Driving Around the World v Buses

[Tiger8691]

I like riding the buses. For my family, it is part of the overall experience. Sure we wait for a bus sometimes, but isn't waiting part of the Disney experience. Packed in like sardines and talking with other passengers is all part of the trip. I park our car and usually don't see it again until leaving.

 

[disney-akj]

We take bus to MK, everywhere else we drive. Sometimes it is a time saver, sometimes it is about the same wait due to traffic. The difference is everyone in my family has a seat and are cool in our air conditioned van. We are not waiting in a line in the heat or packed like sardines with sweaty strangers. So for our family it works. When we do take the bus to MK, we time our leaving the park to avoid the mobs of people.

 

[think-like-tink]

We are park it and forget it people too. We will se show it plays out this time around since we are sating at AKL. We LOVE the monorail resorts. We will be driving our own car down, maybe relying on buses maybe not. I'm about worried about how long it will take to get to MK,we like to be there an hour before opening.

 

[catra121]

I actually really like taking the bus. I hate driving (even at home) and it feels so relaxing to have someone else take care of the driving for me. I've never felt like I had to wait terribly long for a bus and the time I spend waiting and the time I spend on the bus is time for me to run through my plans for the day in my head and get excited about where I am going.

At park closing I have learned that it pays to just relax for a little bit after the fireworks or closing shows. We will sit and relax for 30-45 minutes. Some of my favorite memories from our recent trips have been during these times...like at Epcot when we sat on a bench in the World Showcase after Illuminations and watched two baby bunnies playing on the walkway for about 15 minutes...it was SO adorable! After chilling out for a little while, we make our way to the bus stop and there's no wait and no problem getting a seat. I have no desire to be in the mad rush to the exit at park closing...having skipped it on the last 2 trips I can't imagine going back to participating in that.

So I get to save myself the cost of the rental car and the stress of having to drive by taking the bus. I understand that a lot of people don't like to wait...but I think a lot of people exaggerate the amount of time they are waiting (not all...but a lot). I know I always look at my watch when I get to the bus stop and I can't tell you how many times people have come after I got there and then complain that they've been waiting 30 minutes for a bus...and it's been 10. It's not just at Disney World though...that happens everywhere.

I also don't think driving really saves you much, if any, time in the grand scheme of things. When I took my last trip with my parents (3 trips ago) we drove to the parks from Bonnet Creek. Having to drive there, park, then walk to either the tram (and then take the tram) or the entrance...this all adds up. BUT...you keep moving...you're not just sitting...so maybe that's why it feels like it is faster? I know there's a way I take home from work when it's rush hour...I know it's not really "faster" but I keep moving and am not sitting in stopped traffic on the highway...so I feel better about it.

I know it's not for everyone...but I really think the bus service at Disney is pretty amazing and efficient.

 

[ratlenhum]

We always rent a car and drive to the parks. We are big park hoppers, and like to have dinner reservations at resorts. It is so much quicker to park hop when you have a car. I hate waiting for the buses, hate sitting next to sweaty people touching me and bumping into me, and having to deal with people with strollers and listening to the kids whine and cry on the buses. LOL

We always get a great rate on the rentals and after doing the bus thing for two trips and the car rental for 5 or 6, we will never go back to the buses.

 

[ShannonMB]

We are bus people. I love that when I go to Disney, I don't have to drive and I don't have money. My little blue magical card (well, now a magic band) and a bus, boat, or monorail get me everywhere I would ever want to go.

 

[lovesdumbo]

This trip we decided to do both for our day at MK. We'll drive to our 8:05am ADR (park opens at 9am) so we can ride the ferry. I love the view of the castle from the ferry. Perfect start of a MK day! And since we'll be at the parking lot at 7am we'll be parked in the front rows so no tram required. For our late afternoon break at the resort we'll take the bus back to AoA. Then we'll leave MK after Wishes with our car.

I'm not 100% sure on this but you might want to ask on the transportation board what time the ferry starts running from TTC. I have an 8:15 ADR (9 open) and was told if I drove to TTC, I'd have to take the resort monorail.b/c the express monorail and ferry don't start that early.

I drove to MK early twice early this month. Once for an ADR & again for early EMH. Both times only resort monorail was running. Parked in first row in parking lot both times. ADR day worked perfectly but EMH day I left Pop a bit later than planned (close to 7:30). I got to TTC easily but had to wait a while for a monorail. I was walking down monorail ramp as they were opening the park.




