Do you drive to the parks???

[kirstiebird]

We've recently been staying at Poly and LOVE the convenience of TTC and the monorail, but are planning a trip in October at WL for something new and a bit of a cost savings. Since we'll be driving down from SC, my question is -- should we drive our own car to Epcot and Animal Kingdom? We are trying to get dd6 and ds7 out of strollers and hate the idea of waiting too long for the bus late at night (i.e., after epcot emh on friday nights...). Anyone with experience driving to the parks, your insight is most appreciated!!!

[TheDisneyGirl02]

We always stay on property, however usually drive to Epcot, DHS and DAK due to saving a bit of time. It's easy to jump in the car, park and get in. When it's time to leave, we just do the same thing!

However, I will admit, it's not for everybody. I know my way around property since I worked there so it doesn't take too much time for me to find where we need to go.

My best advice - give it a try. Drive one day and then take the bus the next. See which you like best!

Have a great trip! :)

[tiggerx3]

Agree.

Drive to the parks. The roads are well marked. Just pay attention!

[kc5grw]

We stay at Fort Wilderness when we go. We always take the Ferry to MK. I will sometimes drive, sometimes take the buses to the other parks. Usually if we will be at a park at closing I will drive because waiting in the throng of people for a packed bus just isn't my idea of fun.

[kirstiebird]

Thanks for the quick response! I love you dis'ers-- I promise not to let dh drive!

[D&DDisney]

::yes:: Definitely drive. :drive:

Can't beat the conveinence of having that car close by and being able to come and go as you please. Especially with children. :thumbsup2

[belle&sebastiansmom]

We drive. So much easier with kids. Less wait time, can keep extra items on hand stored in the car. One time, when I was 5 months pregnant, we took a bus to AK. Got so sick and had to wait much too long for the bus to get back to the resort. Never again.

[Al&Emsmom]

We have in the past stayed off property and had to drive to the parks. We found the road signs easy to follow and never got lost. This Oct. we plan to stay at POP. :banana: We love the freedom of a car so we will still drive.

[zulemara]

Agree.

Drive to the parks. The roads are well marked. Just pay attention!

I completely disagree. The signs are very difficult. I was a CP for 9 months and still got lost.

That being said, through trial and error, you can usually manage to navigate to the parks and back to the hotel especially if it's a big hotel. You should drive. Why waste time on Disney transportation when you can be so much more productive without it? Of course those late night bus rides to Pleasure Island...can't beat that:rotfl:

[disneytab]

I also respectfully disagree. This year will be my 28th trip (and I'm 29 LOL), and I guess I've always had good luck with the bus system, even with strollers/doublestrollers. I guess its having to load everything in the car, get there, get out, undo car seats, keep kids from running excitedly thru the parking lot :) hope for a tram or walk forver. . .I don't know. Maybe it's the time of year I go and they aren't that crowded?? Not sure. I would just really hesitate to drive. I have driven when there were wrecks, traffic blocks the exit, etc. Also, I think I could drive the different routes with my eyes closed, but at 12am when you're tired and it's dark. . .you could end up who knows where. Yeah, roads are clearly marked. . .but it stinks when you are reading the sign as you are passing the exit LOL. I hate that :)

I really think this one is really about personal choice. Do what you think is best for your family and have a GREAT time!! WL is one of my favorites, I know you'll love it!

[DebbieTN]

I love having my car. The past few times we have used the buses. They are a nightmare at the end of the night. The only one I would suggest going to by bus is The Magic Kingdom. Otherwise you have to park at the TTC and take the monorail or ferry over to the park. The buses let you off near the door. Of course, at the end of the night there may be a long wait. Either leave before closing or hang around the shops for about an hour and the crowds thin out. We're renting a car this time and I'm really forward to being able to sit down as soon as we get to the car. Also, in the morning when you're ready to go, you don't have to go out the bus stop and wait...and wait...and wait. You could already be there by the time the bus gets there. Plus if you need to go to Walmart or some place that you can go any time you want.

[karters*mom]

We've recently been staying at Poly and LOVE the convenience of TTC and the monorail, but are planning a trip in October at WL for something new and a bit of a cost savings. Since we'll be driving down from SC, my question is -- should we drive our own car to Epcot and Animal Kingdom? We are trying to get dd6 and ds7 out of strollers and hate the idea of waiting too long for the bus late at night (i.e., after epcot emh on friday nights...). Anyone with experience driving to the parks, your insight is most appreciated!!!

