Bus or Car from OKW?

[Strangeite]

Looks like I will have a mini-van during our trip in January and was curious if most people prefer to drive their own vehicles to the parks from OKW or rely upon the buses?

 

[erionm]

We usually use Disney transportation when staying on property. We always have a car since we are locals.

 

[Brian Noble]

When I have a car, I tend to drive anywhere unless I'm going to MK or planning to have an adult beverage. That said, I'm planning to skip the rental car this trip--it wasn't that big of a deal.

 

[CarolA]

Brian and I think alike....... I never drive to MK. I will drive to the other parks, but if I think I might have more then one beer then I leave the driving to Disney! That's one of the advantages of staying on site

 

[Strangeite]

Thanks guys. It looks like many of us think alike. Since I have ADR for each day where I plan to have at least a two glasses of wine and/or beer, I will leave the driving to Disney.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We use Disney transportation MOST of the time when going to the parks. The only time we might use a car is if we are going to visit a restaurant at one of the other resorts. Occationally we will take our car when visiting AK if we have a time constraint on the other end of the day. We find AK buses tend to be longer waits and it takes longer to get there from many of the resorts, so that is the only park we occationally drive to.

 

[OKW Lover]

For those with their own car, OKW is a great place to plan on using it from. [I suspect my old english teacher would cringe at my sentence structure] Since you practically park in front of your "home", you are on your way to the park, resort, DTD, where-ever quickly.

The only place this really doesn't work out well is if you are going to the MK since parking in that lot still involves a tram to monorail/boat before getting to the MK. So, when we go to the MK we usually take the bus - and grumble about the wait.

 

[dianeschlicht]

For those with their own car, OKW is a great place to plan on using it from. [I suspect my old english teacher would cringe at my sentence structure] Since you practically park in front of your "home", you are on your way to the park, resort, DTD, where-ever quickly.

The only place this really doesn't work out well is if you are going to the MK since parking in that lot still involves a tram to monorail/boat before getting to the MK. So, when we go to the MK we usually take the bus - and grumble about the wait.

You should do the test we have done from OKW. We have had some taking the car and some taking the bus to the parks, and the bus people always win except when AK is involved. Sometimes the car people win to Epcot too, but that's usually in lower crowd times.

 

[OKW Lover]

You should do the test we have done from OKW. We have had some taking the car and some taking the bus to the parks, and the bus people always win except when AK is involved. Sometimes the car people win to Epcot too, but that's usually in lower crowd times.

Actually we have done that test. More than once. But we got different results than you did. We're also there during the lower crowd times. Go figure!!

 

[DebbieB]

I tested MK one time from our front door at OKW to the MK turnstiles, 25 minutes. Using the parking tram and express monorail. The one time I used the bus on my last trip at BWV it took over an hour to get to MK (first bus full, wheelchair waits, stop at Swan/Dolphin).

 

[JimMIA]

We don't test -- we just do what we like...which is to drive just about everywhere. We actually enjoy the boat or monorail to MK, and we especially like having the ability to go back to the resort for pool/nap time then return to the parks.

If you do that, driving saves a ton of time and is much less stressful than busing back and forth. In fact, if I had to name the most important change in our visits attributable to DVC, the slower pace and enjoying the resorts is it.

 

[Dean]

Wy wife and I were discussing this very issue while driving back from DD today. We would never stay at OKW without a car and drive everywhere except MK and if we're doing a triangle going to more than one park during the day. IF we split up, I usually take the car and others take the bus. To a degree ME is the golden handcuff, as Disney intended it to be.

 

[Brian Noble]

To a degree ME is the golden handcuff, as Disney intended it to be.

It's funny, but I've found that it almost doesn't matter if I have a car or not. I order a big pile of stuff from Garden Grocer at the beginning of the week. If I need more odds/ends, I always tell myself that I'll just duck out to Publix and get something, but I end up getting it at the resort store anyway, just 'cause it's easier. We don't tend to eat offsite very often, and Giordano's delivers!

 

[JimMIA]

We don't tend to eat offsite very often, and Giordano's delivers!

A few years ago, we enjoyed the other "Golden Handcuff" -- the Disney Dining Plan. However, after trying offsite dining, we will never go back and now consider offsite dining one of the prime benefits of having a car at Disney. There are some REALLY good restaurants offsite and we enjoy a good meal, especially when on vacation.

We have never tried cooking in our villa, and don't presently plan to try. If we did, it would probably be me BBQing something, rather than a real meal by the REAL cook in the family. I can certainly see where a nice homecooked meal could be a big plus for a family gathering...but for us, we'd rather go somewhere and be pampered.

 

[Dean]

It's funny, but I've found that it almost doesn't matter if I have a car or not. I order a big pile of stuff from Garden Grocer at the beginning of the week. If I need more odds/ends, I always tell myself that I'll just duck out to Publix and get something, but I end up getting it at the resort store anyway, just 'cause it's easier. We don't tend to eat offsite very often, and Giordano's delivers!

And there are still those that rent a car even with ME. But overall ME has shifted people's habits and this was Disney intentions I'm sure. I know if I were flying in and staying on property I'd likely not rent a car unless I had other reasons to do so.

 

[Brian Noble]

Well, to be fair, the only meal we eat in reliably is breakfast. And, that's more "assembly" than "cooking".

But, I'm lucky enough to live in a town with some pretty nice restaurants, so we don't get too worked up over the food on a Disney trip. Medicore, true, but usually with good atmosphere.

As to ME: we still will take a towncar back to the airport when we don't get a rental car. The bus back is No Fun. Tired, sunburned, and broke guests all heading back to the real world.

 

[dianeschlicht]

A few years ago, we enjoyed the other "Golden Handcuff" -- the Disney Dining Plan. However, after trying offsite dining, we will never go back and now consider offsite dining one of the prime benefits of having a car at Disney. There are some REALLY good restaurants offsite and we enjoy a good meal, especially when on vacation.

We have never tried cooking in our villa, and don't presently plan to try. If we did, it would probably be me BBQing something, rather than a real meal by the REAL cook in the family. I can certainly see where a nice homecooked meal could be a big plus for a family gathering...but for us, we'd rather go somewhere and be pampered.

Okay, so we don't like the DDP anymore either, but PLEASE!!!...Tell me about those off site restaurants! I'd love some new choices!

 

[JimMIA]

Okay, so we don't like the DDP anymore either, but PLEASE!!!...Tell me about those off site restaurants! I'd love some new choices!

Two of my favorites are Charley's for steaks and Columbia for anything.

Charley's is an exceptionally good steak house, and they have several locations including two on I-Drive. Not cheap, of course, but much better than any steak I've had onsite. (I haven't eaten at Shula's at WDW, but I've eaten at the original here in Miami, and Charley's is better.) Here's Charley's website: Charley's

Columbia is a Spanish (NOT Cuban) restaurant, with the original location based in the historic Ybor City area of Tampa. In the WDW area, we were thrilled to find one in Celebration because we don't have a Columbia in Miami. They have a widely varied menu, and everything I've ever eaten at any Columbia (Ybor City, St. Augustine, Longboat Key, etc.) has been very good. If you like salads, you have to try their "1905" salad. It's a meal in itself. A little more moderately priced. Here's their website: Columbia

We have a lot of very fine dining here in South Florida, and these two are both very, very good.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How about some good seafood places, Jim?

 

[Brian Noble]

There's a Fish Bones up I-Drive some that gets decent reviews, owned by the same guys who own Charlies. I haven't been there yet, but it's On My List.
http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/fishbones_orlando.html