Do You Not Drive?

[SanFranciscan]

I may be asking a question that has already been asked here, but finding my way around this site to find specific information is not always easy.

How many of you do not drive? I think part of why Disney World does so well at keeping people on Disney property is that they seem to be about the only tourist attraction in the area that does not operate on the assumption that everybody drives. My husband and I are planning to stay on Disney property next time for just that very reason. We haven't had a car in nearly 20 years. With the population aging, this is going to become more and more of an issue.

 

[pooh4me]

My DH and I do not have a car while at WDW and we stay at Fort Wilderness which has it's own bus system. WDW has a very good transportation system which can take you any where you want to go. I suggest reading up all you can about how to get around WDW, then when you go you will be prepared.Also check out the Lynx site at www.golynx.com and www.iridetrolley.com if you want to travel outside of WDW. I think getting around WDW is part of the magic. Have a great trip.

 

[bradisgoofy]

We have been known to arrive at WDW and never move the car again until check out day.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We never had a use for a car, or our car once on property. One of the reason we like WDW. We feel there is no need, Disney transportation suits us fine, just factor in the time, we're never in a hurry to go anywhere, we stay at least 9 nights so there's plenty of time to see and do alot, we usually have AP's so popping in and out is not biggie. The lots are huge at the parks,, taking the tram from the car and back doesn't look like it saves any time and the endless stream of red taillights when leaving seems just that, endless. We prefer the transportation provided by Disney, drops us off close enough to the gate, same on leaving, they know the routes and the buses book, the 15-20 minute wait, sometimes yes and sometimes as soon as you walk down to the bus stop its there.
The savings of not renting, buying gas gives us more money to play in the world and the boat transportation is a fun and unique experience you get no where else. But I guess if you're a control freak, or fuss budget, use your car or rent one, thats just less people on my bus.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well-I'm just the opposite. THo we rarely leave WDW property, we drive everywhere. So much faster, so many more options with scheduling.
But the OP"s point is a good one.
Many folks prefer not to drive (or can't), and WDW does a good job getting everyone around. It's nice to know that you don't need a car to enjoy WDW.

 

[CleveRocks]

I drive everywhere every day. That's one of the reasons I love my WDW vacations ... I leave my car in my home airport's parking lot and I don't drive until I return a week later. Pure heaven.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I never have a car whilst staying on property at WDW, but it would be very difficult to do without and stay off-property. Also very difficult to do without a car if visiting other attractions in the area.

This trip is an offsite one for me, and honestly, I'm dreading it mostly because of the driving. I don't mind driving in my real life, but detest having to use one at Disney.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I drive everywhere every day. That's one of the reasons I love my WDW vacations ... I leave my car in my home airport's parking lot and I don't drive until I return a week later. Pure heaven.

Totally agree with this!

If I didn't drive here in Pittsburgh, I'd never be able to get anywhere. Even our public transportation doesn't go as far as we live, so I'd have to drive to it.

We had a rental car once in WDW and that will be our last.

 

[JuneBugg]

I drive everyday at home. When I am on vacation at the world, the car stays parked!

 

[blessedby3]

We dont drive either while staying on property at WDW. It is so nice to just have others do it for you and sit back and relax.

 

[NotUrsula]

I think part of why Disney World does so well at keeping people on Disney property is that they seem to be about the only tourist attraction in the area that does not operate on the assumption that everybody drives.

Well, they HOPE you don't drive, actually. This is a rather recent marketing approach that really solidified when they started Magical Express. Before that most onsite guests rented cars during their stay. If Disney can trap you on property they can make lots more money off you than they otherwise could, but they are the only property in the area that really has the infrastructure to pull it off for long vacations. (Universal is trying, and succeeding to a degree, but they really only have enough to keep guests busy for about 3 days if they are staying onsite, and their park hours are short.)

Most of the small attractions around Orlando don't bother trying to court the car-less, especially now that ME is well-entrenched. The one exception might be the places on I-Drive that specifically market to UK tourists; they often come for 3 weeks with no vehicle, a period of time that would drive the avg. American tourist family stir-crazy.

Most Americans *do* drive, and far more of them drive to their vacation destinations than fly, so the assumption that a car is available is not too far out. It's really only in a handful of major US cities (San Francisco being one of them) that the inconvenience of living without a private vehicle is workable unless you are poor enough to have no choice (and quite possibly no job, because in a lot of places no one will hire people who don't have private transportation.) For really huge numbers of WDW visitors, the WDW transit system is the only "public bus" they will ever ride in their lives.

 

[DVC Grammy]

We haven't driven to WDW in many years, and even then, once we arrived, the car sat until our return trip home.
Since then, we've found it cheaper (and less tiring) to fly, especially with the SW Dings and DME.
If airfares (and Dings) keep escalating, we might reconsider, but regardless, we still won't drive on property.

 

[OKW Mom]

I lived in Fl for 31 years. International Drive was a sleepy road. It is not anymore.
FL removed the rental designation from the auto tags because criminals could pick out the rental cars and rob the tourists.
No one knows where they are going and the kids are screaming.
When a British or German tourist was murdered in a car-jacking a couple of decades ago we stopped frequenting the area and stayed on Disney property.
Yes I may pay a bit more for bread or milk....I just don't want to get in the way of another, less patient tourist hell-bent for his check-in time!
It's nice to not have a ring of keys in my pocket.
US, SW and all the other destinations have never interested us. In other parts of the country the other theme parks get our attention (Hershey Park, King's Island, etc) because Disney is not across the street from them.
Seen one killerwhale, you've seen them all.

 

[dburg30]

I just dont want to drive from Ohio to Fl and back again . That takes time out of my vacation. Now we do drive normally, but try not to when going to a place like WDW

 

[simzac]

We have no reason to have a car. We only stay on property while at WDW, and their transportation system fits our needs just fine.

 

[powellrj]

its really a personal preference. I like driving myself places, so we always rent a car and drive everyplace but its one of the few places where you don't really need a car to get around if you don't want one.

 

[clkelley]

I don't drive at WDW either. We will now spend most of our WDW trips at Ft. Wilderness with our camper, but I even go so far as taking the truck out to the overflow lot instead of parking it at my site. I LOVE letting Disney do the driving