Drive to parks or take the bus?

[twoplustwins]

Pros/cons of driving vs. taking the bus to the parks?

 

[cassandrap83]

Bus:

Pros
freezing cold a/c feels great after a long day
you don't have to worry about carseats
you don't have to drive on vacation
you get dropped off very very close to the park entrance
you get picked up very very close to the park entrance
you can sit back & relax on the way back to the resort
less chance of getting in an accident
No cost to park

Cons
You may have to stand
Your children, or parents may have to stand
Smelly people in close quarters
You have to wait for the bus, sometimes in the beating sun & heat
You have to wait for the bus, sometimes in the rain
You have to wait for people with ECVs to load/unload
If you have an ECV you have to hold up the whole line & endure angry stares
Stuck with whiney, tired, cranky, crying kids in close quarters
You may have to make multiple stops before your final destination

Driving:

Pros
It's your own personal car that you are familiar with
Free Parking if you stay on site
AC blasting directly in your face
kids are safely secured in their carseats
EVERYBODY gets their own seat
You can almost always get there quicker
You can almost always get back to the hotel quicker
You can go directly from park to park
No waiting in lines for a bus

Cons
Your car will be ridiculously hot when you first get in
you may have to park far away, & take a tram to the park entrance
you have to walk all the way to your car (or take a tram) at the day's end
You have to pay $14/day parking if staying offsite
Wear & Tear & Fuel usage
Not knowing where you are going
People go FAST on the main road, gotta be extra-aware


That's all I can think of. I am sure there are many more.

 

[TheresaNY]

Driving yourself to the park can add a LOT of time onto your time to get INTO the park. This is especially true at MK. Also it adds a lot more walking (and if you are going in the summer, like us, you really do not need any more time walking around in the heat!). Also, if you are parked far from the tram, that takes time, then walk to monorail, ferry, or gate (depending on which park), that adds time. So it is really a lot quicker (most of the time) and easier to hop on a bus (especially when you are exhausted !).
As to the "pros" of driving, none come to my mind ! Oh and btw, I am referring to WDW transportation to and from WDW Resorts only. I have no experience with the bus transportation from other resorts in the area.

 

[cardramblues]

If you have a car, I would recommend using it to all the parks except MK, especially if you plan on staying until closing. Being packed into a bus with a throng of smelly people (including myself) is not a lot of fun.

 

[Bork]

Here's one big pro of driving for us, parking near your resort room. When we were at the All Star Music last time, we were way back in the Broadway section. Walk 80 miles to get the bus. Not too bad in the morning when you're fresh. But walking 80 miles to get back to the room after a full day at the park, while carrying a 40 lb kid who is sleeping. Also holding said sleeping kid while standing on the bus, while trying to keep from falling over while the bus driver does 60 around the turns.

Yes, I think we'll be driving this year.

 

[momof2n2]

Bus:

Pros
freezing cold a/c feels great after a long day
you don't have to worry about carseats
you don't have to drive on vacation
you get dropped off very very close to the park entrance
you get picked up very very close to the park entrance
you can sit back & relax on the way back to the resort
less chance of getting in an accident
No cost to park

Cons
You may have to stand
Your children, or parents may have to standSmelly people in close quarters
You have to wait for the bus, sometimes in the beating sun & heat
You have to wait for the bus, sometimes in the rainYou have to wait for people with ECVs to load/unload
If you have an ECV you have to hold up the whole line & endure angry stares
Stuck with whiney, tired, cranky, crying kids in close quarters
You may have to make multiple stops before your final destination

Driving:

Pros
It's your own personal car that you are familiar with
Free Parking if you stay on site
AC blasting directly in your face
kids are safely secured in their carseats
EVERYBODY gets their own seat
You can almost always get there quicker
You can almost always get back to the hotel quicker
You can go directly from park to park
No waiting in lines for a bus

Cons
Your car will be ridiculously hot when you first get in
you may have to park far away, & take a tram to the park entrance
you have to walk all the way to your car (or take a tram) at the day's end
You have to pay $14/day parking if staying offsite
Wear & Tear & Fuel usage
Not knowing where you are going
People go FAST on the main road, gotta be extra-aware

The above poster did SUCH a great job!
I bolded my own personal reasons...

Me? My own car all the time.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We ususally go at slower times and do not encounter a lot of hot and smelly people. I think it is always faster to take a bus as we usually wait less than5-10 minutes. Maybe half the time there is a bus loading as we walk up or one pulling in.

