Driving to the parks from SSR vs buses

[dspads]

Just looking for some insight on driving around the world since we usually use the buses. Would the bus be quicker to any of the parks? I know it will vary depending on the wait time but I am trying to get a general idea if there is a park it would be a total waste to drive to. We will have an umbrella stroller (and a 5 & 7 yo) so I am thinking a car would be better in most situations. We could also leave stuff in the car in case we don't want to go back to the room (like jackets).

Some background : Next week we will be in Tampa visiting my parents and we are renting a car to drive up to WDW for the week (we can't all fit in my parents car). We will keep the car for the week so we can drive ourselves back to the airport. My parents will stay at SSR with us for 2.5 days. My Dad refuses to drive to the park and says they will just take the bus and meet us. We are spending the money on the car and I feel we should use it if it is an advantage although 'meeting up' with people always seems to add confusion and time, even with cell phones.

Our plans are to go to DHS on Monday after checking in (hopefully by 8 or 9 am). We will likely spend the day at the park with no break and then see Fantasmic. Tuesday we plan to go to EPCOT for early EMH just to hit a few rides, then back to the hotel for swimming/relaxing, then off to MK for MNSSHP. Any advice on driving vs buses with these specefic plans? I feel like it is going to turn into a 'who got here quicker' contest and I want to avoid as much conflict as possible!

 

[spiceycat]

don't drive to the MK - otherwise - drive.

the MK driving - first you wait in line behind the other cars to get in - then after you park you car - you need to walk to the drive (which can be a long walk) - then you get on the trans - which drops you off at TTC - then you need to get on the monrail or ferry to get to the MK.

so just getting to the Mk driving can add an hour.

for Epcot, Studios and AK - you can drive.

 

[Tara]

During our week at SSR, we took a bus 1 time. (My only bus ride in the last 3 trips!) We got incredibly lucky in that the bus was approaching the stop as we walked to the stop, so no wait. We were going to MK and didn't need to go anywhere but back to the resort afterward, so that's why we took the bus. It took 17 minutes to get there and 25 minutes to get back.

I typically take our rental car everywhere, including MK, though. I know it takes longer to drive to MK, but the small amount of additional time is worth it to me to have the freedom and privacy of our own car.

 

[MikeNY]

Our home resort is SSR, and after numerous trips, we've decided that taking our rental car to the various parks is definitely the way to go. Nothing against Disney bus transportation - it's a wonderful feature and if you're going on a tight budget, this is definitely a good way to save money. Taking the car provides you with the ultimate level of flexibility to come and go as you please, and is especially helpful on days when you're hitting more than one park. If you're entering a theme park right around the official opening/closing time, you may run into a little delay with other cars doing the same thing. However, avoiding the long bus lines at the end of the day and going right to your own car more than makes up for that. Hope that helps!

 

[FindTheMickeys]

My home resort is SSR. We drove to Florida from Indiana this year and once we got into the parking lot at the Springs, the van didn't get used again until we left to go home. I LOVE the fact that Disney does the driving. After a long day at the parks, I like nothing better than to sit back in an air-conditioned bus and let someone else take me home... Yes, I might have to wait a bit for the bus to show up, but the inconvenience of waiting is made up for in that I don't have to fight those other cars on the roads

 

[Agent P]

Just got back from SSR last week. We drove to the parks because we have 2 toddlers, double stroller/supplies. Wife did not want to be crammed in the end of day buses with all this stuff while trying to keep control of the kids. Agree though that at MK I felt I spent way too much time lifting the stroller in and out of trams and monorails and wanted to take the bus.

We used to take the boat to DTD but now that it docks in the barren wasteland previously known as PI, that it not as practical either. The bus there is good but walk back as the bus has multiple stops before it actually returns to SSR, walking is faster.

 

[saintstickets]

We stayed at the Contemporary and OKW on our last two trips to WDW. It's hard to beat the convenience of the monorail at the CR so we were a bit leery to stay at OKW on our last trip. We were at OKW during Thanksgiving week, parked the vehicle when we arrived and did not get back in it until we were ready to leave 5 days later. We took the bus each morning to whatever park we were going to that day. We ate dinner each night at EPCOT and took the bus back to OKW. We rented a locker to keep a light jacket, rain gear and other items in just in case. We were VERY pleased with the bus service and have no complaints especially since this was Thanksgiving week (2007) when the parks are crowded. Maybe we were lucky but the bus service really worked well for us from OKW.

