Car on Property

[Imagineer22]

We are leaving in 3 weeks to go to the world and are now finalizing our plans. Unfortunately we have had to downsize the trip due to work related issues so this will be the first time we are driving instead of flying. We are staying for 7-nights at the POP Century and will be there over the July 4th holiday. Are there any places that are better to drive to instead of taking the disney bus?

Some of the areas we were thinking of driving to are:

-First night Hoop-dee-doo Review 9:30pm show.

-Any time going to Down Town Disney.

-Dinner at Jiko 8pm at DAK Lodge.

-7:25am reservation at Chef Mickeys (Does disney transportation even run this early? We are doing EPCOT this day so where should we park?).

-July 4th - EPCOT. This one I am really torn about because we have heard of the horrendous traffic, but aren't the busses stuck in the traffic too? Although we have also thought of taking the monorail to MK to let car traffic clear and enjoy the park. This only works if hours change to a later closing time than 11 like they should Seriously Disney...closing at 11 on a MAJOR holiday? Really Disney??

Thanks for any help!

 

[distips]

First night Hoop-dee-doo Review 9:30pm show.
Use your car. Getting back to Pop will be difficult using Disney transport.

Any time going to Down Town Disney.
I would drive, but parking is sometimes annoying.

-Dinner at Jiko 8pm at DAK Lodge.
Again, drive. Getting back to your resort is easier in your car.

-7:25am reservation at Chef Mickeys (Does disney transportation even run this early? We are doing EPCOT this day so where should we park?).
You could opt to take a bus to the MK, and then monorail over to Chef Mickey's, and then take 2 monorails to Epcot. Certainly doable either way. If you use your car, you would park it at the Contemporary, then drive to Epcot. Parking at Epcot is the easiest for late arrivers.

-July 4th - EPCOT. This one I am really torn about because we have heard of the horrendous traffic, but aren't the busses stuck in the traffic too?
Traffic isn't too bad while you're within Disney property. I-4 and 292 could be jammed. The busses will not get backed up. If you're driving, try to avoid Buena Vista Drive (the road that runs by Downtown Disney.) The many lights make this a slow drive.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Once you drive you will never want to go back to busses. You will be amazed how little time it takes to get to and from the parks, when you don't have to wait on the busses, then wait for the busses to unload, then wait for everyone to get on the bus. By the time the bus is pulling away from the stop, I'm parking my car.

The only place you may want to take Disney Transportation is to MK, because you park at the TTC. However, we now drive to MK too, mainly for the ride back at park closing. We take the resort monorail over to the TTC (always a shorter line) and drive back to the resort, the wait is never long (compared to the busses) and I always get to sit in my car (something that rarely happens at night leaving MK on the bus).

For the Chef Mickey's breakfast I would drive to the TTC and take the monorail to the CR. Or it might be easier to just drive to the CR, then drive to Epcot, yeah that might be the better way to go, it will take much less time that relying on Disney Transport.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I drive almost everywhere. I have a rental car on every trip. I like having control over when and where I go. We take the bus to DTD sometimes.

 

[mom2faith]

We have only driven and will again this year. We did not find the traffic to be bad at all and we liked having freedom too.

The worst part was navigating from the Airport to WDW - after that it was a breeze and we even did Universal, Sea World and a few trips to Target.

As long as you get there early, you do not even need the parking trolleys, we were often parked close enough to walk to the park entrance.

I did see long waits for crowded busses, but maybe that is what I was looking for - KWIM??

As for your plans, I would absolutely drive to your late Hoop Dee Do and your early Chef Mickeys.

However for July 4th - take the bus. It is going to be a zoo!! And, although it is easy, I would not want to manover through the traffic jam at then end of that day. Relax and leave the stress for the bus driver. Plan to wait for a long time whether you drive or not and even have games or something ready for that time. We used wait times to look at the photos on the digital camera - it distracted us and then you do not feel like you are waiting as long.

Have fun!!

Amy

 

[pepe of ohio]

Even back in the 80's and 90's when we drove to WDW, we just left our car in the lot. We rely soley on Disney transportation and have had a great time on every single trip. If you're planning on having a few drinks at the parks, or downing a few at the HDDR, all the beer and sangria included, I'd recommend the bus. One of the reasons we go to Disney, having a few drinks most anywhere, except the MK, and not worrying about driving out of state and DUI's. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Once you drive you will never want to go back to busses. You will be amazed how little time it takes to get to and from the parks, when you don't have to wait on the busses, then wait for the busses to unload, then wait for everyone to get on the bus. By the time the bus is pulling away from the stop, I'm parking my car.

