On/off site... shuttles
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| Wed, 08-16-2006 - 5:44am |
Hi,
I'm a lurker jumping in...what a fantastic board here. We are in the early stages of planning our first ever trip to WDW. It's becoming a full-time job for me - lol!
Hope some of you can help with these questions. We are planning to go April 1-8, 2007.
I am trying to figure out a way not to rent a car!
1/ if we decide to stay off-site, how reliable are the hotel shuttles to Disney? Do they take forever both ways? Would we waste a lot of time waiting for one at either end? I'm trying to find a hotel not more than a few miles away.
2/ on that same thought, is getting to Seaworld with a hotel shuttle a pain too?
3/ since this is our first trip to Disney, maybe we should just stay on-site, hassle free and skip Seaworld altogether?
Thanks so much...and looking forward to spending a lot of time at this board!
Kate w/DH and DD(soon to be 8)in Canada

Kate,
Hello and welcome!
We have been to Disney twice so far and stayed off site. We will be going at the end of September and staying on site.
1 time we stayed off site and rented a car. We did Universal. Wasn't bad renting a car, just expensive.
1 time we stayed off site and relied on the free hotel shuttle. I would NEVER EVER do that again. They have scheduled pick up and drop off times. You are at the mercy of the shuttle. They were always over crowded. You had to schedule your day around them. If you missed the bus you were stuck. The hotel shuttles had 1 scheduled pick up that took people to SW and Universal.
If you really want to get around renting a car, stay on site. It is just the 3 of you and you could stay pretty cheap at an all star property. You have to rely on the Disney busses. I have never had an issue with them when we have used them. The key is ask the CM's with the purple pants (transportation). They can answer all of your questions.
Since it is your first trip to Disney you will NOT run out of things to do at Disney, so really a trip to Seaworld wouldn't be needed.
Good Luck Planning. We went to Disney that first week in April 2005. Crowds weren't too bad, have fun!
Sarah
I vote #3 all the way!! LOL!
Advantages:
1. Value Resorts are not that much more than staying off sight and you have PLENTY of access to all the parks!
2. Transportation to and from the Airport FREE!!
3. Extra Magic Hour!!
4. Mid Day breaks are a breeze!!
5. Add on Dining plans available!
6. no need to bring booster seats for preschoolers/ younger kids.
7. Total Disney immersion experience!
8. no parkig fees even if you do rent your own car!
Disadvantages?
1. Some off site places off free breakfasts
2. Off Site shuttles often only run 2 times a day! (SOme more, some less, but definately NOT on YOUR schedule)
3. no car makes it a bit more difficult to get off property (Not impossible, but more planning required!) Or to and from destinations on site. Although the transportation is WONDERFUL, you can save some time by having your own car, even if you stay on property!
4. Picking up some essential foods on the way is not an option (We are having some delivered for a small fee though trough wegoshop.com)
5. YOu may be able to find off site rooms MUCH cheaper if you do your homework, but have little conrtol over the "quality" or service...Disney's is First rate!
Of course, it also depends on you and your family!! Either way, you will have a great time if you pla, but don't overschedule and RELAX!!
~Elena (FOUR DAYS UNTIL WE HEAD TO THE WORLD!!!)
You have gotten awesome advice so far. I will add another vote for staying onsite. My offsite shuttle experiance has been the same - never ever again. We've done it twice, each time we had our own car but gave the hotel shuttle a chance. Not worth it. One of those times the hotel shared a shuttle with the hotel next to it so it was so crowded it was awful. Then rushing to meet the shuttle no matter what you were doing because otherwise you'd be stranded and have to hire a cab.... not worth it. If you stay offsite, rent a car and figure in the $9 a day parking.
I knew I had come to the right place! Thank you for those speedy replies. Sounds like on-site is the better option for us this time around. I know the dates aren't the wisest for rookies but it is the only time we could find for us in 2007, so we're going in 'head first'! I just hope we haven't left it too late to make bookings...
I'm off to visit a Disney agent today...I'm sure I'll be back with more questions!
Thanks again.
Kate
Hey Kate-in-Canada, Carole in Canada waving madly here!! lol!!
Which side of Canada are you? I'm thinking East since you're heading for WDW not DL.
We went for our first vist to WDW 2 years ago when my DD was 6 and promptly went again last year (well who could pass up the free dining plan deal?!)
Had a great time both times, but having done both on and off, renting a car and not our vote would definitely be to stay on site and foget driving. Just relax and enjoy.
However if your really do want to see Seaworld (it is a great place - we went to the one in San Diego a few years ago and my sister goes everytime she's in Florida) then you could do as already suggested and just rent for that day, or price out a cab or hire car.
Carole
Carole
Hi Carole! We're East in Nova Scotia. Where are you? Are you also from the UK?
Kate
Yes, we're originally from the UK, but we've lived in Ottawa for the last 17 years or so. I guess we must like it here lol!
Carole
Carole