Need advice on car rental/park hopper

[Courtney1188]

Hello everyone! Me and my boyfriend are heading down to Florida in less than a month now, we're spending April 25-29 at Disney and the next two days at Universal/IOA. And I have two pretty big decisions that I could use some advice on.

-Renting a car. We are flying down, and obviously could use Disney transportation, but would still need to find a way to get from Disney to Universal, then from Universal to the airport. We are staying on property at both Disney and Universal. My family always rents a car, but I'm a college student trying to cut costs where I can. I could ask my boyfriend to rent the car as a birthday present to me, but I'm not sure its necessary.

-Park Hopper. My parents have offered to upgrade our tickets to Park Hoppers, again as a birthday present to me (I turn 22 two weeks before we leave on the trip). We've always been the type of family to start at one park, take a break at the hotel room, then move on to another park at night. I'm not sure if I like the idea of being at the same park all day. Then again, if we're using Disney transportation it could be a pain to do the mid-day hotel break anyways.


Any advice from those who have done it both ways? Which did you prefer?

 

[slappy magoo]

Hello everyone! Me and my boyfriend are heading down to Florida in less than a month now, we're spending April 25-29 at Disney and the next two days at Universal/IOA. And I have two pretty big decisions that I could use some advice on.

-Renting a car. We are flying down, and obviously could use Disney transportation, but would still need to find a way to get from Disney to Universal, then from Universal to the airport. We are staying on property at both Disney and Universal. My family always rents a car, but I'm a college student trying to cut costs where I can. I could ask my boyfriend to rent the car as a birthday present to me, but I'm not sure its necessary.

There are shuttles you can get from Disney (I think in the DTD area) to Universal. And of course there are cabs. But there is a car rental service in the Car Care Center near the Magic Kingdom, as well as kiosks to rent cars in either the Swan or the Dolphin, plus some of the resorts across the way from DTD. You could use Disney transportation to and from the airport and on the days you're going to WDW parks, and then rent a car for just the 2 days you intend to go offsite.

-Park Hopper. My parents have offered to upgrade our tickets to Park Hoppers, again as a birthday present to me (I turn 22 two weeks before we leave on the trip). We've always been the type of family to start at one park, take a break at the hotel room, then move on to another park at night. I'm not sure if I like the idea of being at the same park all day. Then again, if we're using Disney transportation it could be a pain to do the mid-day hotel break anyways.

I don't find it a pain to use Disney's transportation to go back to the resort midday. Our last trip, we opted to not use park hoppers. It was our first trip with our baby, so we were taking things slow enough that it seemed like an unnecessary expense. We were also going during an off-peak time, so trying to avoid crowds wasn't as much of an issue. Would your parents be offended if, maybeperhapskinda, instead of paying to upgrade for park hoppers, they'd split the cost of your rental car for those 2 days Really, probably, only 40 hours, since you could pick it up one morning, use it that day and the next and return it that night?

 

[Rob562]

If you're on the fence about getting the Park Hoppers, I'd suggest only buying Base tickets. If during the trip you decide you'd like to use the Hopper feature, it takes about 5 minutes at the front desk or a Guest Relations window at the parks or Downtown Disney to add it onto your tickets. And if you go the whole trip without needing it, you've saved yourself the money.


As for the rental car, I think Slappy may have slightly mis-read your statement, in that you're staying on-site at Disney while you're doing the Disney parks, then transferring and staying at a Universal hotel on the days you're at Universal. So that negates using Magical Express to get back to the airport.
I'd suggest either:
a) using Magical Express for your arrival and Disney transportation while on-property. Then on your check-out day, have a rental car booked for pickup at an on-site rental location. Alamo and National have a desk at the Car Care Center and the Dolphin, and will send out a van to pick you up and bring you to the CCC. Then just arrange to drop the car off at the airport. (Check MouseSavers.com for rental car discount tips)

b) Use Magical Express and Disney transportation, and then talk to Mears or a towncar service for your transfer from Disney to Universal, then from Universal to the airport. I used the Mears bus for my one-day trip from All-Star Sports to Universal and back, and it was about $18 round-trip per person. (You'd obviously only need one-way) If they let you take your luggage on-board the bus (we were on a large bus with cargo areas underneath) you could use that. One problem, though, would be that it drops you off in the Guest Drop-Off area, which isn't anywhere near the hotels... A private van or towncar would be more expensive, but also more convenient.

