Transportation

[d'Isigny]

Hi,

We were thinking about renting a car to go in and out of the parks because we have 4 small children. We have rode the free bus transportation they provide to guest that stay at the resorts. We found that the end of the day ride back to the resort is pretty hectic, the kids are usually tired and sleepy and sometimes there aren't enough seats for us to sit.

We would like to know of anyone's experience when it comes to renting a car. Was it better to rent than to ride the buses? How was the experience for each park.

 

[zurgandfriend]

We rented a car on our first visit, I drove it to the resort parked it and didn't touch it again until it was time to leave. We used the Disney transporation system the entire trip.

That said we only have one child and I did wish I had taken the car when we visited DAK, the ride back was a little long.

 

[JillC LI]

We were thinking about renting a car to go in and out of the parks because we have 4 small children. We have rode the free bus transportation they provide to guest that stay at the resorts. We found that the end of the day ride back to the resort is pretty hectic, the kids are usually tired and sleepy and sometimes there aren't enough seats for us to sit.

We would like to know of anyone's experience when it comes to renting a car. Was it better to rent than to ride the buses? How was the experience for each park.

On our last trip we rented a car for the first time because we were driving from Boca instead of flying from NY. Kids were 7 and 9. We will never go back without renting a car. It was so convenient to be able to come and go at our leisure. Since we were staying on property, there were no parking fees. The directional signs were pretty easy to follow. The only park at which it might have been marginally more convenient to take the Disney buses was MK because we had to park at the TTC and take the monorail, but even that was no big deal. We're flying back to Disney in March 2011 and we're definitely getting a rental car. You can get some amazing deals by using the discount codes on mousesavers.com. We got a particularly great deal last time through Costco. With 4 small children (and perhaps strollers?), I would absolutely consider a rental car. :wave:

 

[lilclerk]

I rented a car for the first time last month, and I absotively loved it. And I've always been someone who voted against it, however I'd never tried it... Granted, we stayed at the Beach Club and didn't need to drive to DHS or Epcot, but the ease of coming and going to the other two parks was fantastic. I do still love the idea of the Disney buses, but when you're traveling at peak times (park opening, after the fireworks) having your own car just can't be beat. The line for the monorail to the TTC wasn't nearly as crazy as the bus line for the 5 Epcot resorts.

And I also found getting around WDW incredibly easy with the car. After a day or two, I didn't even need the GPS anymore. The road signs actually got me where I needed to go (which is unusual around here!)

 

[WDWmazprty]

We have 2 girls and never rent a car. We also park the car when we arrive and dont touch it until we leave. We let Disney take us everywhere.

Either way, the kids will be tired at the end of the day, and by the time the tram takes you to the parking lot and you get in your car, it might be just as long as taking the bus. Its really comes down to if you dont mind being with other people on the way home or not.

Maybe try it one day at the parks, and see how it goes for you.

 

[nolatron]

Last Sept '09 DW and I took our DD when she was just under 2 years to WDW. We decided to rent a car that trip, and we loved it.

The car ride between parks and hotel (Boardwalk) were quick. We loved not having to wait for a bus. We could leave the hotel/park and go right to the car, toss the stroller in and be on our way.

If you stay at a WDW resort, you get a parking pass for the length of the stay, so parking at the parks is free.

We're heading back in November and renting a car again ($150 for a week from Enterprise). Don't think I'd go again without renting one. We find having one to simply be more convenient than Disney's Transportation.

 

[bamillerpa]

We always drive to the parks rather than use Disney buses. I find it much easier. No fighting for seats, no waiting for buses (especially if it's raining and there's a mad rush for them), no massive strollers, and no grumpy people and long crowded rides back to the resorts. We simply either walk or take the tram back to the car and the kids are seated comfortably and more safely. It's a better ride than the buses any day.

One exception:We stay at the Poly and will use the monorail to the MK and we walk to the TTC to catch the Epcot monorail. We drive to the other two parks, water parks, and DTD.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

With 4 small kids, I think driving to all parks EXCEPT Magic Kingdom will be in your best interest. The MK buses drop you right off at the front gate of the park and there is no need to take the monorail or ferry boat. The other 3 parks will be more convenient with the car.

 

[trr1]

Hi,

We were thinking about renting a car to go in and out of the parks because we have 4 small children. We have rode the free bus transportation they provide to guest that stay at the resorts. We found that the end of the day ride back to the resort is pretty hectic, the kids are usually tired and sleepy and sometimes there aren't enough seats for us to sit.

