Do you really need a car at OKW?

[deedeetoo]

We are trying to decide where to buy. Considering the buy where you want to stay philosophy, and in thinking about OKW, the one thing that really concerns me is the transportation. It seems like lots of people say the bus service is poor and you need to drive.

If this is true this is a major issue for us. We fly into Orlando and usually take limos to the resort (trying ME for the first time this trip ). One of the things we love about WDW is that you don't need to drive. We don't want to drive on a WDW vacation.

I am wondering if the people who say you need to drive are those that think you need to drive no matter where you stay. Or maybe you just like to drive?

Are there people like us who hate to drive and don't normally drive at other resorts, but feel that they must when staying at OKW?

 

[beccasmom]

We rarely rent a car and have been DVC members since 1992. We don't find the bus service to be bad at all - except for mid-afternoon, perhaps - and rely on it to go everywhere. I enjoy the break from driving personally. We have used a limo service as well, but are using ME now and have no complaints (the "price" is right! ).

We've stayed at SSR twice and would recommend a car there. It is a very large resort and we did not think the bus service was up to speed yet. Of course, that can and probably will change for the better. But a car would be helpful there, IMHO.

 

[diznyfanatic]

We found the bus service at OKW was fine and didn't have any lengthy waits. We never took our car to the parks at all.

The only thing we did find a little inconvenient was the trek to the Hospitality House from our building location. However, that is also easily remedied because you can hop a bus from any internal bus stop and get off at the last stop right in front of HH.

Hope that helps!

 

[spiceycat]

depends upon you....

if you know that you can get to Epcot in 2 to 5 minutes - it is hard to wait for the bus to go to all the stops (generally 10 to 15 minutes) before leaving the park. Same with Studios..... always take the bus to MK and AK.

both have the parking lots further away than the buses.... have to consider how long the walk is too... or waiting for the trans....

I am learning patience - but it is hard.....

 

[RobDoc]

We always use Disney transportation even if we have a car with us. Ttransportation to the parks is pretty good- buses do run about every 20 minutes throughout the day- more frequently at opening and closing times. Sure, there are times when they do run a little slower (additional time due to traffic, loading/unloading wheelchairs, larger rider occupancy at some times takes additional minutes to load and offload, rare mechanical troubles, etc.), but in general they are very dependable - at OKW and all other resorts.

Bus transportation to other resorts can take a little planning- we usually allow an hour if we have a dining reservation at another resort. We will bus to the nearest park (during the day) or to DD and then catch another bus/boat/monorail to our dining destination from there. Sometimes it will take the full hour - often we arrive way early.

The buildings farthest from HH are no more than a 10-12 minute walk, but all buses will stop there before leaving the resort. In addition, there is an internal bus that stops at HH first (on it's way back from DD) and then stops at all other bus stops in the resort before returning to HH.

While WDW is pretty well marked and easy to navigate by auto, we've always found that using provided transportation is sure more relaxing than dealing with traffic at parks and on the roadways.

Enjoy!

 

[MonkeyPants]

depends on how much of a rush you tend to be in

 

[JimMIA]

Of all of the resorts, OKW is the one which usually gets the highest marks for bus service. OKW does not share busses with anyone else, and the overwhelming consensus I've heard has been positive.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've never had a problem with the buses at OKW and we've stayed there the most.

We usually drive to WDW, so we do have a car available. We always take the bus to MK since it is a pain to park at the TTC, take the tram, then the monorail or boat over to MK. Hop a bus, get off the bus, you're there.

We always drive to the water parks, just our preference.

 

[simzac]

We just bought at OKW this year, and as long as we live in Indy, we will always be flying to WDW, so the buses will be our only option. But that's ok with us as we love the buses, it's part of the Disney experience for us.

 

[Cinderpals]

I'll have a car for our trip this month. We're visiting other places in Orlando too.
I like using the car to get to early ADRs at restaurants like Chef Mickeys!! We also like using the bus service a lot as long as we have a convenient way to get to another park or area. If we visit MGM in the morning, we'll have lunch there and take the water taxi to Epcot. Since we usually stay at the BCVs or BWV's we can easily walk or take the boat back to the resorts. We're going to be staying at the POP too this time. I've never had a problem with the bus transportation, but if it's too crowded, I'll drive us to the parks! Plus, I'm staying in stnd location which could be a far walk to the buses. Not a bad walk, but I don't like waiting for buses with my five year old either being super hyper, or very sleeeeepy! So far, we haven't had a problem with WDW transportation. Magical Express included. We've gone during the most busy times in the park, so Disney was probably most prepared to handle the crowds.

 

[seabright1]

Taking the Disney transportation system is very convenient. The bus takes you to MK gate; no need to take the monorail or the boat. Very important tip at OKW: The hospitality center is always the last stop when picking-up visitors. So sometimes(not all the time), it may be standing room only when you board the bus there. Happy trip!

