Disney without a car!

[GoofyforWDW]

Hi all :wave:

I have a trip planned for December 2008 and cannot decide whether to get a car or not.

I can use magical express from the airport but am worried about getting around inside disney and the time it takes.

How can you get to fantasia mini golf without a car?

If I stayed at boardwalk is it quicker to get bus to MK or walk through Epcot and jump on monorail.

Any one have any places they have difficulty getting to when they don't have a car?

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Two sides to your thought process - added cost versus flexibility.

If you're staying on site and not venturing out of Disney then a car will be a waste of money. On the other hand, a rental car gives you greater flexiblity when travelling within WDW and also means you can visit places offsite as well (SeaWorld, Florida Mall for your Christmas shopping etc).

We always have a car - when you break down the additional cost of a rental car as a percentage of your total holiday cost, its not that much for the extra convenience it affords

 

[GoofyforWDW]

Two sides to your thought process - added cost versus flexibility.

If you're staying on site and not venturing out of Disney then a car will be a waste of money. On the other hand, a rental car gives you greater flexiblity when travelling within WDW and also means you can visit places offsite as well (SeaWorld, Florida Mall for your Christmas shopping etc).

We always have a car - when you break down the additional cost of a rental car as a percentage of your total holiday cost, its not that much for the extra convenience it affords

Thanks for your response.

Normally we go away with my parents and my dad drives as he has drove over there for 20 years. I have never driven over there and actually never driven abroad and not sure if xmas period is the best time to try as will be very busy.

The money isn't the thing as I am quite happy to pay for the rental car just wary of being first time.

I wont be visiting the other parks (seaworld, US. IOA) as just got back last Sat and did those then, yeah the shopping might be a pain but I am over again in November with parents so will be travelling out then and so was thinking could just limit the shopping in December to Florida Mall once where we can use mears shuttle for $6 each way per person and can get a cab to premium outlets pretty cheap.

The only prob I see is we are going to use DDP and like to eat at resorts so need to get to and from these and we like to play minigolf so want to be able to get there a few times. Just wondering if people feel this is a real hassle getting to Fantasia and other resorts.

 

[lpet11984]

The only prob I see is we are going to use DDP and like to eat at resorts so need to get to and from these and we like to play minigolf so want to be able to get there a few times. Just wondering if people feel this is a real hassle getting to Fantasia and other resorts.

In terms of getting to other resorts, it really isn't too bad, especially if you're likely to be going to the parks on the same day you'll be going to the resorts to eat. For the minigolf, WinterSummerland is right next to Blizzard Beach and isn't too terrible of a walk; Fantasia Gardens is a little bit more of a walk, but is still doable. The only time a car might be more convenient would be to get to Fantasia, but to have a car for one visit to a mini-golf course probably won't be a great deal.

Enjoy your trip, whichever you do! :wave:

 

[Highland_Holly]

We have NEVER done WDW with a car... I love letting someone else drive everywhere for a week! As for the mini golf... you can get to Swan or Dolphin and then walk over. Not too bad.

Holly

 

[Disneykidder]

We, too, have never done Disney with a car. I also like that I am having someone else get gas, drive and pick me up places. You can get anywhere on property through different ways and I love that.

When we went golfing, we hopped on a bus to Swan and walked right across the street to it. Great course, by the way!!

 

[Philo]

I've never done WDW with a car and probably never will unless I'm with someone who insists on it.

I like letting someone else drive so I don't have to worry about anything, the waits are never really that bad, I can drink and I don't have to worry about being so tired that I fall asleep on the journey back to the hotel (even if it is only 5 minutes). I've had a couple of bad bus trips but the positives still far outweigh the negatives in my view - plus it's helping the environment!

 

[Philo]

Also, to get to fantasia just catch a bus from a park or DTD to the swan and dolphin or walk there from Epcot through the boardwalk - it's not that far.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Last December we rented a car. I appreciated having the added convenience when using the dining at the various resorts and nights I knew we would be out late. I would do it again. But that's just me. Of course there are downsides, lugging the luggage around the airport while trying to pick up your car was a pain in the you know what. It's really not that expensive to rent a car for a week, what ever you decide you will always be able to get to point A from point B. Disney buses and transportation are pretty efficient.