 

[klacey1]

I agree with the PP that said taking the bus takes less time. Also, neither DBF nor I love driving, and part of vacation for us is relaxing and letting someone else do the driving. We usually stay from rope drop to close, and I shudder to think about trying to get out of the parking lot at the end of a long day!
Also, one of our big "pro's" for taking the bus is meeting people! You never know who you'll sit next to. We love striking up conversations with people at Disney, and the bus is a great place to do so. I love exchanging Disney info with people!

 

[Eric in TX]

I agree with Cassandra's list of pros and cons for each.

We've always used Disney transportation. 90% of the time, we have experienced minimum waits for buses (5-15 minutes) and have been able to board the first bus that stopped.

When the parks close, you'll run the risk of potentially having to wait in line for at least 20 minutes or longer unless you get lucky. Your bus may be packed, with nowhere to sit. These scenarios make up the other 10% of the time from above.

In my mind, the biggest argument against Disney transportation is if you want to go from one resort to another and the resorts are not on the monorail line. To do this, you will have to transfer at one of the parks or DTD. Figure this type of trip will take at least an hour or more.

For me, the biggest plus to Disney transportation is that I don't have worry about figuring out where we're going, which turn I need to make, and the idiot that just blew past me in the right lane going 60 mph. I can relax, talk about what we're going to do first when we get to the park, and leave the driving to somebody else.

Ultimately, you just need to figure out what's best for you and your group.

 

[nhl66pens]

If you have a car, I would recommend using it to all the parks except MK, especially if you plan on staying until closing. Being packed into a bus with a throng of smelly people (including myself) is not a lot of fun.

If you're staying at BWI, BC, Swan or Dolphin you have the options of using the boats for Epcot and DHS. You can also easily walk to Epcot although DHS would be a significant hike. We only used our rental car for AK and DTD. Other than those 2 areas, we used Disney transport for everything and were very happy with the convenience.

 

[Hoan & Poopie]

For our first trip or two years ago we used the buses staying on-site. Since trying the rental car and driving ourselves option, we haven't used the bus since. Just seems like you have a freedom that you don't get using the bus transportation.

 

[kaligal]

Bus is faster to MK. Driving is faster everywhere else.

I drive everywhere, even to the MK and take the monorail or ferry...it's slower, but I just really, really don't like public transportation.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

We do whatever we can to avoid driving while at WDW. This last trip, we were their for two weeks. We got into the car twice. Once to go to CVS to get drugs, and, to go to Typhoon Lagoon. Wet Bathing suits and cold buses don't mix. Don't go to the CVS on 535 as they don't have a Pharmacy! The one on 192 at Polynesian does.

I can't imagine actually WANTING to drive when you are paying for someone else to drive you anyway.

 

[vroomagain]

As I started writing I realized we preferred the bus:

Our reasoning:
For us driving around Disney was such a headache. Our GPS and the Disney signs never agreed about which way to go. When Marathon Weekend was going on we got lost a few times. So for us the time evened out.

We only got into a standing room bus a few times when we stayed in the park until the end so that wasn't an issue.

We got to meet some really nice people on the bus, however sometimes the people on the bus suck (to be nice about it). The large group of bolsterous drunks singing "Its a Small World" on the bus going back to AK in the afternoon come to mind.

What we really didn't like about the buses:

If you have strollers you have to have them packed up when the bus comes (but you would have to do this anyway to get them in your car). It can be stressful when you are trying to beat the clock and get everything done.

Waiting for the buses aren't bad but seeing yours leave before you get to it makes you

 

[ipodluvr287]

On our next trip we have a lot of meals planned at resorts, so I figured the best way to make this work is to use our car. The only place I'm no too thrilled about using our car is MK, but whatever. What I am wondering is are there road signs to tell you how to get from place to place? ie. One morning we have breakfast planned at 1900 Park Fare. Will we be able to figure out how to get to GF from ASMu or should I print out directions before we leave?

 

[maxsmom]

Driving yourself to the park can add a LOT of time onto your time to get INTO the park. This is especially true at MK. Also it adds a lot more walking (and if you are going in the summer, like us, you really do not need any more time walking around in the heat!). Also, if you are parked far from the tram, that takes time, then walk to monorail, ferry, or gate (depending on which park), that adds time. So it is really a lot quicker (most of the time) and easier to hop on a bus (especially when you are exhausted !).
As to the "pros" of driving, none come to my mind ! Oh and btw, I am referring to WDW transportation to and from WDW Resorts only. I have no experience with the bus transportation from other resorts in the area.

