Anne,
Thanks for asking me your question here at planDisney!
You will simply love Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! It is one of my favorite resorts at Walt Disney World. It is now even better since the addition of the Gran Destino Tower, with the elegant ambiance and great array of lounges and restaurants.
As I see it, you have two options that consider both getting from the Orlando International Airport to the resort and renting your car for the remainder of your trip.
Option 1: Rent your car right away
You could just rent your car when you arrive at the airport, saving yourself the need to book some service to get you from the airport to the resort. Self-parking at the resort is free for resort guests, and you can also enjoy free standard parking at the theme parks since you are a Disney Resort hotel guest. Having the car during your whole stay will give you a great deal of flexibility in your travel around Walt Disney World.
Option 2: Rent a car when you are leaving Walt Disney World
If you choose to take a Lyft, a car service, or perhaps a shuttle service like Mears Connect to get from the airport to the resort, you could then use the convenience of the complimentary resort transportation to get around during your stay. When it is time to get a car from the Car Care Center Rental Facility, Disney offers a complimentary shuttle service from Coronado Springs to the rental center.
How do you choose which option is right for you?
What I would do is calculate the cost difference of the car rental for the added 3-4 days and compare that to the costs of the different airport-to-resort services. I did some quick estimates based on your party of 6, and the costs go from low to high when looking at Lyft XL, Mears Connect, to a car service, like Quicksilver. I am hesitant to quote exact costs for any of those services, as those can change based on time and date of arrival.
If the price difference was not significant between the two options I list here, I would get the rental right away. The availability of your car at the parks lets you get back to your resort faster, which can really matter if the children are getting tired and cranky. However, if the cost of the added car rental days is significant, I would feel very comfortable going with the first option and allowing Disney to do the driving while I am there.
By the way, if you were to go with Option 1, of the three listed airport transportation choices I would go with Mears Connect, only because I would be concerned about a Lyft XL having adequate space for your luggage.
BONUS TIP
Disney’s car rental partners at the Car Care Center – Car Rental Facility are Enterprise, Alamo, and National. The center is located near the Magic Kingdom.
That was a lot of information! Please feel free to write me back directly again if you have any follow-up questions.
Have a Magical Vacation!
Doug