Drive or shuttle to MK?

[shellsd]

We are staying onsite and since we are rope droppers, it is sometimes easier to drive and park then to take the shuttle. We stay at Pop so half the time the walk is the same too!

However, I have not done that with MK yet since it involves TTC. What say you? What is the best way to get to MK for someone staying onsite? We'll go to MK twice during our week. We'll eat dinner at the Grand Floridian the first time and Ohana the second time. For the first one, it would be great to have our car at the GF but not sure I can park there at 8AM for my 8PM reservations? For the second, we will go back to MK and leave after wishes at 10PM (park is open until 12 but is not EMH).

Would love your advice! Thanks!!

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Absolutely drive. In my experience disney transportation is on par to a low level cattle roundup.

 

[tony609]

Everyone has a different theory. I say take Disney transportation. It's nice to let someone else do the driving, especially after a long park day plus your paying for it in your resort reservation I'm sure. I've never had any real problems with the Disney transpiration system.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Much easier to use the bus. There isn't any way the walk from your car to the TTC then riding the ferry or monorail then walking to bag check can be as short as the walk from the buses to bag check.

Parking especially at the Magic Kingdom-area resorts is for guests of those resorts only, except visitors can park up to three hours. But if you use Valet parking for $15 plus tip, there generally isn't an issue.

 

[wuzzy6]

Personally, I find that taking the bus is better than driving, because it bypasses the TTC and goes directly to the park entrance.

 

[Snoozan]

MK is the ONLY park I take the bus to. It's great as you don't have to take a ferry or monorail over the lake, it puts you right near the near entrance. Much, much quicker than driving yourself to the huge parking lot across the lake.

 

[disnut8]

We are staying onsite and since we are rope droppers, it is sometimes easier to drive and park then to take the shuttle. We stay at Pop so half the time the walk is the same too!

However, I have not done that with MK yet since it involves TTC. What say you? What is the best way to get to MK for someone staying onsite? We'll go to MK twice during our week. We'll eat dinner at the Grand Floridian the first time and Ohana the second time. For the first one, it would be great to have our car at the GF but not sure I can park there at 8AM for my 8PM reservations? For the second, we will go back to MK and leave after wishes at 10PM (park is open until 12 but is not EMH).

Would love your advice! Thanks!!

Taking a bus to Magic Kingdom does NOT involve the TTC. And that's the reason I recommend taking the bus. If you drive, you need to park at the TTC and then transfer to either the monorail or the ferry. If you take the bus, you are dropped off at the newly improved bus area right at the entrance to Magic Kingdom. One stop and that's it.

 

[JanaDee]

Taking the bus drops you off right at the entrance to MK.

Driving involves going through the parking booths, finding a spot, waiting for the tram, riding the tram to the TTC, waiting for the ferry or monorail and then riding the ferry or monorail over to the MK.

 

[BrianL]

When I've had a car, I usually drove to MK. I also get there EARLY, so I have a spot right up front (no tram) then get on the Monorail as soon as it opens. I dunno, I kinda like the TTC actually. It's nostalgic. I love the view from the Monorail as it comes around the corner and you can see the castle. The bus just brings you there, but it is more efficient.

 

[GillianP1301]

My first on site visit two years ago I tested the drive vs bus to MK. I lucked out and got a bus less than 5 minutes from getting to the stop. The time it took to get through the MK gate was within 2 minutes of driving it. That sealed it for me, we always drive now. Faster to all the parks, except MK which is equal time (assuming next to no wait), and no crowds or standing.

 

[BrownMomma7]

I am a Disney dork and love being in it all. The bus ride is just part of it! And when the day is over and the wee ones DH & I are exhausted then we enjoy someone else driving us.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I like to be in control of when I want to leave and arrive, so I like to drive. I have only stayed on site nice, but I had a bit of a meltdown when I waited 30 minutes for a bus from the WL for a pre park opening ADR.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

MK is the only park we won't drive to. We always take the bus, even when we have a rental car. I absolutely hate the whole TTC experience.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

MK is the ONLY park I take the bus to. It's great as you don't have to take a ferry or monorail over the lake, it puts you right near the near entrance. Much, much quicker than driving yourself to the huge parking lot across the lake.

I think taking the ferry or monorail is fun and provides a good build-up. Its actually what Walt wanted EVERYONE to do.

 

[Micca]

We always have a rental car and we always use it. I must say that there is some appeal to riding the bus directly to MK. However, at the end of the day when we are on our last legs, the idea of standing and waiting for a bus, and then perhaps standing during the ride completely cancels out the initial appeal of the MK dropoff.

A suggestion with your dining plans in mind:

For the night at the GF, drive your car to MK in the morning, take it to GF for dinner, and you can drive back to Pop after you eat. I think this will get you back to your resort faster than any of the alternatives.

For your 'Ohana dinner, there's no right answer. You're planning to leave MK after Wishes, as will several thousand other guests. Refer back to my earlier comment about standing around for a bus ride at the end of a long day.

 

[kokomos]

Love seeing the castle from the ferry.

 

[MichelleVW]

Love seeing the castle from the ferry.

Me too! We Love the Ferry! We are about 50/50 on driving to the MK, if we are staying for the evening EMH hours I will usually take the bus. I don't like driving late at night so I take the bus. But if we are heading over to MK in the morning and maybe going somewhere else afterwards, (Target, Publix etc) we drive. Last trip we also decided to take the bus to Epcot a few times because my youngest DD just turned 21 so we all had some drinks and no one needed to drive lol!

 

[shellsd]

Thanks all! This was extremely helpful!