Driving to Disney....first time questions

[kawc1945]

This is our first time ever driving to the World. I'm just wondering if it will be easy to get around with our own car or should we plan on just using the busses once we are there? How is parking at the parks, resorts, and DTD? Parking is free, right? We are rope drop folks, so is it worth it to drive or just take the bus? BTW, we are staying at AKL. I keep seeing posts that it takes about 15-25 minutes on bus to get anywhere from AKL, so is it a lot less time if driving?

Also, any advice for a 9 hour car trip with two very excited kids?

 

[rwdavis2]

IMHO, driving is usually quicker. The last time we stayed on site (WL in January 2004) driving to parks for rope drop put us pretty close to the entrance. The only place we did not drive to was MK since we could take the boats.

It probably depends upon the time of the year as well.
BD

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We love having our own car, especially with our kids. That way if we are tired/cranky/done we just pop in our car and go on our time, no waiting for busses.

MK is really the only park that driving is discouraged since you have to park, then tram to TTC, but we did it and didn't think it was that much of a hassle (and this was during an Easter week).

I'm not sure where you saw the 15-20 minutes on the bus thing - we have been told to allow at least 30-45 minutes to get anywhere on the bus, even during slow season.

If you have your own car, use it. You can go anywhere you want and come and go on your terms.

 

[Robert P]

This is our first time ever driving to the World. I'm just wondering if it will be easy to get around with our own car or should we plan on just using the busses once we are there? How is parking at the parks, resorts, and DTD? Parking is free, right? We are rope drop folks, so is it worth it to drive or just take the bus? BTW, we are staying at AKL. I keep seeing posts that it takes about 15-25 minutes on bus to get anywhere from AKL, so is it a lot less time if driving?

We use the busses when it is convenient for our plans. We have driven to every park except MK lately, depending on where we are staying. As a WDW resort guest, parking is free. Be sure to tell them you need a parking permit/pass when you check in. It goes on your car dashboard.

The bus travel times need to factor in potential wait times for the bus as well. For example:
From BC to MK by bus is in the 12-14 minute range. But if you just miss a bus, you probably have 15-20 minute wait for the next one. So a 13 minute ride just became 30-35 minutes. By having your own car available, you control when and where you drive, i.e. you're not stuck using a bus.

Your car will save you the most time by driving to DTD. Due to 'inconsistent' evening bus transpo, and the longer route they have to take to make the right turn into Marketplace, your car would save you a lot of time getting there.

 

[grimley1968]

MK is really the only park that driving is discouraged since you have to park, then tram to TTC, but we did it and didn't think it was that much of a hassle (and this was during an Easter week).

True. The TTC is the reason we always bus, boat or monorail (if staying at a MK area resort) to MK. At other parks, we often drive ourselves, because it is definitely faster to the other 3 parks, as well as waterparks and DtD, to drive ourselves. Only MK has the TTC in the way of easy access to the park. Everywhere else has a more traditional parking situation, even though trams are still offered to those who park in the back of the lots.

We have about a 12 hour drive ourselves. We just make sure there is plenty to do for them, plenty of DVD's, books, etc.

 

[crzy4dsny]

I say park the car and leave it. Let someone else drive.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I drive down every August and this December we will be driving down for the 1st time during that month, because we like having our car whenever we need it and it's great for going to Downtown Disney since the buses to there seem to take forever. Plus it's very easy when shopping or eating at various offsite locations.

 

[sharadoc]

Always drive to Epcot, even if you decide to use the buses for everywhere else. The bus stops at Epcot are so far from the main entrance, that you are double-exhausted and miserable by the time you get to yours. If you picture Future World, the bus stops are behind the Land and Imagination, so it's a LOT of walking.

HS and AK are easy to park and walk to the front entrance. MK is a lot of work once you get to the park, but it's fun to do at least once. Park at the TTC and take the ferry over first thing in the morning. It's a wonderful view, seeing the castle looming closer, hearing the music on the ferry, and the slow build of excitement!

 

[we3are1]

We drove 12 hours last September. It was a surprise trip for our son (he was 9 but due to special needs about 3 years behind). Every hour I had a little trinket for him to open that would be a hint about the trip (autograph book, camera, hat, sunglasses, activity book, light up flip flops, etc). I wrapped each item in paper from the grocery bags and numbered them. This was he only focused on each hour. It was a tip that I had read somewhere and it worked perfectly.

As for the car - we never used it. It all worked out great except when we had dinner at HDDR - that I wish we had driven too.

 

[mousebymarriage]

On our last trip in Feb. we drove to Epcot, AK,DTD and DHS. We took the bus to MK. In the past we have done the same thing including taking our own car to Typhoon Lagoon. We have also done trips where we completely relied on Disney buses and I have to say that I like taking my own car sometimes because, there is no waiting on line for it, I always get a seat(which is priceless after a long day) and it's usually quicker than taking the bus. parking is free if you are staying on property.



*having our own car makes it alot easier when getting to meals in other resorts like Wilderness Lodge(for Whispering Canyon) or Yacht & Beach Club (for Cape May Cafe). It can take a long time to get from resort to resort via the bus system.

 

[cmiller18]

This will be our second time going to Disney but we are taking my in laws and they've never been. My husband and I flew down for our honeymoon and stayed at The Boardwalk. This time we are coming down for Christmas, driving, and staying at the Grand Beach Resort off site but I was wondering about using the Disney buses/vans for transportation while we are there. The resort does not have shuttle service but does anyone know of where we could park our car all day and just ride the disney shuttles to each park? Do you know how much the parking would be for an all day fee? We're not turned off by the amount of walking it entails but we were wondering about the parking prices. The closest park to our resort is Epcot. The people at Disney raved about how wonderful Disney World is during the holidays so we are busting at the seams with excitement. Safe travels to everyone!

 

[1tufgt]

This will be our second time going to Disney but we are taking my in laws and they've never been. My husband and I flew down for our honeymoon and stayed at The Boardwalk. This time we are coming down for Christmas, driving, and staying at the Grand Beach Resort off site but I was wondering about using the Disney buses/vans for transportation while we are there. The resort does not have shuttle service but does anyone know of where we could park our car all day and just ride the disney shuttles to each park? Do you know how much the parking would be for an all day fee? We're not turned off by the amount of walking it entails but we were wondering about the parking prices. The closest park to our resort is Epcot. The people at Disney raved about how wonderful Disney World is during the holidays so we are busting at the seams with excitement. Safe travels to everyone!

Parking is $14 a day which you only have to pay once per day so keep your receipt.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We normally drive to Disney from Atlanta when all 4 of us go and just use WDW transportation the whole time except for going to DTD. For that, we take our vehicle.

We are thinking of driving to all the parks next time except for MK because we had to stand alot more and the buses just seemed slower in arriving this past trip.

The problem with that is we usually end up with a few dings or scratches on our car because the WDW parking spaces are so darn tight and we have an SUV so folks parked next to us ding our doors when they try to get out of their cars.

I guess we'll figure it out before we go again as a family.

 

[ricktib]

copied my post from another thread:

A lot of people don't like to drive on vacation, but bus transportation is one area that not even Disney can improve. And with so many posts about ECVs clogging up busses nowadays, there's no way I would take a bus. It's so quick and easy to just drive. ​