[skwak]

OK, I need many opinions here. We are flying in late on a Friday night (10:00 arrival). Normally we rent a car, get a cheap room for the 7 hours and then really start our vacation early the next morning.

This year it is 6 of us including my 2 year old (His 1st trip. ). Do we:

Rent a minivan for 10 days ($500ish) and follow the same plan?

Get two hotel rooms at the airport and then use a car service in the morning??

Take a van taxi that night to a cheap hotel and then set up a car for the next morning???

I am so confused.

I want it to be kind of easy with my young son but I do not want to spend a fortune??

Any ideas?????

[MerlinMatt]

Need more info:

1. Are you planning on leaving WDW property when you're there?
2. What is the goal of the vacation? (maximum enjoyment, maximum adventure, maximum relaxation, etc.)


I'd lean towards the airport rooms and the car service and then rely on WDW tranport all week.

[skwak]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the help.

We are not really planning on leaving WDW (like to go to Universal or Seaworld). We usually get a car for a few reasons.

One is that we like to try and go to some of the hotels to eat and the double bus trip (my hotel to Downtown Disney to that hotel and back) is really a pain.

The other is so that we can buzz out for groceries, etc.

This is our one big family trip a year (this year a full 10 days of fun). I'd like it to be enjoyable as possible without breaking the bank on transportation.

Thanks

[DisneyTeacher]

I would vote for a cheap hotel and a rental van. We usually start our trip off with an off site hotel if we arrive late in the day. Usually we don't get to Orlando before 8 pm if we drive so I hate to pay WDW resort prices to sleep for 8 hours. We usually don't drive our car once we get on property so I wouldn't get the van but if you don't want to mess with the longer bus rides then you will need it.

[MerlinMatt]

How about if you rent the van for a few days in the middle of the trip? That way you won't have to pay for the whole week.

[BDavis932]

I would do this. Book one night at All Stars or Pop Century. After you arrive, take a towncar with a 30 minute free stop at a grocery store. On that stop, buy 2 styrofoam coolers and some dry cereal and other staples (nothing that needs refridgerated).

Stay that one night at AS's or PC and then have bell services move your luggage (including the coolers and groceries) to your new resort (they do this for FREE!!!). The next morning, head out to the parks that and when you return to your new room that night, all your luggage will be there! Then you can buy a gallon of milk and other things you want to keep cold at the resort general store (it's a little more expensive than at a GRO store, but not too much more) and you are set for the week, with no rental car needed and you have your snacks and breakfasts in your room!!!!

[tinkerbell]

I agree with Bdavis , it sounds like the best way to me :)

[cindy1970]

i would say go with the cheap rooms and get the van. did you try l & m? they are usually 260.00 a week including tax

[disneyguy]

I like BDavis' idea! I would also recomend the airport hotel, it is wonderful!

[hiner]

Rent the mini van so you can save time at the parks and hotel restaurants. This will save you so much time than using the WDW transportation. We rent just for that reason. We leave when we want to leave, go when we want to go. We still use WDW transportation here and there, but mostly the rental car.

[queensmama]

I say rent the van! Check out mousesavers for rental codes. I got a great deal from thrifty for 8 days (218) use the code 9711 for 10% off. You may get a cheaper rate if you rent the van for two weeks, though only keep it for the 10. Just input 14 days and see if it is cheaper than 10. I am traveling with a 2 year old and I also dont want to waste time on the transportation. When we want to leave we will be gone.

[ilvminnie]

I like BDavis's idea as well. Even if you are paying a little more for a gallon of milk or whatever at the resort, it's not as much as paying for a rental car. We never have a car...we always stay on property & try to organize our dinners, etc so we're not hopping from one bus to another. To us, & I've said this many times before, having to drive takes away from the magic. Driving is a "real world" activity & we try to avoid as many of them as we can when we're in WDW.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by ilvminnie

To us, & I've said this many times before, having to drive takes away from the magic. Driving is a "real world" activity & we try to avoid as many of them as we can when we're in WDW.

I am so glad someone else feels the same way I do. We never drive once we arrive at our resort. We have had such good luck with WDW transportation over the years. There have been a few isolated incidents where we have waited for more than 20 minutes for a bus. However, most of our waits are under 15 minutes and we don't have to take the time to park, get on a tram to get to the gate or worse yet, get in line to ride the ferry or monorail to get to the gate.

We always park our car the day we arrive and don't see it again until we are ready to go home. Even if we are dining at another resort, it seems to be no problem getting there.

[inluvwithdisney]

I agree if you do NOT need a car do not get one BUT>>>> We were gonna do the shuttle last trip and the only catch is it only leaves the resorts 2 times a day and if your flight isn't until later you may be spending a lot of time at the airport!!! Just make sure you check into this first!!!

It may be different with towncar or quicksilver but I am not sure!!!

[ilvminnie]

Originally Posted by inluvwithdisney

We were gonna do the shuttle last trip and the only catch is it only leaves the resorts 2 times a day and if your flight isn't until later you may be spending a lot of time at the airport!!! Just make sure you check into this first!!!

It may be different with towncar or quicksilver but I am not sure!!!

With a towncar service you let them know what time you want to be picked up & they're there at that time. MUCH better than a shuttle.