Hiya, Julie!
I'm so glad you stopped by planDisney! As a mom of four –– including twin toddlers –– I know that traveling with young children comes with its own set of unique challenges (and a lot of stuff!), but it can also be FULL of magic, too. There's nothing like watching your child's eyes light up when they catch their first glimpse of Mickey Mouse –– it's something you'll never forget! Since your magical adventure is just around the corner, let's take a look at the pros and cons of your travel options for getting to and from the airport and around the Walt Disney World Resort.
While I prefer using rideshare services when traveling with adults, it's not my first choice for traveling with small kids –– the process of installing and uninstalling multiple car seats for a relatively short ride adds extra stress to the challenge of traveling with toddlers. If you're bringing car seats with you and flexibility is a priority, renting a car might be a good fit. But keep in mind that you'll need to rent a vehicle big enough to transport all your luggage and your double stroller from the airport, in addition to your traveling party, which could end up being a large expense. You'll also need to factor in the cost of parking at the Resort. If you're a
Disney Vacation Club Member, you'll enjoy
complimentary, standard overnight self-parking at all
Disney Vacation Club Resorts, as well as all Walt Disney World theme parks. If you're a non-Member Guest, the cost of parking at a Deluxe Villa Resort is $25 per night.
And while I haven't gotten to try it yet, Mears Connect is a new fee-based shuttle service that runs between Orlando International Airport and Walt Disney World Resort, similar to the recently-retired Disney's Magical Express service. Disney's Magic Express was my favorite method of airport transfer with small children and I'm excited to try this new option during our next trip. You can find more information and book a reservation with Mears Connect by visiting the Mears website.
Once you arrive at your Resort, I think the
Walt Disney World transportation system is going to be a great choice for you. From
Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, you'll be able to walk directly to and from Magic Kingdom Park or jump on the Monorail without having to fold your stroller and unload your children –– always a HUGE win in my book. You'll also be able to take the Resort Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center and transfer to the EPCOT Monorail line for direct access to EPCOT. To reach Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park you'll need to use the bus service from your Resort. While this does involve folding the stroller, my kids LOVE riding the bus and I hope your children will enjoy it, too –– it's like an attraction all by itself!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney, Julie. If you think of any more questions as your vacation approaches, please feel free to stop back by –– we're always here to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Amy