Driving to the parks....

[gracie1]

If you get a rental car and drive to the parks....do you have to pay parking each day even if you are staying on property? I am trying to figure out what is the fastest and best route to go! I know about the disney transportation and thats what we were going to do but decided if it's faster to get a rental car instead of waiting and having to hop on different busses I would rather rent a car possibly

 

[Robert P]

If you get a rental car and drive to the parks....do you have to pay parking each day even if you are staying on property? I am trying to figure out what is the fastest and best route to go! I know about the disney transportation and thats what we were going to do but decided if it's faster to get a rental car instead of waiting and having to hop on different busses I would rather rent a car possibly

Guests of a WDW resort can get a parking permit to allow them to park that car (rental or otherwise) at their resort. That pass will get you free parking in the theme park lots, each day of your stay.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

One thing to remember is that by taking a bus you get dropped off pretty close to the park enterence.

 

[Pete W.]

One thing to remember is that by taking a bus you get dropped off pretty close to the park enterence.

This is critical for the Magic Kingdom, where the parking lot is across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the park and you must either take the monorail or ferry to get to the park entrance. With the other parks, if you arrive early or later in the day you can usually snag a spot close to the entrance so it's less of an issue.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

If you get a rental car and drive to the parks....do you have to pay parking each day even if you are staying on property? I am trying to figure out what is the fastest and best route to go! I know about the disney transportation and thats what we were going to do but decided if it's faster to get a rental car instead of waiting and having to hop on different busses I would rather rent a car possibly

I have not rented a car every while staying at a Disney resort. The buses take you from your resort to the theme park of your choice. For the MK only Disney buses are allowed near the entrance.
They are clearly marked and run from early morining until late into the night. They do a fabulous job moving a lot of people every day. Personally I cannot see how a car would be faster than taking a Disney bus. If you leave any park at closing the crowds are huge. This goes for people heading to the buses and people heading to their cars. We avoid the mob scene at park closings by just hanging around for 15-20 minutes. Then we slowly walk to the exit and to a quiet bus station. To me driving anywhere I am not familiar with is not comforting. Slow down, you are supposed to be on vacation. Why waste money on renting a car when Disney will take you all around WDW for free!

 

[gracie1]

Thanks for the info! I decided against the rental car. If I am running behind I will snag a taxi

 

[WillCAD]

Disney transortation is comprehensive and will get you anywhere you need to go on-site.

But I always rent a car, even when I'm staying on-site.

Advantages of having your own car and self-driving are:

*Never wait for a bus
*Always get a seat
*Never wait in line in a bus queue
*Saves TREMENDOUS time, every day!
*Easier to fold and store strollers (n/a for me but a major issue for families)
*Ability to go off-site for shopping (outlets or snack supplies), dining, and other venues (Universal, SeaWorld, dinner theaters, etc)

MK is the one trip where self-driving is not faster than taking WDW transportation, because the MK lot is on one side of the Seven Seas Lagoon, and the MK gates are on the other side - and the buses drop you on the gate side, not the lot side.

However, when you park at MK, you either have to take the ferryboat or monorail across the Lagoon to reach the park - and I LOVE taking the ferryboat and monorail! As far as I'm concerned, my Disney Day starts the moment I step onto the ferryboat pier in the morning, and it doesn't end until I step off the monorail in the evening.