 

[byoung]

To us the Disney transpertation is part of the majic of Disneyworld.

 

[rwcmath]

We enjoy taking the buses. We even use them to get to the campground. We first take the boat to DTD.

rwc

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually rent a car, but many times it will sit in the lot unused for several days at a time. We usually only use the car for grocery runs, dining reservations at other resorts, and for a few off site trips. We RARELY if ever take the car to the parks. The only one we have occationally taken the car to was AK, and that's because the bus ride there can be a bit lengthy, and the bus stops at Blizzard Beach first.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We were told by fellow Dis'ers that getting a car at OKW would be a good idea. We didn't (we had never rented a car at WDW before that in around 8 visists so we didn't see the point.) After the fact we realized that the trip would of been much better and would of went smother with one. We had poor luck in busses, room location and a number of other factors (like weather) that a car would of made our trip much more comfortalbe. In fact my BIL and SIL came for a few days and had a car, but they did not bring the car seat we asked them to so we were not comfortable driving in it. One time we had too. We were stuck out in a major rain storm (turns out tordonos were sited and the busses wern't running) and felt it was safer to be in the car with out a seat and get home then stay out in the open unprotected with out one. (jugment call I know, it turns out it was the right choice, but it could of have bad results.)

So for us we have decieded that if we ever stay at OKW again, we will rent a car if at all possible (if no deal is to be found and we have to pay over 200 for a car I don't think we will, but moslty we have been able to rent a car for under 150 for 8 days since then.) Looking back I think we would have a more postive view of OKW if we had a car for that trip. As it is OKW is our least favorite resort (not that it is bad, we just like the others inculding SSR better, but then again we had a car at SSR both times .)

I do think busses are part of the WDW expeirnce. I think that at BWV, BCV and VWL you don't need a car as much as OKW and SSR.

 

[Dean]

I would never stay at OKW or SSR without a car, we drive to most places including all parks except MK. Others prefer not to have a car or rarely use it if they do.

 

[jarestel]

We always have a rental car, but very rarely use it for anything but resort-resort trips. WDW transportation is usually pretty good and we don't really care about getting to a park 5 or 10 minutes quicker, especially since we've been to the parks so many times anyway. We have begun to utilize the car more for off-site dining since WDW dining is becoming more of a pain than it's worth. But for getting to-from the parks, WDW transportation is overall pretty good.

Having said that, any frequent WDW visitor will have transportation horror stories they are more than willing to share, but these tend to be the exception and not the rule. If you're not in commando mode and aren't looking to "maximize" every minute of your vacation, relax and go with WDW transportation. It'll be fine.

Have a great trip!

 

[nono]

OMG -- have you seen people drive around the WDW complex??? Seriously, we've done it both ways, and it really depends on our "mood" for the trip. Overall, though, at SSR, OKW or others, we generally prefer to let Disney do the driving and keep our blood pressure down.

 

[Candace]

A car at OKW just makes the vacation smoother. I don't use it so much to go to parks, but to eat at other resorts (instead of taking bus or ferry to DTD and then to another hotel), go shopping off-site, or just to run up to the General Store at the Hospitality House. Last year, for my end-of-year de-stress school trip (I teach), I decided to use the new ME. I thought with my AP, DDP, room paid on points, and ME, I was really saving money. I was, but I missed the rental car. Especially taking my laundry to the laundry center by the pool (I was alone, so I was in a studio) was a pain, since I had to get on a bus with my laundry bag, LOL! Also, catching that Internal Bus back from the HH when you have supplies (including milk) from the General Store, is no fun. Regarding eating at other resorts, last week when I was again at OKW, I used my car when I had a reservation at Spoodles. It was so nice just to valet park and walk in without doing all that transportation changing! In other words, a car is NOT necessary, just nice to have if you are at OKW (and I would think SSR as well).

 

[Judique]

We are trying to decide where to buy. Considering the buy where you want to stay philosophy, and in thinking about OKW, the one thing that really concerns me is the transportation. It seems like lots of people say the bus service is poor and you need to drive.

If this is true this is a major issue for us. We fly into Orlando and usually take limos to the resort (trying ME for the first time this trip ). One of the things we love about WDW is that you don't need to drive. We don't want to drive on a WDW vacation.

I am wondering if the people who say you need to drive are those that think you need to drive no matter where you stay. Or maybe you just like to drive?

Are there people like us who hate to drive and don't normally drive at other resorts, but feel that they must when staying at OKW?

You don't need a car, but it is a huge convenience if you want to go shopping or get somewhere in a hurry. There is adequate bus service, sometimes we don't want to wait even a few minutes or stand if it's crowded.