Disney's Buses or Car Rental

[mlggator22]

I am coming in from SoCal in 1-1/2 weeks and staying at the contemporary. I am curious about transportation to and from the parks.

We have been to WDW before and we have always used the buses. I found that we often had to wait for buses and they were packed when we used them. I am sure Disney has put in place better policies with COVID. However, I am thinking of renting a car in order to stay better separated and also to get to parks faster.

So I have a couple of questions:
1. How much room between groups on the buses? Do you feel safely separated?
2. How long do you have to wait for buses to show up?
3. Is it easy to get around from the hotel to the parks in your own rental car?

Also, I am assuming the buses pick up directly at Contemporary for Epcot, AK, and HS, correct.

Thanks everyone. Although I have stayed at WDW a few times in the last 10 years, my expertise is Disneyland and those are rather different experiences.

 

[ucf_knight]

I am coming in from SoCal in 1-1/2 weeks and staying at the contemporary. I am curious about transportation to and from the parks.

We have been to WDW before and we have always used the buses. I found that we often had to wait for buses and they were packed when we used them. I am sure Disney has put in place better policies with COVID. However, I am thinking of renting a car in order to stay better separated and also to get to parks faster.

So I have a couple of questions:
1. How much room between groups on the buses? Do you feel safely separated?
2. How long do you have to wait for buses to show up?
3. Is it easy to get around from the hotel to the parks in your own rental car?

Also, I am assuming the buses pick up directly at Contemporary for Epcot, AK, and HS, correct.

Thanks everyone. Although I have stayed at WDW a few times in the last 10 years, my expertise is Disneyland and those are rather different experiences.

In my experience post COVID is that the busses are slow and maybe half capacity or so. They have barriers in between seats and seats blocked off. I would recommend a car. Really easy to get to the parks (other thank magic but you’re staying within walking distance). We always have a car as we are within driving distance and always drive to the parks unless staying onsite with monorail, boat, sky liner or walking as a mode of transportation

 

[DSLRuser]

I am coming in from SoCal in 1-1/2 weeks and staying at the contemporary. I am curious about transportation to and from the parks.

We have been to WDW before and we have always used the buses. I found that we often had to wait for buses and they were packed when we used them. I am sure Disney has put in place better policies with COVID. However, I am thinking of renting a car in order to stay better separated and also to get to parks faster.

So I have a couple of questions:
1. How much room between groups on the buses? Do you feel safely separated?
2. How long do you have to wait for buses to show up?
3. Is it easy to get around from the hotel to the parks in your own rental car?

Also, I am assuming the buses pick up directly at Contemporary for Epcot, AK, and HS, correct.

Thanks everyone. Although I have stayed at WDW a few times in the last 10 years, my expertise is Disneyland and those are rather different experiences.

We were there in september. They allow 6 "families" of 4 an a buss at any given time. If a family takes up more then 4 spaces, they then eat into another one of the 6 groups of 4.

We dont care about covid at all so keep that in mind....but i never felt unsafe...people are spread out on the bus. we had to cycle through a second bus 3 times. both ways comming and going to disney springs, and going to magic kingdom from riviera.

 

[happymommy]

I personally find not driving at Disney to be something I enjoy about a Disney vacation. If buses are slow, I’d do an Uber rather than drive. Most Uber trips are super cheap to and from theme parks and resorts.

 

[CanucksRock]

They are now allowing 10 groups on the bus. I was just there for a week. Never had an issue getting a spot and got lucky and never waited more than 5 mins for a bus. Stayed at CBR. Only parks open bus was AK - it got us there 45 mins before “open”. Took to DS a few times. (We did breakfast at Contemporary for MK days; so Lyft; Skyliner for Epcot, DHS)

 

[nw6675]

We stayed at BLT and we had our car. Never drove it during the whole week (couple of weeks ago). Never had more than 2 other groups on a bus, but plenty of available seats open even with distancing. Never had to wait over 5 minutes other than 1 time from AK.

Part of why we chose BLT was to avoid busses and ability to walk to MK. Never had monorail waits either, so never walked. Rode the busses way more than expected.

I would play it by ear and if busses not working for you, Uber. I personally think the car and parking expense would be a waste.

Eta: sorry just realized this had been bumped and is moot for OP

 

[_19disnA]

If you are staying at the Contemporary, you can walk to Magic Kingdom, but the other parks will require some kind of transportation. In the age of covid, having your own rental car gives you more control over who you are in contact with when getting around. Never been a fan of those online taxis ever before covid was an issue.

 

[Lilsia]

I was there last month and the busses where great. I rarely waited 10 minutes for one and most of the time they were empty or with 1 other family on board. I don't think that I ever got a bus that had the designated areas filled. They section off the bus with barriers and spacing. I only had 1 time that a couple got on and the husband sat in the right area that the bus driver told them to sit but the wife sat right next to me. I had to tell her to move to her assigned area. The whole bus was empty except for us and she sits her behind right next to me. I couldn't believe it.