Car or Bus to the Parks?

[poohpcgirl]

Okay- I have never stayed on site before and only been to WDW once. We are driving down from Alabama and we will have our car. We are staying at the All Star Movies. I see posts about the busses being a bit "frustrating at times". Are we better off to drive to the parks? We will be traveling with a 3 year old and will be going back for an afternoon break. (or he will get cranky)
For those who have done both...
Drive or ride the bus?

Thanks for the help!

Melissa

 

[BethR]

You will find much debate on this issue.

We used the busses sometimes during our first few trips and for our last few trips, we NEVER used the busses.

For time and convenience, we have learned that we definately prefer our own car.

 

[Bob P]

Hi Melissa,

You might want to try doing a search on the transporation board. There are some threads from a while back addressing this question.

This is one topic you won't get a consensus on. Many people prefer drving, others prefer the WDW buses. If you look on the transportation board you'll see some persuasive arguments for both sides!

Bob

 

[poohpcgirl]

Thank you very much. I will search there....

 

[sydprincess]

You certainly can't argue the time issue, though. Driving will be faster for you, and less stressful as a result. It is so easy to get in and out of the lots once you get there, even when having to catch a tram. DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE. You won't regret it.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

You certainly can't argue the time issue, though. Driving will be faster for you, and less stressful as a result. It is so easy to get in and out of the lots once you get there, even when having to catch a tram. DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE. You won't regret it.

We prefer the buses - we like it when someone else does the driving. Besides, we would get lost if we drove ourselves!

 

[DISUNC]

Driving your car is fine for all Parks except MK! When you drive to MK, once you leave the parking lot then you must then take either the Monorail or Ferry to MK. This will add some time and it's a bit of a hassle.
I suggest use Disney transportation to MK, this will leave you close to the front gate.

 

[kilee]

I really think it's personal preference. If the resort we are at has direct boat or monorail transportation-- we use that. Otherwise we use our car. (We always have a rental car). We, personally, don't care for the bus. Nothing wrong w/ them-- we just don't like them. I think either way you can't go wrong. They both have just as many ups as downs as the other.

 

[poohpcgirl]

So much good feedback. Thank you very much!

Melissa

 

[Grog]

Having done both, I say Drive. The roads at WDW are very well marked, traffic flows smoothly, and the parking lots are some of the easiest I have ever seen as far as getting in and out. You'll be at your next destination while others are still waiting on the bus, and you'll do it without having to be packed in like sardines.

 

[puffkin]

We always use the WDW transportation because I like having someone else schlepp me around. But, we never rent a car and we don't have kids yet.

That being said, from the AS Movies, I would drive everywhere except for the MK. It will be much easier to navigate with a 3 year old in your own car than to pack on the busses. I would take the bus to the MK as it comes frequently and drops you off much closer to the front of the theme park.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We prefer to use the bus system. For us, renting a car is a waste of money and time. Let someone else drive us around! We are on vacation!!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Leave the driving to Disney! Your on vacation. We are also from Alabama, and we drive down, then park our car and don't get back in it until we come home. Riding the buses is part of the magic for us. You meet people from all over the world, and best of all you don't have to worry about getting lost!

 

[eric8]

hey i'm from alabama too but we are flying down. so i guess i'll have to depend on buses. i'm just worried if i can get to the parks before opening time if i take the bus from the all star movie resort. we'll be at disney world 6-13-2005. looking forward to it.

 

[anb163]

My opinion is you should take the buses. We love to park our car for the week and not get back in it the day we leave. It is relaxing for us. That being said with a three year old it might be easier to take the car. We sound a lot alike. We are from Alabama also and for the first few years we went we never stayed on property. However, I was six or seven when we started staying on property. I am 17 now. So it may be different with a three year old. Also the All Star buses can get crowded depending on when you go but it is still so much easier for us.

 

[Kendra71]

I was planning on just doing the buses too, but now I'm debating! There's some good time arguments with the car. We have PS times all over the parks, so I'm really not sure what to do. I was thinking it would be easiest to take the bus to MK, then hop on the monorail for our PS times at the Contemporary (Chef Mickey's & CA Grill). Maybe we should drive to the other parks and hit our PS times outside of the parks w/ the car (we've got one at Whispering Canyon that I don't want to miss - my husband ALWAYS asks for ketchup!).

We are going to be at All Star Movies on June 13 too, Eric8! Hopefully, we'll see you there. We'll be the mom, dad (w/ glasses), very blond 3 yr old boy, Nanny (on a scooter) and Papa. I hope you all have a wonderful vacation!!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

I too say Take The Bus....however, that is my opinion. My family and I love parking the car and not getting back in it until it's time to go but, that is just us. No one is right on this subject and no one is wrong. True it may be QUICKER to take your car from one place to another but, it may be EASIER to take the bus. My view of it is that I don't care if I have to sit and wait on a bus for 30 minutes...I am in Disney and I will be happy as a clown while I sit there just looking around. I don't care if I'm packed on a bus with 100 other people....I'm packed with people who are all at Disneyworld and it just doesn't get to me. Like I said though that's just me....others might hate to wait for a bus only to be crammed in.....but me, I can't wait for it....it's just all part of being at Disney for me. If your stressing to much over what to do once you get there then....don't worry about it now. Take your car the first day....take the bus the second day then decide what YOU like best and you'll have a great time.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

hey i'm from alabama too but we are flying down. so i guess i'll have to depend on buses. i'm just worried if i can get to the parks before opening time if i take the bus from the all star movie resort. we'll be at disney world 6-13-2005. looking forward to it.

Hi Eric8! Don't worry,you'll be able to get to the parks by opening time as long as you are out at the bus stop 30-45 minutes before park opening time! We've done it plenty of times. I know that sounds kind of early, but it's better to be safe than sorry. You'll get a lot more done in the parks by being one of the first ones there. I would say 45 minutes before just to be safe since June is a busy time of year. We'll be there June 18-25th. Maybe we'll see you there.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We almost always prefer to drive our own car. It's faster, you aren't standing on a cramped hot bus or waiting on a bus forever, trekking to a bus stop (instead you just hop on the tram at the gate!), and on someone else's time.

Since you have a car, why don't you just play it by ear? Take the bus the first day and make the decision for yourself. Some feel pampered by having someone else drive for them, while others (like me!) don't like having to be at the mercy of someone else's schedule. Decide when you get there which you'd rather =)

 

[dizagain]

Hi! Just back from our first on-site stay and first trip without a car...

We were impressed with Disney Transportation from ME to the shuttles. We only waited more than 10 minutes for a bus 4 or 5 times in 7 days and we made many trips a day going back and forth. The buses were always cold, not hot in our experience which felt nice! Yes, there were times we stood, but I'd rather be standing on a bus back than standing in a line! Anyway, we loved the bus system and will definitely use it again on future trips! DH mostly loved not driving for a week - what a treat for him! Have fun no matter what you choose!!