Any other resort guests drive to parks?

[klj27]

The one thing that I have never enjoyed at WDW are the busses. During our last trip we drove to the parks each day and found it to be so much more convenient. (Especially since we bring our own stroller.) Is there any one else who drives instead of using WDW transportation?

I did have a friend tell me that they would only use WDW transportation at MK so they could avoid the TTC. Any thoughts?

 

[califred]

I've never stayed on site but will be this fall and I too plan on driving except maybe to MK depending on where we end up staying.

 

[*Susan*]

I'm with you. We have had a rental car on every one of our trips. We use the monorail or the boats (depending on where we are staying) and that's pretty much it. The only time I have ever been on a WDW bus is from the FW parking lot to Pioneer Hall for the Hoop Dee Doo.

I think it's very convenient to drive everywhere - getting on a bus just isn't my idea of a vacation, but that's just me. I know that other people like the "I don't have to drive" aspect and that works for them.

 

[cocowum]

We rented a car for the first time last year and preferred it to riding the buses. We will be renting a car again this year.

 

[weluvpluto]

We always drive too, I have thought about trying to take the bus to MK to avoid TTC, but we always end up driving

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I think the fact that WDW offers transportation is wonderful and an economical, environmentally friendly option for many vacationers. However I agree with other posters, a bus is just not our idea of vacation. This will be my 12th trip to WDW and my family (when I was little) and I always have a car on site and drive 90% of the time to the parks. I'm 23 and have always managed to find a rental car company that rents to people under 25 as well! However, on every trip, if we are not staying at the Poly, then when we eat at Ohanas, we take the monorail to the MK. I took my DH on the monorail on our last trip there and he was like a little kid on Christmas! He had his face pushed up against the glass practically watching the scenery go by going "Too cool!" But besides the monorail were just not big fans of public transportation, we like the freedom to be able to get up and go without being on a schedule, even if it's only as small a schedule as a bus pick up time.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Count us as one of the families that views not driving as part of the vacation experience. We love Disney transportation - DW would be too stressed driving on strange roads - let Disney do the driving.

 

[MickiMouth]

We have stayed on-site 5 times and have never used Disney transportation. We have either had our own car or a rental. I wouldn't mind the boats or monorail but I don't think I'd like to use the buses.

 

[DebbieB]

The only time we take a bus is if we go to MK at night. If everyone is leaving at once like after Wishes, it's easier to walk over for the bus. If we go during the day, we drive. Hate busses when they are crowded.

 

[weregoingtodw]

We rent a car as well. We'll take the monorail to Magic Kingdom & Epcot, but MGM & AK, as well as the water parks, DTD, etc., we'd rather drive.

 

[Rootskate]

We always rent a car to get around. It just seems like less of a hassle to be able to come and go whenever we want.

 

[TiggerStac]

We use a rental car to get around. Even for going from park to park..unless we are going from Magic Kingdom to EPCOT and vice versa. For us, it just seems to be easier.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I have found that when we go either early in the day or late in the afternoon, we oftentimes can get a parking spot very close to the gate of the park or TTC. However, we mostly use the buses for the major resorts and our car for the water
parks and DD.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Now I don't feel so silly! I had planned to rent a car at MCO, but when they announced Magical Express, I scrapped that and opted to rent a car in DTD the morning after we arrive. Call me crazy, but I would feel trapped without a car (probably the so cal blood!) Besides, we are planning to visit Kennedy Space Center, have a nice dinner at Emeril's, and find a Sonic while we're there! We're such tourists...

 

[lillygator]

Since we live in Florida and drive up, we always drive to the parks...

 

[bugsy]

if you are staying on site, is the parking free at the resorts
parks, and restaurants? I've been planning to use WDW
transportation, but I might change my mind. where are the
car rental offices at WDW? is there one near the YC/BC?
one more question...could we rent a car at WDW, and drop
it off at US where we will be for the 4 days following WDW
(staying at the HRH-car rental office nearby? any charge
for parking at the resorts/parks/restaurants?) how much
should I expect to pay for rental? any deals out there?
okay, so that wasn't just one question, oh well.....

 

[*Susan*]

Pirate Shop Girl: Too funny! We are going to find a Sonic too. They closed ours here in No Ca several years back & the only time I get my beloved grilled cheese/onion rings/cherry coke meal is in Vegas or Disneyworld. I can't wait. We are going for Mother's Day

 

[weluvpluto]

if you are staying on site, is the parking free at the resorts
parks, and restaurants? I've been planning to use WDW
transportation, but I might change my mind. where are the
car rental offices at WDW? is there one near the YC/BC?
one more question...could we rent a car at WDW, and drop
it off at US where we will be for the 4 days following WDW
(staying at the HRH-car rental office nearby? any charge
for parking at the resorts/parks/restaurants?) how much
should I expect to pay for rental? any deals out there?
okay, so that wasn't just one question, oh well.....

As long as you're staying onsite, parking is free at the theme parks. There is not a charge to park in the self parking areas of the resorts. As for deals on car rentals, I would check mousesavers for codes and advice.
http://www.mousesavers.com/rentalcar.html

 

[becka]

We always used the busses on the trips with just DH and I and we really enjoyed them. We viewed it as part of the experience and we liked not having to drive.

Our last trip was the first with our son and we decided to rent a car because I didn't like feeling "trapped" at WDW just in case we needed something. I thought we would still mostly ride the busses but after we drove a few times we really liked it. It was easier getting around than I thought it would be and it was nice to have DS's car seat in the car rather than carrying him on the bus when he was tired.

 

[Tinkaroo]

We always rent a car. We tried one trip using WDW Transportation, and broke down and rented a car by the 3rd day. It wasn't that the buses were awful, but when it's almost 100 degrees and humid outside, I'd rather be inside my air-conditioned car high-tailing it to a theme park than waiting on a bench for a bus!

All the roads inside the World are so clearly marked - you won't get lost if you're just tooling around on property. I love the freedom of coming and going at will (and it just isn't Disney to me if you don't ride the parking tram...)