To rent or just use the bus

[Coreyjohnson2007]

Ok so we're staying at AofA in a 2 joined LM room (my wife and I and my parents). Im back and forth on a rental car. Everyone can walk just fine and we have a stroller for the 3yr old. I found a suv for $160 for the week. I see the benefits of less walking all the way to the bus stop at aofa as well as not having to wait for the bus. I also like the convience of going to the grocery if I want and not having to wait for Magic Express bus. However, some have said (for example) at MK you still have to monorail to the parking lot then shuttle to the car so maybe not a huge savings there. Just courious if you guys and gals think a rental car is really necessary or worth it for $160 for 6 days.

 

[KrazeeK120]

A couple of things...

-You don't know that you'll have connecting rooms. You'll find out whether or not your rooms are connected when you check in. Connecting rooms are not guaranteed.

-Now for the main part of your post. Is a rental car necessary? No. Is it worth it? In my opinion, yes. I never go to Disney without a car. I even drive to MK. Taking the bus there can be faster, but sometimes it isn't. I don't think there's a huge disparity in time. Driving to the other 3 parks is a no-brainer. And, as you mentioned, you will be quite far from the bus stop. If you'd prefer a shorter walk to transportation, renting the car is the way to go. Also as you mentioned, you won't have to wait on DME at the airport and you'll have the freedom to get groceries or other food off-site.

This topic has been debated ad nauseum on the boards and you will find many people who agree with me and many who are the complete opposite. It really comes down to personal preference. Keep in mind you'll need to bring your child's car seat along if you rent a car (I'm not sure if you'll already be using it on the flight...I'm not sure at what age a child must be seated in a regular seat...my kid is young enough that if I flew with him, I know I'd be bringing the car seat for him to sit in). But just something to think about.

 

[porschegrl]

This topic has been debated ad nauseum on the boards and you will find many people who agree with me and many who are the complete opposite. It really comes down to personal preference.

I agree. In fact, it looks like the OP posted a poll about this same topic about a month ago, and when I looked, it was 19 votes in favor of renting a car and 17 in favor of using the buses. Pretty even split.

 

[buzznina]

$160 is a great rate and since you do not go regularly, it would probably we a good choice to do for you.
For us we are the complete opposite of KrakeeK120 We have driven to WDW for over 30 trips and started off always driving to the parks. On one of our trips, we actually did both I drove, while DW and DD took the bus We learned that time difference and walking distance was negligible and did not add up to any big difference. Add in the fact that I had to deal with tourist not knowing where their going, using gas, entering a very hot van compared to a cooled bus, DD(s) rather ride the bus then be strapped into their car seats (no longer an issue) but they still love taking WDW transportation over driving. Needless to say, we now only use our vehicle to go to other resorts. Yes there have been a few times that buses were late, but with all the bus trips we took, it really is a small %. So as you can see 6 one way, half a dozen the other

 

[maxiesmom]

The one time I rented a car it sat at the hotel. It was a huge waste of money.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I prefer to be in control of getting to and from a park therefore we always rent a car. On your MK day just take the bus but the other parks driving is easier. If you want to go off property to eat and save some money you have the ability too. Or if you need to get something from the store you can.

 

[bumbershoot]

$160 for an SUV is a good rate. We drive. Even to MK. Because even though getting to MK in the morning on the bus is generally fairly OK, going home I just want to be on the move, not standing in line after walking from the exit to the second furthest away bus stop (as seems to always be the case no matter where we stay).

If you rent a car and then it sits, then that's poor planning. You need to plan to use the car. We go to the store, we go to Sweet Tomatoes, we drive to all parks (now if we were staying at Bay Lake we'd walk to MK, we wouldn't drive LOL..."all" doesn't mean "on all trips to all parks", necessarily...but we haven't yet stayed at BL *and* gone to MK yet), etc etc. We get it because we use it.

