Drive or bus from OKW to parks

[MikeScott8]

I have seen posts that members staying at OKW usally drive themselves instead of taking Disney Transport to the parks.

Could someone elaborate on this?

why would one drive? it the bus service that poor from OKW? not often enough? or too long a trip?

if you do drive, do you have to pay for parking? or do you get it free because you are staying at a onsite resort?

and finally is this to all parks or just to some of the parks?

Thanks as always to the wise people here,
Mike

 

[Lew]

The only park we take the bus to is MK. We drive to all others.

We find driving much more convenient and it gives us much more flexibility. We can drive to Boatwrights for breakfast, then to MGM, then to Coronado for a late lunch.

Sure, it can be done using WDW transportation, but driving is much quicker. Getting back to OKW from Coronado is not that easy or quick by bus.

 

[lkenyon]

I agree with Lew, the flexibility is a plus. Personally, we drive because the combination of the bus starting and stopping mixed with the fumes makes us nauseous. I t is great to be able to come and go when you please - not having to worry about catching a bus. All of the parks are free. If you get lost, it is one giant circle and before you know it you are back! ha ha

 

[Lew]

You have to pay to park at any of the four theme parks, unless you have an annual pass and then parking anywhere on property is included free.

This must be a new policy. We have never had to pay for parking while registered at a WDW resort.

 

[DebbieB]

Since joining DVC, we always rent a car. It is especially convenient at OKW, you park right outside your building. I just don't have the patience for the busses, they are usually crowded and slow. We sometimes take the bus to MK, when we expect the parking lot to be crowded (like Saturday night for Spectro). I just love the freedom of the car. I can usually get a good deal with National, around $120 for the week for a full size. Subtracting what you would pay for airport transportation, it's not that much more. Plus we like have it for food shopping, outlets & some offsite restaurants.

 

[WOW]

We relax while on vacation. We don't cook or drive!!!!!!!! We have always used WDW transportation and have found it to be very accomodating. Sure there are times we have to wait, but we just take that time to relax and enjoy "people watching". That is one of the greatest things we love about DVC, we know we are coming back so there is absoultely no pressure. If for some reason we are running late for a dinner we always have the option of taking a taxi..LOL

 

[RobDoc]

We always use the bus transportation from OKW. It is no better/worse than any of the other resorts. We always ask the drivers for an approximate schedule and just consider the buses another attraction. You will have to allow extra time to go to other resorts- unless you travel there from parks or DD.

Parking at the parks is free for all WDW resort guests- including DVC resorts. Valet parking is $6/day at deluxe resorts, but, at DVC resorts (BWV/VWL) is free for DVC members.

Enjoy!

 

[Regina]

We always use the bus at OKW.

For the times that we've had a rental car, we've used it to go to Universal or if we had a meal at a different resort.

We have never driven to the parks.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We do not use Disney Transportation for the pure fact that we travel with 3 DD's and have a stroller. I hate folding the stroller up to get on the bus and then, when busy, find it difficult to sit with the stroller and usually 2 (of the 3) sleeping princesses!!

It is easier for DH and I to drive to the parks with the girls and all their "stuff". Maybe when they are older and stay awake longer we could use Disney Transporation. Until then...our car is it!!!

Parking at your door at OKW is one of the reasons that attracted us to OKW!!! And...we hae yet to pay to park at any of the theme parks. We just show (and proudly) our OKW parking sign and they wave us on in....

 

[Richyams]

I have actually never been on a WDW bus. OKW is set up so well for parking in front of your unit, I would never dream of being constricted to WDW transportation.

The ability to stop for dinner on a whim wherever you feel like at the moment is indispensible. Stopping for some late night snack on your way home from Epcot, running out for half and half for morning coffee, changing you mind about your park destination because of the weather, just basic freedom and not being held hostage by WDW transportation is way more than enough reason to always have a car.

 

[loribell]

Just wanted to agree with DOC and some others. Parking is free to any Disney Resort guest including DVC guests. Did it in July and August. Just have your resort parking pass in your window and they wave you through.

 

[jcodespoti]

DRIVE

Joe in CT

 

[PKS44]

For now. parking is free throughout WDW including the theme parks for all resort guests. I would not be surprised to see this perk cut as well. For now it is a nice perk.

