Car hire

[angelprincess]

Hello can someone please give me some advice, I am trying to work out if it would be worth me getting a car, I decided not to get one as we are staying on site (I am not on the disney dining plan) We want to go to seaworld universal and a shopping mall, which I was happy to get taxis to, I have since seen some of the prices of groceries and to eat at disney and thought it would be cheaper to eat and grocery shop off site, So I am trying to work out what would work out cheaper
1) No car, taxis to seaworld, universal, and shopping mall and grocery shop and eat on site OR

2)Pay for a car so no use for taxis,and eat and grocery shop off site

All help would be grateful thankyou :)

[MikeJones]

Car hire for a basic vehicle starts at a very low rate, under £100 for a week. Cabs in Florida are fairly expensive, and, with tips, you'd soon spend more than that in my view. Plus, of course, the car gives you excellent flexibility... I'd do the car!:)

[Redkop]

i'd always have a car even when staying on site, its easier for me to drive myself to the parks as you get free parking, prefer that i dont have to wait for a bus and also i like to eat off site some nights, so again its easier for me to get around :thumbs:

[Mermaid]

I'd prefer to have a car then you don't feel restricted as to where you can eat.

[JasonC]

We have always opted for a car for greater flexibility, I would agree that it could probably be as costly relying on cabs

[ukwdwnut]

car everytime, its totally different from driving here imo, much easier, it doesnt take that long to get used to driving on the wrong side, and the drivers are much more curteous than here ime :)

[val darnell]

I'll give another point of view. Apart from 1 year we have never had a car. We always use the Disney transport for going to the parks,never had too long to wait, takes you almost to the park gates. We have been to Seaworld and Universal and have taken taxis and they weren't very expensive compared to over here. We have walked to Crossroads for other places to eat apart from Disney. You can always get a bus to International Drive if you want to eat along there. There seems to be so many great places to eat in Disney that we enjoy the restaurants there. There is another reason too. I don't drive and my daughter, although being a good driver, has never driven on the 'wrong' side of the road and I want her to be able to relax and enjoy her holiday and not to worry about any driving, there now that's probably the real reason why we don't hire a car (but please don't tell my DD, she'll go mad!!):blush: :blush:

[MikeJones]

I'll give another point of view. Apart from 1 year we have never had a car. We always use the Disney transport for going to the parks,never had too long to wait, takes you almost to the park gates. We have been to Seaworld and Universal and have taken taxis and they weren't very expensive compared to over here. We have walked to Crossroads for other places to eat apart from Disney. You can always get a bus to International Drive if you want to eat along there. There seems to be so many great places to eat in Disney that we enjoy the restaurants there. There is another reason too. I don't drive and my daughter, although being a good driver, has never driven on the 'wrong' side of the road and I want her to be able to relax and enjoy her holiday and not to worry about any driving, there now that's probably the real reason why we don't hire a car (but please don't tell my DD, she'll go mad!!):blush: :blush:

.. it certainly is possible to have a great holiday around WDW/Orlando without a car, and, for some of my friends (including a non-driving, single mum with teenagers) it's the only way they can do it.. but... there's a 'but' .. if you don't have any issues that would diminish your holiday if you had to drive, as val posted for instance, then it's so easy to hire and drive a car there that most of the respondents would wonder why you denied yourself the option.

Mike:)

[angelprincess]

Hello thankyou all so much for your advice I have decided to get a car can I hire one at disney I am staying at pop any idea how much it would cost for two weeks with insurance many thanks to you all :)

[Redkop]

the easiest place to hire a car would be at the airport through dollar, they can be booked here in the UK with full insurance

If you wanted to hire at Disney you would have to go to the Swan and Dolphin resort

[jarretth]

We've done a couple of trips without car and the other with. Both have been fine but here are my thoughts:

If you are primarily going to be staying on WDW property for your stay then a car is not needed as WDW transport is on the whole very good. You can get taxis, shuttles etc to other attractions and so on but if there are more than two of you it starts to build up cost and you are sometimes tied into a timetable or potentially left hunting for a cab. That said, it can also be fun and you get to meet other people - especially when you are in the smal mini-vans that some companies use.

Having a car gives you more independence and allows you to break away from the crowds if you want. It's also handy of you want to go on shopping trips, try somewhere different to eat or even just to travel to parks. Finally, with kids a car is easier as you can leave somewhere when you want and if they are tired, it saves you having to try and carry them off buses etc when they have flaked out from a hectic day of magic:sleep:

[tajainaz]

You also can rent cars on WDW at the Car Care Center (CCC). You'll still need to get from the airport to WDW for either the CCC or S&D option.

I would suggest pricing car rental as follows:

1. At the airport, for the entire two weeks.
2. Transport to WDW with pickup at WDW and return to MCO for the entire two weeks.
3. Transport to WDW and car rental for the second week (picking up on WDW property and returning to MCO).

While you can use DME from the airport, it might be worthwhile to use a towncar service with a grocery stop if you decide on the third option. You would be able to purchase water/snacks at a reasonable price and devote the first week to WDW, then wander farther afield the second week.

Check pricing and availability and make your reservation before you leave home. No unpleasant surprises that way!