Transportation w/very small children - question

[polynesiangirl]

So we still have at least a year or so before our next trip, but I want to start getting an idea of how much money we'll need/want to spend. One thing that's crossed my mind is transportation.

We will definitely stay on property and most likely on the monorail loop, which obviously gives us a lot of options. Normally, when it's just us, we have no qualms with using DME and the onsite buses, boats and monorail to get around...but with a baby (likely somewhere around 1 year old or so), would it be helpful for us to have a rental car? Or would that just add another headache? I could see how having a car would give us some added flexibility, but I could also see it being an unnecessary expense.

So, for those of you who have done the trip with very young children before -- if you had a car, did you think it was helpful? If you didn't, did you feel like it would have helped at all (or did you not even notice it)? This is totally new territory for me so any info you can pass along would be appreciated! :wave:

 

[nolatron]

Last year my wife and I took our 20month old daughter to WDW and we rented a car. We stayed at the boardwalk and used the car for getting to the MK, HS, and AK. We walked to Epcot (once to MGM).

We're sure glad we got the car though. When it came time to leave the park we could simply head straight to the car instead of waiting for a (potentially crowded) bus to get us back to the resort.

It made transporting the stroller and baby gear much easier as well. Just toss it in the trunk. and of course, air conditioning! DD could also take a mini-nap in the carseat on the drive back to the resort.

Staying on the monorail line, I'd probably use the monorail or a boat since you're right there to get the MK, but would take the car to the other parks. You get free parking as a resort guest too.

For us though, a rental was certainly worth it and I'm planning on having on for a our trip in November staying at the Poly possibly. We're flying so I'm bringing our carseat to use on the plan and in the rental.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I started this thread a while back...it weighs out the pros and cons of taking a Disney bus vs. driving in your own vehicle. It might help you as well. After reading everyone's replies and considering our situation- (traveling w/a 2 yr old and 4 yr old), we will likely be using our car for a number of our transporation needs while at Disney. I also really liked the idea of the AAA Diamond parking pass. Hope this helps!:wave:


http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=598318&highlight=busses

 

[polynesiangirl]

I started this thread a while back...it weighs out the pros and cons of taking a Disney bus vs. driving in your own vehicle. It might help you as well. After reading everyone's replies and considering our situation- (traveling w/a 2 yr old and 4 yr old), we will likely be using our car for a number of our transporation needs while at Disney. I also really liked the idea of the AAA Diamond parking pass. Hope this helps!:wave:


http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=598318&highlight=busses

Thanks for the replies everyone -- and thanks for directing me to this. I figured that someone must have asked this before but I wasn't able to locate anything on my own. Thanks!

 

[disneygirl1]

I have been taking my DS to Disney since he was 16 months old... We never had a car and always relied solely of Disney Transportation. I will say that it is tough especially at closing time trying to juggle everything with the crowds on the buses.