Disney Buses or Rent a Car?

[chrissyc72]

We are staying at the Beach Club so no need for a car for Epcot or HS, however We are doing a day at Animal Kingdom and several days at MK. Do you all drive or use bus system? I see so many complaints about the busses that I am torn. Also, do we, as resort guests have designated parking at the parks? More importantly, is it free parking for resort guests? Also might be nice to drive to DownTown Disney maybe?

 

[Jedimike]

I've done it both ways (Disney transport or personal car, and even a combination of the two). In my opinion, having your car is helpful to go to other resorts for meals and stuff, and maybe to Animal Kingdom since it is sort of remote, but staying at an Epcot Resort, I'd take the bus to MK. If you drive, you'd have to park at TTC and take some form of Disney transportation to MK. Yes, your parking is free as a resort guest, but it is still easier to take Disney transport.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My husband always insists on a rental car. I have to say I usually try to talk him out of it and just use WDW transportation but I will admit that he is right. I especially like having a car when it comes to dining reservations. We use the car for every park except MK (we stay at VWL and take the boat). We rented with Enterprise for our last trip and I saw the line for the Magical Express and was so happy I could just walk by and get in the car and go. No stopping at the counter. There is no designated parking but you get this little piece of paper to put in the windshield that gets you into all the parks. I will say when using WDW transportation, give yourself plenty of time (especially for ADR's). I got married at WDW and used the bus to get to my wedding rehearsal. Gave ourselves a little of an hour and we were still late, at least 20 to 25 minutes late.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Having done both, we would never stay on Disney property again without a car...ever.

 

[kickash]

We have done it both ways as well. During our last trip we had our car and it was life changing! We loved not having to depend on WDW transportation-and not waiting in line to get on a crowded bus was fantastic! Also, it was extremely easy to navigate around the world. We drove and parked at all of the parks, TL, different resorts for dinners, and DTD. We also did Universal for a day. We will rent a car again for our 10 day stay next year.

 

[jaredjohn4]

We have always had a car there since we stay at the camp grounds. We have done it both ways. We usually use the Disney buses to get to the theme parks, except for Animal Kingdom. Since it is a shorter day for us, we then drive to DTD. When we go to other hotels for food, we always drive.

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[usd2bmd]

We rent a car because my husband likes to be able to come and go at his leisure.

Depending on when you're gonna be there, I don't recommend driving to DTD any time soon. The construction going on has a large chunk of the parking lot closed.

 

[chrissyc72]

Thanks everyone!!! Guess we are renting a car!!!

 

[Dano13]

I am renting a car also, and staying at the Boardwalk. I am still taking the Magical Express to avoid the baggage claim and then picking up my car at the Dolphin. Just another wrinkle available to you.

 

[katt789]

I always use Disney transport, and we've never had a problem with it!

It can be irksome coming back at a peak time from MK after a long day and having to wait for a bus but I've only had a problem with Pop/AoA resorts! The busses are nice simply because you don't have to worry about driving, you can have a few too many glasses of wine with dinner, you don't have to think "gotta stay awake on the road" a nice little bus nap is possible for everyone!

Also going to MK if you drive you still have to park at the TTC and then boat or monorail over which eats up even more time.

I can definitely see how cars would be ideal going from say, your resort in the morning to another resort for breakfast, or coming home from a late night dinner at a resort to your resort, but we usually either transfer through a park or just suck it up and cab!

 

[skateshome]

I am renting a car also, and staying at the Boardwalk. I am still taking the Magical Express to avoid the baggage claim and then picking up my car at the Dolphin. Just another wrinkle available to you.

FYI.....it took us almost 3 hours to get from the airport to CR in May using Magic "Express". LOL. I will either rent a car direct at the airport or take a town car service next May. I can't ever see me rolling the dice on ME again.

 

[Dano13]

FYI.....it took us almost 3 hours to get from the airport to CR in May using Magic "Express". LOL. I will either rent a car direct at the airport or take a town car service next May. I can't ever see me rolling the dice on ME again.

