cars vs. busses

[sconstantz]

Please don't switch me to another board. I really want the opinion of the DVC experts, particularly OKW.

I have read (with growing interest) the debate between driving your own car and using the busses. I know that OKW is a great resort for having a car. And getting to the grocery store and other resorts is just plain easier with access to your own car. But, for those of you who drive to the parks, how do you find the parking there? It would seem easier to me to pick up the bus outside the park (even if you wait 15 minutes for one) and have it take you where you want.

I have only been to Disney one other time in 1996, at Christmas. We had our car (drove down), but never used it once. We always took the bus. Now, I'm really debating which we should do.

Thanks, shelly

 

[Lew]

We have always rented a car on our visits to WDW.

We find a car very convenient to get to all parks except the MK. We take a bus to the MK and it works out just fine.

Driving to the other major parks, water parks, Downtown Disney, etc. can't be beat for convenience.

 

[DebbieB]

A lot comes down to personal preference. I personally cannot stand to be on crowded busses. When we stayed at OKW last year, we took the bus one night to the MK to see MSEP. We were staying in building 26, but got on at the last stop (HH) so that we would not have to ride all around the resort (which can take 10 or 15 minutes). We were standing both to and from MK, packed in like sardines. That was our first night and didn't take a bus the rest of our trip, except for returning from DD after the boat stopped running. That was another adventure, it took about 30 minutes to get from DD back to OKW, which is practically right around the corner. The bus was waiting when we got to the DD stop, it waited a little longer, went to PI, waited there, went to West Side, waited there. I was ready to scream. We like going to the outlets, restaurants at the Crossroads, and grocery shopping so having a rental car is handy for that. The last 2 trips we were able to get a full size rental through National's Emerald Club for $107 for the week. We always go in off-season, so parking at the parks isn't bad. We like to take mid-day breaks, so having the car to go back and forth is easier. I don't mind driving at WDW, it's very simple to find your way around. Much easier than the city driving I'm used to!

 

[fkj2]

Parking at the parks is not a problem generally. As an on-site guest, you receive complimentary free parking and a tram is available to pick up your party in the lot and drops you at the ticket and transportation center, where most everybody else goes too.

 

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

We rent a car for convience to get from the airport and go to places outside WDW. We always arrive in Orlando on a Sat. and stay at HoJo's for Sat. nite. We check in at OKW on Sun. for a full day at the parks. We like to go to eat at some places off 192 (Krispy Kreme has now become an obsession) and shop at some of the outlets. When we go to the WDW parks or resorts we always use Disney trans. The car sits in the parking lot. It makes more sense to us because of the shuttle costs and extra stops we have always done.
We do have an advantage in knowing our way around Orlando and having friends that live there, so a car does get used.
Enjoy your trip.

 

[mzzbuzzlightyear]

Shelly,

DH and I usually fly to Orlando, but usually one of my DDs joins us with her family, one drives from NJ and the other one from SC. So, we have a car which we rarely use. We make full use of Disney's transportation system, which we find is very efficient, from OKW. The only problem we have found is getting from OKW to BWV and vice versa. On occasion we have taken the car.

In March, we had no car, since we all flew down. We traveled ALL over WDW, by bus, by boat and by monorail. While the rest of the family were at the Yankee/Braves game at the Sports Complex, I took DGS 5 months old to meet up with the Group. We left OKW by bus to MGM and then got a bus to the Sports Complex. We had very little wait time, about 5/10 minutes is my guess.

At the time we were there, over St. Patrick's Day, the Magic Kingdom was so packed, that for the first time in my 25 years or so of visiting WDW, we did not go on Small World. And still the buses were efficient. The buses were crowded, however, about 9 pm when returning to OKW.

June

 

[tiggersnj]

I prefer Disney do the driving, I'm on vacation and I do not want to be behind the wheel.

 

[Chuck S]

I kind of like the busses, especially if you have a 'fun' driver. But, since Mom's hip surgery she has to be in a wheelchair to do the parks, and she hates being strapped in on the busses (when we drive down, we take our own w/c..our car has a lift) so we use the car. The other advantage to using a car is...I wait until after the big crowd has left EPCOT at closing, then walk easily to the car.

When we fly down, we rent a car at the airport for local grocery and restaurant transportation, but ride the busses and rent a wheelchair at the parks.

 

[Richyams]

We have only lived in Florida a few years. Obviously, we drive now and have a car. When we were coming down from New York, we always rented a car. There is no way in the world that i would want to be stuck waiting for a bus.

We always go in off season, EPCOT is open later than MK. On days that we wanted to spend in MK, we would drive to EPCOT, park and take the monorail to MK. Then we could come back later and do some EPCOT things and get our car to drive to OKW. We could stop for coffee or anything we were missing for the morning.

We often use a day like that to stop at a monorail hotel for dinner between MK and EPCOT. I have never actually been on a WDW bus. But I just really hate the idea of not being able to leave when you want or not being able to stop off somewhere.

No, I would never, ever do WDW without a car.

 

[TnRobin]

I agree it is personal preference. We almost always use the buses, even if we have a rental car.

