Best method to get around...

[ajgardner]

It's a long story, but we are going to end up with a rental car for our entire Florida stay (4 nights with family, 5 nights Disney World and 4 nights cruise). We are staying at the Poly so I know that Magic Kingdom and Epcot will be easiest using the monorail. However, what would you recommend for the Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney? Would catching the bus or driving/parking the rental be easier? (We have AAA and I heard about some "preferred parking" also...)

 

[goofy4tink]

I would certainly drive to DTD!! The others are pretty much what you feel like doing. You could walk over to TTC and get a direct bus to both DHS and AK. The bus that services the Polynesian will make addtl stops. Driving to TL probably makes sense as well. Much better to just get in your car and head back vs waiting around for the bus to finally get there.

 

[bdklein]

It's a long story, but we are going to end up with a rental car for our entire Florida stay (4 nights with family, 5 nights Disney World and 4 nights cruise). We are staying at the Poly so I know that Magic Kingdom and Epcot will be easiest using the monorail. However, what would you recommend for the Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney? Would catching the bus or driving/parking the rental be easier? (We have AAA and I heard about some "preferred parking" also...)

Keep in mind that the boat that goes MK/GF/Poly is also a good way to get to the MK. Especially if you see it coming and you are near the dock at the Poly. And when the monorail is not running, due to upplanned problems or its normal schedule of stopping 1 hour after MK park closing.

Do keep in mind you can also walk to/from the TTC for the MK Express Monorail and MK Ferry-some do. Not sure if it is advantageous.

The AAA preferred parking is a benefit of booking through AAA. Think you need to do a package (maybe only certain ones). And some say the AAA parking places at the parks aren't so great.

 

[ajgardner]

I would certainly drive to DTD!! The others are pretty much what you feel like doing. You could walk over to TTC and get a direct bus to both DHS and AK. The bus that services the Polynesian will make addtl stops. Driving to TL probably makes sense as well. Much better to just get in your car and head back vs waiting around for the bus to finally get there.

Would it be quicker to drive, find a parking spot and get to the entrance or just jump on a bus and get dropped off? Or will it be a tie? I'm looking for the quickest and least difficult way to do things.

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[Wishes Count]

IMO driving yourself is almost always faster and less hassle with the exception of MK

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[dburg30]

Would it be quicker to drive, find a parking spot and get to the entrance or just jump on a bus and get dropped off? Or will it be a tie? I'm looking for the quickest and least difficult way to do things.

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Sorry.. IMO that is many times mutually exclusive..

 

[ajgardner]

Sorry.. IMO that is many times mutually exclusive..

I was thinking that may be the case....which would you say is quicker and which is less difficult? In your opinion...

 

[dburg30]

I was thinking that may be the case....which would you say is quicker and which is less difficult? In your opinion...

Well, less difficult is get on a bus and let WDW take you to the bus stop.. To leave, get on the bus back to the resort.. This is what we do 100%. Quicker... well, obviously many people think driving is faster, and I'm sure it is in cases. You can push the speed limit, get moving faster then buses etc. If a bus just came you would be leaving while I'm still waiting.. Depending on time of day.. You could be parking in the back 40, when I am getting dropped off closer to the park.. You have to catch a tram, remember where you parked etc.. When you leave you have your own car with your own climate control and not the closeness of your hot sweaty bus mates lol.. If you are dead tired or happened to have a beer or two, you still have to safely get back..


As you can see there is no total answer ... Again, we bus it, period. It has worked for us very well. It CAN take some time, but in OUR case it doesnt matter to us.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

With DTD I found two coin toss issues; difficulty parking and crowded bus waits,
each are frustrating. If we are going to DTD and Hess for a drink run we drive. If not and its not late at night, we'll take the bus.

Parking at MK is such a pain, but so are long lines at the bus the end of he day or it is downpouring. There is some wait between buses, but not terrible.

 

[ajgardner]

We will probably just go with the flow and just do whatever feels right in the moment. We had planned on using all Disney transportation before we decided to keep the rental car, so it won't make a huge difference to us. Thanks for all the input!

 

[Missyrose]

For MK, take the monorail. For everything else? If I had a rental car and the AAA diamond pass, I'd drive. Driving to Epcot has always been quicker and easier than taking the monorail. The walk from the AAA spots to the front gate is about equal to the walk from the Epcot bus stops.