We rented a car on our first family trip but with 3 car seats we stuck with busses after that. Then last summer we stayed at AKL and I was a bit concerned about how remote it is plus we wanted to go to Kennedey Space Center. We LOVED having a rental car! I got a car for a Dec split stay and again loved the convenience. I just got back from my first ever solo trip. I was only going to get a car if I could find a good rate. I would have been OK with the busses. I was really happy to get a good rate.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I drove to MK early twice early this month. Once for an ADR & again for early EMH. Both times only resort monorail was running. Parked in first row in parking lot both times. ADR day worked perfectly but EMH day I left Pop a bit later than planned (close to 7:30). I got to TTC easily but had to wait a while for a monorail. I was walking down monorail ramp as they were opening the park.

We rented a car on our first family trip but with 3 car seats we stuck with busses after that. Then last summer we stayed at AKL and I was a bit concerned about how remote it is plus we wanted to go to Kennedey Space Center. We LOVED having a rental car! I got a car for a Dec split stay and again loved the convenience. I just got back from my first ever solo trip. I was only going to get a car if I could find a good rate. I would have been OK with the busses. I was really happy to get a good rate.

Thanks much for the report back. I am.also staying at Pop. How long did it take to drive to TTC and get to MK? I'm a little concerned about our first day b/c that is the day of the 8:15 ADR but that morning we have to check out and then in (had to get a to only for 1st night so we could get free dining). Anyway, trying to figure out if it's faster to take bus or drive ourselves. I'm thinking we'd need to be waiting for a bus by 7 but then if one pulls away right as we walk up it might be faster to drive. I do think we'll drive to the other parks for sure.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Thanks much for the report back. I am.also staying at Pop. How long did it take to drive to TTC and get to MK? I'm a little concerned about our first day b/c that is the day of the 8:15 ADR but that morning we have to check out and then in (had to get a to only for 1st night so we could get free dining). Anyway, trying to figure out if it's faster to take bus or drive ourselves. I'm thinking we'd need to be waiting for a bus by 7 but then if one pulls away right as we walk up it might be faster to drive. I do think we'll drive to the other parks for sure.

The morning of early EMH I think I left Pop right around 7:30 and I got to the turnstyles just after 8am but like I said previously I had to wait longer that morning for a monorail. There was a line down the ramp and they wouldn't let everyone on board-I think they had to save some room for folks at Poly & GF going to MK so I had to wait for the next monorail.

The day of my ADR I texted my friend that I was leaving Pop at 7:09am. I picked her up at the Boardwalk then we drove to MK. We didn't wait long for a monorail that morning and had to wait a little while before they started letting folks in for early breakfast ADRs.

I think if you just miss a bus to MK at that hour it might be faster to drive but you could end up waiting a monorail once you get to TTC.

 

[KimK2006]

We drive to all parks except MK. No waiting for busses. No waiting for MULTIPLE busses to load and leave at park closing. (Not to mention the stinky, sweaty people....including myself!)

That being said, my kids LOVE riding the busses. At times, we have told them to go ahead and get on the bus and we will meet them there. They usually realize it is quicker and come with us if we are going to a park. I guess it is part of the "experience" for them. For me, it is a part of the experience I am fine to miss!

 

[MrsDuck]

We drive everywhere but MK.

 

[greener255]

I personally love and hate the busses. Recently we have been fortunate enough to stay at deluxe resorts. I was annoyed at BWV that the bus to MK stopped at Swan and Dolphin, but it was never overly crowded.

This year, we had a 2.5 year-old and 3-month old, so we upped the game to stay at BLT. Needless to say, we only took one bus the entire trip (back from Epcot at 8ish on a Friday night) and it was fine, albeit stressful - the Epcot monorail was out of service...but they had 2 busses ready. We drove to AK and HS since the 60lb double-stroller is ultra inconvenient and annoying for everyone on the bus, especially me!

I was okay with driving, but once the kiddos don't need the stroller, I'll be back to exclusive bussing. Since we arrive early and leave before 2 PM, we don't have an issue with the busses during the day. When staying late for fireworks, I agree with the previous poster that chilling out for a period of time after fireworks is a good way to avoid the stress. Also, if anyone is staying at the CR or BLT, the MK busses are a short walk away for a direct link to all the other resorts in WDW. We considered doing this, but decided to spend our time in MK with the little ones this trip.

 

[North of Mouse]

Wondered what everyone's thoughts are on this. We usually drive to WDW and have a car with us, so we pretty much drive to the parks and elsewhere even when we stay on site.

Anytime I've had to use the bus system, I always seem to have extremely long waits to get the right bus and end up spending 30+ minutes to get going the right direction. Meaning I always walk up as the bus is pulling away, the next bus that comes along is full or going off-duty. It's happened enough to me over the years to leave a bad taste in my mouth about trying to use WDW transportation.

My favorite time to drive is when we are at the cabins and have our own driveway, but even a room near the parking lot (which seem easier to get because of the view) saves a lot of time.

Of course there was the time I was taking the boat back from MK to the cabins and both my 4 and 7 year old fell asleep on me and I couldn't even get them awake enough to get them off the boat by myself. lol

Of course, I could ride the monorail all. day. long.

What do bus riders like about using WDW transportation?

'Freedom'!

Get enough driving - like to leave the transportation to Disney - plus we actually 'enjoy' the transportation - 'gasp'! Part of relaxing and being at Disney to us.

Also, sometimes I think it's more perceived, than actually, that you save lots of time. The traffic is not the easiest, plus milege, plus parking/walking times seems to discount the 'time' issue. With children and strollers, may be more convenient though.

Boils down to what each family 'wants' to do! Thankfully we all have a choice.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

The morning of early EMH I think I left Pop right around 7:30 and I got to the turnstyles just after 8am but like I said previously I had to wait longer that morning for a monorail. There was a line down the ramp and they wouldn't let everyone on board-I think they had to save some room for folks at Poly & GF going to MK so I had to wait for the next monorail.

The day of my ADR I texted my friend that I was leaving Pop at 7:09am. I picked her up at the Boardwalk then we drove to MK. We didn't wait long for a monorail that morning and had to wait a little while before they started letting folks in for early breakfast ADRs.

I think if you just miss a bus to MK at that hour it might be faster to drive but you could end up waiting a monorail once you get to TTC.

OK....thanks much. Like I said I'm mostly concerned with the first day b/c we have to check out and then back in. I've heard you can do that at 6 so I'll plan to be down there 5:45. I have two rooms tho. Hoping and praying they'll let me do both rooms so my sis and bil can get kiddos ready. If not one of them will have to come with me leaving 1 person to get kids ready. Kiddos will be 5 and a month short of 7 so they don't need loads if help but always helpful to have another set of hands. Hoping they will be so excited to meet pooh n Tigger that they'll jump right out of bed. I'm so excited, I cry sometimes thinking about it.

 

[NavyDotz]

This! I love not having to "think" about where I'm going or how I'm getting there while I'm on vacation. I've been a divorced single mom for 14 years, and let me tell you, I get plenty of that responsibility every other day of the year. Yes, driving yourself can be faster, but I enjoy stepping onto an air conditioned bus (vs. a car that's been closed up sitting in the hot sun all day). I LOVE being able to get off the plane, head to ME and step on a bus while someone else drives us to Disney.

Ditto! @ park closing & w/ my daughter being almost the same age as yours if the bus looks like it's going to be super-crowded or we're just to tired to stand up for the drive to the hotel we just let the next families on & wait til the next bus.
Then we are 1st & have our choice of seats!

It's not like we're going to be late for anything @ the hotel except hitting the cool side of the pillow a few minutes later.

 

[lovesdumbo]

OK....thanks much. Like I said I'm mostly concerned with the first day b/c we have to check out and then back in. I've heard you can do that at 6 so I'll plan to be down there 5:45. I have two rooms tho. Hoping and praying they'll let me do both rooms so my sis and bil can get kiddos ready. If not one of them will have to come with me leaving 1 person to get kids ready. Kiddos will be 5 and a month short of 7 so they don't need loads if help but always helpful to have another set of hands. Hoping they will be so excited to meet pooh n Tigger that they'll jump right out of bed. I'm so excited, I cry sometimes thinking about it.

I would ask when you check in for the room only what time they start a bew day in the morning. I thought it was 6:30. You'll be fine for time!

Have a great trip! Nothing better than starting the day with an early breakfast at Crystal Palace and walking down a nearly empty Main St.

 

[Golden Rose]

I hate the buses. I have bad bus luck most of the time, and always seem to end up waiting 20+ minutes for a bus. I also have had health issues for the last few years, and I generally end up renting an ECV for most of our vacations. If I don't rent one at the hotel, I stress about getting a seat on the buses, because I actually can't stand for the bus rides. (But I'm not one of those people with a particularly obvious impairment, so I don't necessarily look like someone with mobility issues.)

We always have a car, and we try to use it most of the time we can't walk or take a monorail to a park.