Drive to the parks OR use the bus?

[A Mickeyfan]

Drive, you will be guaranteed a seat, you won't miss the ride and best of all, you cannot be glared at for not giving your seat up after waiting 40 minutes for the bus to arrive to get that seat. The person glaring at you may not realize you have a non-visible disability either

Driving your own car is always the fastest and easiest way to get around.

 

[traviesojmt]

My DH always prefer to drive. We do usually take WDW transportation to MK though. Even when we chose to fly, we always rent a car.

We eat many of our dinners at resort restaurants. It is just super easy to leave the park and just drive to our destination. If we were relying on the bus, we would have to go back to a park after dinner to then catch another bus back to our resort. Too much hassle.

I will say that my DH was born with a map built into his brain, so he does feel extremely comfortable getting around WDW. I can understand someone who isn't famililar with WDW preferring the busses. I don't think my DH would even considering Disney without our own transportation.

 

[Cherinva]

Everyone has their own feelings...for us...it's Disney transportation all the way. Yes, at closing, the bus waiting can be a bit long sometimes, and the buses are crowded...but we like the fact that we don't have to drive.

I find that driving after leaving the parks is more stressful on me than taking the buses. But that's just me...my family feels the same way.

 

[webshark3]

Driving your own car is always the fastest and easiest way to get around.

Ever wait for a tram..
with a stroller...
in the rain...

then get to the Park to see people leisurely getting off their buses right in front.

It's 50/50 and based on personal preference. Driving for us saves 5-10 min on average, but it's not much easier for us. In many cases it's not the fastest either.

 

[webshark3]

I find that driving after leaving the parks is more stressful on me than taking the buses. But that's just me...my family feels the same way.

That's how I feel. But unfortunately, my non-driving wife feels less stressed in her own car than on the buses. As is traditional in most marriages, we discuss it and come to a compromise. I drive.

 

[avalanche1977]

I'm torn on this. The previous trips I've gone on with my wife, we've elected to take the busses. Just something about getting on the Magical Express to begin the vacation is fun. But once there, I've found the wait times for busses to be almost unbearable.

Coupled with the fact that our next trip will be with DD and all her stuff, and my wanting to eat at some restaurants at various Disney resorts, renting a car may be easier.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

We've done it both ways and found we much prefer using ME and Disney transportation. It may not be as easy with kids though. Yes, you may have to wait a little longer but it sure beats waiting for your luggage, getting a rental car, and finding your way around. When we take vacation, we prefer everything to be taken care of and handled for us. Just remember to "pack your patience" and enjoy your vacation!

 

[fairestoneofall]

DH likes to ride the bus.

last trip, we stayed at the Contemporary for the sole purpose of not having to ride the bus everywhere (DS #2 was only six months old).

now, on the trips prior to having a baby, i prefer to ride the bus everywhere, but especially MK. however, we would drive to MK if we had early reservations.

 

[Phatoomch]

Drive, you will be guaranteed a seat, you won't miss the ride and best of all, you cannot be glared at for not giving your seat up after waiting 40 minutes for the bus to arrive to get that seat. The person glaring at you may not realize you have a non-visible disability either

Driving your own car is always the fastest and easiest way to get around.

Agreed! We bussed it the first day but after a long day in the parks, several people made it known they were not happy having to wait for my Mum to be loaded on in her ECV ... give her a break, she can't walk, trust me she would LOVE to, even just a few feet but she can't. Sorry.

However, EVC aside, we would still drive. We drove everywhere - it was easy and we freed up 5 seats on the bus

 

[webshark3]

Agreed! We bussed it the first day but after a long day in the parks, several people made it known they were not happy having to wait for my Mum to be loaded on in her ECV ...

Not to turn this into a EVC thread, but our first trip with a EVC, one family (really just one arrogant father) pushed past my mother with a cane and my MIL in a EVC and went up the ramp. The driver scolded them lightly, and explained they would be thrown out/reported if they ever tried that again. Otherwise, I tried to ignore all the looks. Everybody learns the truth once they have a EVC in their party...

 

[webshark3]

Here's a fun trick for all those who "can't stand to wait forever" at the bus stop. One trip I was so frustrated with waiting, I decided to start timing the waits. Surprisingly, what seemed like 30-40 minutes was usually 10-15. Expect for a few rare instances (45-60 minutes) 98% of the buses fell in there for us.

I know Disney advertises 20 minutes for buses, and I let them know in a post-trip survey (as I'm sure many of you do ) that just because you're operating withing your specified times, it doesn't mean people like it. If buses showed up every 10 min like clockwork, I'd never drive.

 

[disneysam2011]

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?

We are going the same time as you and I can't wait!! I go back and forth with driving or taking the bus to the parks. I love not moving the car but it is crowded at the end of a long day...

 

[eliza61]

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?

I'm with your husband on this one. First of all I hate the time wasted. I had dinner reservations at boma one year and it took literallly 70 mins to get from beach club to the AKL on the buses. NEVER AGAIN.

Next, I totally agree with your dh, the end of the night masses are to be avoided at all cost. IMO.

Lastly, I know everyone here talks about how friendly the people are. well sorry those so called "friendly" people get down right nasty at the end of the night if you don't have your kid out of the stroller the nanosecond the bus pulls up. I almost came to blows one night because for some reason my stroller won't fold down, it got stuck and some women said some thing smart. ****grrrr****.

We don't go to disney without a car. EVER.

I don't do disney if I don't have a car.

 

[Brook1099]

we have driven to Disney every year since 04' and have used the transportation and that= Last straw was a HOT bus from AK resort to AK with bodies tight and no AIR!

we finally wised up and now drive to the parks, (unless we stay at BC we boat and walk) so much easier and less stressful.

 

[Murron]

Drive everywhere even MK.

 

[Winka]

DRIVE.

Before our son arrived we were kids ourselves and happily took the bus everywhere even through heat, crowds, exhaustion. These were the days before DME too-we would've LOVED DME back then.

Now that we have a preschooler a car is mandatory. We might take the bus bc our son thinks it's fun. Otherwise we drive everywhere but MK. We stay at WL and boat in for the bulk of our MK visits.

 

[WaDiWo]

I rented the car for this WDW trip (we're here now) for the first time in the 30+ times we've visited.

Wow. What a difference a car makes.

Long story short, I got a car because I was recently injured and ambulate on crutches and an ECV in the parks. I did not want to think about using the buses with the ECV.

Getting to the parks in comparatively quicker and easier, and now I think I'll be renting a car for future trips. In addition, it is so freeing! We can zip to Downtown Disney in record time, and going from resort to resort, there's no comparison. We're staying at the Contemporary, had lunch at Art of Animation to check out the resort, and had a great dinner at Jiko at the Animal Kingdok Lodge.

No waiting for a bus, no squeezing onto a bus, no transfers, no other stops at other resorts.

I guess i depends on how you calculate how much your time and convenience is worth, but for us the rental car is worth every penny.

If you have your own car, even better. As to driving to the parks and worrying having to park far and take tram, etc, the solution this week for us has been to simply arrive early and get a spot very close to the entrance!

Drive.

 

[jahber]

Don't take the bus during peak hours if you have strollers and/or little kids. How can I express the awfulness of standing on a packed bus at 11pm while holding a sleeping 2-year-old and trying to keep my stroller from falling over on the seated people next to me? Especially when they were giving me dirty looks for allowing my stroller to rest against their legs. Did I mention they were seated? ; )
Lesson learned!

 

[heatherbynum]

We uses the buses. we are on vacation and want to be drove around.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Ride buses because a 90 minute wait is better than a dui. I don't always drink in the parks but riding makes it allowable.