Deciding if we need car onsite at Disney

[Kidd McFluff]

We always hire a car on holiday normally, but are wondering if we should save our pennies and not get one this time.

We have 14 nights at OKW booked. Options are:
a) not have a car, do a couple of uber rides to Publix and maybe between resorts, Magic Express to and from MCO. Would mean not going outside Disney too often, not sure whether this is good or not..

b) hire a car for the whole trip, drive from MCO to OKW - per day cheaper than hiring for a few days, don't have to do uber, can drive to HH if we find ourselves a distance from it. Would need to hire something big enough for all our cases and the 4 of us, fairly easy to take car seat for our youngest on the plane as it will go straight in the car. Probably quicker and easier than magic express?

c) hire a car for a few days, compromise, saves a bit of cash, we can hire a smaller car as not putting suitcases in, would need to hire a car seat in FL or store bulky seat in room when we don't have car, can use magic express - which despite knowing is really just a coach we're quite excited about. Disney car centre seems pricey so would probably take an uber/taxi to MCO. Would allow us to do a day trip to the beach, maybe Kennedy space centre.

What do people think?

[Bobbins]

I wouldn't dream of not having a car. We tend to do the parks in short bursts though, so most days we'd be venturing out for shopping or to eat elsewhere.

It's handy too if you're in a bit of a hurry to get to a park especially for park opening and if you want to eat at another resort.

I might think differently if I was on a specific budget though.

[Kidd McFluff]

Not on a specific budget, but DH drives for work so a week of not driving seems nice, although he really doesn't mind too much. The cost of the car hire is a decent amount of extra spending money

[duchy]

Why not have the car for the second week as you will have plenty to do the first week but by the second week will be ready to go further afield too. If you can't drive then at least your husband would get a bit of a break from it.

[miked1e]

Personally we don't bother. Appreciate the flexibility of going offsite eetc with a car... but we just make use of magical express, Disney transport and mears.

We prefer it this way!

[suehen]

We stay on-site but we hire a car for about 5 days in the middle of our stay just so we can go off-site, there is only 2 us so we do not need a large car. It just makes it easier if we want to go shopping or visit other places.

[RickT]

Could never not have a car..

If budget is a factor, use the express from and to the airport and then book the smallest class car possible from the like of Alamo and pick it up at Disney.. you should be able to get one for around £250 for 2 weeks..

then you have free parking at any Disney resort if you did decide to drive and have the flexibility..

As you say, you always hire a car normally... so only you know how it will impact you...

[Cozzer]

I was thinking the same thing. Do you get free parking if you stay onsite at Disney property? Also is there any transport to get to Universal parks other than a taxi?

[suehen]

Originally Posted by Cozzer

I was thinking the same thing. Do you get free parking if you stay onsite at Disney property? Also is there any transport to get to Universal parks other than a taxi?

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Yes parking is free at Disney, but if you are staying on-site without a car you need taxi's to get to universal or shopping malls we pay under £100 for a small car for a few days worked out cheaper that taxi's and gives us a little freedom.

[Sweets]

We've never hired a car.

Used Uber if going offsite and Disney transportation onsite.

We didn't find is any bother and were just as free to come and go as we pleased as anyone else.