To rent or not to rent (a car)

[rufio]

Good morning! I am trying to decide whether to rent a car. My mom and I are going to WDW in December for 7 days, staying at either Kidani or Boardwalk (depending on what happens with the waitlist). She is probably going to rent an ECV to use for some of the time we're there (the one we're looking at does come apart to fit in a trunk). I've seen that I can rent a car for about $22/day, so it's financially doable. I've stayed using a car and the busses (busses more times than not) and have no issues with either. My biggest problem is my fear of driving in big cities that I'm unfamiliar with. Anyway, what would you do in this situation? Rent or go with the bus?

 

[flynnibus]

Car w/o a doubt. Dirt cheap and worth every penny. Where you are driving the roads are all easy and nothing like city driving.

 

[Arty Cordova]

I

Anyone that can just exit the park, hop in their car and be resting in their room in 15 minutes is in the minority. IMHO The rest of us have to, in the case of the Magic Kingdom, wait in a long line for the monorail or ferry, wait in a line for the tram, walk out to your car which in my case is usually at the far end of the lot, navigate through traffic and construction to get back to their resort to try to find a parking spot in a resort filled to capacity and then make the hike to their room. But hey, that's just me.

Everyone has their own good and bad experiences with either avenue. Either way, have fun on your trip!

I hear you and as the dad I have been stuck dropping my family off in the lobby followed up with a parking spot about two miles away at 2:00am. However I decided at that point just eat the valet cost. But then again, I live in Miami and drive my own car so maybe I shouldn't comment

 

[rufio]

I


I hear you and as the dad I have been stuck dropping my family off in the lobby followed up with a parking spot about two miles away at 2:00am. However I decided at that point just eat the valet cost. But then again, I live in Miami and drive my own car so maybe I shouldn't comment

They have valet at the parks?? How much?

 

[flynnibus]

They have valet at the parks?? How much?

He's talking about the hotel... With a 5 gallon bucket of hyperbole on the side

 

[rufio]

He's talking about the hotel... With a 5 gallon bucket of hyperbole on the side

This comment just made me so sad.

 

[Arty Cordova]

He's talking about the hotel... With a 5 gallon bucket of hyperbole on the side

Well it feels like two miles after a day of walking at the parks..lol

 

[flynnibus]

Well it feels like two miles after a day of walking at the parks..lol

No worries... that's exactly why I refuse to stay at the Moderates... too big and spread out!

 

[Arty Cordova]

No worries... that's exactly why I refuse to stay at the Moderates... too big and spread out!

Unless ur at Grand Floridian and it's really like a 1 mile hike. Never again to that one without valet.

 

[LAM378]

Another vote for renting a car.

We rented one last week for my first trip to WDW in many years. I just did not want to wait for buses with my son and his stroller. It was a great choice. I'll never not rent a car.

As for driving around an unfamiliar city, I was worried about that, too. We took 417 to/from MCO on the recommendation of the posters on this forum, and it could not have been easier.

Driving within WDW is even better. I'm used to NJ road traffic; driving around WDW is downright serene. It can be a tad bit confusing for the first couple days but once you get your bearings you're fine. It's pretty obvious when you make a wrong turn, and easy to put yourself back on the right path.

I printed out the directions to/from MCO and brought them, and your resort can give you a road map of WDW and a printed card with directions for general areas but after a couple days you won't need that.

Book a car at a price you're okay with but check all the companies every couple days for better rates. Check for coupon codes and Ebates, too. December is a busier time than May but I eventually got a mid size SUV for $120/7 days just for checking obsessively. The rates could go down a lot as your trip gets closer, and you might end up with something a little roomier that makes it even easier to stow the ECV. Good luck!!

 

[SAV]

For my trip in a couple of weeks, I got a 10 day compact car rental for $237 total, all taxes and fees included. I just used the HUGG code at Thrifty that I found on Mousesavers. I wasn't as successful with other companies or codes that I found which were at minimum $50 higher.

