Thinking of staying off property when you visit Walt Disney World? The Blogorail is sharing tips and info to get you ready for vacation.
With countless busses, monorails, boats, trams, Segways, and horses, Walt Disney World has an incredible internal transportation system for guests staying on property. (I’m sort of kidding about the Segways and horses. They have them, but I don’t think you’re allowed rolling up to Epcot on horseback.)
But what if you’re not staying on property? Or what if, like us, you just can’t stand to be on someone else’s time table? Never fear, renting a car and getting around the Walt Disney World Resort is easier (and probably cheaper) than you may think!
Why we do it:
1. Time is Money. This is the first reason we have, and if it were the only one, we’d still rent a car. Despite traveling to Disney parks frequently, I will be the first to admit I’m a total grouch when I have to wait on someone else to get me where I want to go. Busses “come frequently” but even still, it is suggested to give yourself an hour trying to get just about anywhere – just in case. That’s an hour I’d like to be doing other things.
2. Kids and kid stuff. We are down to one kid in a stroller, and we told him he has until he’s four to ride in it – yes, even at WDW. To each their own with the whole stroller thing… but even with just one, it’s simply so much easier to throw your stroller (and everything that has found its way into the stroller) into the trunk of a car than to hold everything in your hands while trying to fold and unfold the stroller for the bus, and oh yeah, hold onto the kid(s), too. (Pro tip: If you don’t have a car, please note that the monorail at Walt Disney World and some of the boats will allow you to roll your stroller directly on without folding it. This is invaluable information when you have sleeping kids!)
3. Naps. As mentioned above, sometimes the kids need to sleep – perhaps especially at Walt Disney World, amiright? Even if they don’t, it’s one of our most longstanding bits of advice to head back to your hotel or resort to, at the very least, get a change of scenery mid-day. (If you’re not staying on property, there are still plenty of places you can visit and relax – here are some of our favorites!) If your child is nearing meltdown status, you’ll want to make your getaway as quickly as possible.
4. Fun outside the parks. Whether or not you’re staying on property, it’s worth noting that Walt Disney World is so, so much more than just four parks and a bunch of hotels. With two water parks, multiple golf courses (miniature and that boring kind), Disney Springs, Disney’s Boardwalk, and much more, you should absolutely check out some of the things outside the parks. While there is generally transportation available to these locations one way or another, sometimes because they aren’t as high-traffic, the bus routes are combined and/or make multiple stops along the way.
5. Hotels. No matter what you call your home away from home on your Disney vacation, the restaurants, tours, decor (especially at Christmas!), and entertainment at each of the Disney resorts on property should be on your radar. Anyone can visit the resorts – and with dozens of them to check out, I’m pretty sure you can find something everyone loves!
6. Side trips. We rarely actually leave Walt Disney World property when we’re in Florida, except maybe to go to Port Canaveral. But if you want to go to the Orlando Eye, Universal, the beach, or anywhere else outside the beautiful Walt Disney World gates, you’ll almost certainly need a car.
7. Grocery/pharmacy runs. Walt Disney World is absolutely doable without wheels of your own. More than any other place I’ve ever been, you can get everything delivered to you – from groceries and baby gear to medication. There are also on-property urgent cares, etc should something go south while you’re on vacation. That said, it’s been very nice for us when we’ve had to make a pharmacy run, which has been more than once, to have our own car. In addition to convenience, you’ll save money taking care of these errands on your own, especially if the need strikes in the middle of the night.
Does it cost a fortune? Is it hard (either to rent or get around the resort area)?
It’s true, car rental rates can be outrageous. This is especially true if, like our family, you require a large SUV or Minivan. Here are some tips for getting the most bang for your buck when renting a car at Walt Disney World. Some of these tips will work anywhere, and I’m not charging you an extra penny for them!
1. Book early – but check back until the last minute. Unlike airfare and many other travel expenses, rental cars can be canceled, changed, or rebooked up until – usually – 24 hours in advance of your reservation. (Of course, please check the fine print on your reservation before that time, so you’re not stuck with extra charges!). I usually book when I know our travel dates because occasionally you can benefit from booking early. More often, though, the price continues to drop as long as there are cars available. It is not uncommon for our total to drop by a few hundred dollars!
2. Check all the discounts. I’ll admit – I’m a nerd and look forward each trip to filling in an actual spreadsheet with every combination of Contract ID and Coupon Code for National, just to start. Not sure what those are or how you’d combine them? Check out this comprehensive page on Mouse Savers for instructions, as well as current codes and coupons for every rental agency at the Orlando Airport. This is another area you’ll want to check a few times, if possible, for updates. It takes some time, but these codes (especially for places like National where they can be “stacked”) are exactly how we save lots of money on every rental.
