How do you get around Disney Property?

[cavepig]

I'm just curious to see how most Disney guests travel around Disney.

I use Disney Transportation because I don't have my own car there and I think Disney Transportation is a great service and usually doesn't take too terribly long to get where you need to be. Also I love not having to worry about traffic and can sit back and relax.

Also, if you use a car (rented or your own) do you use the tram to get to the front of the park or do you walk?

 

[Pig Pen]

We have tried every combination imaginable: own car, rental car, taxi. Disney Transportation is the best for us - of course we are 2 adults with nothing better to do than ride the bus. When we drive ourselves we get lost and start arguing

 

[athyng]

Pig Pen - We are the same way. That's one of the great things about WDW, not having to drive. I can only imagine the arguments my fiance and I would have if we had to drive on our vacation.

 

[pmurphy713]

We have been known to do it all. Our very first visit, we relied only on Disney Transportation. Since then, we have used both. We really enjoy riding around Disney property and looking at things at our own speed.

When we drive to the parks (which is most of the time), we ALWAYS use the trams to get us to the front of the park.

 

[Harambe]

I just ansered so I could see the Cave Pig. Just love it!

 

[chloesmommi]

We always take the car, even when we've stayed on site. You can waste precious hours in a week waiting for Disney transportation. Of course, my husband loves to drive and we want to go when we want to go, so it's the best choice for us.

 

[AKASnowWhite]

We too have done every possible combo. I must say, for us the transportation we choose depends on where we are staying. This next time 'round we're staying at the Contemporary. Most likely we will rely solely on Disney transportation as we don't want the extra added cost of renting a car. When DH and I go ALONE in Jan for the 1/2 marathon, I expect we'll stay at one of the Epcot resorts (my all time favorite places to be.... ) and again will rely on WDW transportation. When we stay at the Wilderness Cabins, however, we rent a car. It's just easier for us that way.

 

[sarahj]

we always rent a car, even when staying on property. We like the feeling of being able to go anyplace we want. In April, we took a day and went to St. Petersburg and walked the beach, sometimes we go off site for dinner or shopping.

 

[caitycaity]

pigpen, that scenario sounds all too familiar!

 

[Paris]

The times we have stayed onsite, various circumstances have dictated whether or not we take the bus or drive on over to the park.

Magic Kingdom - Bus, mostly. This is about the only park in which taking the bus is shorter than driving over because the bus goes directly to the MK gate while the parking lot is at TTC.

The other parks? It depends. If we're going late in the day we almost always drive. Choice spots are available and it's far easier to walk to the car (no tram needed at the other three parks if you're close enough) and head out if you stick around until the park closes than to pile into a crammed bus or have to wait for a second bus.

The disclaimer here is that we live in Florida so we always drive to the park. I can see why some folks want to spare the rentals on vacation and let Disney take over the driving.

 

[MinnieGi]

We usually use Disney transportation to the four major parks. However we tend to use our car for getting around to other places where you would need to transfer to another form of transportation to get to your destination. For instance to get to HDDR we drive to the campground and then take the FW internal bus. We also tend to drive to DTD just so we don't have to haul a bunch of bags onto the bus.

 

[palmtreegirl]

We always use Disney Transportation even when we drive down. It's part of the fun for us and the last thing I want to do is get back in our car after driving for 18 hours. The kids love the busses and monorails and so do we!

 

[cgcw]

On our first trip, a neighbor who frequents WDW much more than we do, scared us enough so that we parked our car upon checkin and didn't get back into it until checkout. We were so afraid that we'd get lost on all the roads we didn't even attempt it. As it was we were "trapped" inside FW and couldn't get on the right bus to take us back to the Poly. It was a nightmare.

The next trip, we ventured out a bit and drove part of the time. Once we did it, it became easier and easier to follow the roads to get where we wanted to go.

Last trip, we drove everywhere. My DS8 was disappointed that we didn't get to ride the monorail so one afternoon we took a trip on it just for the fun/relaxation. We also sat in the front which made it even more special.

I don't see us going back to Disney bus transportation.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: we've tried all the combos too, but we find it much more convenient to have a rental car. the signs are great and the transportation maps are good. we've been driving around wdw since 87 so it's not that big a deal.

 

[diznee25]

We have never used a rental car, only Disney transportation! Sure, we take a towncar to get from the airport to WDW, but once we're in the 'World', we stick to Disney transportation.

Diznee25

 

[Uncleromulus]

Used to rely on Disney Transportation (which I'll say is quite good) but in recent years always use a car. Leaves us lots of options, etc. For example, a typical "first day" is check in at OKW, game of golf at fantasia gardens, maybe lunch at the Sand Trap, a little shopping at DD, back to OKW for a brief swim, then on to Narcoosee's for dinner. Try that on a bus!!!
As to using a tram or walking, depends on how close we are to the entrance. The trams run almost continually and we've never had but a very short wait.

 

[dmonroe]

We drive so we always have our car with us. But, just about the only thing we use it for is to get to ps's at other resorts. Once (and only once!) we drove to DTD on a weekend night. What a nightmare! I really like Disney transportation! I try not to be in too much of a hurry so that I don't get aggravated with waiting!

 

[kdibattista]

Both!!! We have a rental car that we use to go to Downtown Disney and outside Disney property. We use the bus for everything else.

 

[DisneyMim]

We always rent a car. We've been going for year and we know our way around. My husband knows the WDW roads and knows the best route to anywhere on property, which is not always the route Disney sends you. It's so quick and easy!! We also like to have a car because we never know where we are going, we are spur-of-the-moment people and a car gives us many options. I use Disney transportation every once in awhile by myself if my family goes to a water park and I go shopping. I always feel I'm wasting so much time waiting for a bus. I actually had a discussion with one of the bus drivers a couple of years ago and he agreed with me that if you know your way around a car is the best way to go. Problem is lots of people get lost and find Disney transportation easier. I think it's wonderful to be able to have different options.

 

[Kaycee]

We always drive to WDW, and by the time we get there we are ready to park that car and not get back in it until we're heading home!

We love WDW transportation...it's part of the magic. Yes, we've known the frustration of waiting for a bus that just doesn't seem to be coming...but we've never been late to a PS or early entry using WDW transportation. And most the time the buses are where we need them in just a few minutes.

Of course we love the monorail and ride it whenever we can. But I've come to love the WDW buses too - after all, they're at WDW, so if I'm riding one that means I'm at WDW too!!