Rental Car or Bus Transportation

[Cheryl]

That is the question...no longer is it "TO be or not to be!" :lol:

Well, we just made our car rental reservations (online) and it's going to cost us $350 for 9 days....I nearly fainted! I can't believe that it's costing this much. When I called the agency to inquire why it was costing so much, they said that most people are still afraid to fly and that they pretty much can charge whatever they want b/c people are willing to spend it. They're also having a hard time keeping cars in the lot which is another reason they gave me today. In all the years that we've been going down to Disney, I don't think we've paid more than $200 if that! I'm just shocked!

My questions are: Has anyone used the Mears transportation from the Orlando Airport? There are two adults and a 2 1/2 year old traveling so I figure that it's going to cost us at least $50 one-way or $100 round-trip.

We went on the bus one time when my son was very very small and carried on the stroller. I just remember how crowded they were and we had to wait for a couple of buses to come b/c they were full before they even got to us. Is this pretty much true all the time? Like I said, we've only used the bus one time so I really don't have any clue.

Does Disney have any buses that go to like Crossroads or Publix too? I would assume not just b/c they want you to buy everything on property. We're staying at OKW and I know they have a grocery store there, it's just more expensive.

I'm just thinking...pay $350 for a car to drive around to the parks and get groceries, etc. or save that $350 and spend $100 on Mears and then pay extra for groceries.

Any ideas or comments would be helpful in determining what I should do! Thanks much!!!!

Oh, if it helps, we are members of the Disney Club and got our free membership in the Emerald Club with National....with our Disney Club card, we get a discount of almost $70; otherwise, the car rental would have been $420!

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20 days to Disney :lol:
Thanks, as always!

Cheryl:wave:

 

[Cheryl]

Forgot to mention....

I forgot to mention that I checked out pretty much all of the other companies at the airport and they are about the same price. With National we were able to at least get the discount from the Disney Club card. I have to admit, I didn't figure that the discount would be that great but all in all, it would cost the cost of all the taxes, airport and otherwise.

Sorry to have forgotten to put that in my post!

Cheryl:wave:

 

[Married@WDW]

Or use Tiffany Town Car (http://www.tiffanytowncar.com) and for $80 ($85 for Magic Kingdom resorts because Disney charges them to enter the area) you get a roundtrip ride to and from your resort <b>including</b> a stop for groceries. They also have a $5 off coupon on their site.

We've used them a few times and actually have a funny story about their GREAT service. I set my sister up for them on her trip last month. The driver had a cup of coffee from Krispy Kreme and my sister mentioned she'd never had one (we don't have Krispy Kreme doughnut shops in Connecticut yet). The driver took them straight to the shop to get them doughnuts and, since you have the same driver both ways, he had a dozen in the car when he picked them up to go back to the airport for them to bring home!

I hope this helps! Have a great trip!

 

[DisJosh]

I've never had problems with the MEars shuttles and I've never been on one that was crowded. Ya get a nice air conditioned ride to your hotel...I cant complain.

And using the Disney bus system is 20 times easier than driving a rented car...trust me! I would think that spending a little exttra on the groceries probably wont add up to as much as you would be spending w/ the rented car.

So thats just my opinion...be warned though once you get used to the bus's you'll be instantly spoiled lol.

 

[jaimjaim25]

There is absolutely NO reason to rent a car in Disney especially if you are staying in a disney resort. Really, there is free transportation EVERYEWHERE!!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

The 2 1/2 year old will be free on mears. I am not sure if they have car seats. We have taken Mears for the past 7 years.

We plan to take Tiffany next trip and not bring a car seat but request one from them. The 30 min stop is really all you need. You can save that 250 dollars and use it for more fun things at WDW.

Even with crowded buses, I think Disney transportation is better then renting a car and dealing with it yourself.

Just make sure you have a good stroller that folds down easy and is light and compact.

BTW last trip our baby got sick and needed medical care. We did not have a car, but Centra care picked us up and brought us there for free. So you really don't need a car.

 

[DisneyPhD]

sorry, this is a mess up post, please ignore or delate! (mid day can't think!)

 

[Jeremy22]

I prefer to rent a car, so even though it can be more expensive, which totally stinks, I understand I have to pay extra money for the assurance that I can be mobile if I want. It just provides me with more flexibility on my vacation, and I am not at the mercy of the buses. And don't get me wrong, I really like the Disney buses. Disney Transportation is great. If you weren't going to use the rental car a lot, then taking an airport shuttle is definitely more cost effective. A car is great for emergencies, for instance once my brother got extremely sunburned and we ended up having to go to a drug store to buy some medication. It was just nice knowing the car was there. I need that safety net when I'm on vacation. It makes things easier for me, but yes more expensive too. Just my thoughts...

 

[Dwarful]

Ok here is my two cents worth. we went May 25-June 3rd. We used Tiffanys, did the grocery stop, we did rent a car from National for a few days but picked it up at the Disney Car Care Center.... IF you do rent a car, be aware of the new changes..they were in practice when we went...if you drive to MK you wont get to the gate until after the 9am opening...you wiill be held at TTC until 9am, then transported to MK, then you go through security which can take 10 mins to half an hour depending on the crowds...so it is now more time consuming to drive to the parks....we never bothered always took the busses from All Star Movies and we had five kids with us ages 2-15, one backpack and a stroller we had no real problems...but had loads of fun

 

[pooh&eyore]

I may be wrong here, but I think a taxi ride from the airport to your hotel would be faster than the mears shuttle. when I have flown the line for the mears is always longer, then the taxi line. You are only three people and will all fit in the taxi. plus last time I took the taxi from Orl Internat'l it only cost me about $30.00 plus a tip.

