wait at the bus stop. You have to wait on the bus while it makes the stops. But if the money means something to you, who cares about some wasted time?

Money is more important. No reason to waste it on rental cars if you can put it to better use!

 

[minniebride]

Cars are more inconvenient, IMHO. It takes so long to park and walk to and from the parking lot (and remember where you parked!), it's much easier to me to just take the bus.

I've also never had an issue with waiting for the bus.

 

[badblackpug]

We never rent a car. For several reasons:

Cost: I have 4 kids, 2 are in car seats. We would need a van, that is an extra $1400

Convenience: I know WDW transport is much maligned, but we have never waited more than 15 min for a bus. At the end of a long, tiring day in the park I prefer to sit back and leave the driving to someone else. No hunting for the car, no waiting in traffic, no husband with road rage.

 

[Pineapple Whip]

Cost: I have 4 kids, 2 are in car seats. We would need a van, that is an extra $1400

$1400 for a van???

Are you:

A. The worst driver ever and being extorted
B. Not into shopping around for deals
C. Not aware there are 1 or 2 other car rental companies in Florida
D. Renting a Dodge Caravan... with chauffer
E. Renting for 2 or more weeks​

I just priced a van for next week, without discounts, or looking hard, at $724 with 2 car seats. You can get a full size 7 passenger SUV at $599, or if you really want, a 15 passenger van for $799.

Not exactly cheap, and I get your point, but nowhere near $1400. Plus, I've been running some numbers on the WDW site, and with what some of you are paying, $600 is chump change.

I also don't get these waiting in traffic / hunting for cars / hunting for parking spots / gas and tolls / death by accident / comments people have. I'm just not seeing these problems as realistic. Husband with road rage? How did he survive the Magic Kingdom if he can't go 10 minutes in light traffic?

If you don't want to drive, don't drive, you don't have to make up boogeyman that will jack you up and take your wallet the moment you rent a car. If these are stories you tell your kids to explain why you're not going to pony up another finger for a car, after the arm and leg you gave up to stay at WDW, then fine.

 

[d1gitman]

i voted for teh car, but that doesn't mean i hate Disney transportation as suggested in the poll.

for the $120, I'd definitely rent a car. if the $120 is gonna take away from money for something else more important to you, then use WDW transportation and spend/save that money as you see fit.

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

I drive all year long - when I'm at WDW I'm on vacation. No driving, no cooking, it's fantastic.

I completely agree! My friends and I all have to drive about an hour each way to work and back all year long! One of the best parts of a Disney vacation for us is letting Disney do all the driving! Just sitting back and relaxing on a bus, monorail, or boat that takes us anywhere we want to go is truly magic for us.

 

[Tara]

I voted for rental car but I don't really think the poll choices fit me. The biggest reason we rent a car is so we are in control of where we go and when. I like being able to go from a park to Target to the resort, for instance. We drive everywhere, including MK, and we almost always have a AAA Diamond Parking Pass. I've done plenty of trips without a rental car and used every form of Disney transportation at every level of resort. I rent a car now and it works very well for us.

 

[d1gitman]

$1400 for a van???

Are you:

A. The worst driver ever and being extorted
B. Not into shopping around for deals
C. Not aware there are 1 or 2 other car rental companies in Florida
D. Renting a Dodge Caravan... with chauffer so the chauffer costs $1399 because a dodge ain't worth much
E. Renting for 2 or more weeks​

I just priced a van for next week, without discounts, or looking hard, at $724 with 2 car seats. You can get a full size 7 passenger SUV at $599, or if you really want, a 15 passenger van for $799.

Not exactly cheap, and I get your point, but nowhere near $1400. Plus, I've been running some numbers on the WDW site, and with what some of you are paying, $600 is chump change....

wow, i know i got a good deal, but now i know it was a fantastic deal.

for our 2008 trip, we rented a toyota sienna minivan for 14 days. total cost, $295!

 

[d1gitman]

We never rent a car. For several reasons:

Cost: I have 4 kids, 2 are in car seats. We would need a van, that is an extra $1400 definitely getting overcharged unless you are renting for 2-4 weeks AND paying for the extra insurance?

Convenience: I know WDW transport is much maligned, i don't think so. i think it gets a worse rap than it deserves. i think many complaints of 30min waits are probably a case of it felt like 30min but was actually 15-20min tops. but we have never waited more than 15 min for a bus ditto. At the end of a long, tiring day in the park I prefer to sit back and leave the driving to someone else. No hunting for the car we used AAA diamond or wrote down the parking location info and never had to hunt, no waiting in traffic never really experienced heavy traffic jams at WDW, no husband with road rage then definitely worth doing WDW transport on this one.

.

