Buses, Trains and Cars, OH MY!

[ilovecraigandcooper]

ANY AND ALL OPINIONS PLEASE!!!

We will have a car onsite. We're staying at All Star Music. I really, REALLY need advise on what days to drive and what days to take disney transportation!!!

Thursday: mnsshp (4:00-midnight) We will LIKELY stay until closing
Friday: MK (9-2) and then hop to Epcot for the rest of the night (staying for illuminations)
Saturday: not sure about the morning, ending the night at MK (wishes/etc)

I'm mostly concerned about what will require LESS walking. Driving or bus? Other than that, opinions on which is quicker considering our plans? Which is less complicated (with the hopping)? AND ANY OTHER ADVISE!!!

 

[Bullseye]

Many will tell you not to drive to MK. I will tell you, drive everywhere you go in WDW. The difference in walking is negligible compared to the benefits of a guaranteed seat and being able to come and go whenever you're ready.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Agree. Drive everywhere.

 

[Accident]

ANY AND ALL OPINIONS PLEASE!!!

We will have a car onsite. We're staying at All Star Music. I really, REALLY need advise on what days to drive and what days to take disney transportation!!!

I personally just want to slow down and enjoy the vacation, i use the transportation just because it's less for me to worry about, spend money on or stay safe.

Where a car really makes a lot of sense is early morning ADR and tours where buses aren't running as frequent yet. You happen to be in one of the resorts that just got the signs for when to expect the bus to arrive. Prior to that it was being insanely early and crossing your fingers while stressing out that you make it on time. Since you have teh car you can decide as you walk past the buses if you want to wait.

The other place it's really handy is resort to resort trips, those definitely take longer with disney transportation as you have to go somewhere and change to another bus,boat,etc.

leaving when the parks close or immediately after an evening event like fireworks or a parade can be annoying with heavy crowds, no bus seats on top of being exhausted.

To be honest, this is one thing that your just going to have to try both ways and decide. Most with cars feels it's more flexible and faster.

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

Thanks guys! Good to know about the sign saying how long until the next bus!

 

[bc7ate9]

Here's my opinion: Take Disney transportation everywhere. No need to rent a car, pay for parking, or get into a hot vehicle at the end of the day. You are going to be doing a whole lot of walking/standing at Disney...I don't know what will save you steps and I wouldn't even take that into account.

 

[msb578]

Here's my opinion: Take Disney transportation everywhere. No need to rent a car, pay for parking, or get into a hot vehicle at the end of the day. You are going to be doing a whole lot of walking/standing at Disney...I don't know what will save you steps and I wouldn't even take that into account.

Two things with this: it sounds like OP will have a car no matter what; there is no charge for parking when staying onsite.

 

[bc7ate9]

Two things with this: it sounds like OP will have a car no matter what; there is no charge for parking when staying onsite.

Oh, I didn't know you didn't have to pay to park. Reagrdless, I'd leave the car at the resort and my opinion stays the same. I hate driving - especially with so many other tourists, hate parking, hate getting from my parking spot to MK...I really like the buses with their announcements and music. I can easily stand for another 20-30 minutes at the end of the day if no seating is available. That is not a big deal to me at all.

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

We'll have our car regardless because we're driving from georgia. I had originally planned to just take the buses because it seemed like a no brainer but then I kept reading about how people recommended renting cars to go to the park so I thought driving would possibly be more beneficial...

 

[ilovecraigandcooper]

I don't think I'll mind waiting for buses at night but it might drive me crazy in the morning when I'm ready to GO HAVE FUN! LOL

 

[bc7ate9]

I don't think I'll mind waiting for buses at night but it might drive me crazy in the morning when I'm ready to GO HAVE FUN! LOL

I feel the same way - driving would just make me more anxious, though. I'd be stressed by the time I got to the park. The buses come very regularly in the morning. You may have to stand sometimes.

 

[BobC]

Hmm when we rented a car before we used it for our resort ADRs or to resort-hop. We did use it when we were sick of the buses and wanted to drive to EPCOT or DtD. Just nice to leave the driving to someone else and use someone else's gas.

Other than that, the car was seldom used.

 

[AquaDame]

I don't like waiting for the buses (especially in the morning) and waiting sometimes 2-3 buses to get on one to stand all the way home at night squished in like sardines (if you leave at park closing) so we drive... its actually less stressful for us since we can leave whenever we want and go wherever we want. Driving is easy to us! Looking forward to not having to do either to get to MK this trip though since we are staying on the monorail line for the first time ever!

Edited to add for full disclosure - I take a train to work every day. The waiting, standing, and smooshing up against strangers smelling B.O. is my day to day life. Seems like a lot of people want a vacation from driving, I like a vacation from the reality of public transit, lol.