driving at disney

[sharonb]

Hi,
We will be heading to Disney for our first family trip in 3 weeks! We are staying at CBR and I can't believe how long I have been reading these posts-it is WAY past my bedtime.

Anyhow, the only thing I am nervous about are the frequent comments about the buses/transportation. We are driving and will have a car-should we just drive to the parks? Our kids are 5, 2/12 and 1, so waiting 30 minutes + is very daunting to me. DH and I stayed at POR a few years back,and waiting/distance never seemed to be an issue, but this seems to be a much larger resort.

As a "newbie" I wanted to know if the parks were confusing to find/park at? I saw a post somewhere that said it would be easier to park at Epcot and take the monorail to MK-do you agree? How long should we expect to get to the parks if we drive? The only time we need to be somewhere is Sat we have a bfast at CP at 8:15-what time should we leave CBR?

Also, if we need a fridge/crib etc, can I fax those in a few days before, or should I call back the reservations and ask now?(or call CBR directly?)
Thanks for the direction. This is a great site!
sharon

 

[music777.com]

I would try to park at MGM & Epcot and tke the bus to Magic Kingdom. Animal Kingdom was not open when we were last at CBR so I can't give you advice about there. Although the MGM buss is probably a pretty good choice as well.

You can't get the monorail to Magic Kingdom without driving to the TTC so it is easier to just take the bus.

Have a great trip

J.J.

 

[FanofG00fy]

Howdy,

I just stayed at the CBR less than a month ago. We had a fantastic time. I drove down with my parents and boyfriend in a van. We had access to the Van, but my BF and I love riding the buses! We never waited more than 5 to 7 minutes for a bus. The only time we waited 15 minutes was due to us walking slowly and wanting to finish our cigarettes. I think CBR is a fantastically located resort. Epcot and MGM felt like a 5 minute bus ride. AK felt like an 7 to 8 minute ride. MK and DTD (going there) felt like a 15 minute ride. What I love about the buses is, I never have to remember where I parked the car (only the bus depot number) and the buses are pretty close to the enterance. Oh, we did mostly drive to DTD. I did a lot of shopping and I didn't want to hall it on the bus. Yes, they could have delivered it, but I wanted to "play" with my new toys

I hope that helps.

Have a great time!!!

Chris

 

[cdntourguide]

Taking the buses is part of the Disney experience.
However with too babies with you I would suggest to take your car.
The roads to the various parks are well marked so you should have no problem getting from the resort to the various parks.
To get to your early breakfast PS you would need to leave at least 40 minutes early to get to the parking and into the restaurant.
Make sure you get a Micky antenna topper so you can identify your car in the parking lot

 

[Uncleromulus]

We drive everywhere--including all the parks. Having a car is so much more convenient.

 

[Mandalou]

We drive, too. I think it's so much more convenient. Whenever we want to go, we go. Besides, you won't have to pay for parking. . . that's free to all resort guests.

We might try using the bus system again on our next trip because our DS's are older now (8 & 5). but when we had to lug strollers and diaper bags around in the past, we found that the bus was just not worth it.

But that's just my two cents worth. . .

 

[disneymania]

We have 3 kiddies as well & after the first few bus trips, you get your "system" down. We have mainly used bus transportation & our kids really like the bus rides as much as park rides (especially the little ones). Even when you take your own car, it isn't as easy as pulling up to entrance of Mk. Try buses for first few days and if it doesn't work out, take your car.

