Should You Rent a Car or Use Disney Transportation During Your Next Vacation to Disney World?

Disney World is a big place with 4 different theme parks, 2 water parks, and a shopping center. Luckily, Disney World has a fantastic internal transportation system that gets guests where they want to be quickly and efficiently. When you stay on property at Disney World you have access to the Disney busses, Disney Skyliner, and Monorail. These three methods of transportation work together to ensure that you are getting the parks, water parks, and Disney Springs whenever you desire. But is there a benefit to renting a car during our next vacation to Disney World instead of utilizing Disney transportation? Or should you plan on sticking to the bus, Skyliner, or Monorail?

Disney Transportation

One of the best perks of staying on-property at Disney resort is the transportation to and from the parks and Disney Springs. Every resort has access to a fleet of Disney busses that transport guests daily. These busses have a predetermined route and arrive continuously throughout the day. They begin running 45 minutes prior to park opening and continue running an hour after the park closes. If you staying at a DVC resort like Disney’s Riviera then you have access to the Disney Skyliner as well. The Disney Skyliner takes guests to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, making stops at a few resorts along the way. DVC resorts like Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort are located on the monorail line and allow for quick transportation to both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. If you are staying at a Disney resort then you should have no issues at all in using Disney transportation exclusively without a car of your own. Guests can even enjoy boat transportation to Disney Springs from DVC’s Old Key West Resort. With Disney transportation, you always have quick and easy access to getting where you need to go.

Car Rental

While renting a car is not necessary when vacationing at Disney World, there are still some benefits behind it. Disney does not currently offer transportation from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to your Disney resort. Guests can instead book a ride with Mears Connect for 16 dollars per adult, or pursue other transportation options like car rental. Renting a car during your Disney vacation can be a good option for you, especially if you plan on visiting other Orlando-area attractions during your vacation or if you plan on visiting DVC’s Vero Beach Resort after your time at Disney World is complete. Having your own car can be useful if you are running behind to reservations and can’t wait on Disney transportation to get you where to need to be, and it can also be helpful if you need to leave property for any reason like visiting a pharmacy or grocery store.

Resort guests don’t have to worry about paying for parking at the parks or resorts, but they can pay the difference between standard parking and preferred if they wish to upgrade their parking at the parks. Some guests might prefer driving themselves to the parks rather than sharing a bus, monorail, or Skyliner car with other guests. However guests should be advised that parking at Disney parks takes some time as the lots are quite large and guests often need to utilize trams to get from their car to the front gates.

Overall, the benefits of Disney transportation are fantastic but some guests might still prefer the flexibility that comes with having their own car to drive on property. But Disney transportation makes it easy for guests to get around and return back to their resort at the end of the day. Do you rent a car or use Disney transportation? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured Photo: Emily Murray.