Driving vs. Disney Transportation?

[DisneyZombie]

I would like a little advice on whether we should drive to the parks and DTD or use the buses and such. We're staying at Port Orleans French Quarter if that helps and we will be down with our own car. We will be going in October 22 to 27. I want to Say we will be early risers at 7am for parks opening at 9am but my fiance might put up a fight over that one.

I've read good and Bad about the Buses that transport you around the parks.
I'm just not sure if it would be better to drive or relax since this is our honeymoon and let Disney do the driving. We do intend to drink when we eat Dinner, specially at Epcot and Downtown Disney ( Since we're at POFQ we will probably use the boats). We won't be getting Drunk mind you.

Again Thanks for any help or Tips.

 

[Robo]

I would like a little advice on whether we should drive to the parks and DTD or use the buses and such. We're staying at Port Orleans French Quarter if that helps and we will be down with our own car. We will be going in October 22 to 27. I want to Say we will be early risers at 7am for parks opening at 9am but my fiance might put up a fight over that one.

I've read good and Bad about the Buses that transport you around the parks.
I'm just not sure if it would be better to drive or relax since this is our honeymoon and let Disney do the driving. We do intend to drink when we eat Dinner, specially at Epcot and Downtown Disney ( Since we're at POFQ we will probably use the boats). We won't be getting Drunk mind you.

Again Thanks for any help or Tips.

to the DISboards, DisneyZombie!

This is one of THE most frequently asked questions on these boards.

In the end, the answers average out to about 50-50, give or take.

(If any park is more difficult to handle by driving, it is MK.)

 

[JZCubed]

50-50, or so.

"Six of one, half-dozen the other."

I like to drink alcohol.

Always a short walk, bus, or stumble back to the hotel.

 

[lugnut33]

I think a lot of it depends on what type of person you are. Personally I dislike taking Disney Transport even though they do a great job considering the enormity of the task.

That said, for me the biggest stress during a trip is waiting for the bus. I wait in line enough at the parks, I like to be able to go right to my car and leave and go wherever I want to. There is nothing more frustrating than to come out of your room or out of the parks than to watch your bus pulling away before you can get there. I never have to run for my car.

 

[Herfnerd]

Yuppa - the answers will be split. We prefer WDW transportation.....

 

[polyfor4]

We use both Disney transportation and driving ourselves. We drive to AK because they often drop off for Blizzard Beach on the same route and we drive to HS for the night we watch Fantasmic- really long bus lines after. If you're planning on driving to Disney anyways just stay open to driving to the parks- its a nice back up plan to have. I would rely on Disney transportation for the most part just because it adds to the whole reality escape. You never know though, we've been glad we drove every time we've used out car instead of the bus!

 

[DisneyZombie]

Thank you Robo

Well I guess it'll be up to my fiancee then. I'm a bit of a control freak over this up coming trip. I have the touring plans book and it says from our hotels its shorter to drive than ride buses for the 3 parks other than magic kingdom because the buses by pass the ticket center. But after talking to a member on Disney they told be the buses for Magic kingdom visit POR first before our hotel which puts me a little off.

 

[DisneyZombie]

I think a lot of it depends on what type of person you are. Personally I dislike taking Disney Transport even though they do a great job considering the enormity of the task.

we've been glad we drove every time we've used out car instead of the bus!

Could Ya'll tell me how long it generally takes to get from your hotel to the parks while driving? I also plan to stay till closing for most parks, so we will be lagging behind while everyone else fights for the rush of getting out the parks.

 

[sharadoc]

I think a lot of it depends on what type of person you are. Personally I dislike taking Disney Transport even though they do a great job considering the enormity of the task.

That said, for me the biggest stress during a trip is waiting for the bus. I wait in line enough at the parks, I like to be able to go right to my car and leave and go wherever I want to. There is nothing more frustrating than to come out of your room or out of the parks than to watch your bus pulling away before you can get there. I never have to run for my car.

This is the main reason we drive also. We don't mind the wait at our hotel as much, but at the parks it can be a nightmare! Middle of the day, they don't run often enough and you could stand there for 45 minutes. End of day, everyone is trying to get on at once and you could wait multiple buses until you get on. Plus dealing with the SUV size strollers that are so loaded down with stuff that even folded take up 2 seats worth of space!

I swear, bus experiences have made me dislike multi-generation families travelling together, double all-terrain stroller families, and people who refuse to follow rules LOL. If I stay away from the buses, I have a happier vacation.

If you will have a car, I recommend driving to Epcot, DHS and AK. You're also close to Fort Wilderness where you can park in the Outpost lot, grab an internal bus and take a boat to MK which is fun. We even drive to MK, hop on the tram and ferry. Even if it takes as long as the bus, I'm moving all the time so it feels better. I's like taking back roads vs a highway with stop and go traffic - more miles but more moving.

 

[dizneemaineeak]

I'm greatly in favor of Disney transportation. If we have to wait for a bus then so be it. I just look at it as a small break to exhale amongst all fast-paced chaos of the parks.

 

[ahelmes71]

We stayed at POFQ in mid-October 2011. The crowds were very low and we found the Disney transport to be great. We never had to wait more than about 10 - 15 minutes for a bus, and we were always able to get on the first bus...no long lines of people except maybe the night we went to Fantasmic.

It was nice to not have to hassle with traffic, and additionally I think Disney soaks you for like $15 to park at the parks (unless you get free parking as a resort guest? not sure there). So for us, it worked out very well.

We just came back from a CBR trip last week and the buses still worked well for us, though they were a bit more crowded due to cheerleaders swarming in and taking over the resort.

 

[MrsDuck]

We prefer driving, except to MK.

 

[redkel]

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! You will have a memorable honeymoon at WDW.

