For those of you who rent cars AND use Disney transportation

eeyoresmom · Feb 27, 2015

When do you drive and when do you use Disney transportation? We actually don't mind the buses and I have not rented a car at Disney in many years. We go often enough that I don't usually worry about maximizing time. Next months trip involves 3 resorts in 9 days (ASMU, AKV and OKW), plus we are bringing a first timer and ARE trying to maximize time. I know we will use the car to transfer luggage between resorts, and definitely the evening we have planned for DTD. Besides that I am sure we will do a mix of using the buses and driving. What do you do?

disneyeveryyear · Feb 27, 2015

I can tell you that DTD is the main reason to use a bus right now. The parking and traffic are horrific.

Pete W. · Feb 27, 2015

We always fly into MCO and rent a car. We're DVC members and almost always stay at our home resort BWV. When staying at the Boardwalk, we can obviously walk to both Epcot and DHS, and we always take the bus to MK because it's much faster and easier than parking at the TTC. But we always drive to AK, TL/BB and DTD. Plus I will drive my wife and daughter to SSR for a spa day. And I like to go off-site to purchase groceries. However we typically don't go offsite to visit non-Disney attractions or restaurants.

So, could we 'make do' with Disney transportation? Absolutely, but I really like the flexibility and convenience of a rental car. Plus we got an extraordinary deal from Alamo via our Costco membership this year so we're definitely renting a car during our 10-day trip this summer.

dancin Disney style · Feb 27, 2015

We have rented a car for the length of stay, rented for only a couple of days and not rented at all.

When we rent for the length of stay we drive every where except MK. If we only rent for a few days it's typically so that we can go off site to shop and go to a few favourite places for dinner. We tend to plan those days as non park days. Not renting at all, well, that means we don't exit the WDW bubble until we head to the airport.

shoes99 · Feb 28, 2015

We take DME to our resort then rent a car at the car care center with National. We drive off site to eat at Bob Evans, do some grocery shopping, and also take the car to Epcot, Hollywood studios and Ak and also to visit other resorts. DH has a scooter so he likes taking the scooter in the rental van. Last month we took the scooter on the bus to MK. It was ok bt we got stuck in a very heavy downpour so we only spent 1 1/2 hours at MK before returning to our hotel. DH usually just likes taking the car. We wanted to eat at EOS at the Marketplace so we parked in handicap parking near Cirque and took the water taxi to the Marketplace and back. It worked ok, I was worried about not getting a space.

ColorsoftheWind1 · Mar 2, 2015

After our last trip in late Jan we are renting a car for our next trip. We enjoy eating at many other resorts and usually try to get there from our resort (POFQ) and the transfer from a park bus was wasting serious time, and patience lol. We had made the mistake of trying to take the bus from downtown to beach club. Nope. Took a detour to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon, which ever was open, the Sawn and Dolphin, the Yacht Club before BC. It took so long, mainly because of the way the traffic was around DD I believe. Didn't make that mistake again!

We are planning another trip and staying POFQ again and will take the bus to MK and probably the other parks, and the boat to DtD and use the car for other resorts and errands off property. We are thinking about extending our trip off property so we will already have the car we'll need for that!

Maybe we'll try driving to AK ourselves! The parking lot doesn't seem too far.

eeyoresmom · Mar 2, 2015

Those bus rides to DTD have always been bad. I'm sure the construction has made it worse but I remember a trip from POR to AKL to eat at Boma using the DTD bus that took 4 hours! We did not wait at Boma or linger over dinner either, much of that was transportation time.

msp2mco · Mar 2, 2015

We have done various versions, just like many of the pp's. The flexibility is what we like about the rental car. Our DS loves the buses, so even if we drive, he takes the bus. It's interesting to see who gets there first--it's often about the same time. When we stayed at AKL, he usually got form the lodge to the destination first, but coming back was a different story.

After some long waits for buses and BCV to get to the parks and at AK to return to our resort, we decided that having a car was the best way to maximize our time in the parks. So...we always take the buses to MK. Otherwise, we drive, unless we are staying at BCV or BWV and walking to Epcot or HS. We also drive to a grocery store, and we feel like we save some time getting to the airport instead of using Magical Express.

