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Mom and daughter on Expedition Everest; Animal Kingdom
  • On Oct 27, 2011
    Mary from VA Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We are going to Disney early March 2012 staying at ADL. Have a 3 and 5 year old. Is it worth getting a rental car? If we do drive, how far of a walk is it typically from parking lots to park?

    Hi, Mary!

    There are two ways to answer this question: yes, rent a car, and no, don't rent a car! I'll give you a perspective on each.

    With children as young as yours, a car might be a wonderful thing. You'll need not worry about missing the bus, or rely on Disney transport, which can, admittedly, sometimes take a while (and when the children are tired and need a nap, the last thing you'll want to do is wait for a bus!). Strollers are required to be collapsed when you are on Disney transportation (except for the Monorail and many of the boat launches), and that can lend an element of trickiness to your time as well. This is especially true if one of your children has fallen asleep in the stroller.

    On the other hand, Disney transportation eliminates the need for you to have to park, and probably almost zeroes out the cost of parking (one vehicle now costs $14/day to park at on the of the Parks). And as you have already surmised, the walk from the bus to the Park is considerably shorter than the walk (or walk plus tram ride) from the parking lot to the Park entrance. If you are traveling with more than one grownup, the stroller issue is not as challenging, since one grownup can tackle the stroller while the other grownup attends to the children.

    Really, it boils down to freedom. If you are not willing to be committed to Disney bus schedules, then you will definitely want to look into renting a car; if you are trying to minimize the steps you'll take to get into a Park, then you will want to rely on Disney transportation.

    I hope this helps sway you in the direction that works best for you and yours.

    See you later, celebrator!
    -Deborah B.
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Meet the Panelist: Deborah, Florida

As a Florida native, my life has always included Walt Disney World. Now I share that magic with my husband and my sons, ages seven and eight. In between trips to the World, I teach for the Department of English at the University of South Florida. Learn More About Deborah

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