 

[loves to dive]

I drive down, park my car and never get in it again. I just like not having to deal with driving, especially if I want to have an adult beverage or two. I've been going since my son was almost 3, always driving and always using Disney's transportation. No problems with him walking to the bus stop or back to the room even after a day in the park and no stroller.

 

[scrapquitler]

Ok so we're staying at AofA in a 2 joined LM room (my wife and I and my parents). Im back and forth on a rental car. Everyone can walk just fine and we have a stroller for the 3yr old. I found a suv for $160 for the week. I see the benefits of less walking all the way to the bus stop at aofa as well as not having to wait for the bus. I also like the convience of going to the grocery if I want and not having to wait for Magic Express bus. However, some have said (for example) at MK you still have to monorail to the parking lot then shuttle to the car so maybe not a huge savings there. Just courious if you guys and gals think a rental car is really necessary or worth it for $160 for 6 days.

If you drive, you have to take time to wait in line for the rental car, and you have to wait for your bags at the carousel. The saved time might be a wash.

At AOA you may save walking to the bus stop from your room, but you'll have to walk from the room to the parking lot. Again, it might be a time savings, it might not be, depending on where you park and where your room is located.

Yes, for MK you have to park at the TTC, and then either walk or take a parking lot tram to the monorail or ferry to enter the park. The bus drops you off right a the park entrance. Again, you might be better off on the bus.

The one place where having the rental car is definitely a plus is if you want to hit a grocery store or go to a restaurant off of Disney property.

It comes down to a matter of personal preference. I hate driving around Disney, the traffic is pretty crazy, so avoiding it is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[leebee]

We always rent a car if at all humanly possible. The directional signs on Disney property are good, and the traffic is not bad at all (except going to Disney Springs). We consider the ferry or monorail part of the fun; where ELSE do you get to ride a monorail?? We find it so much better to take the tram to the parking lot and drive home after a long day in the parks- no standing in line for the bus, no standing ON the bus (packed in like sardines, juggling a folded stroller and sleeping child, etc), being able to relax in a/c comfort on the way back to the resort. It also saves a ton of time if you are park hopping or dining at a resort hotel, and there is the flexibility of going offsite for groceries, meals, etc. Every time we go to WDW without renting a car, I am kicking myself by the second day.

 

[rwdavis2]

For $160 I would rent. Look below at my signature and for all the visits we have ridden a Disney bus 1 time. Never regretted it yet. I'm guessing we may try an MK bus staying at BWV this trip.

 

[leebee]

For $160 I would rent. Look below at my signature and for all the visits we have ridden a Disney bus 1 time. Never regretted it yet. I'm guessing we may try an MK bus staying at BWV this trip.

But then you won't get to ride the monorail- which is part of the fun!! Where ELSE can you ride a monorail, right??

 

[AngiTN]

We always rent a car if at all humanly possible. The directional signs on Disney property are good, and the traffic is not bad at all (except going to Disney Springs). We consider the ferry or monorail part of the fun; where ELSE do you get to ride a monorail?? We find it so much better to take the tram to the parking lot and drive home after a long day in the parks- no standing in line for the bus, no standing ON the bus (packed in like sardines, juggling a folded stroller and sleeping child, etc), being able to relax in a/c comfort on the way back to the resort. It also saves a ton of time if you are park hopping or dining at a resort hotel, and there is the flexibility of going offsite for groceries, meals, etc. Every time we go to WDW without renting a car, I am kicking myself by the second day.

This is where I get lost on how driving beats out the buses.
You have to stand in line for a bus.
You have to stand in line for a tram
You have to fold a stroller for a bus
You have to fold a stroller for a tram
You have A/C on a bus as soon as you get on
You do not have A/C in a car as soon as you get in
The one thing you don't have to do if you drive is stand up getting back.

 

[akl432]

This is where I get lost on how driving beats out the buses.
You have to stand in line for a bus.
You have to stand in line for a tram
You have to fold a stroller for a bus
You have to fold a stroller for a tram
You have A/C on a bus as soon as you get on
You do not have A/C in a car as soon as you get in
The one thing you don't have to do if you drive is stand up getting back.

