Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [11]
Fear ticket loss? Either write down the numbers on the back of your tickets and keep that info in a separate place, or use your camera phone to take a picture of the backs. If Guest Relations has the ticket numbers, replacing them will be a lot easier.
Finally, the Water Park Fun option makes sense if you have older kids who would enjoy the water parks and DisneyQuest, or if you’ve been to Disney World before and are looking to venture outside the four major parks. On the other hand, if this is your first trip to Disney World you’ll have all you can handle just visiting the four major parks. And if your kids are very young, you may find your hotel pool is a far more practical way to cool off than trekking to a water park. So, it’s a “yes” on Water Park Fun & More only for families with kids over 8 or who are visiting Disney World for the second time. For first-time visitors or families with kids under 8, the answer is usually “no.” And if you get to Orlando and change your mind, not to worry. You can add the options at any time during your vacation.
Transportation
If you’re flying to Orlando, another major decision is whether or not you need to rent a car. For families staying on-site and focusing primarily on Disney attractions, the answer is probably “no,” especially since Disney offers free bus transportation between the airport and your Disney hotel. Quite a few families have reported that they used their rental car less than they anticipated. “We paid $350 for the privilege of driving from the airport to our hotel and back,” wrote one father.
But for families staying off-site or anyone planning to visit both Disney and non-Disney attractions, renting a car often makes sense. “We got a great hotel rate but it was about 15 miles from Disney World,” one mother reported. “We also spent a day at Universal and a day at SeaWorld, so we would have been sunk if we hadn’t had our own transportation.”
Another mother added, “Our kids get so excited at Disney that they go full-out the whole time, running around in a frenzy. But when they collapse, they really collapse. There were a couple of times when even having to wait 15 minutes for a bus would have been a disaster. Every time we left a theme park, they’d be asleep in the car before we were even out of the parking lot.”
Insider’s Secret
At times it may make more sense to use a taxi than a rental car or Disney’s transportation. Taxi rides around Disney property average $15, and parking (at least for guests not staying at a Disney resort) is $14—virtually equal. If you plan to drive around a lot it makes sense to have your own car, but if you only need direct transportation occasionally, a cab is a perfectly fine option. Consider taking a cab if:
You’d like quick direct transportation from the airport to your hotel.
You’d like quick direct transportation from one resort to another.
You’re headed to a minor park like Downtown Disney or the water parks and don’t want a lengthy shuttle commute.
You’re staying at a Disney hotel but heading to Universal Orlando or SeaWorld for the day.
Everyone’s absolutely exhausted. If you’ve pushed too far and the kids are in a meltdown, cabs are the fastest way to get back to your room. They’re always waiting near the theme-park exits and, at times, this is $15 well worth spending.
Transportation with a Rental Car
An average weekly rental fee for a midsize car is around $350. Don’t be fooled by the quoted rate of $30 a day; by the time you add on taxes and insurance it’s closer to $50.
Time-Saving Tip
OK, you’re staying on-site, and you have a car—either a rental or your own. Is it faster to drive to the theme parks or to take