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?

 

[cinderellafan6]

We always drive our car there and leave it in the parking lot the whole trip. I love disney transportation. especially when we go out drinking and dont have to have a DD! We usually stay at ALM and take the buses all over but this time were staying at the Dolphin so we are in the middle of everything

 

[elizs77]

When I would go with my parents growing up, we had a car b/c we drove to Florida. I can't remember a time, though, where we EVER used the car, only Disney transportation.

Now that I go with my own family, we fly, use Magical Express and never even think about a car. The bus service did leave some to be desired when we were at the Wilderness Lodge, so this time we stayed at the Polynesian since we took our 10 month old in addition to our five year old. Using the monorail for most of our transportation meant we didn't have to unload and fold up the stroller every single time.

Even though you may have to wait on buses, long transportation time to DTD, etc., I just don't think the expense of renting a car is worth it when staying on property. I'd rather put the money towards a better room or a great souviner!

 

[Phonedave]

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?

To car or not to car is up to you. Me, I never get one, and rarely wish I had one.

It is faster to bus it from BW to MK - most of the time. I have hit it "just right" and the monorail was faster. It depends on the time of the day. It seems in the early AM it does work out faster to go though EPCOT because you may be waiting for the MK bus.

Remember if you take the monorail from EPCOT, you still have to transfer at the TTC to get over to the MK. (or take the ferry) That can eat a load of time.

I tend to walk fast, so if I am alone it works out for me. With others, not so much.

-dave

 

[jeffbear]

We've done the WDW trip both with and without a car several times. To be honest, last time down there we had a car and used it exactly once ... to combine a trip to the grocery store with lunch at Downtown Disney. If I'm renting a car for a week and using it that infrequently ... well the math just doesn't work. From now on I'm skipping the hire car and just taking a cab for the odd trip off site.

 

[gettingsmaller]

If you plan to go straight from your hotel to another hotel for food (or anything else, I guess), it is honestly a bit of a pain. I mean, having to leave a hour or more before your ADR is kind of annoying. On the other hand, if you are already at a park, and you just need to go to a hotel to eat, then back to a park, it shouldn't be too bad. If I was doing the hotel-->hotel once, I wouldn't mind, but if I was doing several times, I'd think about a car.
Personally, I enjoy not driving and saving the money. I'd probably just plan my ADRs so that I don't have to do the hotel-to-hotel thing...

 

[kstella]

If you do need to go somewhere at the spur of the moment you can always use a taxi. Rmember when renting a car, it's not just the cost of the rental, but also gas and tolls. The tolls between the airport and Disney are pretty pricey.

If you're worried about mini golf and don't want the walk to Fantasia Gardens, you can always go to Winter Summerland at Blizzard Beach.

 

[Phonedave]

If you do need to go somewhere at the spur of the moment you can always use a taxi. Rmember when renting a car, it's not just the cost of the rental, but also gas and tolls. The tolls between the airport and Disney are pretty pricey.

$2 total if I recall correctly.

I am one of those people who rarely has cash on them (I know how bad it is) and last time I was down for business I remember getting on the highway and realizing I only had a dollar. I paid the first toll, and then they gave me a "forgivness slip" on the second one.


-dave

 

[disneydiva72]

I have been to Disney about 25 times and 20 of those times were without a car, I have stayed in the Monorail resorts and found it more difficult to travel by the bus system because of the lack of buses going back and forth and the many many stops at the other resorts. I have stayed at moderate resorts and have found there to be no problem what so ever with the bus system and I have stayed in the Pop centuries and again, no problem with the bus systems.
The only time I ever had a long wait was after some of the big parades and everyone is going back to their hotels.
I personally HATE using the bus to Downtown Disney (no matter what hotel it is) because I have NEVER had a good experience, I have no idea why LOL....I always end up waiting forever for a bus.

I now get a car every year because I like to go to Universal and shop outside of the Kingdom. (and for when I m going to DTD)