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by pooh&eyore
I may be wrong here, but I think a taxi ride from the airport to your hotel would be faster than the mears shuttle. when I have flown the line for the mears is always longer, then the taxi line. You are only three people and will all fit in the taxi. plus last time I took the taxi from Orl Internat'l it only cost me about $30.00 plus a tip.

I agree...we've taken a taxi from the airport to the Grand Floridian and it cost us about $40+tip... you get door to door service and you don't have to make stops at other hotels along the way....you'll be there in a half hour or so...

...when we fly to WDW we always rent a car but those prices seem VERY high although you don't mention the size of car you're renting...if that price is for a full-size car, then it probably isn't too high...consider a smaller car to scoot around the World in.

...also, I heard that the reason they are running out of cars is that the rental companies bought fewer cars in anticipation that fewer people would be willing to travel following 9-11.

 

[Cheryl]

Originally posted by Dwarful
Ok here is my two cents worth. we went May 25-June 3rd. We used Tiffanys, did the grocery stop, we did rent a car from National for a few days but picked it up at the Disney Car Care Center.... IF you do rent a car, be aware of the new changes..they were in practice when we went...if you drive to MK you wont get to the gate until after the 9am opening...you wiill be held at TTC until 9am, then transported to MK, then you go through security which can take 10 mins to half an hour depending on the crowds...so it is now more time consuming to drive to the parks....we never bothered always took the busses from All Star Movies and we had five kids with us ages 2-15, one backpack and a stroller we had no real problems...but had loads of fun

So by taking the Disney bus, you can actually get to the parks earlier and just stand in line? I know they cancelled the early mornings and substituted instead where some of the characters can be found at selected resorts. How early do the buses start taking you to the parks if the parks don't open until 9 a.m.?

Also, we're renting a intermidiate size car (midsize). Believe it or not, the compact and the economy were only like $20 different. It didn't pay to be squished in a little car with the stroller, bags and car seat. We usually bring our own car seat and use it on the plane just for safety purposes. Plus this way I don't have to hold him when he falls asleep on the plane and can either read or take a nap myself. =

Ok, so far most of you are saying the bus and a couple are saying cars. Maybe I'll get a few more responses. I think I'm leaning towards the buses and my husband is leaning towards the car. Ugh, isn't it always that way! LOL
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Thanks for your replies! :kiss:
20 Days to Disney!
"It appears to me that I've got a rumbly in my tummy."

Cheryl

 

[tiggerlover1971]

hi cheryl by the way thats my name too.From cheryl to cheryl i would get the rental car that way if you guys want to explore other parts outside of the parks and hotels and downtown disney you can without getting a taxi We drive up from south florida and we always go exploring and looking at celebration and other parts of "outside disney"

 

[no2apprentice]

I've always driven to WDW, but I just have to say, if we were to fly and had a small child, I would want the car available just for the peace of mind.

I think you're right, though...it's a guy thing!:lol:

 

[tiggerlover1971]

i am a girl and i vote for the car

 

[no2apprentice]

I meant no offense to your post, tiggerlover1071. It's just that Cheryl's comment about "...and my husband is leaning towards the car. Ugh, isn't it always that way!" just struck a familiar chord with some comments that my wife has made in the past.:animwink:

 

[Scooter]

I drive my car almost 351 days out of the year.

Driving is a headache, especially when you live in the Chicago area.

When I go to Disney World, I never rent a car.

When I'm on vacation I don't want to worry about traffic and crazy drivers and road rage, so I sit back, relax, and let DISNEY do the driving.

To my family...the buses, the monorail, and the boats, are ALL part of the Magic that Disney has to offer..so we get the benefit of all the fun and none of the driving hassles.:animwink:

 

[WDW-Imagineer]

Anytime I have gone down there, my family has gotten a rental car. Just more peaceful. Driving in WDW isn't bad at all and it sure beats standing room only buses at the end of the day.

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by Cheryl

Oh, if it helps, we are members of the Disney Club and got our free membership in the Emerald Club with National....with our Disney Club card, we get a discount of almost $70; otherwise, the car rental would have been $420!

$420?....that is way too high...did you check all the crappy little car companies....Thrifty, Value, Alamo....etc....

...do you have any professional discounts...AAA, NEA, etc?....

...sometimes it's more expensive to rent from a company with the desk at the airport...better to take a shuttle off the airport to the car rental company.

...check with Expedia.com and plug in some dates and see what they come up with...

...check for better rates right up until the time you leave...you might catch a break....

...i can't be without a car in WDW...i don't want to be on anyone else's schedule....we come and go when we please and we can explore wherever we want...I've seen the lines waiting for buses when the park closes and i just can't do that...

 

[Becky]

Nine days is what the problem is. I can rent a car for a week for $125. But if I add two days it becomes more like $225! The rental car companies are set up for weekly rentals.

My next trip is the end of December. I tracked prices and the cheapest I could find was over $300 plus the usual taxes. But Tuesday night searching on Yahoo Travel I found $195 from Dollar. I called them and with AAA got $186. That is a holiday period so you can get cheaper rates.

I always rent a car. It gives me freedom to go off site or avoid the bus lines when I leave at or near closing.

I usually rent on the airport from Avis or National. Believe it or not they are usually up to $50 cheaper than Thrifty, Alamo etc. :sohappy: