Car to parks or disney transportation

[zendisney]

It seems there are mixed votes on this topic...
In July we are coming to WDW we are staying at SSR...
We have a three year old and we are renting a car because we decided since we would have a few days at Vero Beach after our WDW stay we wanted a car.
Also perks... going to the food store etc.
I hear mixed reviews on the idea that taking your car to the parks is faster than Disney Transportation.
Has anyone out there experienced these two modes of transportation?
I aprecciate all your "disdom" (disney wisdom).
Thanks,
Carla Rae aka Zen Disney

 

[PatsMom]

We prefer Disney transportation but that is just because DH and I don't like to drive when we are on vacation. But from SSR if time is a real issue, it is probably faster to drive to most places. The resort is large and just making the internal stops takes a while if you get on the bus at Grandstand (first stop). And by the time the bus gets to the Springs, often it is standing room only at park opening time.

 

[amartinwagner]

I have a 6 year old a 2 year old and an infant. We always use a car. We feel it is faster. If you are a member of AAA you can get the Diamond Pass which have there own parking right up front. Behind handicap. If you are not a member of AAA then you can by it on ebay. Hope this helps!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

We drive down so we have our vehicle there. BUT we use Disney tranportation. It isn't bad we do have a few annoyances with it. With having a child so young you may like having to use a vehicle because then you know after a long day
you a. are not waiting on buses which can be fast or it can be slow.
and b. you know she will get a seat. There were times that the bus would be packed and not everyoen gets a seat and try holding a sleeping 3 year while standing and not everyone will give up a seat for you. BUT you may luck out and get one so my kids are now older so we can deal with it but I can see being a mom of a young child where it can wear you out just using the bus alone.

 

[trennr]

I'd rather drive myself. The property is pretty well signed and you can get from point A to B without getting lost...too bad.

Maybe it's just me...but the thought of climbing onto a crowded bus after a long day at the parks is just a magic spoiler.

 

[brymolmom]

I think to AK, DHS and EPCOT that driving very well may be faster at SSR (due to internal bus stops as per a pp). But to MK I think the bus might get the nod anyway. Because you cannot go directly to MK but to the TTC, then tram up to the front, then onto monorail or boat....by the time you get there the bus, which pulls up right to MK instead of TTC - might beat you there.

We LOVE using the buses, and never get one when we stay onsite to save the $$, however, if we did have one - we would use it sometimes. For example, if we're staying until the end of the fireworks one night - I'd rather drive back then wait for the 3rd or 4th bus to fit everyone waiting at closing time.

I like not having to drive, the convenience, not having to get on the trams, having the bus nice and cool right when you get in instead of waiting for car to cool down, and the dropoff location of the bus.

But everyone is different.

 

[mmaikisch]

I personally like to drive. This way, we are free to leave the park whenever we want and not have to wait for the buses, especially if you are leaving at or near park closing, they can become very crowded with a decent wait time to even get on. It is also much easier as far as the stroller goes (if you are bringing one). Also, guests staying on disney property do not need to pay for parking during their stay, so you won't have to spend that extra money.

 

[koolaidmoms]

We have done both but I far prefer driving to the parks each day. On our last trip we took the bus once because DS REALLY wanted to. We ended up taking a bus to a different resort and switching buses. There were over 300 people in line at the end of the day from DS and a big mess.

Even my DB and DSIL who rode the bus all week crawled in the back of our dirty, messy van and sat on the floor and they thought it was a far better ride than the buses. As DSIL put it at least there was no one leaning over you, bumping into you or standing on your toes when you were dead tired. They ended up driving after that day.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

I have done both and I rent a car. I like the control to be able to not wait around for busses etc... or deal with cranky people on the bus. I usually get a AAA Diamond parking pass to park closer to the entrances, so the walk is never bad.

 

[srwarden1928]

We always drive on our vacations. I plan to drive to the parks this year even though we are staying onsite (Pop). I dont want to have to wait for the busses--my car leaves for the park (and the hotel at the end of the day) when I want it too. We dont have to worry about standing. I really would hate to miss the magic of that monorail trip from TTC to MK. (I think I read somewhere that Walt wanted it that way).

 

[jessica52877]

I prefer to drive. I don't want to stand in another line to get back to my hotel (or even in the morning). They are always jam packed and if you have a stroller that adds even more hassle to it. DS can be in his carseat and we have our space. No issues with driving ever.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We drive to Disney so we have our car but I prefer to take the Disney transportation. I don't mind waiting for the buses or even standing on the buses and my kids associate those buses with Disney since that is the only time they are on a bus (except school bus of course). The buses are colorful, with interesting signs to look at, plenty of people to talk to, you don't have to stress about where to turn, which lane do I need to be in, oops there was our turn, etc. you can sit back and watch the park come into view and the buses all drop relatively close to the entrance. At the end of the day (if we stayed until the end), we grab an ice cream or other snack, sit somewhere and let the herds pass, then we leisurely stroll to the buses. I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 20-30 minutes for a bus. Even my dh says he loves not having to touch our car the entire time we there. And as far as my ds7 goes, the monorail (or motorail as he calls it) is his favorite ride at Disney.

 

[crisi]

I think its really an "it depends"

A lot of DISers who drive take Disney transportation to MK because the parking lot is still a ferry/monorail ride away from the park and the buses drop you off and the gate.

The other things to keep in mind....

Where will you park at your resort - easy parking outside your door at CBR is more convienent than the back lot at the BW.

What time will you get to the parks - if you are tramming in and out because you are arriving two hours after park opening - that adds a little hassle over getting there before park opening and parking in the first two non-handicapped rows where its easy to walk.

How comfortable are you driving - for us, this is the big one. We get lost at WDW really easily - which adds time and hassle to the drive.

If you have little kids - strollers are a pain on the bus. The buses don't have carseats. Sometimes even your toddler stands.

How lucky you are - we've had trips where bus service was "magical" - no reason for a car if the bus is there every time you need it. We've also had trips where we stand outside for 25 minutes in sweltering heat while I'm certain we will be late for our ADR and end up in a cab when the bus still hasn't shown up.