 

[disney21]

We've done WDW with a car once because we were going to Universal, so it was necessary. with that said - every other trip we have taken we didn't rent/need a car..... & we have never been inconvenienced w/o one. ** to chime in about the mini-golf- my cousins went on their last trip and walked from the swan and dolphin as well!

 

[bgraham34]

For me taking a vacation where I dont have to drive is a vacation. Driving two hours a day is a drag and being in Disney and not having to worry where I am going is a real treat. That said I would like the flexibility to have my car but just think how long it would take to get to MK from the parking lot vs taking a bus from your resort.

 

[baz212]

Even when I used to drive down with my parents, once we were there we just used Disney Transportation. The only time I remember using a car once we were there was the one trip that we went to Universal for a day.

 

[chrisy76334]

I've done Disney many times without a car, and getting around is just fine. My last trip with my sister we rented a car because of ADR's at different resorts, plus my best friend lives in Celebration so many nights we went and hung out at her apartment. I'll be renting a car on future trips, it didn't break my wallet. Only $48 for 8 days from Budget and my sister and I split the cost. I liked not having to wait for a bus, and as long as you are staying at a Disney Resort parking is free! :sohappy:

 

[happymom52003]

It really comes down to personal preference. As others have stated, they like to let others do the driving while on vacation, and I totally understand that.

But for us, driving our rental car to the parks is a much more enjoyable expericece. We have found it to be much faster (MK is the exception since we stay at the WL....we take the boat), and we HATE standing on crowded buses at the end of the day with a bunch of sweaty people!

And every single trip so far we have needed to go to the grocery store or Walgreens at some point, so it was nice to have the freedom to do that whenever we needed to.

We also have two small kids and two strollers, which we hate dealing with on buses.

That being said, I think Disney has a great transportation system. We never rented a car at WDW when it was just my DH and I before we had kids, and the first time we took the kids we did not rent a car. But since then we have rented one each trip, and we prefer it enough over the buses to justify the added expense.

We will continue to rent a car as long as our budget allows for it.

 

[hansel1]

I count the bus rides inside disney as an extra ride.

 

[Red devil]

Last time we went we drove down in a rental car and then it just sat in the parking lot at Pop for the whole visit. So this time we are flying and not renting a car since we wont use it.

 

[Carolyn1717]

Hi all :wave:

I have a trip planned for December 2008 and cannot decide whether to get a car or not.

I can use magical express from the airport but am worried about getting around inside disney and the time it takes.

How can you get to fantasia mini golf without a car?

If I stayed at boardwalk is it quicker to get bus to MK or walk through Epcot and jump on monorail.

Any one have any places they have difficulty getting to when they don't have a car?

You have no need for a car while on property. To rent a car and have it sit in a parking lot all day is crazy. What you may want to do, is if you want to venture off site for a day, get a car just for the day. The Guest Service desk at your resort can arrange that for you. On-site the buses go everywhere...

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Id rather stick a red hot poker up my jaxi.

 

[colleen2997]

If you are on-site and don't plan on leaving Disney property, there is NO need for a car. Part of the fun is catching the Disney transportation. The transportation is always so efficient, longest wait time is usually 10 min.

 

[wdwfan100]

Hi all :wave:

I have a trip planned for December 2008 and cannot decide whether to get a car or not.

I can use magical express from the airport but am worried about getting around inside disney and the time it takes.

How can you get to fantasia mini golf without a car?

If I stayed at boardwalk is it quicker to get bus to MK or walk through Epcot and jump on monorail.

Any one have any places they have difficulty getting to when they don't have a car?

It is a little inconvenient getting back after an evening at Jellyrolls (dueling piano bar at the Boardwalk). If you end up staying late most of the theme parks are already close. So you need to take a bus from the BW to DTD. At that hour of the night it just seems to take quite forever. It is a lot easier to just hop in the car and head back to the resort. That being said, I can't say we justify the cost of a rental if we flew in to Orlando. So we decide if we want to go to Jellyrolls and endure the very scenic bus ride back to the resort Of course if you are staying at the Y&BC, BW, Swan or Dolphin then there is no issue.