I would say that the one park where the bus sort of helps is MK. You avoid the TTC- need to get across the lake- and into and out of that huge parking lot hassle. When we were there, my wife and kids took the bus and I returned to get the car from the lot. IF their bus had done the usual loop through OKW instead of stopping at Hosp House and making them wait to transfer to another bus within OKW that night, they would have beat me home by 15 - 20 minutes, maybe more if their bus had left shortly after they got on it. As it was they beat me by 5 minutes. Why the bus did that that night I don't know.

For the other parks there seems little advantage to the bus over parking.

 

[Granny]

MikeScott8

The "drive yourself" vs "use WDW Transportation" has been discussed (okay, debated) here and especially on the DIS Transportation Board. Like most things, this is completely subjective and many people are vehement in their opinions.

Personally, I drive 1,000 miles to get to WDW so I really enjoy the WDW transportation system. As long as OKW's transportation system is about the same as the other resorts (I would trust Webmaster Doc's say on that), then you should make your decision based on your personal preference instead of where you are staying.

I will admit that having my vehicle there does provide some additional flexibility, especially for those hard to reach places like other resorts or DD. Not to mention visiting the other Orlando attractions.

Again, one of the great things about being a DVC member is the choice to shed the "commando" mentality where everything has to be crammed into each trip. So we don't mind waiting 15 minutes for a bus. Others would correctly point out that they could be at their destination by then. There is no wrong answer.

Choices, options.....it's what DVC is all about.

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE always use the bus. Like Doc, we find it to be adequate. We usually have a rental car, so we can drive to the other resorts for dinner PS. The only time I find the bus system inadequate is in getting to and from the other resorts. We sometimes drive to AK if we have a PS for another park.

I HATE using the park parking lots! It takes way too much time to get back and forth from your car.

 

[spiceycat]

If you are at the parks early and want to leave around lunch time then the buses (not just OKW buses) will not work. You will generally get 1 an hour - and if you saw it leave be prepared to wait an hour. this is the bus to take you back - there are plenty of buses that will come and let off passengers but they will not take you back. this starts around 11:00am and seems to go to around 2:00pm. After that we generally have not had problems. (hey the drivers have to eat too)

 

[sumessefui]

We usually have a car at OKW, but always use the buses to the parks. Going is very rarely a problem, comming back depends on the time of day. At least the bus only serves OKW. Going to another resort for dinner really needs a car. If we don't have one we use a taxi. A taxi also works well to go to a non WDW theme park.

 

[Pa@okw95]

The bus service at OKW is terrible. It always has been, but the bus service at other resorts has gotten worse in the few years also. What I do is drive all the time rather than be insulted by the bus service. I park in various places either valet or otherwise. When going to MK I will use the bus every so often. I am a member of DVC so I can valet park for free at BW so that takes care of Epcot. The rest of the parks I just drive to.

 

[JohnG]

.................haven't had a car at WDW in over a decade.

For us, Disney Transportation has worked just fine. In the rare instance where we want to go directly to another resort without changing busses at DD or a Park, we just grab a cab.

Atlantis Limo provides a "necessity stop" at Publix on the way to DVC, so we get what we need and purchase the few additional "oops I forgot" stuff at the general store onsite.

Its not the cost (Limo is cheaper for us, though) that drives us to this, its just personal preference to get on air conditioned busses instead of into super-heated autos every time we want to go from park-to-park (we often do 2 - 3 each day) or to be able to have a bottle of wine or a few beers with lunch and not worry about driving.

It's also SO MUCH easier to have the Limo driver meet us in baggage claim and walk us directly out to the waiting car as well as drop us off curbside on the return (especially with the longer departure process in place right now).

 

[Mom B]

We've only been to WDW 3 times and have rented a car each
time. I have to say, however, that we've always found the bus
system quite handy. We don't mind waiting for a bus...we're on
vacation, after all, what's the hurry? And we find it quite relaxing
to just sit and people-watch.

We haven't even really minded
the standing in line part to get back to our accommodations; it
usually wasn't that long. We haven't had any really "bad" weather
to contend with ever...I might think differently if that was the
case.

But generally all we use the car for is getting to and from
the airport, making runs for food, and occasionally going off
property for dinner somewhere. Oh yes, and my husband has a
NASA compulsion so he has to make a pilgrimage there each trip!

So it's been nice to have the car, but we have never used it
to get to the parks. Hopefully our good luck will continue!