Ladcassidy · Mar 2, 2015

Rental car for length of stay. Boat or bus to MK. Drive and park everywhere else. Love being able to head back to MCO on our own timetable.

Dewy · Mar 2, 2015

During our first few trips to DW we used the busses and never thought we'd need a car...then we had kids. We rented cars when they were toddlers to have the flexibility in case we needed a quick exit and 10 years later we're still renting a car. The convenience and flexibility are worth it in my opinion especially when you've got dining reservations, need groceries, or want to explore some off site dining. The only time we use DW transportation now is if we stay at the Poly or Wilderness Lodge; then we use the boat to MK.

georgina · Mar 3, 2015

We rent a car and drive to all the parks. Haven't been to DTD in years. The only time I have used Disney transportation is on solo trips.

meejay · Mar 3, 2015

We rent a car and drive everywhere, even MK. With the double stroller it stresses us out on the buses having to hold to folded up stroller and corral two kids. Even though we have to take the tram to the TTC it's on our own time and we usually get a row to ourselves so its me, kid 1, kid, 2, stroller then DH. Not as rushed I feel like.

BJC15 · Mar 4, 2015

We drive everywhere. The only exception would be if more than 2 alcoholic beverages may be consumed on the outing. I enjoy driving and find the boat from the TTC to MK very relaxing in the morning. I have no love for busses as all. Not Disney busses in particular as I think they do a great job, I just dislike busses in general.

LBIJim · Mar 4, 2015

We always rent a car. For MK, Disney transit is the best option. For other parks, it really depends on how we feel that day. Might drive, or might take the bus. If we're planning on having a few drinks, we take the bus. On most days we go offsite for a while, so a car is necessary. The flexability of having a car is well worth the cost.

Day-Day · Mar 5, 2015

We have always had a vehicle and the ability to park hop on our visits. We drive to almost all the parks when staying at moderates and values. On more recent visits, we have driven to the MK more often than we use the buses. We do Rope Drop but may end up going back to the resort, DTD, or another park on any given day. Pretty much, unless the resort is next to the park, we will drive; even the MK. We drive to DTD and water parks as well.

OrangeCountyCommuter · Mar 5, 2015

Disney transport is ALWAYS used to Magic Kingdom since the parking lot is nowhere close to the park. For the time being it's used to DTD because Disney has screwed that up so badly, but as general rule I am just staying away from the place until it's done!

Amanda999 · Mar 5, 2015

I used to say I drive everywhere except MK, but mid-February 2015 (busy Presidents week - when you'd think there'd be lots of buses) I waited over 45 minutes for a bus from MK to AK. (We gave up, did the long walk around to our value resort's bus stop, and waited some more....)

Even though you have to get to and from TTC, at least you are MOVING and know (basically) when you will get where you are going. I don't mind waiting a bit - I find it a nice time to chat with the kids and look around - but after 1/2 a day in a park, standing there for an hour is just not how I want to spend vacation.

Most of the time I've had no problem with the buses, but I dread the exceptions so much I usually get a car. The cost is pretty minor compared to the rest of a Disney vacation.

Oh - and DTD: despite the horrible traffic, DH refuses to take a bus there at all. He has never gotten there or back in less than 45 minutes (or so) from any resort -probably just bad luck, but still. So we go at off times to DTD, by car only (or boat if staying at POR or POFQ).

GillianP1301 · Mar 6, 2015

We always drive around WDW, but our upcoming trip we are staying at WL for the first time. In this case, I will use Disney transport for MK only.

In the past, I have always driven to TTC for MK but that was not staying at a MK area and I did test (when staying at CBR) bus to MK vs. parking at TTC and monorail to MK and the driving was faster, but only by 5 minutes. So I considered that a wash and continued to just drive because I like it better. But, staying at a MK resort changes that because the drive to get to TTC from WL is a bit roundabout so I figure the bus or boat from WL is really not that much different in time/convenience than the ferry or monorail from TTC. I will continue to drive everywhere else though because it is faster and I definitely prefer being in charge of my own travel.

For those of you who rent cars AND use Disney transportation

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