 

[Madisonsmom45]

We never rent a car. After being there a few times, you get to know the routes and timing. We've never had a problem with the bus transportation. With the exception of last year when the whole busing system shut down for a few hours. But even then at POR they were giving taxi vouchers and it didn't cost us anything to get to our destination for that evening.
When we have gone offsite for some other things, we just use Mears or the taxi service.
Bonnie

 

[badblackpug]

$1400 for a van???

Are you:

A. The worst driver ever and being extorted
B. Not into shopping around for deals
C. Not aware there are 1 or 2 other car rental companies in Florida
D. Renting a Dodge Caravan... with chauffer
E. Renting for 2 or more weeks​

I just priced a van for next week, without discounts, or looking hard, at $724 with 2 car seats. You can get a full size 7 passenger SUV at $599, or if you really want, a 15 passenger van for $799.

Not exactly cheap, and I get your point, but nowhere near $1400. Plus, I've been running some numbers on the WDW site, and with what some of you are paying, $600 is chump change.

I also don't get these waiting in traffic / hunting for cars / hunting for parking spots / gas and tolls / death by accident / comments people have. I'm just not seeing these problems as realistic. Husband with road rage? How did he survive the Magic Kingdom if he can't go 10 minutes in light traffic?

If you don't want to drive, don't drive, you don't have to make up boogeyman that will jack you up and take your wallet the moment you rent a car. If these are stories you tell your kids to explain why you're not going to pony up another finger for a car, after the arm and leg you gave up to stay at WDW, then fine.

The OP asked for opinions. These are my opinions. The 8 passenger SUV we priced was $1400 for 10 days. Whether it is $600 or $1400 that is money I'd rather spend elsewhere. It doesn't matter anyway because I am not schlepping 2 car seats along with a double stroller through the airport.

We are in a large metropolitan area, we commute for work on a daily basis. There is nothing relaxing about doing it on vacation. My husband does not like to drive and gets very aggravated driving in traffic. There is a huge difference between walking in a theme park and negotiating a packed parking lot and unfamiliar roads when exhausted. We simply find it easier and more relaxing to just get on the bus and be delivered to our hotel.

On the flip side, if you choose to rent a car and that is how you enjoy your vacation most, then do it. Also don't create the myth that using WDW transport is cheapening ones vacation or that WDW transport is similar to the 7th ring of h*ll.

To each his own.

 

[Zuzu03]

It all depends on how long we're down there. If we're there longer than a week, we like to have a car. We stay a lot at the Dolphin too, so just being able to pick up the car and head to the resort is nice and we love getting out and driving around - oh and shopping!! Living in rural Vermont without a lot of options around for shopping, we love the opportunities in Orlando and end up doing a LOT of shopping. Then we have to run over to the UPS store to ship it home! But if we're only there for a few days, we usually rely on Disney transport. They're pretty efficient and it is a big part of the experience! Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[Funky Chicken]

I like having access to a car. Here are my reasons-
For me part of the experience of visiting MK is the TTC and Monorail/Ferry. The bus to MK bypasses that. It's not really about saving time in that particular case.
We visit DTD multiple times during each visit to eat/shop/spend family time. Bus service to DTD is notorious for being slow and inconsistent. In this instance it IS about saving time.
I realize that sometimes the bus is not slow and not packed, but the busiest times for busses are always before park opening and after park closing. Sometimes we will use the bus to go back and forth to the resort for a midday break, leaving the rental car in the parking lot.
Lastly-DME requires you to leave your resort 3 hours prior to flight time. If you have an early flight this can mean that you are standing outside waiting for a bus at 5-6 AM. I refuse to do that.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We would NEVER be w/o a car at WDW!!

 

[scubamouse]

we always rent a car now. like the flexibility to be able to just get in and do what we want especially if going out of the world. if you are just going to the parks the disney transportation will work fine.

however, i do find it faster then a bus. can't tell you how many times we pass bus stops of people waiting thinking that could be us. maybe the distance is the same but the waiting for a bus i think makes a car a quicker mode in many instances especially if you just miss that bus and have to wait another 15-20 minutes. one exception is the MK where the bus lets you off at the entrance and the car needs to go to the TTC

but again this is really a personal matter and many will have differing opinions so just use what works best for you

This. We always drive to the parks. We used to take some buses but we didn't like the rush to get on or the crowds at park closing.

We also tend to have dinners at resort restaurants and really need a car to get places.

 

[hookedonears]

No question here, Disney transportation. However, a friend of mine just got back and they took her mother who had gotten a handicapped parking pass. They were able to park on the front row closest to the front gates of each park and she said that was pretty incredible.

 

[Stinger5]

No keys, no car= official vacation!!!

Keep me away from cars while on vacation. Love the ME!!!