Car Rental - Under 25

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purple_grace's picture
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Joined: 05/10/2012
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Car Rental - Under 25

Hi everyone!

I just came across the site today and it looks like just the help we need when planning our Florida trip.

Myself and my boyfriend are looking at going around this time next year and would like to do all the Disney parks, waterparks, Seaworld, Universal, Kennedy Space Centre and Busch Gardens so obviously we need a car. Just one problem. At the time of going we will be 24 and 23 which means at least $25 extra a day on top of regular car rental charges just for being under the age of 25!

This is doubling the amount to nearly 600 pounds- thats ALOT of money!!! eek

We will most likely be staying outside of the park, somewhere around International Drive. What I would like to know is if there are any other ways to get around, like shuttles or a bus? crossfingers Or would hiring a car be our best option? (it is certainly more practical)

We will be visiting from the UK and are looking at going for 2-3 weeks. We are in the very early stages of planning!

Hope you can help Smile

nwalsh's picture
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Joined: 03/05/2012
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Maybe stay outside the park and rent a car for the first portion of your trip, then change to staying in park without car and use disney busses for the second portion of your trip?? That way you wouldn't have to pay for the car the entire time.

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Joined: 05/10/2012
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Yes, renting a car under 25 is expensive. There are shuttles to WDW from many hotels and if you are staying on US92 there is some public transportation. Be sure to ask when the last shuttle/bus leaves from WDW. Also, if you are flying into Orlando and staying at a WDW resort they have the MEARS travel service from the airport to your resort. There is a rental car company on site - this way you wouldn't have to rent the car until you were ready to venture out from the WDW area. Also, keep in mind that Animal Kingdom has some of the things that Busch Gardens may have and SeaWorld is owned by Busch Gardens.

You may want to do an internet search for a WDW travel planner - many of them give free quotes and can probably give you more info on resorts and MEARS transportation.

I hope this has been helpful.

Tony's picture
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Joined: 12/23/2009
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Do you know where you will be flying in to? Assuming you're stopping on International Drive as you suggest, a car and driver can be hired for the return trip from the airport to your hotel for around PS50 each way. Look on the airport websites for suggested companies. It's quite relaxing after a long flight and dealing with immigration to see someone holding a card with your name on who will take you in air conditioned comfort directly to your hotel.

If you're staying on International Drive, then the I-Trolley shuttle service runs every few minutes and will get you between the non Disney attractions (shopping malls, Seaworld, Universal, etc). It's about $1.50 per trip, or get a 2 week pass and unlimited use.

Getting to Disney would require either taxi ride or catching the Lynx bus from opposite Seaworld (around $2.00 per trip) to either Downtown Disney or the Ticket and Transit Centre where you can use Disney shuttle busses to get around the Disney area.

600GBP will pay for a lot of taxi rides that can take you right up to the park gates and remember you'll be saving the parking fee's too.

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BoBo713's picture
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Joined: 04/16/2012
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The first time we went to FLO I was under 25, unfortunately even then the insurance was still expensive. I think it was about $25 per day. Even though we always stay on Disney property, we always get a car. It just means that we have the freedom to head out, go shopping and explore outside of the World. UK car insurance is so high and havin to pay such a high extra cost when you go on hols really sucks, I guess you just have to weigh up the pros and cons of getting a car. As the others have said maybe plan the car for a week and do all outside/shopping trips then.

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purple_grace's picture
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Joined: 05/10/2012
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Thanks guys you have been really helpful. I think we will look into staying on Disney property for a week or so, without a car and do all those parks then. Then hire a car and trek out to all the other areas and maybe even head down to Miami?
Although like Tony said 600PS will buy a lot of taxis and busses... and it would be nice not to have to drive.

Under 25 is such a high age restriction, especially as by then I will have been driving 7 years already!

emmaanne's picture
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Joined: 10/20/2011
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nwalsh wrote:
Maybe stay outside the park and rent a car for the first portion of your trip, then change to staying in park without car and use disney busses for the second portion of your trip?? That way you wouldn't have to pay for the car the entire time.

I second this. We had some things we wanted to do outside of WDW on our last trip. We rented a car for the first part of our trip and got everything out of the way, and then relied on Disney transportation for the remainder of our trip. I would definately look at staying on property. It is SO much more convienient and if you trip dates are flexible you might be able to get free dining, which works out to be MUCH CHEAPER than staying off property and having to buy food. Also, if you stay on property the whole trip, you get dining credits for ALL the days, not just the ones you go to the Disney parks.

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Joined: 05/15/2012
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This is a useful thread thank you.

I have recently turned 25 yet it seems that the premiums for car hire are rather expensive and not a lot less than the 600 figure quoted above.

I really wanted to experience driving in another country (as odd as it may sounds) and the fact that the hire company offered me a Ford Mustang for two weeks really appealed to me.

At the minite we are booked on the magical express as we are stopping on property and we plan on getting a taxi out to universal etc as and when we need it. That is by far the cheapest of the two options.

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Vettelover's picture
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Joined: 03/28/2009
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I tend to think that you can hire many a taxi for that $600 quote but I am sure others have been in more taxis than I have and can give better info on taxi prices.

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Tony's picture
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Joined: 12/23/2009
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Yep. $600 will pay for a lot of taxi's. It's been a while since I used one in Orlando, but reckon around $30 to go from Disney to Universal.

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Joined: 05/22/2012
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If you are looking for a car rental under 25 in the Orlando Check out Sixt rent a car in Orlando they do not charge any additional fee for young drivers. You can be as young as 21. The only problem is that you can not get a fast car until you are 25 but you can a decent car at 21.