One of the biggest perks of an on-property Walt Disney World vacation is the wealth of transportation options. Guests who fly into Orlando International Airport, they can take Disney’s Magical Express directly to their resort, and then have buses, boats, and monorails to take them where ever they need to go. However, depending on just Disney transportation in itself can be limiting, and it actually might be more practical to rent a car in some situations. Here are some pros and cons to consider for guests thinking about renting a car.
1. Pro: You can go to other theme parks
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With a rental car, you have an easier choice when it comes to leaving the Disney property. While some die-hard Disney fans may never even consider this, others may want to experience other things in the Orlando region. This includes visiting other nearby theme parks like Universal Orlando Resort or SeaWorld Orlando.
2. Con: You can always take a taxi, Uber or Lyft
A con to renting a car is that there are always taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts that can pick people up from the Disney resort. This is ideal for a person or group who only plans to travel outside of Disney property one or two times during their trip, and to a close location. You would have to do the math and figure out how much it costs per day to rent a car versus how much it would cost to take a few trips in a taxi. Another positive with taxis – if you plan on visiting Universal or SeaWorld, you don’t need to pay the parking fee, which cen be between $17-$50 depending on the park, the time of day, and if you want standard, preferred, or valet parking.
3. Pro: you can travel further away
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Taxis and Ubers can add up, especially if you are traveling far away from Disney property. The Central Florida area is bigger than some expect, and destinations like the beach or Tampa Bay can be a 2-3 hour drive. Some drivers will not want to drive that far away from their home destination so even finding a driver may be difficult. Renting a car can be to your advantage if you plan to turn your Disney trip into a larger vacation. Orlando is more than just a theme park destination – it’s a real city with theaters, museums, parks, and quant suburbs that a more adventurous group may enjoy exploring.
4. Con: You may not get your money’s worth?
First time Disney guests tend to underestimate the scope of Walt Disney World. Really, it’s like its own functioning city with a well organized transportation system. Each Disney resort is serviced by buses that transport guests to every park, and certain resorts also have monorails and boats. With this many transportation options, it seems almost silly to use your own vehicle. Many guests with cars are surprised by how little they end up using them at all. Before getting a rental car, plan out your vacation and see if you are staying mostly on Disney property. You may realize that a car isn’t as necessary as you think.
5. Pro: You can skip the buses
Although Disney’s transportation is comprehensive, and it will take you where you need to go, it does have its issues. It’s not uncommon to be waiting at a station for a bus to a certain park and see three other buses come in go in the time it takes for your bus to finally appear. And if you are traveling as soon as the park opens or as soon as the park closes, most likely your bus will be jam packed with little sitting room available. Luckily, Walt Disney World resort guests get free parking at all Disney parks as long as they show their room key or parking pass.
6. Pro: You’ve got options for out of park errands
For some people, packing for vacation can be challenging and you can be guaranteed to forget at least something at home. The gift shops in each Disney hotel usually cover whatever basic necessities you may have forgotten like toothbrushes, shampoo, or a hair brush. However, it’s not uncommon for people to totally forget to pack something important like their sneakers, a bathing suit, or a warm jacket. Sometimes, people even forget more essential items like medications or special foods. In these cases, it’s nice to have a rental car to run to the nearest department or grocery store. Within a few miles of Disney you can find stores like Target and Wal-mart that not only have pharmacies but sell everything you may ever need. For guests staying in a villa with a kitchen, it’s also nice to have the option of going off-property to buy some groceries. Instead of panicking and looking for a taxi, it’s nice to know that you can simply walk to your car and drive to wherever you need to go.
