Faster to take the bus or park at the Magic Kingdom lot from hotel?

[Cayaco]

If we were to stay at the Caribbean resort with a car, which is what we will be doing, what is recommended, so we wait for the bus at the resort itself, which I am reading elsewhere that it can be 100% full and you will need to wait for multiple buses to come around before you get a spot, or just drive to the Magic Kingdom lot and take the bus or monorail over to the main entrance?

This will be on a Saturday and Sunday at the end of this month.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

A bus will normally be considerably faster if your destination is the Magic Kingdom.

The waiting time at Caribbean Beach for a Magic Kingdom bus will normally be between zero and 20 minutes. It's a matter of luck, depending on when you and a bus arrive at the bus stop closest to your room. Actually, during times when demand is high, Magic Kingdom buses typically run more frequently than every 20 minutes. After making its loop through Caribbean Beach, your bus will travel nonstop to the bus station right by the Magic Kingdom gate.

With a car, you'll have to drive to the Magic Kingdom toll plaza and park where you're told to park in the huge Magic Kingdom parking lot (which is a considerable distance from the Magic Kingdom). Normally, you would then walk to a tram stop, wait for a tram to arrive, wait for the tram to fill up, take the tram to the TTC, walk to the ferry dock or monorail station, wait for a ferry or monorail, and take it to the Magic Kingdom gate.

Using a bus, you have the uncertainty and lack of control that comes from waiting for one WDW conveyance (the bus). Using a car, you have the uncertainty and lack of control that comes from waiting for two WDW conveyances (the tram and the ferry/monorail).

I'm not saying that driving will never be faster. If everything goes perfectly when driving, including being allowed to park relatively close to the TTC (eliminating the need for a tram) and not having to wait long for a ferry or monorail, driving could be a little faster. But I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Cayaco]

When we check out on Sunday can we leave the car at the hotel, go to the park, then come home at night and head out?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

When we check out on Sunday can we leave the car at the hotel, go to the park, then come home at night and head out?

Yes. Your on-site guest benefits are good until midnight of the day you check out. The hotel parking pass on your dashboard provides free parking at your hotel or at a WDW theme park.

 

[bumbershoot]

Probably faster to the take the bus when dealing with MK.

Doesn't matter; we drive.

 

[kandb]

Probably faster taking the bus, However, taking the bus close to park closing stinks. Buses are stuffed and you have to drive around the resort dropping other guests off. It's a toss up.

 

[seashoreCM]

Packing up the car in the morning, checking out, driving to the park, then leaving from there past the "See ya' real soon" sign is the most time efficient.

However it is easier to make rope drop if you do it as follows:

Check out and take bus to the park. After your fill of enjoyment, which could be 3 AM the next day depending on park schedule, take the bus back to your resort, get the bags back from luggage services, and tearfully head for the "See ya' real soon sign." You will not have overstayed your parking privileges.

 

[dancin Disney style]

OP...if you are going to be heading home after that last day in the park then I think you should(pack up and) drive to MK and leave your car there. Only because you will get on the road home faster. For me, this would be the only situation that I would drive to MK.

We timed it once and it took, from parking the car to getting to the gate, 40 minutes. Ever since then we strictly use the bus to get to MK from the resort. You can be at the MK gate in 15-20 minutes using the bus.

 

[DebbieB]

When I've stayed at large resorts (OKW, POR, CBR), I prefer to drive. There's not only the bus wait time but also the time for it to go around to all the stops at the resort. Plus you could end up standing.

 

[wdwrich]

We experimented once by splitting up our family group with one group taking the bus and the rest driving to MK (TTC). Due to the time waiting for the bus, both groups arrived at the MK gates within a minute or so of each other.