 

[dspads]

I think we may try driving but stick with the buses for MK. I have nothing against the buses and on our past trips it seems 75% of the time we did very well with a few looong waits (when it seemed like 500 buses came going to other resorts/parks before 1 came for yours). My DH is very impatient when it comes to waiting for buses when he feels he could drive faster.

Are the roads jammed leaving the parks? Or is it only at park closing that it gets that bad? Will they be terrible leaving the MK on a MNSSHP night probably prior to closing? My DH doesn't mind driving.

 

[CdnKayDee]

Currently at SSR (first time), have rented vehicle (first time) and now I don't think I could go back to the buses. It is so nice to put stroller in back, baby (our 2 year old) in car seat and travel back to resort. Today was our first time with vehicle to Magic Kingdom and did not enjoy it. Will take bus in future to that park.

It has not been bad leaving the parks at night not a big line up and back to resort very quickly.

 

[tjhsr]

we alwas rent a car but use the buses 99% of the time.

 

[DiznyDi]

We fly and do not rent a car. Disney's bus transportation is wonderful! Sure you may wait a few minutes on a bus to get you to your destination but that's never been a problem for us.

We do not travel with children. With little ones and strollers, a car may be easier.

 

[Crystal_27]

I personally hate driving my car while on vacation, so I stick to Disney's transportation. For our trip in March, we did our first non-monorail stay at the Pop Century, and I really didn't have any complaints about Disney's bus system. Sure, we waited for the busses, but we found the actual bus rides pleasant and seemed to always find someone to chat with to pass the time. That said, though, when we stayed at BLT in September, I quickly remembered how much I loved having monorail access.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I just returned from SSR and used the bus. I will have to say that the service "going" to the Parks however, is a little better than the return trip. I don't think I wanted more than 10 minutes (even if it seemed forever in that heat!!) for a bus to any park. Unfortunately coming home was a different story. Regardless of where I was there was always a longer wait. One evening at Epcot we waited 20 minutes or more for a bus. Ok...I do realize that the buses are supposed to run "every 20 minutes" but when you see multiple buses for every resort EXCEPT SSR you begin to wonder.

But I still say go for the bus and don't drive!!! Once you're on the bus...sit back and relax!

 

[whitfamily]

We drive to every park, but much of that is due to handling a stroller, etc.

We've found that driving is much more convenient due to our patterns in the park. We often leave mid-day for pool/nap break and while come back and stay until closing. Our car is much easier to deal with at closing vs long bus lines and mid-day bus service seems to be the spottiest.

We also get the Diamond Parking Pass, so we are usally parked right by the entrance or right by Trans Center for MK. In fact for MK the diamond area is as close as the bus stop. Not using the buses also gives us flexibility to go wherever we want to when we're done with the park... Not hop around the bus system.

Only park we think we lose time on is MK. Every where else the car is quicker.

 

[MrShiny]

DTD is thw worst on the bus. From SSR, walking can usually beat the bus, even if there is no wait (which there usually is!)

 

[hakepb]

Just got back from SSR last week. We drove to the parks because we have 2 toddlers, double stroller/supplies. Wife did not want to be crammed in the end of day buses with all this stuff while trying to keep control of the kids. Agree though that at MK I felt I spent way too much time lifting the stroller in and out of trams and monorails and wanted to take the bus.

We used to take the boat to DTD but now that it docks in the barren wasteland previously known as PI, that it not as practical either. The bus there is good but walk back as the bus has multiple stops before it actually returns to SSR, walking is faster.

Love your screen name Agent P! I'd change mine to Agent T, but T disappeared last thanksgiving

I did my first onsite trip driving, and decided the trams were too much bother with a stroller. Anyway, DS thinks a Disney bus is a special adventure and a car is just the car, so he car remains parked unless we are in a time crunch to make an ADR at another resort.

 

[Agent P]

Love your screen name Agent P! I'd change mine to Agent T, but T disappeared last thanksgiving

I hate to admit it, but it took me a couple of times seeing that episode before I picked up that joke. My wife teased me for months afterward.

 

[Agent P]

We also get the Diamond Parking Pass, so we are usally parked right by the entrance or right by Trans Center for MK. In fact for MK the diamond area is as close as the bus stop. Not using the buses also gives us flexibility to go wherever we want to when we're done with the park... Not hop around the bus system.
.

How do you get a diamond parking pass?