Driving to the parks vs riding buses

[princessreilly]

Anyone prefer driving to the parks instead of using the bus system? I've noticed it can be hard waiting on buses and holding small children and strollers on them. What are the pros/cons of driving?
TIA

 

[francie57]

We stay at the BWV so we only need to worry about getting to AK and MK since Epcot and the Studios are within walking. We drive to the AK since we have the AAA parking pass that gets you closer than the bus drop off. We take the bus to MK since we don't want to have to bother with the monorail or ferry. We have never had any trouble with getting on buses or having a long wait for them.

 

[Tara]

Anyone prefer driving to the parks instead of using the bus system? I've noticed it can be hard waiting on buses and holding small children and strollers on them. What are the pros/cons of driving?
TIA

We always rent a car! So I'm clearly biased but I'll try to be objective here:

PROS
You come and go on your own schedule
No waiting at the bus stop for an unknown amount of time
No transfers to go from resort to resort
No standing
No holding on to a stroller or sleeping child
No listening to other people gab on their cell phones, other people's children crying because they're overtired, other adults bickering because THEY'RE overtired , etc
Control of the a/c
Easy to go offsite (groceries, other dining, other parks/attractions)
You control your airport return schedule
Nice to have that privacy and quiet in your own car

CONS
Costs money (sometimes a good chunk of change, too)
Have to stop to gas it up before returning it
Some people are not comfortable driving in unknown places (though I think it's VERY easy to get around)
Have to take the tram from the lot to the gate
At MK, have to take the tram + monorail or ferry to get to the gate

About the trams - we almost always have a AAA parking pass, so we get to park pretty close and just walk to the gates rather than take a tram.

We are at the point where we drive everywhere, including MK most of the time. I do the driving on vacation and find WDW very easy to navigate. We don't do commando park touring anymore and sometimes go to a park and we don't ride a single ride, so we aren't rushing around, but I still hate to wait on the bus. If I'm going to wait in any line, I want it to be for a fun ride, not a bus! We've been going regularly for 11 years now and the first 4 of those we used ONLY WDW transportation and stayed onsite. After we had a child, suddenly the car was a lot more appealing, and we've never looked back! I find it great to have the freedom and flexibility - even given the higher prices rental cars are commanding these days - it just makes our vacation much more of what we want it to be.

 

[mrstomrice]

Is the AAA parking pass only available if you book the trip through AAA or if you simply have a membership? I booked the trip on my own and am staying on property. Thanks!

 

[truck1]

Id agree with all of the above posters comments and add a few.
Pro Not having to deal with a crowded bus whether you are standing or sitting.

Con, depending on where youpark, you could have a little wait to get to your car in the parking lot.

 

[TheWog]

No. We have not rented a car yet for getting around the parks. We rented one once to go offsite, but use Disney Transportation for the whole time to get from place to place.

 

[WDWKOOK]

We are very impatient so we don't like waiting for and riding buses on vacation. We love that we can walk to the MK from the CR, take the monorail to the TTC/Epcot, and we always drive our car to DHS and DAK. No cons for us since we use our own car; we love it!