Driving down...should we drive to the parks?

[GrowUp2BaPrincess]

Hi,

We're driving down to Florida from Arkansas. We've driven before, but once on Disney property, we always just use the bus transportation. It's worked for us in the past. This time, we'll be staying at ASM Family Suites, so having heard that the buses at the values can get quite crowded, would we be better off just driving ourselves? How easy is parking? How far away do you have to park? And we don't pay parking because we're staying on property, right?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The Patersons

 

[kenneyjo]

We drive from Canada very often. Once on site, we drive to the parks instead of using the Disney Transportation.

It seems to me that after a long day at the parks, I just want get to my next destination without having to deal with crowds waiting for the bus. The traffic leaving the parks run very smoothly. Also, by driving yourself, you don't have to make stops on the bus to drop/pick people up. It's a straight shot home.

No, since you are staying on site, you don't have to pay for parking at the parks.

Depending on when you arrive and during what time of year, your parking spot shoudn't be too far away from the gate. Also, the trams run very conveniently if walking is a concern. The cast members make the parking quite easy. Just remember what lot you're in!

JK and Karen.

 

[Wooden Eye]

Hey, I'm sure you'll get different opinions from some folks, but I am a die-hard Disney transportation affectionado. We drive down for all our trips, and as many trips as we've taken, we've never driven to a park. I guess we're just hard-headed! Seriously, some days you'll find that depending on how you time it, you might be one of a dozen guests on this bus - other days you'll feel like a sardine.

What time of the year are y'all going? If it's a 'slow' period, you might not see too many folks on the buses. If you're going during a holiday or in the summer, oh yeah, it'll be packed. Same holds true for the parking lots I would think - if it's a busy time of the year, the parking lots probably get crowded too. If you get there before park opening though, my guess is you could get fairly close. Finally, you wouldn't have to pay since you're a resort guest.

 

[OKW Lover]

You'll get many different opinions on this. We prefer driving to the parks for the convenience. We don't have to wait for the bus and we don't have to make other stops on the way. The only park where we do prefer the bus is MK because the parking lot requires you to take a tram to the TTC and then a ferry or monorail to the MK, whereas the bus drops you off right outside the park.

If you stay at any Disney hotel, you do not have to pay for parking at the parks.

 

[DizzKneeGeek]

We're the opposite of the above poster. We drive to WDW and once we park our car; it sits there until we leave. WDW transportation has never done us wrong and we've always been at a value resort until our trip in 2 days. One problem we see with driving to the parks is it makes it harder to park hop. you either have to go get in your car and find your way to the other parks every time or you have to end up back at the park where you parked at the beginning of the day. We tend to hit 2 or 3 different parks everyday so the above scenario doesnt apeal to us. Just another opinion.

 

[Duanerice]

We also drive to Disney and once there we drive to the parks. Since we don't hop too much it works for us. When we do hop we just move the car between the parks - it is faster than waiting on a park to park bus. I have spent way too much time in the past waiting for a bus. Once getting out of Fantasmic there were literally 1,000 people waiting for a bus to the All Stars. Seriously, the line was almost back to the entrance at MGM. If you know where the busses pick you up for the All Stars (way at the end) then you know how long the line was. We ended up taking a taxi. The $12 for the 5 of us was well worth it!

This wasn't the first nor last time that we ran into long lines. When we are done for the day, we just want to get back to the room. The fastest way is by car.

When we go to Magic Kingdom, we park at the Contemporary. Just a short walk over. Since we stay on site, we have use of all the parking lots at the hotels (I asked the guard). When we go to EPCOT, I park at the Boardwalk. Much easier getting out at night.

We used to take the busses all the time back in the "early days". Not anymore, it is not worth it. The bus service used to be good. Anymore there are either too many people with not enough busses or when it's not crowded they reduce the bus service so you still have to wait. When we are tired after a long day, we just want to get back to the room. Our issue is that we like to stay until the park closes and that's when the busses are the most crowded. If we left early, we might take a bus.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Sometimes the buses aren't too bad, but especially if your building isn't too far from the parking lot then you might find it more convenient to drive. I do believe parking is free since your staying on property. We went during a busy season and would have taken the car if we had it.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Once getting out of Fantasmic there were literally 1,000 people waiting for a bus to the All Stars. Seriously, the line was almost back to the entrance at MGM. If you know where the busses pick you up for the All Stars (way at the end) then you know how long the line was.

We encountered something similar--not that bad but at least a couple hundred people. That was really the only time we had trouble with a long wait.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I would definetely drive. I hate relying on someone/ something else. When I wanna go, I wanna go now.

