Rental car or Magical Express? Convince a first timer

Walt Disney World Other
21

I was thinking of larger groups getting on buses with limited capacity. Are they still limiting that?

22

Oh, I hadnā€™t considered that, but I would think that if they only allowed so many ppl on a bus and if you told the driver that your group was altogether that they would let the group on together. I canā€™t confirm that but it seems logical to me.

23

Yes, I was just thinking if there were only 4 seats left, you might have to wait for the next bus more often?

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24

haha, that makes total sense, but eventually your group would be at the head of the line and get to claim the bus. I would also make a plan to walk to the first bus stop too; to ensure getting on one.

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25

I would drive everywhere and these days I might consider walking from the TTC.

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26

In covid times, it was nice to have a rental car just to have more mask breaks. I also did a drive up order at target for groceries which only took 30 minutes round trip.

I really wish I had rented cars on previous trips instead of relying on ubers and Disney transport.

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27

Weā€™ve been to Disney 30 times in the last 20 years and have always done magical express and on site transportation. In fact, if I was at AKL and had to drive to MK I would have no idea how to get there. :joy: For us itā€™s mostly the ease of one less thing to worry about. Plus being able to have a drink or two with dinner knowing we have a designated driver. Itā€™s a convenience factor. Also consider that staying at the AoA, you wonā€™t need a car for HS or EP because you have the skyliner. The suckiest time to not have personal transportation is at park close when throngs of people are in line for the busses. With no nighttime shows right now though I wonder if itā€™s much of a thing? I would think leaving the park would be much more organic and there would be less of a backup today compared to the before times.

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28

So, I know I can get a rideshare to drop my family off at the Contemporary. Can I (or my wife) drive my family to the Contemporary and drop them off personally? And then I would drive to the TTC or back to my resort. How would I go about this?

29

Iā€™m with @Julianne_fki and @dianelynn on this one. Not having to deal with a car and driving and car seats is one of the things that makes me feel like Iā€™m on vacation and my kids love the various Disney transport options.

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30

What is the current capacity of a bus?

31

Good point about covid. I did rip my sweaty mask off every time we got in the car. Freedom! Ha ha

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32

Another positive of Disney transport if you have multiple parties or older teens is people can do what they want and donā€™t have to come and go together. But we did that even with a rental car leaving my kids with their aunt and uncle and we drove back. They were able to get the bus back later.

33

Pre covid yes. I did this with my SIL, DB, DN, and my SILā€™s sister and daughter. I dropped them at the Poly and they rode the monorail in from there. But now I donā€™t think you can get on site in a car without a mobile order, dining res or hotel res

Edit: only person in the car would need those things though so if your fam had a reservation theyā€™d let you drop them off.

34

I was thinking of getting an ADR for one and eating the no show fee. How early before a reservation do they let you park?

35

I think it depends on the hotel and how crowded it is so time of year but I think Contemporary is stricter. Iā€™m not sure so maybe someone will answer that with more experience but I remember reading on other threads people being told to come back that got there very early.

36

About 5-6 parties depending on the size of the party

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37

Think you just need to tell them (security) you have a dining reservation or better yet , actually have one. We did a Lyft to contemporary and then walked to magic kingdom once