As budget is an issue, it'd be best to price both out and see what you can get. Off-hand I'm not sure which would actually be the cheaper option...

-Rob

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I think the car might be a good choice for the later part of your trip. I agree with Rob that you can get the car on your checkout day and then drop it off at the airport. You should be able to find some deals that would make this more affordable than using shuttles. I believe Hertz is also running a promotion now where they are waiving the fees for under 25 drivers...so you might want to check that out as well.

 

[StingraySam]

OK here's my 2 cents.

Rental Car yes or no?
If you do not need a car for anything more than getting from the airport to Disney to Universal then back to the airport I suggest the Disney Transport from the airport to Disney then a cab from Universal and then to the airport. I have to believe renting the car is going to be more than cab fare and I am going to assume that you will need the car for 2 days, anything more than 24 hours will be 2 days, 1st day going from Disney to Universal then 2nd day from Universal to the airport. I have not done it in Orlando but many places also charge an addition fee if you pickup a rental car in one place and drop off in another. You also stated you were staying on site at Universal. I believe the daily parking rate is now $15 per day for self parking overnite guest. This is almost as much as the cab ride from Disney to Universal itself.

Park Hopper or not?
I love park hopping. I have gone to as many as three parks in one day, not suggested by the way unless you have a plan. To me it is worth the added cost. That being said though if you really want to save money you need to look at how you are going to spend your days. You can do it without hopping, many people do. If I were you and trying to save money, I'd start out your trip and if you find that one park a day is not cutting it for you then added the hopping option later.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I agree with Rob that you can get the car on your checkout day and then drop it off at the airport.

Make sure that the rental company allows this first - some phone call may be necessary to make sure that the company you choose does

 

[couchpotatooo]

If you're on the fence about getting the Park Hoppers, I'd suggest only buying Base tickets. If during the trip you decide you'd like to use the Hopper feature, it takes about 5 minutes at the front desk or a Guest Relations window at the parks or Downtown Disney to add it onto your tickets. And if you go the whole trip without needing it, you've saved yourself the money.

Good question were heading down in June for 7 days, were using the base pass but did want to use the last couple days as a hopper so we could go to everything we might of missed or just wanted to do again. Is something we can do or are we stock with 7 day base tickets?

 

[redfive13]

I always rent a car for my Disney trips, I prefer just being able to hop in a car and go vs. using the buses.

Go onto Hotwire.com and book a rental car at a cheap price. My one bit of advice is to pay attention to whether or not the car rental is at the airport or is "off airport". ONLY BOOK FROM AN "AT AIRPORT" VENDOR. This will make your life easier when picking up and dropping off.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

If you're on the fence about getting the Park Hoppers, I'd suggest only buying Base tickets. If during the trip you decide you'd like to use the Hopper feature, it takes about 5 minutes at the front desk or a Guest Relations window at the parks or Downtown Disney to add it onto your tickets. And if you go the whole trip without needing it, you've saved yourself the money.

Good question were heading down in June for 7 days, were using the base pass but did want to use the last couple days as a hopper so we could go to everything we might of missed or just wanted to do again. Is something we can do or are we stock with 7 day base tickets?

You can add the park hopper at any time, but the price will be the same whether you add it the first of the last day. If you think you are going to use the park hopping option, you are probably going to want to add it in the beginning and give yourself the option throughout the whole trip.

 

[ShookieJones]

I've never not park hopped.

I have done rental car and without.

I'll tell you this, I'll never do Disney without a rental car.
It saves you at least 2 hours a day.

Being that you're young and that you're thinking that you don't want to spend the whole day in just one park then I'd definitely say.

Park Hop and Rent the car!

If the parents and boyfriend are springing for both then let it ride!