 

[Wishes]

The only park we take the bus to is MK. We drive to all the others. Parking at all the other parks is very easy. Especially if it's an early opening park - many people will take the bus to the park so we've parked right up front many times! Don't drive to the MK! Having to take the monorail or ferry back to the parking lot at closing time can be a real nightmare - at least it was for us the one time we tried it!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

The only park we take the bus to is MK. We drive to all the others. Parking at all the other parks is very easy. Especially if it's an early opening park - many people will take the bus to the park so we've parked right up front many times! Don't drive to the MK! Having to take the monorail or ferry back to the parking lot at closing time can be a real nightmare - at least it was for us the one time we tried it!

Same here. We also love being able to go offsite to dine. Saves some money!

I DO enjoy these threads on this subject. You will get ALL the pros and cons!

 

[kaytieeldr]

When we go to Magic Kingdom, we park at the Contemporary. Just a short walk over. Since we stay on site, we have use of all the parking lots at the hotels (I asked the guard).

ANYBODY visiting any HOTEL can park at that hotel - hotel lots are NOT for use by people not staying at that hotel while visiting the theme parks.

I'm in the 'leave the driving to Disney' camp, but ESPECIALLY if you're going to the Magic Kingdom:
Drive yourself: Leave room; walk to car; drive to park; drive through lot; park; make way to center aisle; wait for tram; board tram; wait for tram to depart; wait while tram stops after a few feet for people running through lot who are apparently afraid there will never be another tram; ride tram to TTC; walk up monorail ramp; wait for monorail; board monorail; (stop at Polynesian, then Grand Floridian, if aboard Resorts monorail); exit monorail; walk down ramp to security checkpoint;
or
Disney bus: Leave room; walk to bus stop; wait for bus; board bus; ride to Magic Kingdom; exit bus; walk to security checkpoint.

 

[jlovesee]

Hey there Arkansas from Missouri! I live in KC, MO and we have drive down atleast 5 times, including another time in 9 days! I think the question you are asking is one of those different strokes for different folks kind of things.

Everytime we have stayed at Pop Century we always, always drive to the parks, without exception. I A) don't like the buses in general (my husband calls them the fume spilling buses) and B)Like to have the ability to leave when I want to, go where I want to, and just overall it seems more free. This summer when we stayed at Coronado Springs we did try the buses once from MK to the hotel, and it took 55 minutes... Waiting, waiting, waiting, and this was early afternoon.

Plus what I also like is that I fill up a mug, hop in the car, have a drink on the drive to the park, and then come back to the hotel later on and not have to go back to our room first. Yes, its the simple things in life for me.

My husband and I look at it as a two person protest to expand the monorails.

JMHO

Jennifer

 

[gw_lit]

My husband and I look at it as a two person protest to expand the monorails.

I like that! Our family has joined your protest!

 

[CPT Tripss]

I prefer to drive myself.
That said, I find the bus transportation at AS as good as anywhere else. So, Iif you like to leave the driving to Disney - don't let the resort selection be the deciding factor.

 

[pbharris4]

We prefer to drive (or walk if we're close) to the parks. With a 3 yr old it just s works better for us to drive. We get there at open and our spot is pretty close so we don't have to ride the parking tram. When we're done at the parks I don't want another 30-40 minute bus trip. We do use the buses for DTD.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Remember the 70s when it was cool to see how many people could jam into a Volkswagon Bug, that's the philosophy of the Disney bus system at park closing time. I do not want to stand in line for an hour and I do not want to stand jammed on a bus for the ride back. With the exception of the MK, cut your time by 1/2 to 2/3 and drive your own vehicle.

 

[kaddjr]

We also drive to Disney and once there we drive to the parks. Since we don't hop too much it works for us. When we do hop we just move the car between the parks - it is faster than waiting on a park to park bus.

When we go to Magic Kingdom, we park at the Contemporary. Just a short walk over. Since we stay on site, we have use of all the parking lots at the hotels (I asked the guard). When we go to EPCOT, I park at the Boardwalk. Much easier getting out at night.

When did Disney start running park to park buses? I thought in order to get to another park FROM a park using the bus system, one had to hop a bus to the nearest resort and then from there take a bus to the desired park. I also thought you could only park at a resort (other than the one you stay at) for a MAX of 3 hours?

We will never do without a car at Disney again. I let DH talk me out of a great deal on a rental during a trip last year. We ended up just renting a car for a day to do some off site shopping on the day we arrived and using DT the remaining 7 days. For every good bus ride we had, there were at least 2 bad. I like knowing that at the end of the day, I have a seat to sit in, can control the ac, and not have to hold onto my kiddos and stuff so they don't go flying across a bus. Sure it may take a few minutes to get on a tram and to the parking lot, but, as I said before, at least I have a seat in the end. I know I won't be stuck standing or standing and waiting on the next bus that will come- and who knows how long that will take? Our general rule is we drive unless A) we have an ADR at MK before the park opens and we plan to leave mid-day or, B) DH is taking the kids to a park and I'm staying behind and he decides to deal with the buses (sometimes he will, sometimes not).