Rent car or use buses? First time flying! Help! - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I know everyone says go for the busses but I have to be different, I say rent the car if it's in the budget. IMO if you are use to driving yourself everywhere at Disney, the bus system is an inconvenience if you have to use it. Using the busses, it's recommended you alot an hour to get wherever it is you're going to (figuring possibly 20 minutes waiting time, then the time on the bus). Being at Disney, I don't spend my money to wait for and ride the busses - I go for the "real" rides in the parks. And depending upon where you go, there may not be a bus from here to there (like if you wanted to go from a value resort to a deluxe resort for a meal) which would require transfers to either another bus, a monorail, etc (possibly more time too). It's just far quicker and easier to use a car IMO, especially if you're already use to driving around the property.
I would take advantahe of the free DME from the airport. Buses run frequently every 10-20minutes. Should the Bus be crowded I have always seen people give up there seats to pregnant women-those with small children,etc[I always give up my seat].
Understand if you rent a car-you still need to park-drive-wait for tram to take you to Parks,etc.
Sometimes we've had a rental car while at WDW but we park it at the hotel and it sits there till we leave.
My husband says part of the "vacation-ness" of WDW for him is that he doesn't have to navigate, drive or think.
We drove our first trip and have used the buses every time since. WDW transportation works well and we like it. I hate fighting the crowds to get into and out of the parking lots and then fighting them again to get a tram to the gate. My biggest complaint is the ME picks us up 3 hours early to get to the airport. We always arrive way too soon before our flight and sit for a couple hours before boarding the plane.
Even when I have a car I usually only use it go to Downtown Disney, a water park, and my last day so I don't have to be back at the resort 3 hours before my flight.
When we went in September 2011, the girls were 3.5 and 2 (celebrating her bday at Disney, in fact!) Part of the appeal of the entire trip was relying on Disney transportation from the moment we touched down in Orlando until we left 9 days later. Being military and having flown lots of places and dragged carseats literally all over the world, it was so nice to not have to keep up with carseats. And I just have 2! I can't imagine trying to juggle a third one. Others have already mentioned it, but for the few times that I would get on the bus and it be standing room only, one look at the 2 year old and there would be at least one or two kind individuals who would insist I take their seat so that we could sit. I was just emailing a friend last night about this very issue, saying that a 10 minute wait was probably the average for a bus (we stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter) and the longest we ever had to wait was 25 mins and that was midday leaving Animal Kingdom. There might be the one or two occasion where it would be more convenient to have a car -- dining at a resort, for example -- but, to me, it was just nice not having to navigate the huge property, trying to figure out how to get to what park, remembering where you parked, etc. You also mentioned the downside of not being able to drive somewhere to get snacks, diapers, etc. Garden Grocer is the way to go! Garden Grocer Even if you had a car, you would have to take time out of your vacation to drive over to Wal-Mart or wherever, find your items in an unfamiliar store, get it all back to the room, etc. For a small fee, you can shop before you even leave the house and select a time that would be convenient for them to deliver. You could even have it delivered about the time you are scheduled to arrive with instructions for Bell Services to hold it if you aren't there when they come by. DH thought this was one of the best ideas ever! So, yeah, I say use the Disney transportation, leave the carseats at home, and save yourself the rental cost.
. You also mentioned the downside of not being able to drive somewhere to get snacks, diapers, etc. Garden Grocer is the way to go! Garden Grocer Even if you had a car, you would have to take time out of your vacation to drive over to Wal-Mart or wherever, find your items in an unfamiliar store, get it all back to the room, etc. For a small fee, you can shop before you even leave the house and select a time that would be convenient for them to deliver. You could even have it delivered about the time you are scheduled to arrive with instructions for Bell Services to hold it if you aren't there when they come by. DH thought this was one of the best ideas ever! So, yeah, I say use the Disney transportation, leave the carseats at home, and save yourself the rental cost.
we used them on our last trip and they were FANTASTIC!!!!! One of the reasons we realized that we probably could do the trip without car.
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
We have done both and enjoy having a car for the convienence. The busses were sometimes crowded, or we would have to wait a while for it to come, or when crowded, one would fill up and we would have to wait for another one. We took the busses when our kids were young and although they never had a meltdown on the bus, after a long day, a crowded bus was a bit overwhelming. (We have always gone during value season, when crowds are suppose to be low.)
If you do rent a car, check out priceline. I just got that tip from someone a week or so ago and got a great deal. If you decide to rent a car, I would also suggest booking your trip through AAA. The ONLY reason I book through AAA is because as a AAA member, you get preferred parking at the parks. We usually are able to park in one of the first 2 rows of the park parking lots and it is a VERY short walk to the park entrances (expect for MK of course).
Actually, there are a lot of other perks through AAA too (free admittance in to Disney Quest for one!). So, you may want to check them out!
