Driving versus Bus

[slyster]

Hi, just wanted to get suggestions...

I am traveling at the end of September which is supposedly when there are lesser crowds. We will have a car and we are staying at POFQ during the last week.

I read the threads almost daily and one thing I have read is that there are sometimes problems with the buses not coming timely or being overcrowded especially in the morning or evening.

We plan on getting to the parks early, leaving mid day for a break, and returning to the parks either for dinner or finish out our day.

Would it be easier to drive to the parks? I think I read driving to MK may not be recommended because of where you park and ride over on a shuttle to the park? I don't mind waiting a normal time for a bus but I also am not crazy about overcrowding and/or having to wait for another bus. We would probably experience that the most either in the morning or at closing? My thought was to drive to the parks except for MK, but would love to hear from you guys.

Perhaps it's best to drive in the morning and take the bus in the afternoon/evening? Or vice versa? Just wondering what recommendations/suggestions might be.

Also, a bit off topic but if you had read this far, I'm hoping you can help...we have dinner reservations at Chef Mickeys on our last evening. Is there self parking there or do you have to use the valet parking?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kay1]

My kids are older and it's been ages since we had dinner at CM, but back in the olden day there was self-parking.

We like the buses for MK to avoid taking the monorail or ferry to the park. Otherwise, we think it's easier and more efficient to drive.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[Sandisw]

We much prefer to drive to the parks than take the buses. We typically stay at Boardwalk and Bay Lake Tower (DVC) so we can walk to 3 of the 4 parks and for AK, we either drive or like last year, I paid to have a taxi take us.

Just came back from a trip and we stayed at AKV for the first time--was going to try just the buses but ended up renting a car the night before and liked that we did. We did bus to MK but drove to the rest.

Good luck!

 

[raven69david]

We drive to/from the parks in our rental car/van 99.9% of the time. It's VERY rare that we EVER take the bus as they are slow. The only advantage would be when going to MK where they drop you off near the entrance and not at the TTC. Even with that, we never do it. We did use the buses about 3 weeks ago at AoA just to see how quick and efficient they would be and to also see if they shared with Pop.

 

[im4kycats]

I'm in the minority here!

I love the buses - I don't want to drive on vacation and we are not ones to be on a mad dash to get everywhere, so it suits us. We have had a car in the past and by the time we load up the car, get to the parking lot, and get to the entrance it hasn't really saved us that much time.

The exception would be at the end of a long day waiting for the bus to take us back to the resort - that can be tiring and take longer. Another good reason for a car is to get to ressies at other resorts, but we don't usually do a lot of ressies so that reason is out for us, as well.

It really just depends on your family and what is important to how you want to tour the World.

I didn't help at all, did I?!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'm in the minority here!

I love the buses - I don't want to drive on vacation and we are not ones to be on a mad dash to get everywhere, so it suits us. We have had a car in the past and by the time we load up the car, get to the parking lot, and get to the entrance it hasn't really saved us that much time.

The exception would be at the end of a long day waiting for the bus to take us back to the resort - that can be tiring and take longer. Another good reason for a car is to get to ressies at other resorts, but we don't usually do a lot of ressies so that reason is out for us, as well.

It really just depends on your family and what is important to how you want to tour the World.GF

I didn't help at all, did I?!

Never rented one.... Feel the same way as above....one of the reasons we keep going back to WDW is them hauling us around for the duration of our vacation..

We're not in a "big" hurry to get anywhere...we're on property long enough to see most and do alot...renting a car for us is just an unnecessary expense, but there are those that swear by renting...everybody has their ways and methods...like I said, 45 trips to WDW and always used their transportation!

 

[Missytara]

It is not a vacation if you drive and are always in a hurry to get somewhere.

I prefer leaving the driving to someone else and taking my time getting from point A to point B.

 

[Sue M]

I'm another who prefers WDW transportation. I wouldn't pay more money for a car rental when I can get free transportation. I feel 99% of the time it works well. At any resort you can have the occasional longer then usual wait, or at park closing.