This is the huge difference for us, and it is the reason that we always rent a car.

 

[KrazeeK120]

This is where I get lost on how driving beats out the buses.
You have to stand in line for a bus.
You have to stand in line for a tram
You have to fold a stroller for a bus
You have to fold a stroller for a tram
You have A/C on a bus as soon as you get on
You do not have A/C in a car as soon as you get in
The one thing you don't have to do if you drive is stand up getting back.

If you get to the park early enough, you don't have to take the tram at all.

In my experience, the wait for the tram (the times we've taken it) is generally shorter than the wait for a bus. I've never "waited in line" for a tram...if I'm at the tram stop when it pulls up, I have always gotten on it.

Most cars these days cool down in a matter of minutes. I'll take sitting in heat for 2-3 minutes over not having a seat at all.

I'm famous among my friends for having serious personal space issues. I don't like anyone (even my husband) to be too close to me most of the time. Standing on a bus for 15-20 minutes packed in like a sardine with people I don't even know gives me mild anxiety.

 

[sharadoc]

Driving for us too, although we may consider a bus to MK depending on when we go. At the end of the night, having to stand in a bus line for one or sometimes two buses to load while we stand there and watch is worse to me than the ferry, tram and car.

The biggest advantage is driving to resorts and mini golf. We eat at resort restaurants more than park ones because we know we can get there easily.

 

[Bullseye]

We always rent a car and we always drive to every park. People try to make way too much out having to take the tram & Monorail/Ferry to MK. Most of the time it's no inconvenience at all. Try standing at one of those bus stops in a monsoon (like we did at HS) and you'll never want to bus again. People were clamoring to get on the bus like it was the fall of Saigon.

Plus as others have mentioned the car cools down in no time at all. We jump in, roll down all windows, and crank the air and within a couple minutes you're cooled off. Plus we usually have a cooler of ice cold drinks in the trunk. One of my favorite benefits of driving is I can shop for groceries at regular store prices any time I want. Also, we dine off property several times a trip. Lastly, I can wait until the last minute to jump in the car and head to the airport for departure instead of having to wait for DME three hours earlier.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Flying into MCO, taking ME to the resort. I'm doing a 1 day car rental($30) to get groceries, have a meal out, hit the outlets, and get anything needed last minute for the marathon. The car would be parked the rest of the time. Don't forget tolls and fuel cost into the cost of a rental from MCO.

 

[AngiTN]

We always rent a car and we always drive to every park. People try to make way too much out having to take the tram & Monorail/Ferry to MK. Most of the time it's no inconvenience at all. Try standing at one of those bus stops in a monsoon (like we did at HS) and you'll never want to bus again. People were clamoring to get on the bus like it was the fall of Saigon.

Plus as others have mentioned the car cools down in no time at all. We jump in, roll down all windows, and crank the air and within a couple minutes you're cooled off. Plus we usually have a cooler of ice cold drinks in the trunk. One of my favorite benefits of driving is I can shop for groceries at regular store prices any time I want. Also, we dine off property several times a trip. Lastly, I can wait until the last minute to jump in the car and head to the airport for departure instead of having to wait for DME three hours earlier.

It's interesting what gets on different folks nerves.
We hate the tram. I love the bus. I'd take waiting on a bus over dealing with a tram every time. Can't explain why exactly it is the tram annoys me but it does. Maybe it's I never remember where I park (nor do I remember to use the app for help with such things, oh the misfortunes of old age)
Plus, we drink. Can't do that and drive. That alone is why we will not drive to Disney parks

ETA - I'm not sure riding on the tram in a monsoon, or walking to the car if you are close enough, is a big improvement over waiting on a bus

 

[HeatherL1985]

So funny! I hate the tram, too...and I can't explain quite why!