Drive to the parks OR use the bus?

[mdsoccermom]

We always drive and won't do it any other way. We hate waiting for the bus, trying to find a seat, dealing with the people. Driving is just so easy.

 

[lroger01]

I've always done the buses and didn't see any issue with them - until our last trip 2 years ago. The buses just seemed like more of a hassle. Maybe I'm just getting grumpier as I get older, but next trip I'll rent a car and try driving to most places. I always stay at a value resort, so it would be nice to not have to pay extra for a room close to the bus stop.

OP, I suggest you mix it up. Alternate days you do the bus with days you take the car. After a few days (assuming you're going for a week or more) the best option should become obvious and if it doesn't, alternating will at least give everyone the kind of vacation they like.

 

[Crystal824]

Common question. My answer is bus to MK, drive everywhere else. YMMV. ()

This for us. We don't always rent a car, but when we do, we do this.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I use the bus to go everywhere. I don't want to pay to rent a car when Disney provides cost-included transportation.

Although, on my last trip, I only had to bus to DHS and AK (stayed at Contemporary) and the trip before that, only to MK and AK (stayed at Yacht Club). But even when I stayed at POFQ, I did not find the bus transportation to be a hassle.

 

[HeadintheClouds]

This is me and DBF's dilemma. We are doing just 2 days at DW. 1st day at MK and Epcot ('Ohana for dinner and then back to MK for Wishes). The second day we are going to DHS and AK (Kona for dinner). We decided to drive going from MK to Epcot and then drive to 'Ohana. And the second day we are riding the buses between DHS and AK and then driving to Kona. I hope it'll work out ok. So I guess to answer your question, we are doing a combination of both. Last year was our first year as adults going to DW and we just solely used the bus and monorail and it worked out for us every time. We only had to wait for a bus once and that was only about 5 minutes. I guess I naively believed this was the case all the time. But about a month after our trip last year I found the DIS. After reading up on the transportation system and how some people wait in excess of 30 minutes plus at times, I realized that the "transportation Gods" might not be on our side on this trip so we are just gonna see what happens.

 

[vzmom]

We drive everywhere too, but I have little kids still in a stroller so it's just easy when they are sleeping to push them straight to the car instead of juggling sleeping kids, stroller, and bag on a crowded bus. At MK we just push the stroller right on the monorail and then walk to the car and we only have to pick them up to put them in their car seats.

 

[nkereina]

I hate driving, especially in an area where I'm not sure where I am going. Disney is so big, I certainly don't want to pull out maps or GPS's to drive around there. Plus, taking the bus allows me to have a few drinks if I am in a place that permits

 

[Jenn]

We drive ourselves. For years we used the busses. I just assumed, you stay on property, you use the busses cause Disney makes everything so easy! Dealt with the following:
Waiting forever
Packed busses
Standing balancing kids/bags/strollers
Freezing/sweltering temps on bus
Been on bus where someone gets sick
Waiting for loading of scooters/ wheelchairs
Too many bus stops

At some point a couple years ago we stayed at AKV and figured we would drive to AK since its so close. It was so nice walking out to our own car after. If you arrive early you usually don't even have to take the trams. Started trying other parks and realized wow from hotel to parking lot it's like 5-10 minutes. Haven't looked back and drive always now! I will say a navigation system helps - I don't know my way around without it and it takes shortcuts I never even knew were there.

 

[KigerKat]

We have normally traveled during summer months, so we will often leave a cooler in the car with frozen bottles of water in them so we have a nice cool drink available. It does take a great deal longer to drive to MK, so we have taken the bus in the past. Everywhere else is the car!

 

[alicia080979]

Common question. My answer is bus to MK, drive everywhere else. YMMV. ()

This is exactly how we do it. As we are contemplating for flying there for the first time, getting a rental car is not even a question...it is a must have for me. We do a lot of dining in the various resorts, have to get our Flippers pizza off property, meals at DTD, etc. and there is no way I could wait for a bus to take me to a park then wait for another to go to the next resort.

Bus to MK then drive everywhere else is the most efficient system I have found so far. We tried leaving our car one trip and waiting 30+min for a bus drove me crazy and ruined my morning so it just isn't worth it for me. On the other hand, we have friends that fly and have never had a car there and don't mind at all.

 

[josassoc]

I bought a AAA diamond pass on ebay. We drove our car and parked, at the front on the parks, and didn't have to brave the tram lines. We just walked right up to our car near the gates and moved on. It was a GREAT idea!

 

[larryz]

We are having a disagreement. My kids and I love driving to Disney, parking our car AND NEVER SEEING IT AGAIN until we go home. However, my husband is not a fan of Disney transportation. Getting to the parks is fine, BUT when we leave after fireworks/shows/closing time, it drives him nuts to wait all that time with the tired kids, hurting feet, etc. Especially since our van is just waiting at our resort and would take a fraction of the time (he says).

I see his point, truly! However, I just love that we park the car and not use it. My kids said they feel the same way.

So what's everyone take? Do you use your car or park it and leave it?

It depends. If it's close to the resort, we'll walk or use transport. But if it's somewhere else, we drive.

 

[sydsmom1997]

Another driver here! We always used to use the Disney transportation, but two trips ago we rented a car. We will never wait for another bus again. We saved so much time not having to stand around and wait for a bus. The last time my DB and DSIL took the bus, it broke down and took an extremely long time to get another there to get them. I understand that this is not the norm, but sitting on a broke down bus in August with multiple sweaty, grumpy people was not a joy. To each his own though! My DM loves the bus!

 

[Minerva Mouse]

I'd have to say that I'm on hubby's side. Driving is just to easy and convenient. Sorry

 

[Interrobang]

Drive to all the parks but MK, which requires you to do park transportation anyway. For everything else, so much easier to drive.

 

[babyberger]

We also opt for driving now more than utilizing the buses. We used to use the buses thinking it would be easier, and there were definitely times it was, but there were other times that the waiting, the crowds, the pushing and shoving were just too much for my kids. If it were just DH and I, we would go buses all the way. But with the kids it is just easier to take the car. We park hop and just get in the car and go. We know about how long it takes between parks if we are trying to make an ADR, and don't have to factor in waiting 20 minutes or more for a bus.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I prefer to drive everywhere, even to MK.

I loathe waiting for the buses at the end of the night. The LAST thing I want to do when I'm tired is wait in another line to pack in like sardines.

Especially if other riders get motion sick. We had that issue in December and it was AWFUL. I felt horrible for the person it happened to, but man, it was bad.

 

[knlanf]

Well we've always taken the bus in the past and yes there are times you can get a bit frustrated but all in all we like the bus. We will be using good old Disney Transportiopn for our up coming trip, hope it hasn't changed all that much since our last visit.

 

[countryblonde314]

Although it is nice to park the car, we normally drive to the parks because with my wheelchair and my grandmas skooter it is easy to just drive plus we dont get caught up in having to wait after fireworks, sometimes though when my grandparents leave early me, my mom, and sis do take the bus, but with wheelchairs and skooters its a hastle.

 

[webshark3]

We've done both. If we fly to Disney, then it's the busses. If we drive, then we also use our car to drive to the parks.

Honestly, time wise its a complete wash on average. Both ways have their hiccups and issues as well as their benifits. Driving "feels" like less time because your always moving to get to your car versus standing in a bus line watching seconds tick on your watch. It was also nice to never have to run for a bus when driving.

But ultimately, times are about the same door to door. I think the Unoffical Guide to Disney clocks driving as a few minutes faster on average.