Oh we are so happy we rented a car for last week. we put almost 400 Miles on it! It was so much nicer to dirve and have our own car! Mt son fell asleep most night son the way home. Much nicer than a crowded bus!
We drove right into the parking lots, the tram was always waiting at the end of the row to zip us to the front gates right away!!!!

[karters*mom]

I completely disagree. The signs are very difficult. I was a CP for 9 months and still got lost.

That being said, through trial and error, you can usually manage to navigate to the parks and back to the hotel especially if it's a big hotel. You should drive. Why waste time on Disney transportation when you can be so much more productive without it? Of course those late night bus rides to Pleasure Island...can't beat that:rotfl:

There are very large very noticible signs that tell you where the exit is for everything!

[ntsammy5]

Like EVERYTHING else at WDW, this is a personal decision. We sometimes drive & sometimes take the buses, boats or monorail. I like to take the buses if we are changing parks during the day and like to drive if we are coming back to the resort during the day. It's all personal preference! There is no right or wrong answer.

[minniemee]

We always drive to the parks, my husband refuses to ride the buses! We fly in and always rent an SUV to tote our 1000 pieces of luggage!
We find that for us it is quicker and more convenient. We usually have a stroller to transport as well.
Although I think it does take atleast one person in the family with an excellent sense of direction as the manuevering is confusing! Or to me it is, lucky for me though my husband is a natural born navigator!!:thumbsup2

[grumpy-gramps]

:confused3 Hi,
Keep a map of the world in the front seat and DRIVE... We always drive and save alot of time by doing so..
Have a great trip..
gg

[DisneyMagick2008]

I have always stayed off property and drove to the parks. It's pretty easy to find where you are going if you pay attention to the signs. But, I agree that it is a personal choice. In my case, I have stayed at off property hotels that offered shuttle service, but the times that they came and went were so restrictive that using my own car was better and I prefer the freedom to come and go as I choose. If you drive, just make sure you budget more money into your trip for parking fees.

[jdcamp]

We stay at Ft. Wilderness and take the boat to MK. We drive everywhere else. We have 2 kids under 3 and find it much quicker.

[karters*mom]

We always drive to the parks, my husband refuses to ride the buses! We fly in and always rent an SUV to tote our 1000 pieces of luggage!
We find that for us it is quicker and more convenient. We usually have a stroller to transport as well.
Although I think it does take atleast one person in the family with an excellent sense of direction as the manuevering is confusing! Or to me it is, lucky for me though my husband is a natural born navigator!!:thumbsup2

We brought our GPS! and it did us wonders! I suck with directions...lol

[minniemee]

Karter's Mom, we are in the process of looking for a GPS for my car at home right now! What a great idea to bring it on vacation, thanks for the suggestion!
Since moving to Texas a few months ago I have to google everywhere I go first and print directions, what a pain that is! Especially since I am soooo directionally challenged!:confused3

[kristytru]

we just returned from VWL on Friday. We drove to all the parks except MK. For that we took the bus or ferry so we didn't have to go through the ticket center. It worked great for us and felt the roads were very well-marked. I wish we would have done it when our kids were small and we had that cumbersome double stroller. Ah, well, live and learn;)

[karters*mom]

Karter's Mom, we are in the process of looking for a GPS for my car at home right now! What a great idea to bring it on vacation, thanks for the suggestion!
Since moving to Texas a few months ago I have to google everywhere I go first and print directions, what a pain that is! Especially since I am soooo directionally challenged!:confused3

Ther eis a point of interest map on Mouse savers that you can download for free and it has everything in it. Direction to the malls, every restaurants..it was so easy just to hit navigate to, hit the destination. then it would zip us there.
We also found it handy to rate our time to get some pance.
ie: we'd get to Epcot. Punch in the address for contemporary resort for our dinner later that night at concourse steakhouse. and it would tell us how long it would take to get there. so we knew what was the best time to leave!
Worked out great!
Didn't get lost once and it was stress free!

[kristytru]

we also used our gps in FL and found it very handy especially finding grocery stores. One word of warning: it was totally wrong in its directions to Blizzard Beach, but luckily everything on property is so well-marked!

[karters*mom]

we also used our gps in FL and found it very handy especially finding grocery stores. One word of warning: it was totally wrong in its directions to Blizzard Beach, but luckily everything on property is so well-marked!

Mine was fine to Blizzard beach but it told us that it was "our final desitnation" to our resort..but we soon learnt it was just straight ahead

[RACHELSMOM1]

We take busses to parks, but for dinners at the resorts (CM, CG, 1900PF, Kona, Ohana, Narcoossee's, etc) we drive and use valet (we have handicapped permit, so valet parking is free). Parking is free in theme parks if you are onsite.