To rent a car or not rent a car.

[DisneyparkFreak]

We are going with my parents (5 all together) from Oct 11 to Oct 22nd.

We have never rented a car before, but hate all the wasted time on buses, transfers or waiting for another bus to come and pick us up. We are staying at POP.

So... Should I just pony up the $400 bucks for a car which will get us around faster or just deal with the overcrowded buses?

Have I thought of everything, or am I missing something?

 

[disney4life2008]

In all honesty, I would say rent a car. By staying on property parking is free at the parks. I just think with 5 people, a car would be more comfortable. But also look at it like this: POP has its own transportation system (non shared) so you could really do well on their buses going to the parks. Ugh, get a car, lol

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I would make my decision based upon where you're travelling to. A bus will drop you off at the front of the park at EPCOT, DHS and AK, therefore this is quicker than the car. The bus will drop you off at the TTC for your journey to MK, this is again closer than the parking lots and both journeys still require onward transportation by WDW.
You should compare your timings based on the walk from your resort to your car compared to the time you're likely to be stood waiting for a bus - I don't think thy'll be that much of a total difference

 

[lilclerk]

The bus will drop you off at the TTC for your journey to MK, this is again closer than the parking lots and both journeys still require onward transportation by WDW.

Actually, bus transportation to the MK is almost always faster as it drops you off at the park gate, not the TTC.
That being said, I rented a car in WDW for the first time last September and loved it. Not having to wait around for a bus is fantastic. We're getting one again on this trip.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

rent rent rent I didnt rent 1 time and I waited a while for busses had to stand every time and if you drive you can leave right away dont have to sit by smelly people ha ha and parking is free and u can go where ever you want when ever you want !!

 

[Monty]

If your driver enjoys more than a couple of drinks with dinner or while wandering around, don't put yourselves at risk of a DUI. Otherwise, renting works if you don't like waiting at bus stops or standing on buses.

I find the savings of using their transportation worth the minor hiccups, but some people prefer to spend the extra.

 

[liloohana]

I agree....we actually have started to drive down so that we have our car!! We can run to the nearby target and pickup water ($3.99 a case)....drinks for by the pool....milk for cereal in the morning!!
So not only do you not have to wait in those long bus lines, you can save money on necessities. It's also more convenient if you are going from one park to another, say AK to HS. You don't have to "bus hop," you can just jump in your car and go from park to park.
Last trip we stayed at POR and were all the way in the back of the resort. So when we needed to go to the main building for a meal or to the front desk, we could just drive around to the main building!
One of our last few trips we had two nights in a row that we left the park at normal closing hours...the first night we waited in line for one hour and 20 minutes for a bus!! The next night, when we walked out and saw the bus area just jammed with people, we actually walked over to the Contemporary and took a taxi back to the hotel.
Disney may have the happiest lines on earth, but I don't always want to wait in them!!

 

[minniemickeyfan]

We have rented a car sometimes, but now we have been driving down to WDW. Even though we have our own vehicle, it is faster I believe to take the bus to MK, they drop you off right at the entrance not the TTC. Last trip we drove once to MK and we were actually held back at the TTC gate and not allowed to get to the monorail or boat and waited for a good 10 minutes. We were thinking why didn't we just take the bus?

Overall, its nice to have your own vehicle as we like to drive ourselves to the Water parks and DD. But, I think Disney does a great job with transportation.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Five in a car could be a little tight with luggage, getting there from the Airport, but not impossible, just make sure you don't go overboard with packing. That said, I like the option of having a car. We do the bus a few times on the trip(like coming back from Downtown Disney after a few drinks) but it is nice to be able to not have to wait in a line just to get back to the room after waiting in lines all day. I think you will have much less frustration this way, and as others have said, you can pick up water, snacks, ect on your way and save some money that you would be spending at the resort.

Finally, 400 for the car is probably what it is saying it costs to rent the car now. Make the reservation, but check back often for deals etc. I rented back in January for a week rental in May, and last week rebooked and the price had dropped 100 bucks. Just make sure you do not pre-pay and you can cancel your previous reservation with no problem (Thirfty by the way seems to have the best deals and has the cars right at the airport, no shuttles to the lot needed.)

 

[nepalostparks]

Finally, 400 for the car is probably what it is saying it costs to rent the car now. Make the reservation, but check back often for deals etc. I rented back in January for a week rental in May, and last week rebooked and the price had dropped 100 bucks. Just make sure you do not pre-pay and you can cancel your previous reservation with no problem (Thirfty by the way seems to have the best deals and has the cars right at the airport, no shuttles to the lot needed.)

This.

Since you are going in October, which is not one of the busiest times of the year, rental rates should drop considerably in the weeks leading up to your trip. Since you can book rental car reservations without any payment, you just rebook at a lower rate and cancel the old one if the rates go down.

We're leaving for the World on Sunday, and are renting two cars (we have a total of 8 people going.) When I first booked in January, we were getting two mid-size cars through Alamo for $202 apiece for the week... which at that point was $80 to $100 less than any other company. Right now, we're getting two full size cars through Alamo at $90 apiece. (The midsize would have been $74 apiece).

Honestly, I checked the rates of all the companies a few times since January, and played around with different savings codes from mousesavers.com. It took some time, yes, but it saved us quite a lot.

I'm all for the car rental, in case that wasn't clear :lol: With five in your party, your best option might be a minivan. That too should come down in price considerably, and it will give you enough room for bags and not be crammed in like sardines. Just keep checking the rates... if you can't get a good rate, you can always fall back on using Magical Express and Disney transportation.