 

[lakely]

I would definitely drive. We used the bus system 2 years ago when my kids were 2.5 and 6 and when I was planning our January 05 trip, my husband reminded me of my sacred vow never again to use a Disney bus. The way to the parks isn't bad, its the way home. First, you need to get the kids out of the stroller and collapse it to get it on the bus. You know it will be loaded down with all the stuff you didn't want to carry. And your kids outnumber the amount of adults in your party, remember that. So one person will be trying to haul the stroller onto the bus while at the same time picking up all the stuff that's falling out of the stroller while the other person has to herd the 3 kids onto the bus while they are tired, hungry, overstimulated, take your pick. And if the buses are crowded, you may not get a seat, it happened to us, it was meltdown city. Its just easier to throw everything in the car and they're in their familiar car seats, etc. Just my opinion. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[sharonb]

Wow, what a scary visual. I can totally see it with my kids! I think we will tentatively plan to drive to MK and perhaps try the bus for Epcot and MGM, as we did not plan to stay at those 2 resorts for that long. I guess we will flip a coin and play it by ear for AK. THanks alot!

 

[DaveO]

I would take the bus to MK and car to everywhere else. If you take the car to MK you might have to load your stuff 2X once on the tram from the parking lot (you can walk but it can be a far distance) then possibly on the monorail (in the morning there can be quite a wait) / ferry to MK from TTC. It is much easier to take a bus to MK - it drops you right at the entrance.

Dave O.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

My advice would be to try the bus, and see how it works for you. Maybe I'm biased, but the convenience of having a 40-foot purple seated limo, with purple panted chauffeurs driving me around sounds better than me having to drive myself around.

Some notes about driving:

Driving in an unfamilliar area can be daunting to some people, especially at night when you're tired. Property is fairly well marked (most but not all signs have been repaired post hurricane), however, that doesn't mean that people don't miss the signs, and get lost, and end up making illegal u-turns, or other crazy and unsafe manuevers. I'd like to say that I've seen it all, but every time I do, another crazy tourist driver tries something new.

When exiting out of the parks, remember, depending on where you parked, you will still need to take the parking tram to the car. During a park exit, there will be lines, and you will need to fold the stroller for that, too. Once at your car, now you have to battle the heavy traffic to get out of the parking lot.

Also, don't forget, for the Magic Kingdom, you will need to take the Monorail or Ferryboat, which during a park close, can have heavy lines as well. Once at the parking lot, you would need to take the tram, as most of the parking lot is not within walking distance.

On the other hand...

Buses typically run every 15 minutes, potentially more frequently during peak times. If there is not a seat available when you reach the front of the line, you always have the option of waiting for the next bus. During park exits, this wait is minimal. The actual drive time is comparable to driving yourself.

 

[BCV23]

Just wanted to add that someone suggested parking at EPCOT or MGM and then taking the bus to MK. I don't think there is a bus from EPCOT to MK...just the monorail to the TTC at which point you would have to transfer again to another monorail or the ferry. The bus from Disney Studios to MK also drops you off at the TTC so you would have to transfer again too.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
We drive everywhere--including all the parks. Having a car is so much more convenient.

See, now I am the opposite, we drive nowhere, except the airport, the grocery store and perhaps to another resort for dining.

We were at WDW for the last week. We took the buses everywhere (except for one day when we went to AK then AKL for dinner), and we waited no more than 10 minutes, ever. Nope, never longer than 10 mins. Most of the guidebooks tell you to expect up to 20 mins, but still, it'll take you 10 mins minimum just to get on the aweful little tram and out into the parking lot. And then you have to remember where you parked (and there are a lot of other cars with Mickey antenna toppers). I swear, some folks will complain about anything: we were waiting for the bus, and had been there exactly 9 mins when the bus pulled up, and these ppl behind us in line (must have arrived 5 mins after us) started saying how they thought it would never come, and had been waiting for the bus forever. I timed it; we had been waiting 9 mins; they had been waiting less than 5.

Hey, you've already paid for Disney transport in your room rate anyway, you might as well benefit from it. Babies love the buses (perhaps bcs they get to sit in someone's lap and snuggle the whole way?).

Maybe if you were already familiar with the roads in the area (I am), you might consider it, but otherwise, why take the chance of getting lost or taking a wrong turn. Nope, leave the driving to the Purple Pants wearing professionals where ever possible.