Driving to parks

[KrazeeK120]

We have a car and when the kids were little we usually drove. It was just easier. But recently, we've been taking the bus more frequently. My question is, what if you arrive later at a park? Wouldn't you park so far away that you would be better off taking the bus and not driving?

The last time I arrived at AK, they were filling the lot from the back. We were there well ahead of rope drop and parked in about the 4th row from the back. There was a sign on the walking path to the entrance that said it was 1/3 of a mile, so not that far really. Only took a couple of minutes to walk it.

 

[DisneyOma]

So is everybody's recommendation to drive to all parks EXCEPT MK? Does anybody know how the buses from AoA to MK usually are? Also we will have a handicap placard (for my mother). Is there better parking at MK for handicap?

HC parking is horrible at MK - you have to walk quite a distance from the parking to TTC. And there's no tram.

Having a car and staying on property is my preferred way to stay. No bus schedules to keep up with, no screaming kids on the bus at the end of the night. Increases the magic of my day by at least 20%.

Bus schedule? The buses run hours after park closing, at least an hour before park opening. No need to worry about a schedule. When we were there two weeks ago, I never heard one kid crying on the bus, in 7 days of bus use.

Honestly, in all the years I have been going to WDW, I only experienced that ONCE. I really didn't mind taking the ferry that one time. If I ran into problems with the monorails alot, I might change my mind, but I still think of the monorail as part of the magic. After all, where else do you get to ride one?

At the airport, for one.

 

[maltdizzy]

One thing I haven't seen is when are you going? At busy times of the year, the parking lots also get very busy. The HC hangtag should help significantly though.

We drive to WDW and drive to the parks (usually including TTC). We've had miserable experiences waiting for buses, been stuck as long as 90 minutes at the bus stops at MK, DHS or DS waiting to get back to our resort late at night.

The point is, you don't have to do one or the other, but having the van (and free parking) allows a lot of flexibility. Take the van when you want, take the bus when you want, and you're party is able to split up if they want (someone want to stay to close...they can take the bus back), etc.

 

[Mousekakrazy]

One thing I haven't seen is when are you going? At busy times of the year, the parking lots also get very busy. The HC hangtag should help significantly though.

We drive to WDW and drive to the parks (usually including TTC). We've had miserable experiences waiting for buses, been stuck as long as 90 minutes at the bus stops at MK, DHS or DS waiting to get back to our resort late at night.

The point is, you don't have to do one or the other, but having the van (and free parking) allows a lot of flexibility. Take the van when you want, take the bus when you want, and you're party is able to split up if they want (someone want to stay to close...they can take the bus back), etc.

we will be visiting March 11-17 2018

 

[maltdizzy]

we will be visiting March 11-17 2018

It'll be relatively busy (but Easter not being until Apr 1 helps), but not "capacity busy," you'll probably find opportunities for both driving and riding. Transportation and parking are both part of the resort stay, it's not an either/or situation.

At the three non-MK parks, HC parking is close to the gates (especially at Epcot).

 

[johnsgrl]

Also we will have a handicap placard (for my mother). Is there better parking at MK for handicap?

The handicap parking for MK is, like the other parks, at the front of the lots (at the TTC). However you still are at the TTC, you walk through the entry ( and its kind of a long walk) and decide if you want to take the monorail or the ferry to the park. You will likely still have to wait in line for either.
At all of the parks when you go through the parking booths, there are blue lines painted on the roadway that lead to the handicap parking for that park, just follow the blue line and make sure that if she has a placard instead of a plate that it is showing and the CM's will wave you forward to HC parking.
You should also be aware that if you get to the parks later in the day the HC parking may be full and you will be sent to the overflow area which is much further away from the gates and does not provide access to unload/load a WC or ECV.

 

[disnut1149]

So is everybody's recommendation to drive to all parks EXCEPT MK? Does anybody know how the buses from AoA to MK usually are? Also we will have a handicap placard (for my mother). Is there better parking at MK for handicap?

 

[disnut1149]

I have a handicap sign and drove for the first time to the TTC and parked in a handicapped spot. Never again! We had such a long walk to the monorail. We would've been better off just parking and taking the tram. It takes you up to the front.