Tips for Surviving a Disney World Vacation Without a Car

My family and I took a trip to Disney World in Florida over the Christmas break and learned that getting around without a car was not an easy task! Our hotel promised a free shuttle service; we might as well have taken Amtrak to North Carolina and back given the amount of time it took from our vacation. During our last trip in 2000, we rented a car, but found the traffic jams and exorbitant Disney parking fees to also be a deterrent.

The first promise we made for when we return was to stay in a Disney hotel - Disney's guests are treated to free transportation to and from the airport as well as a shuttle to the park that leaves every 20 minutes.

If this is not possible, then here are some tips for surviving Disney without a car:

1) Before your arrival at the airport - book your transportation with CityOne Xpress Inc. They were the ONLY honest transportation company we had the pleasure of running into this time around, and they were a joy to have. Their prices to and from the airport are based on a flat fee, they DON'T charge per person like Mears does, and they were courteous and informative. Their site is www.cityoneexpress.com and the number is 407 509 6488. They also can take you to parks, and to attractions.

2) Make sure you buy Disney's Park Hopper tickets so you can use the free shuttles between parks - take the bus to Downtown Disney if you want to find a cab in a hurry as many cabs hang out there.

3) When booking your hotel, ask if there are restaurants within walking distance. If not, make sure to budget for additional cab fare. Chicago's Giordano's Pizza does deliver and it is awesome, but it takes at least an hour to get there.

4) Beware of metered cabs - they take the long way to get anywhere! If you have to take a metered cab, don't let them pull you all the way to the front of the park, ask to be let out at the main gate. If they go through the gate, they will pass on an $11 charge per person to you.

5) If you plan to rely on a hotel shuttle, ask how many hotels it services. Any more than 4 or 5 and you will spend hours going from hotel to hotel.

6) Wear good walking shoes!

7) Believe it or not, the best food is in the parks - but you will need reservations for the sit down restaurants. Make sure to book them as far in advance as you can.