Does anyone drive between Parks?

[momto2girls]

We always rent a car and drive to the resorts that we can't get to by monorail. I have 2 young children and prefer them to be in their car seats. Plus, it just seems faster than waiting for a bus.

 

[njchris]

I drive to all. Except a once a trip I will take the monorail between MK and Epcot because I loooove the monorail.

 

[ppony]

Another driver here. We've never taken the buses. We get around so quickly with a car. LOVE IT! If getting around quickly is priority for you which it sounds like it is with such a short stay, I think driving yourself will almost be a necessity. There so much waiting to be done at the parks, waiting for a bus is at least one thing we can cut out and save time on.

Have fun!

 

[Msslaydbug]

We always drive. Wwe rent a car every trip. We have tried the busses a few times but don't like them.

 

[Evil Queen]

IF you are staying on property they can give you a parking pass at check in, just throw it up on your dash board, this will get you free parking in the parks.

We try the bus depending what park we are going to on the first day or two, then go back to the car. I like taking my car much better, seems to give better control and so much better coming back to the resort at the end of the day when you have tired ones.

 

[brivers222]

^^ AAA parking pass is a perk you get from them. "technically" you are supposed to have to book an ENTIRE COMPLETE package through them to get it... but I called our local one inquiring about tickets and they said if you were to buy tickets from then you could also do it. WDW tickets are cheaper for me through Ticketmania.

 

[NCRedding]

In the past, we have always ridden the buses. This past trip, though, we wanted to hit as much as possible, and the buses just weren't cooperating so we rented a car and found life much more simple.

I do not drive to MK, nor do I like to drive if I know i will be leaving at closing time, with all the traffic. We did EMH at epcot last week when it was quite chilly, and we left when the park closed at midnight. We were one of only three cars in our lot area (but we did get to see all the buses lining up for the 1/2 marathon, which was really cool).

 

[mjmcca]

I always drive. We have close friends in the area so I never know what I am doing day to day. Sometimes I go to their house after the parks. I also have small kids and I travel alone. It is easier if they fall asleep to put them in the car seat and then back in the stroller on the way to the room then trying to get them to walk from the bus.

 

[cranbiz]

The only time we will use Disney Transportation is going to DAK for an early ADR. The toll booth does not open to general traffic until park opening time on EMH days and 30 minutes before park opening on other days.

Other than this, we always drive to the parks, it's just much more convenient.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I easily drive to AK and MGM from the AS but whenever I attempt EPCOT I end up getting lost out on an interstate and that is not a good thing.

Not sure what I do wrong. Maybe next time I will practice a few times in daylight and see if I can correct the situation.

I drive over to Fort Wilderness but always take a bus to MK to avoid all the hassles.

I do not take off at closing as we leave early or sit and wait for the crowds to abate as being out and about with bunches of people who have little idea of what they are doing is not my idea of fun. Never did like 'bumper cars".

Slightly Goofy

 

[trstno1]

1. There are multiple AAA regions, and the criteria for getting a AAA parking pass vary depending on your region. Here in the Iowa/Minnesota region, you can get a parking pass just by buying your tickets at AAA. I have heard that in other regions you may need to buy an entire package. Here is the website for park tickets through our AAA chapter - it clearly states that the pass comes with the ticket purchase. http://www.autoclubgroup.com/mnia/savings/theme_park_tickets/disney_orlando.asp

2. I love parking, especially with the AAA pass. Here is a tip, though. When you drive to a park in the afternoon, don't park where they tell you to. Just tell the attendant that you want to see if there are open spots closer. There are always open spots. Remember, all of those people who arrive first thing in the morning, the ones who got the great parking? A lot of them leave mid-day for a break, and their spots are always open after 1 or 2pm.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Although the Disney busses did make things easy, we found them to be difficult to deal with at night. Trying to get on with the crowds, while dealing with 3 sleepy children and a big double stroller was quite frustrating and stressful.

We are driving down in October, and plan to drive to whatever park we go to for closing. I'm not sure what we'll during the day, since we've never had a problem with crowds etc. at those times.

I just read in the UG that you could get reservations for dinner at the Contemporary, move your car to that resort and walk to MK, and then after Wishes, you just walk back to the Contemporary (and bypass the crowds for the bus). I'm intrigued by this idea. I wonder if this would also work to make dinner plans at the Grand Floridian. Does anyone know if MK is walking distance from GF?

 

[chrome64]

We always drive. we have tried the busses a few times and I have never enjoyed it. I'm not a patient person and I have found that it takes much longer on average to take the busses. The only situation that I would consider taking the bus would be if DH and I were there with no kids and we want to have a few drinks. And that never happens...

 

[cara76]

The only situation that I would consider taking the bus would be if DH and I were there with no kids and we want to have a few drinks. And that never happens

We just took a cab , it was alot easier then trying to navagate buses late at night after drinking and alot faster too.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Another driver here-we drive to all parks except sometimes the MK-our DS likes the boats and monorails so we tend to drive to the MK also. Much quicker than the busses-plus at the end of a long, tired, day-we can enjoy our own space instead of being jammed standing on a bus trying to hold a sleeping child.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

For the poster who suggested asking the attendent if they could check for closer parking --

We tried that at MGM last year and were told that we had to park where they told us. I tried an end run to get to the closer parking lot and was stopped by barriers. Might just be MGM though.

BTW, I have a handicap sticker.

Slightly Goofy

 

[betterlatethannever]

... I wonder if this would also work to make dinner plans at the Grand Floridian. Does anyone know if MK is walking distance from GF?

There is no way to walk to GF from MK. Even if you wanted to hack through the vegitation , there is a canal (where they keep the barges for the EWP) blocking your way.

Ed