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We have went back and forth on this many times. We always end up renting. Here is any idea: Cost I have usually found something reasonable before we leave, if not there is always priceline (not my favorite but works). As far as car seats. You can do either gate check or check them with bags. One way has less hassle. We tend to bring the site and stand stroller then, put the suitcase and car seats on this. Only time a true hassle is during security. If you check in with baggage. put a plastic cover around them. I can't tell you how many wet/damp car seats you see. Or the other option. Rent a car. Have one of you take the kids on magical express. (let them handle dropping off the car seats) The one renting the car/van can check you in. By that time you will be getting very close with magical express. Yes, it will take awhile to get your car seats. But you can take this time, for pool. Or take the bus for a ride X1. Hope this helps.
I'm a bus person myself, though we've driven on a fair number of occasions. I'm not convinced that getting three kids on and off a parking lot tram and loaded into a car takes less time or bother than taking a bus that's available right by the park entrance, even with the waits. And at park closing times, when the buses are most likely to be standing room-only? There's also a traffic jam getting out of the parking lots. In the end, there have been times when I've been glad I had the car (especially when traveling from resort-to-resort), but most times I prefer the bus.
In your case, between transporting the car seats, the time spent getting the rental car (vs using DME), and the cost... My instinct is to say, "Try the bus, save the money. If it ends up not working for your family, there's always next time."
And if you choose to rent? I suggest you check the car seats at main check-in, as checked luggage (car seats are always checked for free). Generally, the seats are put into plastic tubs before they go on the conveyor, and they're not likely to be tossed around by the baggage handlers simply because they're light objects. I often watch them loading baggage onto the plane. Since the luggage carts are parked close to the conveyors (they don't want to carry heavier bags that far), everything seems to get the same treatment. Compared to what you'd have to go through by carrying them through security and around the airport? I do suggest that you find yourselves one or more large, cheap duffel bags (or similar) - that will at least keep them cleaner, and prevent the odd strap from catching on something during baggage handling.
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We always rent a car. We usually stay at an Epcot resort, and the busservice there is positively atrocious. Also, we like the flexibility and we also eat in other resort restarurants
I would definitely recommend renting a car, particularly with young children in tow. It can be very stressful with standing- room- only buses and other transportation challenges .
Ever since we started renting a car (which we didn't always do - we went on plenty of WDW trips and relied on Disney transport, with varying success), we decided we would always do this. The freedom and comfort is well worth it, IMO
Have done this both ways. My thought would be to try the buses. Most of the time when the buses are crowded, some one will offer you a seat. I have stood on buses so moms with little ones could sit, and have made DH and DS do the same. We have taken several trips with a rental car that sat in the parking lot. There is also a great freedom that comes from parking the car at the airport and not driving again until you get back.
Mixed feelings on this one. We do like DME and the resort buses, but have found the rental car convenient when going between resorts. While most of the time people are courteous on the bus, when our daughter was younger, there was a bus ride when no one offered a seat. Hanging on to the handle and a toddler simultaneously was a challenge. Perhaps timing the arrival and departure from the parks at less busy hours would work.
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Hudson River view from promenade at Liberty State Park in NJ - Disney Magic in Hudson River, passing the new One World Trade Center
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SOOO...after going back and forth and back and forth trying to figure out what to do, I decided this morning to go ahead a rent a car. It seems more people recommend the buses--and as much as I wanted to go with that--I felt stressed about not having our own car. Weird, I know. We like to drive, and I like the idea of having our own space, the ability to go off property, etc. The toughest part will be lugging the car seats through the airport, but that was worth it to me.
I found a great rental rate this morning (rentalcarmomma)...the price was so good I had to do some research to make sure the company was legit!
Thank you all SOOO much for your input. In the end I had to just listen to my gut and go with the car. Next trip--when my baby isn't a baby anymore--we will do the buses!!
SOOO...after going back and forth and back and forth trying to figure out what to do, I decided this morning to go ahead a rent a car. It seems more people recommend the buses--and as much as I wanted to go with that--I felt stressed about not having our own car. Weird, I know. We like to drive, and I like the idea of having our own space, the ability to go off property, etc. The toughest part will be lugging the car seats through the airport, but that was worth it to me.
I found a great rental rate this morning (rentalcarmomma)...the price was so good I had to do some research to make sure the company was legit!
Thank you all SOOO much for your input. In the end I had to just listen to my gut and go with the car. Next trip--when my baby isn't a baby anymore--we will do the buses!!
That's just it - gotta go with the gut!! It is a hard choice - and after seeing this thread, realize how it really is split right down the middle - and both side definitely have their pros/cons.
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Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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we used them on our last trip and they were FANTASTIC!!!!! One of the reasons we realized that we probably could do the trip without car.
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Hudson River view from promenade at Liberty State Park in NJ - Disney Magic in Hudson River, passing the new One World Trade Center
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