Do you prefer to drive to parks or use bus?

[HETRICKL]

We're going to stay only 3 quick days at AK before heading to Vero Beach, so we will have a car. We are planning on going to MK and DHS. Do you prefer to drive yourself or take the bus transportation. I'd like to use the one that is easiest and most convenient and shortest amount of time too!

Do you have to pay to park at the parks?

Thanks.

 

[Missytara]

You do not have to pay for parking at the parks, if you are a resort guest. They will give you a pass to put in your car.

Honestly, for three days and since you have a car, I would just drive to the parks. It would be the most convenient for your particular situation.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The only park I would recommend taking the bus would be Magic Kingdom and even then I always drive.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I prefer using the buses. We fly in to Orlando, so we don't want to hassle with renting a car when the transportation is available to us at no charge.

 

[PSUGuy]

I'm not a big fan of public transportation elsewhere, but at WDW using their transport means we're on vacation 24/7, everything done for us, no stress. Also, on those occasions we've used rental cars for resort and park visits, the difference between travel time, if any, is minimal.

Bill From PA

 

[andrews_dad]

If you have a free parking pass, and you have teh car already, you'd be foolish to wait on busses. You can come and go as you please, hop outside of the parks for a quick lunch or dip in your pool, etc. That one is a no-brainer. WE ARE!!!!!

 

[1tufgt]

I prefer to drive since it gives us the flexiabilty to head off and go back to the resort without having to wait for buses.

I'm not a fan of public transportation.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

We always drive to the parks, no question. Even if we're staying on site. My Disney Gal has to rely on public transportation to get to work every day, so there's no way I'm getting her on public transportation when we're on vacaton! Not that I'd want to take the buses anyway, either. We also like being able to come and go as we please, and most of the time when we leave the parks, we're heading to something offsite anyway (shopping, dining, etc.) and not going right back to the resort/condo, so driving just works much better for us.

 

[DisneyDadNY]

I only use Disney transportation. I am on vacation and that includes a vacation from driving!

 

[Brian Noble]

I've done both. In general, I prefer to drive. Both have their warts, but the downsides of driving are easier for me to accept. I'll take the bus if I'm not in a hurry to get somewhere. I almost always drive to anything that is time sensitive: rope drop, getting to a dinner ADR, etc. but I let Disney (or, sometimes, a cab) do the driving if I'm planning on having a BEvERage with that dinner.

 

[Havana]

Drive, One less line to stand in.

 

[ice cube]

Drive.....whether its 3 days or 2 weeks it is the easiest.You can come and go when you want and if at the last minute you forget something or better yet you change your mind and want to do something different all you have to do is turn the wheel of the car rather than waiting for the bus to get to its destination and get on the next bus....I also have a question about driving.....some say they are on vacation so what does being on vacation have to do with not wanting to drive a car? ..Some people do write that down as an answer when the question is asked to either ride the bus or drive when in Disney.Just wondering why Disney and driving become an issue for some.

 

[winterman]

We always rent a car and we always drive to all the parks, including MK. I know many, if not most, guests take the bus to MK, but I love the ride on the ferry.

 

[AlexDurrani]

After 10 plus trips to the world and relying on Disney transportation I have come to the conclusion that driving is a better option. I will be driving for the first time my upcoming December trip just to try it out. With driving you will be able to get off you feet most of the time since there is no guarantee that you will find a seat on the buses during peak times. With the amount of ADRs I have and not being in the same park or area, I think having a car will help for sure. I am starting to think I need to do some counter services instead of the restaurants just to stay in the parks more.

 

[ricktib]

A lot of people don't like to drive on vacation, but bus transportation is one area that not even Disney can improve. And with so many posts about ECVs clogging up busses nowadays, there's no way I would take a bus. It's so quick and easy to just drive.

 

[clkelley]

I prefer the busses!!

 

[tinkrebell]

We don't drive. . . so we can drink =) We're at the AKL because of the 40% discount, so driving would be pretty necessary anywhere if we didn't like the buses!

Of course, I'm solving that problem on my next trip - a mom and daughter's trip to BWI for her birthday - we get to walk off our World Showcase buzz with that healthy, good for you light exercise straight back to the hotel and the bars there =)

 

[Stitchnut]

We usually fly in so the bus is a nice way for us to get to and from. We have always had good experiences with the bus service and cm drivers. Sometimes it does get a little crowded, but it's still nice not to have to think about driving in WDW. Which ever mode you decide on, have a great trip

 

[TheWog]

Drive.....whether its 3 days or 2 weeks it is the easiest.You can come and go when you want and if at the last minute you forget something or better yet you change your mind and want to do something different all you have to do is turn the wheel of the car rather than waiting for the bus to get to its destination and get on the next bus....I also have a question about driving.....some say they are on vacation so what does being on vacation have to do with not wanting to drive a car? ..Some people do write that down as an answer when the question is asked to either ride the bus or drive when in Disney.Just wondering why Disney and driving become an issue for some.

It's not that driving becomes an issue, it is that Disney offers a clean, efficient service of moving you from your resort to the park and back. You wait at a stop and a bus comes and takes you where you need to go. I think less people all of a sudden decide I don't want to to go to MK right now, let's go to Blizzard Beach instead. You know where you want to go and you go there. You don't have to think about how do I get there, where do we park, what aisle and section were we in, etc. (or as another thread suggests 2 mph over the speed limit traffic tickets). With a bus you can come and go as you please and we have done so. We are in no rush. It isn't for everyone. Some need total control to be comfortable and that's fine.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm not a big fan of public transportation elsewhere, but at WDW using their transport means we're on vacation 24/7, everything done for us, no stress. Also, on those occasions we've used rental cars for resort and park visits, the difference between travel time, if any, is minimal.

Bill From PA

Resort to Resort travel is very different between car rental and bus due to the need to transfer. Otherwise, it's fairly close.