 

[PrincessMia]

I will start by saying we're not usually there during very busy times. That said, I MUCH prefer having a car. Even during supposed down times, we've wasted a ton of times waiting on buses. Maybe they just don't run as many buses... We also like to park hop nearly every day, and having a car saves us a lot of time. It's also a luxury to get into my own car when I'm hot and sweaty and be able to sit, not stand, and not lean up against someone else's sweat.

 

[rufio]

Another vote for renting a car.

We rented one last week for my first trip to WDW in many years. I just did not want to wait for buses with my son and his stroller. It was a great choice. I'll never not rent a car.

As for driving around an unfamiliar city, I was worried about that, too. We took 417 to/from MCO on the recommendation of the posters on this forum, and it could not have been easier.

Driving within WDW is even better. I'm used to NJ road traffic; driving around WDW is downright serene. It can be a tad bit confusing for the first couple days but once you get your bearings you're fine. It's pretty obvious when you make a wrong turn, and easy to put yourself back on the right path.

I printed out the directions to/from MCO and brought them, and your resort can give you a road map of WDW and a printed card with directions for general areas but after a couple days you won't need that.

Book a car at a price you're okay with but check all the companies every couple days for better rates. Check for coupon codes and Ebates, too. December is a busier time than May but I eventually got a mid size SUV for $120/7 days just for checking obsessively. The rates could go down a lot as your trip gets closer, and you might end up with something a little roomier that makes it even easier to stow the ECV. Good luck!!

This is a great idea! I've never used Ebates. I honestly thought it was kind of a scam... Do you use it? What site did you get your rental from? Thanks!

 

[LAM378]

This is a great idea! I've never used Ebates. I honestly thought it was kind of a scam... Do you use it? What site did you get your rental from? Thanks!

Nah, I've been using Ebates for years. I get a check for $20-$30 every few months just for opening my shopping windows through them. They list coupon codes, too, but I always check retailmenot for those because I feel like they just have more. I think I got 4.25% back on my rental car. It really couldn't be easier. It seems scammy because people are constantly telling you to sign up under their referral link (so they get more cash back).

We ended up renting through Alamo. It was a breeze except for their annoying attempt to hard sell add-ons at the counter (I'll check in at the kiosk next time for that reason). I think I started at $260 in Feb for a standard and eventually got the midsize SUV for $120. It became a game for me to get the biggest car for the best price. As long as you don't pre-pay you can book and cancel as many cars from as many companies as you like. The rates really started dropping about 10 days before our trip.

All the big companies seem to have a free club you can join where you get an automatic discount or upgrade, so sign up for those (the Alamo rental was 20% off just for being in their "club"). Just be patient and check a lot and you'll find something that works!

 

[Ariel Savage]

Good morning! I am trying to decide whether to rent a car. My mom and I are going to WDW in December for 7 days, staying at either Kidani or Boardwalk (depending on what happens with the waitlist). She is probably going to rent an ECV to use for some of the time we're there (the one we're looking at does come apart to fit in a trunk). I've seen that I can rent a car for about $22/day, so it's financially doable. I've stayed using a car and the busses (busses more times than not) and have no issues with either. My biggest problem is my fear of driving in big cities that I'm unfamiliar with. Anyway, what would you do in this situation? Rent or go with the bus?

I, too, hate driving in unfamiliar cities! But, I haven't had any trouble driving at Disney or in the surrounding Orlando area. I actually look forward to it and wish other cities would be this easy. I suggest renting a car (where did you find one so cheap???) because it will let you have a more flexible trip (no waiting around for the buses) just in case Mom gets tired. I've only ever had experience with a scooter made for a child and will admit that those are heavy. However, this was many years ago so I'm assuming they've made them better, lighter since then. But anyway, yes, driving at Disney/Orlando is very doable for us timid drivers. Hope you have a great time!

 

[rob0519]

They have valet at the parks?? How much?

Valet parking is free at all Deluxe Resorts if you have a Handicap Plague for your vehicle. The only cost is a tip for the valet, which of course is optional.