We like to park hop, thus if we went to MK in the AM and hopped to Epcot or AK in the PM, we would have to return to MK to retireve the car. Or drive our car over to the new park and hunt another parking space.

Also I would rather ride the bus than the parking trams from the parking lots.

 

[SOBDOSNV]

Our first time to WDW we stayed at Port Orleans and rented a car cause we didn't want to be stuck with the busses. We used the car one day, and never had a problem. Last year we stayed at OKW without a car and depending what bldg you're in, a car would be nice, but not really a necessity. We travel in Nov or Dec, and the longest we waited was 15min. for a bus from MK after the parade. Plus by riding the busses you get to talk with the driver and other guests.

 

[KathyR]

We rented a car a few years ago, and it sat in the parking lot the whole week. Last time we chose to get a towncar transfer, and we did not miss the rental. I am really happy with the bus system at WDW, so WE have no need to drive while there. This year we are renting a car only because we are getting in late and the rate was only a few dollars more than the rate of the towncars (including tip). This way we can go to the grocery on the second day instead of having to go on our way to the room forcing me to keep the kids up even later. This time renting is better for us, but next time it may not be.

 

[JackieMD]

We were at OKW in January and used the bus system. Personally I prefer the busses for the following reasons.

1. I am on vacation too and would rather not drive.
2. It is easier and more fun to hop from park to park using the disney transportatin system. MGM to Epcot via the boat, Epcot to MK via the monorail, etc.
3. You get to meet fun people on the bus.
4. No parking problems.

We are going again in May and again to OKW. This time we are driving down so we will have a car. I doubt if we will use it much. One big advantage I see is the ability to go off property [yes there is a city in centeral FL outside WDW ] to eat dinner and save a buck or two.

No matter what, it's a matter of personal preferance.

Enjoy your trip
The DH of the D addict

 

[crusoemom]

We stayed at AKL and BWV this last trip, and with two exceptions, we didn't miss a car at all. If you're staying at OKW, this probably won't affect you, but the busses at BWV stop there last before going to the parks. Therefore, if a bus fills up before it gets to BWV, it will bypass the stop. This happened to us last Monday. We were at the bus stop at 7:00 for early entry to MK. Apparently a bus had just been there five minutes before. We then waited another 45 minutes for a bus to arrive. The two busses in between were filled at the Swan, Dolphin, etc., and bypassed the BWV stop. We didn't get to the MK until after 8:00, by which time the rides such as Dumbo already had 10-15 minute lines (I realize this may not seem like a long line, but just try it with a wiggly 2-yo

The interesting thing is that we actually had a car that day - my sister's family were here and some of us could have fit in her car to make the trip - we just thought it would be faster taking the bus!

We had one other episode similar to that in which we almost missed our PS ressies at the Crystal Palace (we were 10 minutes late but they let us in anyway), because a bus from the AK to the MK didn't arrive for 40 minutes.

I will add that for the rest of the week, we had good bus connections and no crowds at all - we got a seat every time.

In summary, I'll say that if you're counting on the busses to get you somewhere at a particular time, don't. If you're in vacation mode and don't particularly care when you arrive somewhere, then they're a great way to go.

 

[sconstantz]

It certainly sounds like a personal preference. I really don't want to drive on my vacation, and you guys convinced me. We will go sans car.

But, just in case we need one. Is is convenient to be able to rent at the resort?

Thanks again, shelly

 

[RobDoc]

We always use the bus system and really enjoy traveling that way.
On our last trip to OKW, we did have a car and used it only to drive over to see Celebration.

We like to think of the buses as another WDW attraction. We often will just decide where to go by which bus arrives next and plan our day around that.

Taxis are readily available and the Bell staff will be happy to find one for you. Rental cars are also available onsite and they will pick you up to obtain the vehicle. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Snowgod]

How is taxi service at WDW?

 

[RobDoc]

You won't see taxis lined up outside resorts or parks usually, but they are plentiful. Any Bell Service CM can get one for you, normally within minutes. You can call from your room and they'll provide door-to-door service!

 

[KaraKW]

I absoulutely cannot stand the WDW bus system. I feel like I'm always waiting and waiting and waiting. At heart, I'm a terribly impatient person, so it just kills me to sit at a bus stop and wait for an OKW bus (which never seems to arrive!) I hate to spend an forty minutes waiting for the bus when I could be out there experiencing WDW!

We rent a car and take it absolutely everywhere. You can go to other resorts' restaurants, off-property (dining, shopping, etc.) and to the parks with tremendous ease. We don't park in the parks' parking lots, though. For MK, we park at Poly and jump on the monorail. For EPCOT/MGM, we park at Swan/Dolphin, and take a boat or walk from there. This way, we're kind of sight-seeing through the resorts, too. Most times, we make dinner ressies at one of the resort restaurants and dine there before heading to the park. It's a nice way to experience the WDW resorts and avoid parking hassles at the same time!

But, as they say, to each his or her own! I guess that's why Disney's such a great place. We all enjoy it in such different ways!

--Kara

 

[valdranias]

We always have a car with us at OKW, but use it mainly for offsite restaurants and grocery shopping and hitting the outlet malls. When it comes to travelling around wdw, we prefer disney transportation. We've always found it convenient.