Your entire response blows me away. I totally get that everyone has their own opinion and many like that you don't have to worry about driving. I get that and done that even w/ a car there.

However, the first time I had to wait in a ridiculously long line that took over an hour to just get on the bus when leaving the MK and then the ride back was awful b/c it was packed w/ people and we had a 15mth old and stroller and a cake box b/c we had been to eat at the Poly and I had order a specialty cake. That was the turning point. We had been getting tired of waiting and waiting for buses and stuff in past trips and this was just the breaking point. We called enterprise that night and the next morning they came and picked us up. Like I said things really changed when we had little kids w/ us.

Now we always drive when not taking the monorail. It absolutely does NOT add a lot of extra time. Extra walking yes. And then we don't even take the trams. The problem w/ the buses and the trams is you have to fold down your stroller, hold all your stuff that was in the stroller and hold a kid or two. We go in the summer, b/c that's the only time we can go. We drive unless we can take the monorail and we don't use the tram. Even when we've been parked far away, not once has a tram beaten us to the park drop off area. We always beat them, even if one is sitting there and waiting for us. Yes, it is extra walking, but we expect that.

I do miss the carefreeness of the buses and using only Disney's transportation. But maybe we'll give it a try again when we are out of the stroller ages.

Off topic, but the other thing I cannot believe isn't a deal breaker for others is the moderates that don't have elevators. I didn't realize some did this until we stayed in one for one night. That was a giant pain w/ little ones and strollers. Especially when you come back from the parks and they are sleeping. NEVER again will we make that mistake. I'm just surprised that know one seems to think that's a problem.

Ok, just had to put in my opinion w/ the others. I didn't read past this post so it may be a duplicate as to what others have already said.

I forgot, we also love to go shopping and the Orlando area has fantastic shopping that we would miss out on if we didn't have a car. We often buy work clothes for the next school yr while on vacation. Ok, now I'm done.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I've done both, and if I had my car all the time, I'd use it!

The bus can be VERY convenient, especially for MK and all. It is nice not to have to drive, but I really don't mind the car. We tend to shop a LOT, and it's nice to be able to throw things in the trunk at the end of the day. I also love knowing I'm guaranteed a seat, and the privacy (I have quite a few health issues, and it's easier to deal with my stomach away from 75 people no matter where I am!).

However, I have met some wonderful people on the busses and in the lines, and it's truly a part of what makes Disney memorable for me. You do get closer to the parks than with a car, and I love having the mood set for each destination with the bus music. Also, it is much nicer than SEPTA, our public transportation here! My friends were shocked a bus could be so nice!

 

[Squidgyness]

Or you could take a taxi. If there are 3+ people in your party, it shouldnt be more than $5-8 each.

All the pros of the bus and car, taxi ranks are as close as most buses I seem to remember, and only some of the cons of the car/bus.

The only con is expense, but like I said, think of it as a breakdown, like $20 fare for 2 adults and 2 kids would be:

2 adults at $7 each
2 kids at $3 each.

Where I come from in england it costs the equivalent of $3-4 dollars EACH one way to go on the BUS.

For a 5 mile TAXI trip it is like £15 = $25.

Taxis thus seem a lot better to us because of prices back home. JMO, and a third option to consider.

P.S. You can also wait for a taxi for 2-3 mins, and if no buses are there or coming get the taxi. I would say 30-50% of the time a bus will come. For the other 50%, use a taxi.

 

[aceys_h0ney]

Everyone has posted some great lists but I wanted to add, try both out. I thought for sure we would drive ourselves to the parks every day. Husband did not want to secure our car topper immedietly after unpacking so he asked if we could take the bus. I really did not want to but we fell in love. Our van stayed put the whole 7 days. The worse things were having to stand (well my 10 year old hated it) and having to fold up the stroller. More often though people would get up and offer a seat since we have a 2 year old so I would put my 10 year old DD with my 2yo. Actually I don't think anyone ever had to stand with the baby but she wanted to. It did get crowded on some rides but I think the longest we were on a bus was about 25 minutes and I met some really friendly people so the ride time flew by. We had our routine down so the stroller was folded up before the bus and the kids all were holding something, it made getting on and off seamless. The first day we waited until the bus got there to fold up the stroller but quickly learned that was a sure fire way to not get a seat.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Taking a bus has no "pros"--if you have a car, DRIVE!!