Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
66
During peak hours in the busiest seasons,
you may have trouble getting a seat on the
bus, so keep that in mind if you're traveling
with seniors or companions with disabilities.
Also, if you're bringing along children and
strollers, consider the frustration factor of
loading and unloading strollers and all of the
paraphernalia that comes with them on and
off buses, ferries, and trams.
A car may drastically cut the commute
time between the parks and hotels not
directly on the monorail routes, so decide
how much your time is worth and how
much the car will cost plus the $12 per day
theme-park parking charge (Disney resort
guests, however, are exempt from the park-
ing fees) before making a decision about
renting.
In general, if you're going to spend all of
your time at Disney and you're ready, will-
ing, and able to handle the transportation
network's schedules, there's no sense rent-
ing a car that will sit in the parking lot.
But if you're on an extended stay—a week
or more—you'll probably want a car for at
least a day or two to venture beyond the
tourist areas. You can discover downtown
Orlando, visit museums, or tour the Space
Coast (see chapter 10); leaving the parks
behind may be necessary for your sanity,
not to mention your survival. After head-
ing from park to park, day after day, a
reality check may very well be in order,
and there's no better way to come back
down to earth than to enjoy some of
Florida's more natural offerings.
If you are going to be spending the
majority of your vacation outside the
House of Mouse, a car is an absolute
necessity (unless you plan on staying solely
within the bounds of Universal Orlando
for your entire trip). While there are
plenty of transportation options such as
shuttles, trolleys, and taxis, utilizing them
every time you venture outside of your
hotel can't be done without losing your
sanity (and lots of cash)—don't even think
of doing it!
All of the major car-rental companies
are represented in Orlando and maintain
desks at or near the airport. Many agencies
provide discount coupons in publications
targeted at tourists, though you should
keep in mind that AAA discounts and
online offers are often better. You may also
want to ask your travel agent if he or she
has a recommendation, or whether a dis-
count is included in any vacation packages.
Also, it never hurts to ask about specials.
Be advised that many rental agencies in
Florida will rent only to drivers 21 and
older, and that drivers younger than age 25
may have to pay a young renter's fee of up
to $25 a day!
Note:
Disney has an Alamo
car-rental desk (
&
800/327-2996
) right
on property, so if you're interested in rent-
ing for only a few days instead of your
entire vacation this may be a good option
for you.
See “Airline, Hotel & Car-Rental Web-
sites,” on p. 392, for contact information.
Good rental deals can also be obtained
through such online sources as Expedia,
Travelocity, Priceline, and CarRentals.
com. Keep in mind, however, that pricing
often varies from day to day—much the
way the price of an airline tickets does.
The further out you can book a car, the
less expensive your rental is likely to be.
I've paid as high as $690 per week for the
very same class of car that, weeks earlier,
was listed at just under $200 per week.
And that very same car, the one I rented
for $690 (during the now lengthier spring-
break season)—a no frills, people-pow-
ered, sub-economy-class Matchbox car—I
later rented for only $79 (through the very
same rental agency). And if that isn't
enough to make your head (or your bank
account) spin, if you're intent on renting a
specific car such as a Dodge Caravan (sev-
eral rental companies now offer this option
rather than simply renting a mystery car in
a particular class), you'll need to book as
far out as is possible thanks to limited
inventories.
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