Disney Springs...Drive ourselves? or Disney buses?

[DisMommyTX]

We rode the buses from Polynesian in July and AKL last weekend. Both times Downtown Disney was the worst bus route we experienced the whole trip. Took over 40 minutes each way from AKL (not including the 15-20 min wait for the bus). Gave up after 30 min waiting for the bus back to Poly, finally took the Contemporary bus then rode the monorail the rest of the way home. Planning to skip Disney Springs entirely on our next trip, primarily for this reason!

 

[patrickpiteo]

Drive and park at the west end even with all the construction it wasn't a problem.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

My advice - skip it altogether until they are done with the construction. If you must go - drive during the day and take the busses at night.

 

[jsmla]

I drove in from Hotel Plaza Blvd (staying in Lake Buena Vista) duskish and hated it-massive traffic getting through the DS area with everyone changing lanes all over the place. Maybe it's better coming in from the Caribbean Beach side? I could have just been unlucky and that can happen whether you drive or bus it.

It didn't help that we recently went from a compact to an SUV due to DH's mobility issues.

 

[Spoiledraf]

We drove only because we hit it on our way home and the only parking is on the west end. We took the ferry to the Marketplace. Saved a ton of walking. Traffic was pretty messed up. Not so much heavy but detours and blocked streets everywhere with poor signage. I would do a bus.

 

[Spoiledraf]

We stayed at bonnet creek this year and had a rental car and I actually LOVED driving everywhere, including disney springs. I much preferred it to waiting for busses, which I found exhausting. I felt more in control of my schedule.

We drove to MK for the first time last week. After the fireworks the mob pushed onto the boats and monorail. My family went to the busses and I waited to go to the parking lot. They beat me back by half an hour. I'll never drive again.

 

[tlmadden73]

There is a bus from every Disney Resort to Disney Springs.

The bus rides are long (from those far away resorts like the Polynesian), but worth it rather than parking IMO. If you are staying on-site, enjoy not having to drive your car for a while!

 

[LES91]

We went to disney springs twice this past week and drove. I was a bit scared from all of the forum talk, but didn't run into any problems getting there or finding parking spots. We went at 10am and at 3pm.

Did you take the route with the new ramp into the parking garage? We will be coming from AK and were hoping to confirm the best route. Should we just follow signs for disney springs at the typhoons lagoon exit?

 

[hakepb]

I drove in from Hotel Plaza Blvd (staying in Lake Buena Vista) duskish and hated it-massive traffic getting through the DS area with everyone changing lanes all over the place. Maybe it's better coming in from the Caribbean Beach side? I could have just been unlucky and that can happen whether you drive or bus it.

It didn't help that we recently went from a compact to an SUV due to DH's mobility issues.

Yes, I've looped around from SSR, and driving to the Springs from the non-Disney hotel area is a nightmare. People that have OK experiences come from the Caribbean Beach side.

 

[andiraye]

We drove to MK for the first time last week. After the fireworks the mob pushed onto the boats and monorail. My family went to the busses and I waited to go to the parking lot. They beat me back by half an hour. I'll never drive again.

That sounds awful. I will say we never had to deal with the MK monorail rush. My family lost steam at dinner on our MK day so we left right after dinner. We also got to all the parks before RD so we were never too far from the entrance.

Your experience is good to know for future trips!

 

[linzbear]

We drove to MK for the first time last week. After the fireworks the mob pushed onto the boats and monorail. My family went to the busses and I waited to go to the parking lot. They beat me back by half an hour. I'll never drive again.

MK after fireworks is worst case scenario because you're dependant on the monorail or ferry, and the tram if you're parked far away. Ferry is always faster. This isn't the case anywhere else though.

 

[ethanwa]

Your question all depends on timing.... sometimes driving can be MUCH faster, especially in the mornings to mid-afternoon. At night, when there are rushes of people, driving can take longer (depending on where you are going). Disney Springs is kinda a zoo right now, but it's gotten a lot better since the Orange Garage has opened up.

Also, since I am a local, I know all the tricks, backroads, and my way around. For a tourist driving can be MUCH more stressful... dealing with GPS directions and unfamiliar territory. Take that for what it's worth.

The reason I always rent a car and drive when going on vacations (at least for most places, including when I lived in Seattle and used to visit WDW) is because I like being in control. For example, I like knowing that if I miss a plane flight, it's my fault and not someone else's that I can get mad at. But it's up to you if it fits your individual personality or not.

For most people I would recommend using Disney's transportation options, especially if you plan to stay on WDW property the entire time you're in Florida.

Ethan

 

[LES91]

Your question all depends on timing.... sometimes driving can be MUCH faster, especially in the mornings to mid-afternoon. At night, when there are rushes of people, driving can take longer (depending on where you are going). Disney Springs is kinda a zoo right now, but it's gotten a lot better since the Orange Garage has opened up.

Also, since I am a local, I know all the tricks, backroads, and my way around. For a tourist driving can be MUCH more stressful... dealing with GPS directions and unfamiliar territory. Take that for what it's worth.

The reason I always rent a car and drive when going on vacations (at least for most places, including when I lived in Seattle and used to visit WDW) is because I like being in control. For example, I like knowing that if I miss a plane flight, it's my fault and not someone else's that I can get mad at. But it's up to you if it fits your individual personality or not.

For most people I would recommend using Disney's transportation options, especially if you plan to stay on WDW property the entire time you're in Florida.

Ethan

Thanks Ethan. We also like to rent cars and drive while on vacation. Would love any advice for the best route coming from rolling hills near AK. We typically use sherbeth road and follow signs to DTD. Is that the best option to use the new ramp into the Orange parking garage? We will be visiting disney springs for 10am on a weekday. We will be headed to the marketplace and my understanding is the new garage is a bit of a walk but the least stressful for navigating?

 

[lubob]

Take the bus it is a lot easier and much more simpler. Why drive and get frustrated when the bus drops you off and picks you up and it's free!! So what if it only drops you off in one spot you are going to walk around the whole area anyway and if you drove your car it would be in one spot too. Take the bus !!!