Staying off disney question

DO you think it is necessary to rent a car if you are staying off disney. The hotel provides a shuttle. To rent a mini van for the week is about $800...

Did anyone do this and not rent a car? How did it go? I figure if we eat back at the hotel we can just order in?

Staying off disney question

It depends on how frequently there are shuttles and what you want to do. I usually rent a car because the place where we are staying doesn't have a great shuttle schedule and I like the freedom.

I found a decent deal through Dollar on a minivan for when we're going next month - it's less than $400 I believe...

Re: Staying off disney question

If you have kids definitely rent a car and do not rely on hotel shuttles! There are a ton of rental car companies right in the orlando airport - budget and dollar usually have good prices!

Staying off disney question

Yes its a must. Keep checking rates, its a game with them. They go down all the time. I have good luck with Alamo. Signup for insiders and check mousesavers for coupon codes.

Re: Staying off disney question

100% yes. When Mousesavers, unofficial guide, etc all say they recommend renting because the off site shuttles are known for being unreliable and running much less frequently than the disney shuttles. While some people will say it helps to have one on property - it really isn't really necessary because disney runs buses frequently so some resorts it is more helpful to have one than others- but apparently the off site ones are run much less often. From reviews I have read people have said they are often smaller and once full you have to wait for the next scheduled one - they aren't like disney where they run more buses if they are full. So you could get to the stop and the bus might be full then you will have to wait an hour for the next one. So you can do it but most sites and guide books don't recommend it.

Etd to add a car shouldn't cost you $800. Check mousesavers.com she tells you how to mix and match codes to get the best deal. A minivan way out might be $800-1000 but if you check closer out - you will often find $250-under 500. I have found with codes and deals I get the best rates from national and alamo. But you have to really play around. If you go to disboards and look under transportation they often post rates that they have gotten, dates and companies so you can get an idea

Message edited 8/9/2012 7:06:19 PM.

Re: Staying off disney question

I would rent a car.

I stayed off property with five of my friends right after hs graduation so we were too young (and poor!) to rent a car, and the transportation situation was hell in a handbasket. The buses barely ran every hour if we were lucky....and that was it...just one bus. If it was full, it was full.

Message edited 8/9/2012 7:29:04 PM.