Car vs Disney Transport to Parks from FW

[Mcert01]

We have stayed at FW twice, and are planning a trip again this summer. We have always used Disney transportation to and from the parks with good results. The only exception was during our last trip. We drove to Typhoon Lagoon rather than take the bus, and found the trip time by car much shorter than the bus.

While preparing for our trip I found a matrix in the "Unofficial Guide" which lists trip times by car and Disney Transportation from each hotel to each park. They claim the times are from each hotel to the entrance to each park (including the walk / tram ride from the parking lot). The times showed a significant travel advantage by car from FW to every park except MK.

I was wondering if anyone had any actual experience with driving vs using Disney Trans from FW.

Thanks

 

[ILoveDiz]

We stayed at Fort Wilderness for 3 weeks last July/August. We found the transportation system to be very slow and it was taking up to 1.5 hours to get inside a park. After becoming very frustrated with the waits, we decided to drive. All parking is free and the parking trams take you to the front of the park. Less complaints from the kids.

 

[PenskeSth1]

DH prefers to drive to any parks with the exception of MK. We find the buses somewhat slow. We could just be a bit impatient though.

 

[tim5055]

I tend to agree. We drive to most places other than MK.

 

[FredS]

Getting to and from Epcot, MGM and AK were fine. I am not known for my patience, but I didn't think that our waits were long. The only complaint we had was coming back from downtown Disney and it took forever for a bus to FW to pick us up, and we stopped too many times along the way!

I definitely plan to use the boat to MK, bus to other parks, and our own car to downtown Disney. If we did the waterparks, I would take my own car, too, since I don't remember seeing many buses for them at all, and that was one of the stops between DD and FW.

 

[rdrjj5]

I agree to with taking the car everywhere except the MK. We save so much time and is much easier with kids for us.

 

[VAN]

It depends on what we are doing ... we ALWAYS drive to the water parks, and sometimes drive to AK, Epcot and the Studios.

If we plan to do park hopping (like from Epcot to MK) and don't want to stop by our campsite, we will take transport.

It just depends on how busy, the weather, etc.

 

[Mcert01]

Thanks for all the advice. The consensus seems to be to drive to the parks ... with the exception of MK.

 

[Billmel]

We always found it is alot easier to take a boat to WL and then a bus from there to everywhere else. It cut our travel by bus in 1/2. We actually stayed for 8 days and got in our car 1 time, and that was to drive to DTD, and around the city.

 

[newholiday]

so if we find ourselves having to go to FW to take care of MILs dog in the mornings is it easier to go back "home" to VWL and get transportation from there? or to go directly to the parks from FW?

 

[John VN]

Mcert01
When we are at FW(once a month), we do not have a car so we have to use the WDW Transportaion system. The following is what we do.
We exit our RV and walk to the bus stop. If lucky the bus will show up very soon, however if we just missed the bus we will have to WAIT maybe 5 to 10 minutes or more. We get to bus destination and if lucky we get on bus or boat quickly, however if we just missed bus or boat we WAIT 15 minutes or longer. Once on bus or boat there could be additional stops enroute to final destination which would add to travel time.
If we had a car we would exit RV and get in car and take same route that the bus would take. The extra time would be getting into parking lot and then getting to gates.
Taking a car to MK from FW would also be quicker if you only plan to stay at the park for a short time since you could park at CR and walk to park entrance.
Having written all this let me say that even if we had our car at FW, we would most likely opt for the bus ride since I just don't feel like driving. When we stay at OKW we use the bus system unless going to DTD, in which case we drive or walk.

newholiday
If you are at the kennel at FW, you might still have to wait for the bus to show up to take you back to WL or to the park. Could be a 5 to15 minute wait. If you have your car you would still have to contend with the park entrance backup and the tram. Also remember that someone is supposed to walk the dog numerous times throughout the day which would mean trips back to FW.
Just my experiences with the transportation, hope this was not too confusing.

john