3. Know where your rental will be waiting. Currently, all of the agencies are accessible via each side of the Orlando International Airport, so it doesn’t matter where you land – but a few are actually located off-property. Take a minute before you arrive to know whether you’re looking for a shuttle, the agency’s counter, the lot, etc. It’s better to know in advance than to spend time wandering around MCO with kids (and grown-ups) who just want to be at Disney, already!
4. Know where you’re going once you’ve got the keys. Most smartphones are equipped with GPS and your choice of navigation apps, but be aware that once you’re getting close to (and especially inside of) Walt Disney World, most GPS systems are completely oblivious as to what roads may be Cast Member access roads, or otherwise closed to the public. Don’t ask me how I know this, just trust me that it might be very frustrating if you rely on your GPS too close to the resort. That said, the signage at Walt Disney World (and in the greater Orlando area as you get to all the good stuff) is quite good. If you pay attention to road signs, you should be able to get just about anywhere! If you still feel uncomfortable once you’re in the WDW gates, just ask a Cast Member.
5. Check your insurance policy before you leave. Chances are, you won’t need any extra “services” (read: fees) the rental company offers.
6. Don’t pay the rental car company a crazy amount for gas. You may be aware that they charge an exorbitant amount if you bring the car back less than full, but even their “prepaid” option that sounds halfway decent will leave you spending more than you need to. There are plenty of gas stations right on or near Walt Disney World property (if you want specifics, feel free to ask!), and if you drive directly from your location there to the airport return location, your tank will be full enough that you won’t incur a charge. This has been true for us in varying traffic conditions, from various resorts, with various companies. Fill up in Lake Buena Vista, Kissimee, etc and not at the airport!
7. Bring change for tolls. Mostly likely, driving from the Orlando International Airport to the Walt Disney World area, you will incur approximately $2.25 each direction in tolls (at the time of publication). At least one toll may be unmanned, so you’ll want to have coins instead of big bills when possible.
check out the other great posts from the Blogorail!
Here is the map of our Blogorail Special Edition | Tips for Staying Off Property at Walt Disney World Loop:
- 1st Stop – Adventures with Toddlers & Preschoolers | Get More Space for the Money
- 2nd Stop – The Delightful Life | Renting a Car on a Budget
- 3rd Stop – Disney Mamas | Grocery Delivery
- 4th Stop – Rolling with the Magic | Parking at Walt Disney World
- 5th Stop – Mommy to All Girls | General Tips for Staying Off Property
Heidi Strawser
Great tips! The last few times we’ve flown down, we have relied on Disney transportation. But, as a control freak who has been used to having our own vehicle down there, those wait times do really get to me.
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I absolutely relate, Heidi! 🙂
Mary
It is rare we don’t rent a car at Disney. My hatred of taking a stroller on the bus alone will push me to renting a car. And I love being able to run down to Target at anytime if I need something.
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I knew Blogorailers were my people…. I have the same hatred, along with the disdain for waiting around. 🙂
FamilyTravelEscapades
I would have never thought of renting a car since we have been flying in, but we do hate to wait for the buses! And, when we drove down and had our own car we would drive off site and get food much cheaper and medicine if need be. I assumed car rental was expensive and then you would have to worry about parking. This article illuminates a lot of good reasons why we will consider renting a car next visit. Thanks.
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Thanks for reading… it is incredibly tempting to just use Disney transportation on this particular vacation – and it’s awesome that the option exists! For those of us that like the freedom and control of having a car though, it’s definitely not as bad as you may expect!
Cindy Howell
We always have our own car, since we drive down. But it’s nice to know that renting a car would be easy and affordable if we needed it.
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If you ask me, it’s so great to have your own vehicle, either way! 🙂
Jerusha
I’ve never thought about renting a car, but now I think it may be a better fit for our family. Thank you for sharing this helpful info! – Jerusha, TheDisneyChef.com
Lin @ DisneyMamas
We love having our own car at Disney, whether we drove over from Texas or rented there. It’s just nice not to have to worry about what to do if you need to get to the doctor (which we have needed twice now), Target, Downtown Disney, etc. It was a life-saver when my poor hubby came down with strep over our spring break trip! He was in and out of minute clinic with his meds in an hour because he was able to just hop in the car and drive over!
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YES! I mentioned our several pharmacy runs… we have been super grateful for our car more than once 🙂
Naomi M. (@HmSchoolDisney)
Great tips! I don’t like relying on the busses, either. It’s a great perk for many, but I always feel like I’m wasting money by waiting.
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I totally agree, Naomi! It adds up quickly, and I kind of keep track of all the time we’ve spent waiting around (not literally – but enough to get stressed about it) 🙂
Brittany
Thanks for the tips! I like the idea of using my own car…how is the parking at the 4 parks? I’d it crazy crowded and far away? Thank you!! 🙂
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Parking at the parks is plentiful, and there is always a tram waiting if you’ve parked a little ways away. It does come with a somewhat steep fee, but that’s waived if you’re staying on property.