Driving and parking vs. taking ART. Opinions?

[imjen]

I'm looking at staying at Peacock Suites and trying to decide whether to drive or take the ART. Cost wise, parking will be a bit cheaper since we will need 4 adult tickets and 2 kids tickets. We will be leaving for a couple hours for an afternoon break and coming back. Which option do you think is usually faster? Is it about equal distance walking from where the parking tram lets you off as from walking from where the ART lets you off?

 

[LuLusApple]

ART for sure. Especially if you are going back during the day. Parking can be a nightmare. to me the tram drop off and the ART drop off are probably equal. The tram drops you off in DTD the ART in the bus area. Both you have to go thru security. But once you have parked and leave you may get rerouted to another parking lot I have heard horror stories of lost time dealing with that. Not to mention waiting for the tram and still walking to your car.
I have parking with my AP and I used it once. It is such a pain to get back to your car and deal with the trams, even if you are lucky enough to get a parking lot near DL.
We have used ART many times and you can get discount passes thru most hotels. It's been fairly well scheduled and we have been fortunate to have it drop us off right in front of our hotels
Oh and I might add they have recently closed the Timon lot incase you hadn't heard, less parking now

 

[pixiewings71]

We actually park every time we stay at the Peacock, this year we've been there...let's see, Jan, Feb, March, May....4 times. Parking IMO is better than taking ART, we can leave when WE want to and not worry about someone else's schedule, the shuttle being full or having to pay for the shuttle pass. yes, we've been rerouted but once you're in, you're in, so say you go the Mickey & Friends structure and park, you leave for your afternoon break and head back at 5 that night, you've got your M&F parking pass so you are let back in, you just find yourself a spot and park there. You don't have to park in the same spot or even on the same level, just go to the first available spot and park, we usually have a much better spot after we get back.

 

[Whitty]

I'd much rather park in M&F...plus it's cheaper with a big group

 

[imjen]

Thanks for the feedback! I really appreciate it. If anyone else wants to chime in, that would be great.

 

[Gisele]

If you are purchasing park hopper tickets via AAA, you will receive free parking in the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.
Last year, I travelled via ART, and had no problems whatsoever. Granted, I would be thinking about the possibility of missing the last bus, after closing, however, I left before then, so it was never an issue. There are many cabs that are just waiting outside of Disneyland, for patrons, so if one was to miss the last ART, then a cab should be just fine. Or if you are staying at a property that is not terribly far to walk, and your feet are not beginning to hold a sit down protest, then that can be an additional option as well.
Whichever you may decide to do, have a wonderful and fun visit at Disneyland!
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[LavenderPeach]

Okay, I'll chime in. I haven't taken ART but I agree with Pixie that it is nice to be able to come and go whenever you want instead of having to rely on a shuttle. Also, you can easily walk from M&F to the parks if you don't want to take the trams. We do this a lot. Usually we do it because DS is with us and we have a stroller we don't feel like trying to get onto the tram. Other times we do it, even if it's just DH and I, if there is a long line for the trams. When it is crowded it takes us less time to walk than if we had waited for a tram.

 

[specialks]

I am another vote for parking for a couple of reasons. We also like to go at our own schedule. We can get up and get to the parks whenever we want. We can leave and never have to consider the timing. I would dread missing a shuttle and finding I have to wait another 15-20 min for the next one. We also saw people left in front of our hotel during busy times because they couldn't fit everyone on the transit shuttle. That would be terrible. We went for our first time last year and had no issue with parking. Dealing with a stroller on the trams is annoying but no more so than the ART (and it seems you probably are stroller free). Things are clearly marked and you just go with the flow. We booked thru AAA this year and will have free parking.

 

[oc_tony]

I also vote for driving yourself and parking in M&F. With a group your size, it seems like it would be more costly to buy ART tix for everyone. Besides, parking at DL is really easy and you can get back to M&F reasonably fast either via the tram or walking the pathway. (My family and I actually enjoy the pathway as it winds under the Monorail track and gives us some time to just walk and talk together about our day. Maybe even munch on some kettle corn on the way. yum!)

BTW, we actually used the ART recently even though we're locals. It was OK, but we were still at the mercy of their schedule. Maybe it's my southern California upbringing, but I love having a car at my disposal and the freedom it brings.

 

[disneynerd420]

I find the ART to be semi reliable, but it works for me. I don't have the patience for trying to park in Disneyland

 

[PinkBudgie]

I swore off the busses years ago. I hated waiting for them and hoping we could get on. We drove everyday from Embassy Suites South a few weeks ago and it was EASY! First thing in the morning Pinocchio at M & F was where they had you park. They had an entrance on Magic Way directly in to Pinocchio. Hardly any car line to get in, they direct you to the exact spot to park in. No confusion at all. A short walk to the tram (or you could walk to the parks from there). We never waited longer than one tram to get on. I timed it one night when we left the park at 8:30pm. It was 30 minutes from the DL gate to the door of our hotel room AND we had stopped for gas on the way. I would never take the bus if we had our car available.

 

[disneynerd420]

It very well could be that I have just had bad parking experiences compared to others... someday I will try it again, but for now I think i will stick with the ART.

 

[wrightut]

Last week we used the ART from the Homewood Suites and loved it. The bus picked us up right in front of our hotel and dropped us off close to security. We never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a bus and my kids enjoyed the novelty of not getting into a hot car after a long day at Disneyland - it was just another part of the experience for them. We never had to wait for another bus to come because it was too crowded - we did have to stand up for a bit once, but only until the first stop and the kids had seats so it was fine.

We left in the middle of the day one day, came back in the evening and left for good after the last Fantasmic, so we ended up doing two round trips on ART that day. We felt like it saved us a lot of hassle. It was only a dollar cheaper for us (2 adults, 3 kids) so the cost was about even. Still, we'd do ART again. It worked for us.

 

[disneynerd420]

Last week we used the ART from the Homewood Suites and loved it. The bus picked us up right in front of our hotel and dropped us off close to security. We never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a bus and my kids enjoyed the novelty of not getting into a hot car after a long day at Disneyland - it was just another part of the experience for them. We never had to wait for another bus to come because it was too crowded - we did have to stand up for a bit once, but only until the first stop and the kids had seats so it was fine.

We left in the middle of the day one day, came back in the evening and left for good after the last Fantasmic, so we ended up doing two round trips on ART that day. We felt like it saved us a lot of hassle. It was only a dollar cheaper for us (2 adults, 3 kids) so the cost was about even. Still, we'd do ART again. It worked for us.

I agree, for some of us it is just convenient. I usually travel in large groups who may not all want to keep the same schedule, so it is nice to be able to come and go as we please.

The only problem I have ever had with ART is when a bus did not show up. We called ART and another bus was on it's way in a matter of moments.