Any other resort guests drive to parks?

[Alicnwondrln]

we also like driving we save sooo much time and can do more and its great late at night your not standing around waiting and then packing on to a bus were people are standing and its not safe

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Sometimes we rent a car, sometimes we don't. I think it's definintely a good thing to have if you're staying at a "home away from home resort", that way you can get to the grocery store easier. Also we have enjoyed being able to drive to dinner at night, or to DTD. We definitely use the Disney Transportation a lot though. Our kids really enjoy taking the monorail and boats. The bus is OK too as long as it's not around park opening time or closing time.

 

[the kabuki]

In the past we used buses, this last trip we rented a car and will never be without one again. It was wonderful!!! Especially with little kids, strollers, packages etc.

 

[mamaprincess]

My husband insists on renting a car even though we stay on property. He's got control issues.

 

[Aidensmom]

We live in FL, so we always have our car when we go, we take the bus sometimes, car sometimes, depends on what we are doing. After riding a bus where I had to stand holding both my toddler and the stroller on the way back to the resort from a park, I definately say the car is the way to go. They put way too many people on some of those buses, and I just don't understand how it can be unsafe to not have your small child in a carseat in a car, but yet it is perfectly safe(?) to be holding them on a crowded bus! However, if DH and I are going to PI or elsewhere to have a few drinks, Disney transportation is the smartest way to go.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

and we will drive down from atlanta... But we are planning on using the park transportation. My husband is looking forward to being able to just park the car for a week. With gas at 2.12 a gallon, so am I!

That's amusing to me that you are finding gas expensive, I'm from the UK and we think gas (we say petrol) is sooooooooooo cheap in the US. We always drive to the parks.

 

[Sammie]

This is a very interesting thread, seems many prefer to drive instead of using Disney transportation.

However on a recent thread asking is it worth $400 more to stay onsite, the overwhelming reply was Yes, and the convenience of Disney transportation was listed as a main reason.

 

[weluvpluto]

That's amusing to me that you are finding gas expensive, I'm from the UK and we think gas (we say petrol) is sooooooooooo cheap in the US. We always drive to the parks.

What do you pay for a gallon over there?

 

[cobbler]

Last year when we were at All Stars we drove because it was much easier than taking the bus that shares with 3 other resorts and having to wonder about standing or sitting or even if you will make the first bus or not.

That is the only time we did and it worked out so much better for us. Besides that resort we take their transportation.

 

[magicmouse2]

We do drive to parks as we rent a car to eat offsite at chinese restaurants, and shop. We have never had problems with buses. Only time using busses are bothersome is late evening after parades and fireworks when kids are tired and have to be carried.

 

[DiznEeyore]

We always rent a car (well, except for one quick trip and we missed having one). We hate being "tied" to the WDW transporation, because we love to be able to pick up and go whenever and wherever we want.

That being said, we use the buses at least half the time. The only park we absolutely won't drive to is the MK...the TTC is a hassle IMO. Besides, we're usually at the VWL so we have access to the lovely boat ride!

 

[BigOnDis]

We drive from our resort to other resorts for dinner and maybe to DTD, but I love not driving and worrying about parking and such at the park. Then again we don't have a stroller to lug around so that might make a difference.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We usually drive to the parks, esp if we're stuck at a resort with bus only transportation - like CBR or POP that had loooooooooong waits and crowded buses.

You can usually snag a close parking spot, and be in and out long before your bus is there. They do a great job getting cars in and out of the parking lots, it's down to an art!

We found we can maximize our time there if we don't have to stand and wait on buses.

 

[va32h]

I would not rent a car during a WDW stay, but since we drive to WDW anyway, we have taken our van to the parks from time to time.

When we stayed at the Poly, we didn't drive anywhere - used Disney Transportation for everything.

When we stayed at AKL, we drove to the MK on the night we were staying for the Christmas Party. At the end of the night, when we were totally exhausted, it was nice to just hop in the car, instead of waiting in line for the bus, folding up the stroller, carrying the exhausted kids, etc.

When going from resort to resort, we usually drove.

 

[alyssa810]

We ALWAYS have a car, and unless we're staying at WL and going to MK, we always drive to the parks. The first time we stayed onsite we were car-less, and our only complaint was about the buses. You can get really good rates if you just check the websites...we just got back Friday it was $94 for our car for the week! Not having to stand in line to stand on a bus after you've been standing in line can really make a difference in your vacation!

 

[CheezDoodle]

I like the disney transportation better partly because I think it's part of the vacation, and partly because driving in our car makes me carsick.

 

[DisneyMim]

We always drive to the parks. We find this much less hassle than waiting for buses, etc. The only time we do not use our car is when we stay at a monorail resort and use the monorail to MK. We love to resort hop for dinner, or go to DTD and find a car so easy. Once you REALLY know your way around (and it's not how Disney sends you) it's so much faster and easier with a car.

 

[oogieboogie]

we're half and half. We usually rent a car but we do take the buses. Some days we drive, especially if we're going to an early morning breakfast at another resort and know we'll be hopping all over the place.

Other times, we'll just take the bus because we're too lazy to drive. It just depends on the mood.

I know my way around Disney by now that it doesn't take long at all to drive from one park to the other. The nice thing about driving is you can go straight from resort to resort without having to transfer at the parks/DTD and seeing as we love eating at the resort restaurants, it's a big plus to be able to get there in 10 minutes as opposed to 30min to 1hr.

 

[madalex]

We always rent a car at WDW because we like eating at the different resorts and we all know how hard it is to go from resort to resort using Disney transportation.

We usually stay at YC or AKL. From YC, buses only go to MK and AK. We use the bus to MK since it takes you all the way up to the park; if we drove, having to park and then take the monorail or the ferry would be a hassle. However, we do drive to AK. The bus ride, for some reason, seems to take forever and we find it much more convenient to drive there, especially as there is minimal advantage as to where we can park our car versus where the bus will drop us off.

When we stay at AKL, we take the bus to all the parks. The bus service is pretty good, the MK bus trip has the same advanatges as set forth above, the trip to AK is (obviously) much shorter than from YC, and there are (in my mind) no major advantages to driving to the other parks, so it is just easier to take the bus.

 

[BostonRob]

I don't know why, but I love having a rental car and I always stay on property. I usually only drive it one or two days, usually going to MK and AK (I usually stay in the Epcot resort area, so I can walk/take the ferry to Epcot and MGM). This trip I'm staying at SSR for three nights, so I will probably get a car again. I think Disney busses are great and do a great job, but I agree, I hate waiting for them, I like to go when I want to go.

Wait til you find out that a 3 day rental will cost you as much or more than a weekly rental. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. We're going for 4 days and though I could get weekly rates for under $100, a rental for 4 days is costing me around $120. RIDICULOUS. And they won't let you book it for a week and return it early either. Makes no sense to me.

Anyway, count me as somebody who's always relied on Disney transportation pre-children, but now that I have a child I'll be renting a car. It will be easier to have a stroller in the trunk and I just feel safer having her in a carseat than on a bus.

And just because I rode the busses in the past, doesn't mean I liked it. Nothing worse than waiting for a bus after you've spent the day waiting for a bus, then being forces to cram on and stand on a crowded bus.