And last year when I rented from mco it took me 45 minutes to get my bags and nearly an hour to get my car. It's a crapshoot either way ... Lol. I am waking up at 4AM for my flight so I will get there early and tired. Let someone else grab my bags.

 

[skateshome]

And last year when I rented from mco it took me 45 minutes to get my bags and nearly an hour to get my car. It's a crapshoot either way ... Lol. I am waking up at 4AM for my flight so I will get there early and tired. Let someone else grab my bags.

Well there you go.....that's the main reason I haven't taken the town car servic out of the equation just yet.

 

[DLM1980]

In the past we always do the bus, mainly because of cost of a rental car. However after the last few trips I'm tired of sitting waiting at the bus stop, I always seemed to be the one that walked up to the stop just as the bus I needed was leaving. Then I'd see 5 epcot busses, or 5 animal kingdom busses, or 5 whatever busses go by plus the other parks, before I'd see the one buss I needed.

Sure its nice for someone else to drive, but then I got the fight home on the bus. Sure, I'm a 34 year old guy, I'm supposed to be gentlemanly and offer my seat to a woman, or an elderly person, but after spending all day walking around in the hot sun my feet hurt, I'm tired, and I'm cranky. I just want to sit down!. They don't make you stand on the Magical Express, they don't make you stand on a school bus, why the heck do I have to stand on a theme park bus? I've told the drivers when they insist that there is more standing room on this bus that I will wait for the next one just so I can sit my butt down and not be packed in like a sardine.

So this time we are renting a car, I'm driving to the park when I want to, not 20 mins from now, I'm leaving when I want to, and I'm sitting my butt down without the glares of some woman who can't believe I didn't offer up my seat to her.

Now with the DTD situation I may just park that car at my resort and take a buss, but it won't be as packed as a theme park buss at 1am.

Not all of Disney's transportation is bad, the Magical Express is how I'll be getting to WDW. Don't wanna be driving in unfamiliar territory and take a wrong turn and end up at SeaWorld or the Tupperware HQ, or Universal. Not to mention there is something about that little video that says "We're on our way..." that says it's VACATION TIME!!!!


CAR is the way to go!

 

[sallmenyima]

There is no designated parking but you get this little piece of paper to put in the windshield that gets you into all the parks.

 

[kickash]

And last year when I rented from mco it took me 45 minutes to get my bags and nearly an hour to get my car. It's a crapshoot either way ... Lol. I am waking up at 4AM for my flight so I will get there early and tired. Let someone else grab my bags.

That is unfortunate! We just rented a car at Tampa Airport in June and I did all of the paperwork online ahead of time so that when we arrived, we walked right past the crazy crowded counter and straight to our car! We walked into the garage and showed the attendant our paperwork and he pointed to the car and said, there you go! So easy! Not sure if this was just an Alamo thing, but I hope to do the same thing next year at Orlando international.

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[librarymom2007]

We drive so we always have our car but we never drive it to the parks. We only use it to get to early morning dining reservations at another resort. We have stayed at POR 3 times and have never had an issue with buses.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'm sorry, but we're of the "never" used a car while at WDW, rented or our own...

We've driven, flown and taken Amtrak and always relied on Disney's transportation for 51 trips....it has worked fine for us and saving the price of a rental when free transportation is provided is a no brainer ...

We drive all our lives, here's a vacation spot where I can sit back and let Disney haul me around... I'm not a control freak, I can slowdown, relax and enjoy public transportation..!

 

[AlixaLock]

We use a combo of Disney Transportation and Taxis! We generally use bus/monorails/boats in the afternoon and coming back to the resort. We take taxis for early morning travel and ADRS that would cause a super long bus ride. Works perfectly for us!

 

[kidd_freeper]

If money isn't an issue, rent a car.

If you are on a budget, and don't go to church, and don't need to get groceries, and don't intend to see any other Florida attractions, then use Disney transportation.

It may be faster to MK using Disney transportation than a rental car.

If you decide that you want to rent a car later, the auto care center near the MK has rental cars.