Drive or bus to get around???

[tmonferdini]

We will be visiting the first week of June and will be driving. Was wondering if it's best to take our personal vehicle to certain parks & resorts for dining or use disney transportation? We are staying at POR. I think I read somewhere that it may be best to drive yourself to the resorts and SOME parks (like MK) to by-pass TTC? What do you think? What is usually easier. Parking won't be an issue, since we are staying on-site and will be able to park for free. Thanks,
Tracy

 

[hobogary]

We always drive to WDW and nearly never use our car after. Going betwen resorts you can drive, depending on where your going afterwards.I like to do things like take the boat or monorail just to ride and sight see. Dont drive to MK as the busses bypass the TTC and you wont with your car.We do often drive to DTD because it's handier if you buy things.I'm sure you will see posts that never take the busses or always take taxis, so to each his own but we have good luck with Disney Transport.

 

[clkelley]

We always use the Disney Transportation!!

Love it!!

 

[gottaluvdisney]

I prefer Disney Transportation as it may be a little confusing driving. I have never experienced waiting longer than 20-25min for a bus. Sometime, I just walked right on with no wait.

For the MK, I would definately use Disney Transportation. If you drive your car there, you will be at the TTC and still have to take a monorail or ferry boat.

The other theme parks, when you park - you are right there in their parking lot and can take the tram to the main entrance.

 

[chris7]

I have never taken disney transportation since we stay off site....... But, driving all around WDW seemed like a breeze. I can see how if taking a bus to the MK allowed you to bypass the TTC that would be a bonus.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We been to WDW 39 times and in some of the earlier trips have had our car with us, but never used it. We were impressed from the start that getting around Disney was free and easy, all part of the experience. We're still doing the Disney vacations and do not rent a car, but still use the transportation provided by Disney. It has changed through the years, resort to resort is a little tougher but entirely doable. We enjoy using the bus system, its quick, efficient, AC'ed and free and gets us to point A from B without watching the roads or signs, finding a place to park and dropping us off up front. We normally stay at the WL, nice boat to MK, others say its slow but its a nice leisurely trip and we're on vacation not a time race, we do boat to FW and CR, CR we gain access to the monorail which we transfer to the EPCOT at the TTC, again, great leisurely ride thats to be had nowhere else. But we also have the options of Disney buses which we use and never have waited more than 20 minutes for. We do bus to the MK, closest park to us and hit different resorts for dining and entertainment this way, again, all pleasurable and fairly clean.

We've buses to the MK, then bused to POFQ for a lounge and meal, caught the action at the Scat Cat Club and then took the POFQ boat to DTD, nice evening ride and walked alittle around DTd then took the bus back to our resort. Inconvenient, no, ever see the parking lot at DTD? nothing I would want to park in or navigate, same goes for the parks, huge lots, alot of cars, Disney CM's direct you to spot, tram ride to park entrance then a reverse of the above to leave, plus the endless stream of cars exiting the lot. I'll just sit in my AC'ed Disney bus, which was a short walk to from the park to the drop off at my resort. Again, its all part of the experience and the money savings in not renting a car does not take away from our Disney time, our trips are not measured in speed but relaxation.

 

[clkelley]

We been to WDW 39 times and in some of the earlier trips have had our car with us, but never used it. We were impressed from the start that getting around Disney was free and easy, all part of the experience. We're still doing the Disney vacations and do not rent a car, but still use the transportation provided by Disney. It has changed through the years, resort to resort is a little tougher but entirely doable. We enjoy using the bus system, its quick, efficient, AC'ed and free and gets us to point A from B without watching the roads or signs, finding a place to park and dropping us off up front. We normally stay at the WL, nice boat to MK, others say its slow but its a nice leisurely trip and we're on vacation not a time race, we do boat to FW and CR, CR we gain access to the monorail which we transfer to the EPCOT at the TTC, again, great leisurely ride thats to be had nowhere else. But we also have the options of Disney buses which we use and never have waited more than 20 minutes for. We do bus to the MK, closest park to us and hit different resorts for dining and entertainment this way, again, all pleasurable and fairly clean.

We've buses to the MK, then bused to POFQ for a lounge and meal, caught the action at the Scat Cat Club and then took the POFQ boat to DTD, nice evening ride and walked alittle around DTd then took the bus back to our resort. Inconvenient, no, ever see the parking lot at DTD? nothing I would want to park in or navigate, same goes for the parks, huge lots, alot of cars, Disney CM's direct you to spot, tram ride to park entrance then a reverse of the above to leave, plus the endless stream of cars exiting the lot. I'll just sit in my AC'ed Disney bus, which was a short walk to from the park to the drop off at my resort. Again, its all part of the experience and the money savings in not renting a car does not take away from our Disney time, our trips are not measured in speed but relaxation.

Hear, Hear!!!!!! Ditto!!

 

[blitzkrieg048]

I love the rental car, no wainting for buses, getting to resort to resort much quicker(there are no buses that go from resort to resort), the signs are real easy to follow, have the option to eat off property(cheaper) or visit other places off property. The only time I use the bus is to go to MK b/c it is much quicker. All the the other parks are easy and the trams at the parking lots are quicker than the buses at the resorts. Also it's quicker at the airport than taking ME. Good luck with your decision.

 

[dzneelvr]

The one time we drove from Illinois we immediately parked the van and didn't get back in until it was time to go! During June the traffic will be brutal and if you don't know exactly how to manuever around it could be a stressfilled nightmare A huge reason we go to WDW is to de-stress and that begins with transportation...(and NO cooking, cleaning, worrying...you get the picture ). We LOVE disney transportation. Frankly, after 22 hours on the road that one time, neither DH nor I could stand the thought of getting behind the wheel again you may feel the same way.
ASMo here we come June 08 using Happy Limo and Disney only until we get back to Illinois

 

[ahoff]

The only times a car are needed is going from resort to resort. And maybe DTD. Otherwise, the buses are great.

 

[wisbucky]

We use to always use Disney Buses. The last two times we used a rental car to get around. BEST THING WE EVER DID. WE found getting to and from the parks was so quick. I also find that going to MK with a rental car is still quicker than using a bus. Once you park at MK a shuttle takes you up to the TTC and you just hop on the monorail. No waiting for buses or having to ride on a packed up and stand the entire time all the way back. Getting around Disney World I found extremely easy. It is signed extremely well.

 

[wisbucky]

We use to always use Disney Buses. The last two times we used a rental car to get around. BEST THING WE EVER DID. WE found getting to and from the parks was so quick. I also find that going to MK with a rental car is still quicker than using a bus. Once you park at MK a shuttle takes you up to the TTC and you just hop on the monorail. No waiting for buses or having to ride on a packed up and stand the entire time all the way back. Getting around Disney World I found extremely easy. It is signed extremely well.

 

[airhead]

We have done both;rely on WDW transportation and car rental. I like to have a car to get to my resort from the airport and we always do things off property so we need to have a car. I really like to drive because it allows me to be able to come ad go as I please. Plus at the end of the day(or night),when I'm so tired,I know I'll have a place to sit for the ride home without hearing tired babies crying!
Getting around WDW is so easy! Everything is so well marked.

 

[blackmonmama]

Bus to MK, drive everywhere else (unless you have small kids who like busses, then busses everywhere!)