[Pooh Fan]

I will be going to Disney World at Christmas time and am trying to decide if we should rent a car or not. In all of our past trips, we have always rented a car and driven to wherever we want to go even though we stayed on site. My DH does not like to wait in line. Unfortunately we have never used Disney transportation except for the monorail between Magic Kingdom and Epcot and MK and the Contemporary Resort. Since there will be crowds when we are there, what would be best: Rent a car and drive like we always do or use Disney Transportation. We do not plan on going offsite while there. Thanks for your help!

[MerlinMatt]

Personally, I love not having to drive when I'm down there. I hate lines too, but I also like to enjoy myself. I'm not a heavy drinker, so it only takes a couple of drinks before I really shouldn't be driving. I try to find ways to avoid waiting in bus lines, but WDW is surprisingly effective at keeping things moving.

Where will you be staying? If you're staying at either one of the MK resorts or one of the Epcot resorts, then you'll really only have to wait for buses at AK.

I say don't drive. But if that's what you're used to, then maybe you should...

[EmpressJenny]

I don't think you should rent a car. Disney transportation is excellent. Although I'm driving down, I don't plan on moving my car once I pull into the Poly until it's time to go home.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by EmpressJenny

I don't think you should rent a car. Disney transportation is excellent. Although I'm driving down, I don't plan on moving my car once I pull into the Poly until it's time to go home.

Jenny??? I thought you were flying? What happened?

[Pooh Fan]

We will be staying at the All Star Movies since my DS really loves Buzz Lightyear.

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by Pooh Fan

We will be staying at the All Star Movies since my DS really loves Buzz Lightyear.

If lines really annoy DH, then perhaps having a car available is a good idea.

[CaraMia]

Once we tried the disney transportation we never went back to driving around in our car. We drive to Orlando and once we get there we do not see the car until it is time to pack the car to leave. Although there was an exception...last trip we decided to hit MK once more on a sunday morning before hitting the road. For whatever reason we decided to drive and it was a good thing we did. After only 2 hours my 2 year old got so bad that we had to leave RIGHT THEN. We left the park, got in the car, got on the road and headed straight for home. I could not have imagined getting on a bus with him in the state he was in at the time.

[acarballo]

I always prefer to rent a car, I am one of those who get's kind of desperate waiting in line! Plus, I don't mind doing the driving!

Also, we like to go to International Drive every now and then or even do a little bit of shopping, thus the car is very useful.

Ciao,
Alfredo

[mickaholic4077]

I have driven my way around WDW and used the bus transportation and both have been good. If you have a PS in a resort,I suggest you drive there rather than take a bus from your resort to Downtown Disney and then to the next resort,but otherwise you can rely on Disney transportation.

[ilvminnie]

There are folks here at DC on both sides of the fence on this one, but personally, Rafikiman & I never get a car. We have a towncar (Quicksilver in Dec...HI Gregory!!!) pick us up at the airport & take us to our resort. Then we use Disney transportation until it's time for the towncar to pick us up to go back to the airport. We have discovered that as soon as we drive somewhere, the "real world" creeps back in. Driving is something we do in our real life, not at WDW.

[disneymaverick]

we always like to rent a car helps with the inpatient DH and plus if we want a cheap dinner of site or go to grocery store we are all set
and we always make a day trip to universal so that helps
especially if you have kids and they heaven forbid get sick you can take them right back to the hotel
just my opinion
have fun!!!

[jbtoursejg]

We usually drive down but even when we fly we always have a car. The cost of a midsized car for a week rental is about the cost of the car service to and from the airport. In other words, for the same money as just getting a ride to and from the airport you could have the ride and the car for the whole week!!! Even if you never use it to go shopping, to I-drive, out to eat, go cart riding on 192, etc etc etc. Get the picture? It works for us- but to each his own!

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by jbtoursejg

The cost of a midsized car for a week rental is about the cost of the car service to and from the airport.

A mid-size car for $110 for a week? (Quicksilver, $90 R/T + $20 tip) Who are you renting from? Joe's rent-a wreck? Don't forget to add in the cost of a tank of gas.

I suppose you can get good deals from reputable agencies as well, but let's not forget timing and convenience as well.

My last trip, we got off the plane and were in the Towncar in less than 10 minutes. (no checked bags) We were at the hotel checking in within 45 minutes. We were at Epcot in slightly less than 90 minutes after getting off the plane.

You'd have to be superman to do that with a rental.

By using Disney transport, I can sleep on the bus. I never have to get into a hot car. I never have to worry about remembering where I parked. I don't have to coordinate parking if I'm visiting two parks in a day. As mentioned, I can be in a park almost as soon as I leave the airport. On the return trip, I don't have to worry about leaving enough time to find and stop at a gas station, dropping the car, getting a bus back to the terminal, etc.

To me, using Disney transport is a no-brainer, unless you're planning on leaving Disney property during the trip.

[EmpressJenny]

Matt I fear change. I miss your avatar.

[cindy1970]

yeah jenny i thought you were flying. you are driving now?

we always rent a car because it is so cheap and we like to eat sometimes outside of the parks and drive to the parks. everytime we decide we are going to do the bus thing we look at each other and say why do we torture ourselves? lol we take the boat to mk from our resort and then hop over to epcot but sometimes we drive. i like having the option. plus we like to go over to boardwalk a lot and dtd.