Bus or Car at park closing?

[darrengs]

I am a firm believer in the bus system while at WDW. Even before ME I would use a car service and not have a rental car. The only time I feel that can be a hassle with the buses is getting to an early morning breakfast reservation or after fireworks or Fantasmic.

With that being said this August we may be driving down so I would have car and this does have me thinking. If I know I will be staying until after fireworks or Fantasmic am I better off taking the car to the park that day? Or will the wait for trams and getting out of the parking lot be just as bad?

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

We have not had a car at WDW in many years. We always rely on Disney transportation.

What we did at the MK on our last trip after Wishes was to simply sit on a bench near the castle as the throngs poured down Main Street to the exits. After 20 minutes or so we walking down a quiet Main Street to an equally peaceful bus station.

Just take your time at the closing of any park. Walk, shop, snack, window shop, do anything but join the mobs running for the exits. It only takes about twenty minutes or so for the crowds to disappear.

I can't imagine trying to get to a car and fighting all the vehicles trying to get out at the same time.

 

[iluveeyore]

I agree with the previous poster - anytime we go to the parks at night to see Fantasmic or Wishes, etc., we refuse to do the 'exit shuffle'. For Wishes, while everyone stampedes to the buses/parking with all their strollers and scooters, we head to Adventureland or Frontierland, find a snack and then a bench and just enjoy the ambiance of the night time at the park. After twenty minutes or so, we amble towards the exit visiting a couple of gift shops and then finally heading out to the buses. Instead of having spent half an hour waiting for a bus, we usually find after the 30-45 min. we have enjoyed relaxing in the park, we get right on a bus with an actual seat and head back to our resort. Did the same at Fantasmic - the gift shops always stay open a bit later than the attractions, and a bench for people watching is always free!

 

[LimeGreenEd]

Why sit in traffic for an hour when you can relax for 20 minutes and take the bus. I'm too tired at the end of the night to worry about driving back to the hotel.

 

[ntsammy5]

Why sit in traffic for an hour when you can relax for 20 minutes and take the bus. I'm too tired at the end of the night to worry about driving back to the hotel.

In well over 30 trips to WDW since 1990 we have always rented a car and always (except for last November) stayed onsite. We have NEVER encountered traffic jams exiting parking lots at park closing.

Having said that, this last week we stayed at POFQ and did not rent a car and found total dependence on WDW transportation to be very satisfactory. Never waited more than 10 minutes. Last Friday after the 9:00PM Wishes, we walked from the Noodle Terrace to the bus and were back in the resort by 9:35PM. I was truly impressed with that.

 

[darrengs]

Thanks for all if the input, it looks like we will be sticking with the buses.

 

[mareed]

In well over 30 trips to WDW since 1990 we have always rented a car and always (except for last November) stayed onsite. We have NEVER encountered traffic jams exiting parking lots at park closing.

We also almost always drive ourselves whether we're staying off-site or on and have never encountered any traffic jams leaving the parks at closing time. And we go at very busy times like Spring Break, July 4th, Thanksgiving, & XMAS! So, if there are no traffic jams at those times, I have a hard time believing there would be at others. I'm pretty sure we're frequently already home while others are still standing in line waiting for a bus or standing on a bus on their way back to their resort.

I really think you can't say for sure what's best for you until you try both yourself! We'll occasionally use Disney buses when the weather is great, it's an off-time of day (not opening or closing), or we have time to kill, but otherwise we want to be in total control of our commute time and prefer to drive ourselves.

 

[YayDisney!]

I agree with mareed and ntsammy5...we have NEVER encountered any traffic when leaving any park at closing. And we've done them all at closing many times during every trip. It's as simple as getting to your car and driving home. Absolutely no problem with traffic ever in the near 10 times we've visited WDW - always with a rental car.

Now Cedar Point at closing...that's a whole different story!

 

[dmanwi]

My 2 cents.

We LOVE having a car. Done on-site 4 times then offsite for 2 more. We have 3 kids and done it with 20 month olds all the way to a 9yo. Every time with a stroller.

Never a BIT of traffic in or out of the parks. We alway arrive early and leave late. Couple of times took an afternoon break. We always go off-season.

Bus
Good: Don't have to hassle of driving and messing with driving directions. No need to rent a car. Don't have to take a tram.

Bad: Just having to wait at a bus stop all the time (Im not patient). Folding up the stroller and getting it onto the bus, bumping people with it. Not fun late at night with a tired child. Standing and waiting late at night for the bus. Sometimes waiting for 3 busses to get on. Its almost always a longer from bus-room vs car-room (maybe offsets the park parking lot?). Not as easy to go to other resorts, downtown disney.

Car
Good: Can drop the tired and sleepy kids into the van rather than hold them on the bus along with bags, ect. Can have pj's, drinks/snacks waiting in the car for them. Taking the Monorail or Boat to/from the MK is actually fun. Can drive to other resorts easily, offsite for food or outlet stores.

Bad: Extra cost for a rental and gas, might get lost if you're not careful. Extra walking to the car, need to take the tram (usually a very short wait0.

 

[Bullseye]

My 2 cents.

We LOVE having a car.
Never a BIT of traffic in or out of the parks. We alway arrive early and leave late. Couple of times took an afternoon break.

Ditto that-love having a car. You get in and out of the parking lots no problem even at busy times. Driving around WDW is a piece of cake-even if you get lost, you can recover very quickly-all roads lead to Disney. So nice to have cold drinks waiting in the cooler when you get to the car. No waiting for the bus or the next bus while it starts pouring. You can eat at area restaurants or grocery shop for beer that doesn't cost $18.00 for 12 pack. You get to and from parks way faster also. It makes my trip better.

Buses are a really great perk, but I will always rent a car-it's way worth it.

 

[ntsammy5]

You can eat at area restaurants or grocery shop for beer that doesn't cost $18.00 for 12 pack.

You got that right

 

[Disney_Freak56]

I vote for the car, too, for all the reasons stated above.

Most guests like to use the bus system, so it only stands to reason that those that are staying for EMHs are using the buses. So your wait for a tram is definitely shorter, so you should be at your car in no time. I've never had to wait an hour to get out of the parking lot. I've never had to wait other than at the traffic light at the exit to DHS.