We will be in Orlando in May for 8 days. We are staying off site at a timeshare. I am trying to decide whether or not to rent a car.

Car rental through Hotwire is only 150. The main reasons I want the car are so that we can come and go as we please without having to rely on shuttles and other public transportation and so that we can go to the grocery store and get some things to keep in our room (snacks, laundry detergent, drinks, etc).

The downside to car rental is paying for parking everyday. We are only doing the Disney Parks, but plan to have Park Hopper tickets for the full 7/8 days. Parking will add up to almost another 100.

Which way do you think is more effective and cost efficient? I need some opinions pleeeeaaaaaseeee.....

FWIW I would absolutely get the rental car, it'd be worth the extra $$$ to us. It's something we just budget for. We even get one when we're staying on Disney property so we have the flexibility of getting where we want to be with a lot less hassle at times when the busses are busy. It also avoids the hassle of bus transfers. If you're also thinking about grocery trips (I assume your timeshare has a kitchen) I'd absolutely want a car. I think it'll save you a lot of time and hassle. Are you sure the timeshare has a shuttle that goes to a market?

The shuttles would obviously be more cost effective, but I think it might be pennywise and pound foolish over the length of the trip to rely on them.

See, that I spretty much what I was thinking....convenience. AND, I don't know about a shuttle going to the store, I meant mainly for the parks. Paying for parking everyday is what is killing me, not the cost of the rental car....ugh. But, I guess I will take a few more opinions into consideration and go from there.

Thanks:)

If you are not staying on Disney property, I would absolutely get a rental car. Our next trip will definitely include Universal and Sea World so we will be renting a car.

If you are not staying on Disney property, I would absolutely get a rental car.
I second this. If you were onsite and only doing Disney, I would say to skip the car in most situations.

If you are not staying on Disney property, I would absolutely get a rental car.
Ditto.

And I'm in the group that doesn't rent a car if I'm staying on site. Just think of it as getting the car for $250 instead of $150.

Another vote for getting the car. And another great reason for staying on site - free parking. I don't think you'd be happy having to wait for whatever bus service is in your area, and the potential transfers to get where you're going. $250 isn't all that bad for a week's rental, so I'd pay the price. Remember, you only have to pay for parking once each day, and then you can come and go and park hop all you want for that one payment.

You definitely need access to a car if you're staying off-site.

Even if you were staying @ a hotel that had a Disney shuttle I would say consider getting the car. I have heard horror stories of how in-frequent & inconvenient they are.

Once you're on Disney property, you can "hop" using Disney transportation.

I also vote for renting a car. On the last trip, we stayed at the Contemporary, we had our own car, but decided to give the bus a try one day (to the Studios, I believe), and we realized that driving on our own was much more convenient.

Hi

I vote for renting a car too. We always do whether we stay on site at a Disney Resort or off site. We enjoy the flexibility of being able to come and go when we're ready to without having to wait for a monorail/bus/boat.

Another thing to think about...
You mentioned you are going to have 7 or 8 day park hoppers. Look at the cost of one of the adults getting an annual pass. With an annual pass you don't pay for parking (saving $11 or so a day) and you also get discounts at some restaurants, World of Disney, on site room discounts, etc. If you plan another trip within the year, it almost pays for itself. With an Annual Pass you are also able to buy the DDE card if you want which gives you 20% off most sit down restaurants including alcohol.

Enjoy
Noreen

Three items to consider.

Simplest one has to do with parking. Yes, it is $11.00 per day at the parks but you only have to pay once per day if you park hop; just show your dated receipt at the next park.

Some locations offer "free" shuttle service to WDW. I have recently been working on a convention and have been at various hotels. One, off-property but nearby, offers a free shuttle, HOWEVER, departure times are at 8:30, 10:30 and 1:05 to drop people at Epcot and pickup times from Epcot are 6:30, 8:45 and 10:15. If you miss a bus you are out of luck, and the bus may be shared with another hotel. Any more than likely your property does not have a free shuttle.

Until recently taxi fares in the area were expensive. The rates were $2.00 at the drop of the flag for the first 1/4 mile and then 25¢ per 1/8 mile, so $3.50 for the first mile and then $2.00 per mile above that. There is approximately a 20% increase scheduled; I don't have the new rates memorized.

So youo are best off renting a car, and figure on about $88 for parking fees. Or you could invest in one Annual Pass which will save the parking fees and also get some other discounts.

Hi

I vote for renting a car too. We always do whether we stay on site at a Disney Resort or off site. We enjoy the flexibility of being able to come and go when we're ready to without having to wait for a monorail/bus/boat.

Another thing to think about...
You mentioned you are going to have 7 or 8 day park hoppers. Look at the cost of one of the adults getting an annual pass. With an annual pass you don't pay for parking (saving $11 or so a day) and you also get discounts at some restaurants, World of Disney, on site room discounts, etc. If you plan another trip within the year, it almost pays for itself. With an Annual Pass you are also able to buy the DDE card if you want which gives you 20% off most sit down restaurants including alcohol.

Enjoy
Noreen

I'll have to check into that...thanks.

Thanks Cheshire too.

So is there a charge for parking at the park lots if you are staying on property? Can you just show your room key?

So is there a charge for parking at the park lots if you are staying on property? Can you just show your room key?

From what I have heard and read, parking is fre if you are staying at a Disney Resort.

So is there a charge for parking at the park lots if you are staying on property? Can you just show your room key?

You actually get a parking pass for your dash, but if you are staying on site, you don't have to pay to park at the parks!

With putting a quick trip together we will be staying on property, but have decided to rent a moderate or full car rather than a SUV or Mini Van and use the Magical Express to transport most of the luggage, myself or my husband and 1 or both of the kids. Then we have a more economical car to get the parks and offsite as well.