Hi there, Kathleen! From one
Disney Vacation Club Member to another, I'm delighted to welcome you to planDisney. You'll be arriving at
Walt Disney World Resort in just a couple of weeks, and I am sure you're counting down the days until you arrive "Home"!
If you will be staying in a Disney Resort Hotel during your vacation, one of the many benefits is access to the on-property
Car Care Center. Guests can arrange a car rental through one of three preferred providers--Alamo, Enterprise, or National. There is even a complimentary shuttle service to pick you up at your Resort Hotel or one of the theme parks and whisk you to the rental center. We have used this service before and it is super convenient!
Kathleen, if you are flying into the Orlando International Airport (MCO), you may choose to rent a car there to drive directly to your resort. DVC Members receive complimentary self-parking throughout their stay (valet parking does come with an additional fee), which is a great Member benefit! We typically use Walt Disney World transportation once we check in, but if you opt to drive to the theme parks, you can also enjoy free standard self-parking as long as you are staying on property using your DVC Membership.
If you're hitting the open roads around The Most Magical Place on Earth, I generally prefer to drive to
Disney Springs--especially early in the day so I can jump in the line at
Gideon's Bakehouse. Their cookies and cake slices are some of my favorite sweet treats at Walt Disney World, and their peanut butter cold brew hits the spot on a sunny morning!
Another great spot to program into your GPS is
Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf, since Disney buses don't make a stop there. It's quite convenient to drive there, and you'll find plenty of parking for Guests. You can choose between Fantasia Gardens, a fun and interactive course featuring characters from the classic film, or Fantasia Fairways, which is a more challenging miniature golf course with sand traps and more!
I hope this information is just what you need for the most magical Disney vacation ever, Kathleen! Thanks again for visiting planDisney, and please don't hesitate to
reach out directly if I can assist with any additional questions about all things DVC and Walt Disney World.
Stay Magical!
Susan