I may be in the minority, but I look at the transportation to/from as a break from things-- to relax and "leave the driving to someone else." You also both have the flexibility of imbibing if you like. Drinking alcohol affects every single person differently and while you may not be drunk in the conventional definition, you could possibly be impaired and not know it.

We've never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus (values) except after one Fantasmic performance at HS last March. A friend suggested we should have taken the boat to EPCOT and then a bus to our resort, because of the closing time difference. There are ways to navigate the transportation system effectively if you take some time to research and map it out.

There are pros and cons to using DIS transportation. The biggest con is that you are on someone else's time schedule, but if you can overlook that -- then you shouldn't have a problem going with the flow.

Good luck with all your planning and welcome!

 

[hiwaygal]

We have always relied entirely on Disney transportation...sometimes it's busses, sometimes it's ferries or boats, sometimes the monorail, sometimes walking, and yes, even a cab once or twice!

Since you are driving anyway, it may be easier for you to drive to any of the parks except MK. At MK I'm not sure how it could be an advantage...in order to get back to the parking lot you have to wait in line for a monorail or a boat, don't you?

For all the others, you can drive BUT in order to maximize your relaxation and carefree vacation (especially while enjoying a drink now and again) I would highly recommend the busses.

 

[DisneyZombie]

Well I'm still on the Fence about it but I'm shaping a map out by the responses, I think for Epcot, MK, and DTD we will rely on the transportation, and drive to animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios.

@ Redkel
Thanks for the Wedding wishes, very excited.

Again thanks for the helps guys, Opinions and experiences are always nice.

 

[catra121]

I personally prefer taking Disney transportation and that has pretty much been buses for me based on where I have stayed. Last trip was with my parents and brother and since we stayed at Bonnet Creek instead of onsite (I did not care for it at all) my parents drove us to the parks every day. I did not like it at all and I wasn't even the one driving.

I just feel more relaxed taking the buses. I don't mind waiting in line and if I really want a seat (which I have to have now due to physical limitations) I will wait for the next one. Buses come pretty quickly in my opinion. Also keep in mind that while the drive itself may be quicker...parking, walking, taking the tram, etc does add up. The buses drop you off right at the front gate to the parks.

It really just depends on your personality more than anything. I don't want to or like to drive...hate dealing with parking lots and such. Some people REALLY HATE waiting in line so even if it's not a long wait it FEELS to them like they are waiting forever. Do whatever leaves you less stressed and happier. Since you will have the car anyway maybe start out with Disney transportation and then switch to driving if you end up liking that better.

 

[grimley1968]

Well I'm still on the Fence about it but I'm shaping a map out by the responses, I think for Epcot, MK, and DTD we will rely on the transportation, and drive to animal Kingdom and Hollywood studios.

@ Redkel
Thanks for the Wedding wishes, very excited.

Again thanks for the helps guys, Opinions and experiences are always nice.

I personally would never wait for a DtD bus if going there from my own resort, if I had my own car. The buses to DtD are notoriously infrequent, compared to park buses. I'd definitely drive there.

As far as parks go, we like to drive to all of them except MK. Since you have to park at the TTC, and then walk or tram to the ferry or monorail, driving doesn't necessarily save you much time versus waiting on a bus which drops you off right in front of MK. No other park has this scenario, so driving to them really can save time versus waiting on a bus.

 

[mm1971]

We rent a car and drive most of the time. We usually stay at POR/POFQ. It's just easier for us since we kind of "wing it" a lot. We park hop sometimes, do half days, go only for EMH and things like that. I know that most people plan, we just like to relax on vacation and not stress.

The few times we have taken the busses, admittedly at busy times, it just took too long to get where we were going. For example, we took a bus from CBR to Typhoon Lagoon. If you go out the hotel and take a left, TL is right down the street. On the bus, we take a right and go to 3 DTD stops first. Took almost an hour by the time we got there. I know this may be an extreme, but it does happen. After fantastic, it's nice not to have to fight the crowds for a bus and at both EPCOT and AK you can park close enough to just walk from the car to and from the parks.

Just our preference. I can see the benefits of just hopping on a bus and letting someone else bring you where your going and have friends that would never drive.

 

[jgh]

I also wanted to congratulate you! How exciting! My fiance and I will be going down April 2014 for our Honeymoon.

As far as the transportation I much, much prefer the buses to anything else. There are several reasons for this...
1) I don't like having to worry about my car when I'm on vacation. Gas, parking, etc. I just like to leave it in it's parking spot at the hotel. It's kind of helps complete the "break from reality" that Disney gives.
2) You often have much further to walk to your car than you do to a bus stop. After a long day in the park, I'd rather walk to my bus stop and sit on a bench or the ground than walk all the way to my car. ...even if you wait for a tram...the way I see it, you almost might as well wait for a bus anyway.
3) I find riding the buses/boats/monorails in between parks to be FUN. You get to sit...which is often the best part.
4) Occasionally you get a doubly awesome bus driver who starts your Disney day off & your ride to or from a park with an even more happy note!

I always feel like if I'm driving I'm missing out on something! Not sure why!

 

[DisneyZombie]

I personally would never wait for a DtD bus if going there from my own resort, if I had my own car. The buses to DtD are notoriously infrequent, compared to park buses. I'd definitely drive there.

As far as parks go, we like to drive to all of them except MK. Since you have to park at the TTC, and then walk or tram to the ferry or monorail, driving doesn't necessarily save you much time versus waiting on a bus which drops you off right in front of MK. No other park has this scenario, so driving to them really can save time versus waiting on a bus.

I mean the Ferry's for Downtown because we're staying at POFQ and they have a ferry boat that goes directly DTD.

The ferry's should be a lot better since its from the two Po resorts as opposed to buses shared by all.