The only place you may want to take Disney Transportation is to MK, because you park at the TTC. However, we now drive to MK too, mainly for the ride back at park closing. We take the resort monorail over to the TTC (always a shorter line) and drive back to the resort, the wait is never long (compared to the busses) and I always get to sit in my car (something that rarely happens at night leaving MK on the bus).

For the Chef Mickey's breakfast I would drive to the TTC and take the monorail to the CR. Or it might be easier to just drive to the CR, then drive to Epcot, yeah that might be the better way to go, it will take much less time that relying on Disney Transport.

10 thumbs up and DITTO.

We stopped riding the busses ages ago.....ESPECIALLY when it's warm. Ug - a bus full of hot sticky bodies or a car with the AC blasting!

We get everywhere faster and with far less hassle and just WAVE to the people on the bus.

You will LOVE having your car!

 

[Twilight Terror]

-First night Hoop-dee-doo Review 9:30pm show.

First night Hoop-dee-doo Review 9:30pm show.
Use your car. Getting back to Pop will be difficult using Disney transport.

Not true. It's actually very simple! If you are attending the 9:30pm show, then there is a bus serivce available at the end of the pathway on the right as you come out of Pioneer Hall, which take you directly to your resort. It's probably better to do HDD on transport, because you cannot drive around FW. You have to park at the Outpost, then catch the internal buses to Pioneer Hall, whereas if you don't drive you can catch a bus direct to FW from any park. Or, better yet, if you're at MK, you can catch the boat to FW, which docks right next to Pioneer Hall, and no need for internal resort buses!

-Any time going to Down Town Disney.

DT can be a pain at nighttime, well any time for that matter. The buses never seem all that frequent, at least not for my resort! You should be relatively okay to either drive or bus it in the daytime, but nighttime might be an idea to drive, unless you're drinking of course!

-Dinner at Jiko 8pm at DAK Lodge.

Any resort reservations it's better to drive. Last year, we left POR 2 and 1/2 hours before our ressie at Grand Floridian, and STILL ended up being late thanks to lack of buses and monorails!

-7:25am reservation at Chef Mickeys (Does disney transportation even run this early? We are doing EPCOT this day so where should we park?).

Buses officially start running one hour before the parks open, but there should also be 'breakfast buses' before that, which are for the sole purpose of getting you to your ADR. However, I have never seen or caught one - too busy sleeping!

-July 4th - EPCOT

Now that really is a difficult one. I should imagine Disney resorts will be completely full, so the buses will be too. Which means if you get to the back of the queue, it could be a 4, 5 or maybe even 6 bus wait, and unlike regular nights, everywhere is going to be busy, not just one place, so there will probably be a lack of spare buses available to help congestion.

Driving might be the option, if you go with the plan to mill around once the park closes. Everyone will rush for the exit at closing, but if you walk slowly, window shop a bit, buy a drink, buy some goodies in the shop, then the traffic should have cleared, at least a little, by the time you make it to the car. Alternatively, have a midnight picnic in the car until you're one of the last cars around and then leave!

 

[Iceman10]

I used to be a Bus driver at WDW back in the day and can tell you driving around Disney property on the 4th of July can be VERY difficult during park close times. However, MUCH has changed since I last had to drive the bus from Epcot to anywhere and there are more side roads to get you around. In fact I will be having dinner at Citricos on the 4th, then walking over to the Poly to watch fireworks. I would agree on the above post. After Illuminations, stroll around and take your time for a while. It is actually really nice and very relaxing. And even though I was once a bus driver I almost always drive everywhere unless I know we will be drinking somewhere. Ah I am having visions of a cold pint of Smithwicks at Raglin Road as I type.

 

[Imagineer22]

Thanks for all the great information everyone! I think we will be driving to some of the theme parks. I just want to verify that with my hotel parking permit I can park at any theme park for 'free'.

Also, my brother and sister-in-law are going to be there the same time we will by total coincidence. My sister-in-law will be 7 months pregnet at the time of the trip. Can they take the car and use it for transportation on their own or will I need to present an ID to park on property? They will be staying at a different hotel than us though.