We would like to know of anyone's experience when it comes to renting a car. Was it better to rent than to ride the buses? How was the experience for each park.

what are their ages if I may ask?

 

[d'Isigny]

On our last trip we rented a car for the first time because we were driving from Boca instead of flying from NY. Kids were 7 and 9. We will never go back without renting a car. It was so convenient to be able to come and go at our leisure. Since we were staying on property, there were no parking fees. The directional signs were pretty easy to follow. The only park at which it might have been marginally more convenient to take the Disney buses was MK because we had to park at the TTC and take the monorail, but even that was no big deal. We're flying back to Disney in March 2011 and we're definitely getting a rental car. You can get some amazing deals by using the discount codes on mousesavers.com. We got a particularly great deal last time through Costco. With 4 small children (and perhaps strollers?), I would absolutely consider a rental car. :wave:

No parking fees sounds great, we will be bringing our own double stroller to the parks. Thanks for the tips and suggestions, renting a car sounds like the best option.

 

[d'Isigny]

I would like to thank everyone for the feedback! We plan on doing a 14 day trip next year, our children will be ages 9, 6, 3, and 1. From what I see renting seems like the best option for us..

Thanks!

 

[CamiLyn227]

We used to rent a car until we discovered how great Magical Express is. We love letting the Disney buses, monorails, and boats drive us around. We love not having to deal with luggage too! We do not have any children though. Also, we like to go back to our hotel in the afternoon to take a nap and go swimming and in our opinion it is much easier and faster to take a bus/boat/monorail back to the hotel than to drive and then have to repark when we return. Although I supose if you drove and you knew you were returning to the same park later that evening you could take Disney transportation back in the afternoon while leaving the car in the lot at the park. My opinion could be much different if we traveled with children.

 

[trr1]

if you do rent a vehicle get a van otherwise the tired kids might fight

 

[Firepath]

On the same topic, has anyone ever left the world with the rental car? I rented a car for our trip next January just to go get some groceries and supplies, and perhaps a meal out of the world. We'll take Magical Express to (and from) POR, then pick up the car at Dolphin when we arrive
DH thinks we should only keep it for a day, and use Disney transportation. I tentatively booked it for the whole week ($199) and think we should keep it. DH says it will be too difficult to find our way around. I was there twice last year (without a car) and the signs seemed pretty easy to follow. Also, since we are going just after Christmas, I'd like to check out the decorations at the other resorts. DH will golf one day and if it is warm, we'll go to a water park. A waiting car after a late night at a park just sounds very good to me. We have two kids, 11 and 13, so walking and late nights are not a problem for us. What do you all think?

 

[disney4life2008]

If you have the extra money, rent a car. You do not even need it the entire time, there are multiple agencies on property where you can rent for a day(s).

Driving around WDW is easy, follow the purple signs:king:. As for once you step out of Disney, there are 2 main tourist traps. International Drive (Universal, Sea World and tons of shopping and dining) with the other being Irlo Bronson I-92 highway (cheaper end motels and cheaper dining and shopping). Walmarts are of plenty on both roads

 

[SAV]

On the same topic, has anyone ever left the world with the rental car? I rented a car for our trip next January just to go get some groceries and supplies, and perhaps a meal out of the world. We'll take Magical Express to (and from) POR, then pick up the car at Dolphin when we arrive
DH thinks we should only keep it for a day, and use Disney transportation. I tentatively booked it for the whole week ($199) and think we should keep it. DH says it will be too difficult to find our way around. I was there twice last year (without a car) and the signs seemed pretty easy to follow. Also, since we are going just after Christmas, I'd like to check out the decorations at the other resorts. DH will golf one day and if it is warm, we'll go to a water park. A waiting car after a late night at a park just sounds very good to me. We have two kids, 11 and 13, so walking and late nights are not a problem for us. What do you all think?

We always get a rental at the airport. We always stop at Target in the Florida Mall on the way to WDW to pick up snacks/water/supplies so we don't have to bring it on the plane. No problem. Just bring your GPS and you will be more than fine. I actually used Mapquest to find the addresses of the Targets, Wal-marts, Walgreens in the area and programmed them into the GPS(the find feature isn't always the best). As well as the resorts. Then if I needed anything, just hit the pre-set and go. Just this past June, I needed to make a quick Wal-mart run in the middle of the trip. Easy. Well worth the money in our book.

I like having our car there and not having to rely on Disney transportation and hoping you get on the next bus...because face it, when you are done and want to go home, the last thing to be doing is waiting in another line.