Car or Bus?

[3Gsandme]

We'll be staying at POR for our trip in February. We're driving down and will have our own car, so I know that parking is free. Would it be quicker/easier for us to use our own car in lieu of the resort buses? Is that true for all parks?

 

[su_A_ve]

We'll be staying at POR for our trip in February. We're driving down and will have our own car, so I know that parking is free. Would it be quicker/easier for us to use our own car in lieu of the resort buses? Is that true for all parks?

Definitely not for MK - If you park, you will then need to take the ferry or monorail from the ticket and transportation center to the main entrance. Resort buses however drop you off at the main entrance.

Other resorts it would vary. In any case, on all parks you'll have to park and then take the tram to the entrance. Depends on your plans.

Typically we would have our car parked near the bus stop. If we missed the bus or came full, we would hop on the car.

 

[Bullseye]

My patented answer is drive your car everywhere including the magic kingdom. It's not the big deal that everyone makes it out to be getting from the parking lot to MK. At the end of the day you'll be happy your car is waiting for you.

 

[WishnDisney]

This past summer, we rented a car and drove everywhere. We liked being in control of things. The last night, we took buses because we turned in our rental car and hated it. We were tired and hot and had to stand. It was soooo much nicer to be able to get in a car when we wanted to and not have to wait. That said, we even enjoyed driving to MK. The trams, the monorail, the boats...they were just part of the "experience". Of course, I also liked it because it brought back memories as a kid.

 

[3Gsandme]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking that 1) if we want to take the girls back to the room mid-day our own car is probably our best shot 2) it would erase any if factor regarding full buses (though, I'm traveling at an off time and expect that not to be a huge deal).

 

[amylevan]

I'm an OCD planner and we take afternoon breaks, and we still take the bus.

The bus is always faster to the MK. Parking plus monorail and/or ferry is going to take longer than a bus. Everywhere else, it's faster to drive, but not by enough that we bother. (Although we travel in the offseason, so crowds are more manageable.)

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[mickey1968]

I'm still on the fence about renting a car too. I have one reserved for my trip at a bargain rate with Dollar but I keep second guessing myself. The buses are usually fine for me on the way to the parks but I absolutely HATE the packed buses at the end of the night. I have two MNSSHP parties planned ( one of them on Halloween) so I know it will be crazy. I figure I will keep driving myself nutz until the wee before my trip with plenty of time to cancel.

 

[Chelley00]

My patented answer is drive your car everywhere including the magic kingdom. It's not the big deal that everyone makes it out to be getting from the parking lot to MK. At the end of the day you'll be happy your car is waiting for you.

That's what we do too.

 

[Tltorrez]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking that 1) if we want to take the girls back to the room mid-day our own car is probably our best shot 2) it would erase any if factor regarding full buses (though, I'm traveling at an off time and expect that not to be a huge deal).

At mid-day the buses are empty. The quiet bus ride actually gives my DS some decompression time.

Personally I hate driving so not something I want to do on vacation. Sometimes the bus is a hassle but not enough for me to drive.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

I am pro-car. Especially with younger children, I think that when it is time to go, it is time to go. I don't want to be at the mercy of a bus.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I think you could easily drive to the parks and get there just as fast, unless you're going to MK. I like getting dropped off "up front" and not needing to worry about a full ferry or a broken down monorail.

 

[wdwrich]

The bus is always faster to the MK. Parking plus monorail and/or ferry is going to take longer than a bus.

Not always the case. On one visit, our family split up with some taking the bus to MK and the rest taking the car. We all arrived at the MK entrance within 30 seconds of each other (the car riders getting there just before the bus riders). Of course. it will depend on the time of year, time of day, wait time for the bus, ferry or monorail. The point is that the bus in not necessarily always faster.

At mid-day the buses are empty.

True, buy they also run less frequently.

 

[leebee]

I always rent a car if I can afford it. I DETEST waiting in long lines for a bus at the end of the day, and then likely as not, I get to stand on the bus, too! Ferry/monorail to the TTC is part of the fun, as is the tram to the parking lot.

The best part of having a car is not having to walk back to your room after a long, hot day in the parks. My feet are sore, my legs are tired, and my back hurts. I LOVE having a 2 minute walk from my car to my room! I don't miss "seeing" the resort because we walk down for b'fast/coffee in the morning, then back to the room for toothbrushing and a last potty visit before hopping in our car and driving off to the park. After a long, hot day in the park, we are back in our room PDQ because we drive ourselves back to the resort and park right near our room!

 

[rwdavis2]

We always rent a car. If you are a rope drop person then driving is pretty quick as you can park close enough to avoid the tram ride in many cases. I would recommend riding the ferry boats from the TTC to MK as they move far more people than a monorail especially at closing. I got this tip from a CM on one of the Dis Podcasts. But early, it probably does not matter.

 

[Day-Day]

Since you are driving from home, I suggest you bring a small cooler that you can fill with ice and drinks at the resort and leave it in the car when you visit a park. We enjoy getting cold drinks as soon as we get in the car after leaving the parks; not something that can be done on the bus...

 

[mickey1968]

The best part of having a car is not having to walk back to your room after a long, hot day in the parks. My feet are sore, my legs are tired, and my back hurts. I LOVE having a 2 minute walk from my car to my room!!

I hadn't even thought about that part of it! After clinging to the handrail on feet that feel like they are on fire and staggering to the room. Leebee, you may have just sold me on the rental car.