Good luck! :wave:

 

[nepalostparks]

We have rented a car sometimes, but now we have been driving down to WDW. Even though we have our own vehicle, it is faster I believe to take the bus to MK, they drop you off right at the entrance not the TTC. Last trip we drove once to MK and we were actually held back at the TTC gate and not allowed to get to the monorail or boat and waited for a good 10 minutes. We were thinking why didn't we just take the bus?

This is completely true. Disney bus from your resort to the Magic Kingdom will be faster because of bypassing the TTC. Can save you up to a half hour if you park at the end of a row, just miss the tram and have to wait, just miss the next monorail/ferry, etc.

For all the other parks, water parks, and Downtown Disney, driving your own vehicle will generally be faster, saving anywhere from five to 30 minutes based on the resort and your destination.

 

[SAV]

$400 sounds steep. Did you use the discount codes on Mousesavers? And as it has been said. Check back often...at least weekly, and see if you can get the price down. Last trip Alamo was cheapest. Year before was Thrifty. Just keep digging and you'll get a good price.

So far, we have had a car for every trip because we do a beach trip after WDW. We were looking at doing a Disney only trip this year and I was going to forgo the car and just use Disney Transportation.

It's really a matter of deciding if it is worth the extra $ to save some time.

 

[lilclerk]

Also, don't be afraid to check Hotwire or Priceline when it gets closer to your trip. I've got a midsize car for 12 days starting this Sunday for about $200 total through Priceline.

 

[ddrongowski]

To Disneyparkfreak,

I have gone to WDW every year since 2001, and have had a rental car for every trip except 1. That being said, I will always have a rental car. It gives you much more freedom to go where and when you want than the WDW transportation does. Plus if you want to run off resort to get something to eat, etc... you can.

From the past and running the numbers is was cheaper to have the rental car and eat at nice sit down resturants, than it was to be stuck with WDW food options only. Savings amounted for us from $600 to $1000 each trip.

To add WDW transportation is fine, but you run on their time tables and their routes only.


Also for the car rental. Join National Car rentals "emerald club". It is free to join. They have were you rent a midsize car and can choose from any car in the emerald club lot (ie vans, suvs, full size, etc) and only pay the midsize rate. Also you go straight from the plane to the car lot, get in the car, and go. There is not counter stop needed.

With national it would be ~$561.00 and you can get any vehicle in the lot.

 

[ddrongowski]

Five in a car could be a little tight with luggage, getting there from the Airport, but not impossible, just make sure you don't go overboard with packing.

This is not an issue.

Use Magical Express for you luggage. You just go to your rental car and WDW handles your luggage. Then use the baggage check in at the resort to send it back to the airport. Then you will only have to transport your carry on in the car.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

This is not an issue.

Use Magical Express for you luggage. You just go to your rental car and WDW handles your luggage. Then use the baggage check in at the resort to send it bac to the airport. Then you will only have to transport your carry on in the car.

Have you done this? I was thinking about it, but I was thinking one of the benefits of having the rental car is that my bags stay with me as opposed to going well who knows! But if it works well, I guess that is an option.

Also...Alamo does indeed have some great rates, especially if you have a Visa. My car price just dropped another 50 bucks by going with them!

 

[ddrongowski]

Have you done this? I was thinking about it, but I was thinking one of the benefits of having the rental car is that my bags stay with me as opposed to going well who knows! But if it works well, I guess that is an option.

Also...Alamo does indeed have some great rates, especially if you have a Visa. My car price just dropped another 50 bucks by going with them!

Yes I have personally done this the last 3 years/trips. Everytime without a hitch. It is nice to:
1. Exit the aircraft.
2. Walk to the airport train, enter the train, exit the train.
3. Walk down to the national car rental lot, put our carry on bags in the trunk, get in the car, go to the exit booth, give them my info, and then drive South to the toll road and arrive at our resort.
4. Checkin, go do resort/park stuff.
5. Last day, take luggage to resort baggage checkin, get reciepts.
6. Do whatever we want to until we have to arrive at the airport.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Yes I have personally done this the last 3 years/trips. Everytime without a hitch. It is nice to:
1. Exit the aircraft.
2. Walk to the airport train, enter the train, exit the train.
3. Walk down to the national car rental lot, put our carry on bags in the trunk, get in the car, go to the exit booth, give them my info, and then drive South to the toll road and arrive at our resort.
4. Checkin, go do resort/park stuff.
5. Last day, take luggage to resort baggage checkin, get reciepts.
6. Do whatever we want to until we have to arrive at the airport.

Thats awesome! I would be all over that..except for this trip I have coming up. We are getting in later in the afternoon, so we decided to save a few bucks and stay off property the first night and check in and everything the next day. If we stay onsite for the whole trip next time, I will for sure try what you do.

 

[JillC LI]

We just recently fit 5 people and luggage for a week in a Chevy Tahoe hat we got for alot less than $400 using Costco and Entertainment Book coupon codes from Alamo. I far prefer the convenience of a car if it is feasable.

 

[Diane Hughess]

10 years running and we ALWAYS rent a car! It has already been said, but if you stay at a park until closing, you are exhausted, and waiting over an hour for a bus, getting squished in there with all those people, then you sometimes have a far walk from the bus stop to your room--it's SO worth the money! The only different thing we do is that we don't rent from the airport, as the airport rental 'fees' are outrageous! We booked a trip once thru a travel agency and had prepaid for the rental. Come to find out, the taxes/surcharges were not included and cost another $150!! We usually go for 10 days. We arrive, take Magic Express to our hotel, spend a day or 2 with no car, then pick up the car from Alamo/National Walt Disney World Car Care Center (they pick you up AND drop you off). We rent the car for 7 days, but have found sometimes renting for 8 days can be cheaper than 7! We like to try restaurants at other resorts, and the car is wonderful then as well. We can come and go as we please, and at the Value/Mod hotels we park right near our room! DEFINATELY rent!