Rented a van

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Joined: 07/08/2013
Posts: 17
Rented a van

Driving around. Any tips? I have toll money that I read I should have.
Anything else?
Is parking at watermarks free?

crazycatperson's picture
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Joined: 09/19/2011
Posts: 3718

Yes, parking at the Disney water parks is free. So is parking at Downtown Disney. I guess you're staying at a non-Disney resort, which means parking at the major parks will cost you. But it's one fee per day, not per park, so if you pay the fee at Epcot and use the van to park hop to Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, or Disney's Hollywood Studios later in the same day, you just show them your parking receipt and don't have to fork over more $$.

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Joined: 07/08/2013
Posts: 17

Is driving to the different parks if I hop better than taking whatever shuttles are offered?
Also i was thinking for a party of 6 isn't it better to drive and pay parking rather than taking resort shuttle and tip per person and work of their schedule?
Thanks!!!

MrHub's picture
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Joined: 10/29/2009
Posts: 9503

Love777 wrote:
Is driving to the different parks if I hop better than taking whatever shuttles are offered?
Also i was thinking for a party of 6 isn't it better to drive and pay parking rather than taking resort shuttle and tip per person and work of their schedule?
Thanks!!!

Disney transportation is buses so there is no tipping needed. Now if you hire a shuttle or a taxi, that's different and it costs you per mile, plus the tip. If you renting a car I'd go with that, but its hard for a lot of people to get used to the driving around down here. I think its easy and we always use our car, so much quicker.

crazycatperson's picture
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Joined: 09/19/2011
Posts: 3718

Park hopping by car (or van in your case) is usually faster. Hopping by bus (or monorail, or boat) usually takes longer, but you have the advantage of sitting back and letting Disney get you from point A to point B. But then you've got to get back to point A to get your vehicle. So driving is usually the better option. There are road signs to help you find your way from one park to the next. My biggest problem when we stay offsite is finding my way back offsite at the end of the day.

Kristen K.'s picture
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Joined: 09/01/2011
Posts: 23803

I agree that park hopping by your vehicle will be the fastest way to go. And in addition when everyone is exhausted at the end of the night you can go right to the van, you don't have to go back to the first park and then find the van.

Another piece of advice for using the Disney Park lots - Do Not leave anything of value in the vehicle. There have been some recent thefts and it's better to be safe than sorry.

JMUDukz's picture
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Joined: 03/28/2012
Posts: 822

Make sure you pay EVERY toll - small bills and coins will help. Take a picture of where you park with your camera. When you leave the park after a long day of rides it can be REALLY hard to remember where you parked!!!

I'd also suggest hitting up Universal Studios during one of your non Disney days. If you don't want to do the parks, you can walk around City Walk for just the parking fee, which is only $5 after 7 (or maybe after 5? evening anyways!).

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