We also take afternoon breaks and have no problem using the bus, boat or whatever.

Since you'll already have a car, guess your driving down, you can try the bus, and if you don't like it, then you have the option of using your car.

Last aug we still had our rental car the first night, (we go to ft lauderdale first, then return rental usually after check in) so drove to MK. Big mistake. We could have gotten there much faster taking the bus which drops you off practically in front of the park. Driving you have to park at TTC, take the tram, then get on the monorail or boat to MK.

 

[EpcotBill]

We drive as often as possible. Some of the reasons are, we're all guaranteed a seat and we're not pressed against smelly sweaty strangers. We don't have to stand at the resort bus stop waiting for an Epcot bus and watching 3 MK buses go by(that's happened to us at Pop twice). We get in our car at the resort and go, no waiting 20 or 30 minutes for a bus.

We don't plan every minute of our vacation so sometimes we might want to leave a park and visit another resort for lunch or dinner. In our car it just takes 10 or 15 minutes to get there, sometimes less. Then heading back to our resort we just get in the car and go. Try that with Disney transportation. You'll spend a lot of time waiting for buses and transferring from one bus to another.

Once per trip we take a Disney bus just to see if the experience has improved. It hasn't.

You'll have people tell you they just LOOOOOVE Disney buses. I'm glad somebody does otherwise the roads and parking lots would be too crowded.

Edited to add: We're not in a "big" hurry or mad rush to get anywhere. But we also don't like to waste time. In fact it's more leisurely for us to drive. I see people running to the monorail and buses all the time. I take my time and go when I want to. There are threads on these boards all the time asking How do I get from point A to point B point C in time for my reservation. Then the answers come; take a bus to here then take a boat there and transfer to a bus and you're there. Those people are in a hurry. My answer is get in your car and go; easy.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We are driving down there and there is now way I would want to drive anymore than I should. The bus service is there for us to use.. and I am going to take advantage of that. We usually try to leave before the park close, but if it's EMH, then we stay until it's time to go.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We exclusively use Disney buses, boats, and the monorail. We never drive. Occasionally we will take a taxi to or from DTD or from a late dinner somewhere back to our resort.

 

[crazybones27]

Before having children my husband and I took the buses everywhere. We didn't mind waiting for the buses or having to stand if there wasn't a seat available. Now that we have two young children we drive. We have a double stroller and things that go along with having young kids. It's just easier to have a car. We get a AAA diamond parking pass every year now so it puts us that much closer to the entrance in the parking lots now. Even at MK where we have to park at the TTC we're still close enough we don't need to take the tram to get to the Monorail or Ferry.

Last year DH and I got away for a trip just the two of us and we decided to drive instead of use the buses even though it was just us. It's just quicker. We're not in a rush so it has nothing to do with being in a rush. We just know the car is less crowded, I'll have a seat, it's close to the entrance, and we're not standing around in the heat wondering when it will arrive. We do love the buses and we will use them whenever we need them, but if the car is available and more convenient will go that route now everytime .

 

[stepdisney]

We take the bus, even when we have a car. Traffic in NoVA and commuting to DC (DH) makes it so that we don't want to drive. We don't find that we are smashed against others, if we want a seat, we simply wait for another bus if it is crowded. We're staying at YC so we can walk or boat to DHS. No line, no wait....

 

[jimandami]

We also always use Disney transportation...if fact, it is one of the reasons we go to WDW so often. It feels like a true vacation because once we get on that plane, we don't have to worry about how we will get anywhere until it is time to go home. Plus, our kids think the busses, boats, and monorail are all part of the fun! Sure, we occasionally have to wait for a bus, but it doesn't bother us at all

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We also always use Disney transportation...if fact, it is one of the reasons we go to WDW so often. It feels like a true vacation because once we get on that plane, we don't have to worry about how we will get anywhere until it is time to go home. Plus, our kids think the busses, boats, and monorail are all part of the fun! Sure, we occasionally have to wait for a bus, but it doesn't bother us at all

I totally agree! We feel like the transportation is part of the fun. Our kids love it all and never complain one bit. Plus I love a good fight breaking out over a bus seat or a late bus. Its like watching Jerry Springer. LOL

 

[slyster]

Wow...well thanks for all the feedback! I still have a few posts to read through. I am hoping not to be in a situation where I'm rushing to get somwhere...well probably my ADRS?

