Good reason not to use Disney transportation from resorts.

[Pedler]

Has anyone actually timed what the actual difference is between Disney transportation and having your own car? Going from WL It would appear that at the Magic Kingdom if you factored in the time to get your car from the hotel parking lot, drive to the parking lot for MK, park the car, take the tram to the TTC and then transportation to the entrance it would be longer than waiting for a bus and taking the 5 minute ride to the entrance.

On the other hand I often thought that the bus stops for WL at Epcot were about as far away as they could make them. There I felt it would be faster to drive.

Any other thoughts on that? I have wondered if you added up the time to get the car at the hotel and deal with parking it and getting to the front entrance how that time compared to the waiting for the bus time.

 

[CleveRocks]

Well, as long as we're all voting, I'd much rather have a rental car, even when I'm staying onsite. I fail to see how waiting for busses, then being crowded into a packed bus is relaxing. And god forbid you want to go from one hotel to another - there's 60-90 minutes right there. BTW, anybody else uncomfortable about the lack of seatbelts on a bus?

So are you really from BOSTON or are you from a suburb? I suspect the latter. If you were from Boston proper, I'd suspect you'd have spent much of your life riding MBTA buses and the T, and thus wouldn't have any trepidation about riding public transportation without a seat belt.

Until the past few years, I spent all of my life living in big cities, so riding buses, subways, and commuter rail trains without seat belts were as second-nature to me as holding my wallet in my front pocket or not trusting air I can't see.

At WDW, I just revel in being free from any real responsibility. Just knowing that I don't have a car key or a wallet (I keep my key card, ID, and some cash in my pocket) in my pocket is somehow exotic, decadent, freeing, RELAXING. It's the only week of my life when I don't have to drive, so I enjoy it to the fullest. If only I was the type to want to combine WDW and drinking a lot, we'd REALLY have something good there.

Hey, as long as we both enjoy our own vacations, everything's great!

-- Eric

 

[CleveRocks]

To be fair, I must admit that I don't resort hop very much. If we do it, it's organic to our meanderings for the day. Like daytime at one park, then bus to another resort's restaurant for an early-ish dinner, then a bus to another park for the evening, then a bus back to our resort at the end of the night.

For anyone who really likes to resort hop a lot, I can't imagine wasting time using Disney Transport all week for that.

-- Eric

 

[rie'smom]

We always rent a car. When I'm ready to go somewhere, I don't like waiting for a bus.
DH and I like to explore the surrounding area and you just can't do that with Disney transportation. Thank-you jasper for the info.

 

[cyndibelle]

that is a great deal..we always just get a southern elegance..the towncar service to pick us up..they are waiting there for us to get off the plane...they take our luggage..we pass by all the people waiting for the disney magical express and on our way we go.....it costs us 120 bucks round trip and then of course we always tip leonard our favorite driver in the world..they also only pick you up about 1 1/2 before your flight so you can still have the whole day at disney if you have a later flight..

 

[CleveRocks]

that is a great deal..we always just get a southern elegance..the towncar service to pick us up..they are waiting there for us to get off the plane...they take our luggage..we pass by all the people waiting for the disney magical express and on our way we go.

Realize that it's possible that THEY passed you, and you're passing people who arrived after you -- DME guests don't have to wait around at baggage claim.

-- Eric

 

[BostonRob]

So are you really from BOSTON or are you from a suburb? I suspect the latter. If you were from Boston proper, I'd suspect you'd have spent much of your life riding MBTA buses and the T, and thus wouldn't have any trepidation about riding public transportation without a seat belt.

Until the past few years, I spent all of my life living in big cities, so riding buses, subways, and commuter rail trains without seat belts were as second-nature to me as holding my wallet in my front pocket or not trusting air I can't see.

At WDW, I just revel in being free from any real responsibility. Just knowing that I don't have a car key or a wallet (I keep my key card, ID, and some cash in my pocket) in my pocket is somehow exotic, decadent, freeing, RELAXING. It's the only week of my life when I don't have to drive, so I enjoy it to the fullest. If only I was the type to want to combine WDW and drinking a lot, we'd REALLY have something good there.

Hey, as long as we both enjoy our own vacations, everything's great!

-- Eric

Well I am from the suburbs, but I went to highschool in Boston, so it seemed like I spent 4 years of my like on the Redline and on the busses. Personally, I have no trepidation with riding busses without seat belts. Its my kids I worry about. To me, it seems real dangerous to put a young child on a bus seat and hope the driver doesn't stop short, or worse.

And since I mentioned kids, I should add that my wife and I did go to WDW twice before we had kids and we'd have never considered renting a car, because we spent many of our nights drinking - pleasure island, the Boardwalk, Epcot, all the cool hotel restaurants lounges - there's just way too many places to drink - who would want to drive? But we had kids and our habits changed and now I'd never consider going without a car.

So as you say, everybody enjoys their vacations their own way. I can appreciate being care-free (and key-free). But with young kids, I think a car is the only way to go.

 

[krismom]

Thanks Jasper! you just saved me $80 for mickey bars!

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too prefer to rent a car. I've yet to use Disney busses on any of my trips. I love the freedom of being able to go off property when I want. We get supplies and Walmart, Publix, etc. A couple trips ago I even developed my pix at Sam's Club and had an inexpensive pizza meal.

That being said, I have thought about taking the bus to MK, it seems to me that you would save some time not having to take the monorail or boat and the bus stop is near the entrance.-

8 days and counting to spur of moment trip-All girls, 3 generations, sister(48) first trip!

 

[2boyshere]

We always rent a car and I wouldn't do it any other way. I like the flexibility to go hassle/wait free where and when I want. We already wait in lines at the parks so for us that's enough. I can remember we met a family (no car) at T-Lagoon a few years ago and they were late and had to transfer buses and wait to get there (in the August heat). When the water park got crowded we hopped in the car and went to Disney Quest for a few hours and then pack to T-Lagoon at the end of the day when everyone else left. It is easy to drive down there.

 

[BostonRob]

It is easy to drive down there.

It is easy to drive there. I'm from the Boston area, where the roads are crowded, confusing, and people have perfected agressive driving. So I was hesitant to drive on my vacation - I didn't want the stress. I was pleasantly surprised. Driving around WDW is a easy.