We do have an early (8:20) reservation at Crystal Palace on our MK day. It sounds like the bus to MK is the way to go. What time should we catch the bus from POFQ to MK for CP breakast at 8:20? (i'm laughing at all the acryonyms )

If the buses aren't crowded (standing, packed), I think it would be the leisurely way to go with the least amount of stress. Maybe we'll experiment a little and see what works.

I am looking for the least stressful way. I almost want to say "not the most relaxed way, but the least stressful way." I guess driving doesn't feel stressful to me and I'm just afraid of getting caught up in one of the stories of waiting a long time for buses or having to stand on the buses for some time. I do agree if everything works well, buses come timely, buses aren't packed, then for me the bus would be the least stressful and most relaxing

Thanks everyone! Really do appreciate your thoughts and experiences. This is my third time going as an adult and it's been 10 years.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Wow...well thanks for all the feedback! I still have a few posts to read through. I am hoping not to be in a situation where I'm rushing to get somwhere...well probably my ADRS?

We do have an early (8:20) reservation at Crystal Palace on our MK day. It sounds like the bus to MK is the way to go. What time should we catch the bus from POFQ to MK for CP breakast at 8:20? (i'm laughing at all the acryonyms )

If the buses aren't crowded (standing, packed), I think it would be the leisurely way to go with the least amount of stress. Maybe we'll experiment a little and see what works.

I am looking for the least stressful way. I almost want to say "not the most relaxed way, but the least stressful way." I guess driving doesn't feel stressful to me and I'm just afraid of getting caught up in one of the stories of waiting a long time for buses or having to stand on the buses for some time. I do agree if everything works well, buses come timely, buses aren't packed, then for me the bus would be the least stressful and most relaxing

Thanks everyone! Really do appreciate your thoughts and experiences. This is my third time going as an adult and it's been 10 years.

If you are staying at POFQ you will have the better deal on bus seating since it typically stops there first before heading to POR. But be prepared for crowded buses because those two resorts are very popular. They will pack them in to standing room only at the POR pickups. Allow extra time for ADRs. And don't forget you can take a boat to Downtown Disney, that's a nice ride.

 

[jenlov]

We used the bus, and honestly never had a bad experience or long wait. We also stayed at POFQ. That was in June, which is way more busy than September according the crowd calender. We had 14 people in our group. For us, it really was easier to take the buses. We made the mistake of driving to MK one day. Took the bus on MK day #2, lol. We did drive to DTD, but only b/c we knew that we might want to go to some other places (shopping) besided DTD while we were out and about. If we were doing dinner at another resort, we drove there as well.

 

[cjsm&d]

I'm in the minority here!

I love the buses - I don't want to drive on vacation and we are not ones to be on a mad dash to get everywhere, so it suits us. We have had a car in the past and by the time we load up the car, get to the parking lot, and get to the entrance it hasn't really saved us that much time.

The exception would be at the end of a long day waiting for the bus to take us back to the resort - that can be tiring and take longer. Another good reason for a car is to get to ressies at other resorts, but we don't usually do a lot of ressies so that reason is out for us, as well.

It really just depends on your family and what is important to how you want to tour the World.

I didn't help at all, did I?!

I'm with this. I honestly have only had a couple of long bus waits over the many times we have gone to WDW. We utilize ME and just make sure we don't plan anything that would make us run around to rush to an ADR. We plan dining at the MK resorts around our days at MK, same with EPCOT etc...

I consider it one of the real enjoyments of our trips that I don't have to hop in the car and drive anywhere for a whole week to 10 days, especially to and from the airport. It also is a nice money saver for us. Money that instead went to the Afican Trek!

But that is just how we like to do it....

 

[vettegirl]

We have gone with and without the car. We prefer driving to the parks.