How do YOU get around the parks?

[Mom2Ben02]

I debated which board to put this one - but since I am coming from a budget perspective I decided to do it here.

We just got back from a fantastic week in Disney World. We loved every single moment of it...except for the buses. It was a LOT of time and work to use the Disney Transportation system. We brought a bigger stroller, for the room and the weight limit for my (LAZY!) older kids, so that was part of it. We were 2 adults traveling with 3 kids, ages 8, 6, and 8 months. The people on the buses were generally fantastic. The waits were long. We had a few ADRs at other resorts (Ohana, Boma) that took a lot of work to get to. Our BIGGEST problem, however, was getting back to the airport. The bus that came did not have enough room for us, and the hotel ended paying a very bad cab driver to take us to the airport.

So...in planning our next trip (probably 2 years out), we are looking at options. I love that the Disney Transportation is free. However, I am wondering if a few hundred dollars to rent a car would be worth it to save hassles. Is the traffic bad going from the resorts to the parks? I know I don't pay to park at the parks if we stay onsite.

 

[scbelleatheart]

Oh my, some our most fun moments were on the bus! The kids, the people, just looking around. Make the most of it. Sit around about 10 years later and that is what the kids bring up. "Remember when" Duh did this or said that! Funny now!
Duh means whoever.

 

[pigletto]

We've always used WDW transportation with no major problems. A few buses that took a long time to come but that's about it. However the difference is we never had to lug a stroller.. and we go at pretty low crowd times and I think that may make a big difference to the quality of the transportation.

When we were there in February I saw a very stressed family trying to navigate their four kids and their giant stroller on a standing room only bus and my heart went out to them. I agree with you, a car rental until your kids are older might make a big difference.

 

[shortbun]

I hate those buses, waiting for them at the end of the night is excruciating. We rent a car-go when we want, where we want. my husband has energy left and runs for the car so he can pick me up when I get to the parking lot. Isn't that nice? I usually need to go slow at the end of the day.

 

[pampam]

Don't forget, in 2 years your needs will likely change. You will likely still need a stroller, but likely won't need such a large cumbersome one.

Also, your biggest problem was getting to the airport. That very likely won't be such a hassle next time. The odds are against it.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

My problem is I had always stayed off-site, so I am used to having a car. I think once you have your own car there is no going back. Plus we always plan a few extra non-park days and I like to go to the outlets, etc. We have AP's- so no free dining and we go to the grocery store to get drinks, breakfast items, etc.

Thank goodness on our last trip I had a car, American Airlines sent my suitcase to Guatemala and I had to take a trip to Target for emergency toiletries, etc. The bag had all my clothes and toiletry bags for the whole family! First they had to find the bag, then it took an entire day to make its way to MCO.

 

[akcire]

I debated which board to put this one - but since I am coming from a budget perspective I decided to do it here.

We just got back from a fantastic week in Disney World. We loved every single moment of it...except for the buses. It was a LOT of time and work to use the Disney Transportation system. We brought a bigger stroller, for the room and the weight limit for my (LAZY!) older kids, so that was part of it. We were 2 adults traveling with 3 kids, ages 8, 6, and 8 months. The people on the buses were generally fantastic. The waits were long. We had a few ADRs at other resorts (Ohana, Boma) that took a lot of work to get to. Our BIGGEST problem, however, was getting back to the airport. The bus that came did not have enough room for us, and the hotel ended paying a very bad cab driver to take us to the airport.

So...in planning our next trip (probably 2 years out), we are looking at options. I love that the Disney Transportation is free. However, I am wondering if a few hundred dollars to rent a car would be worth it to save hassles. Is the traffic bad going from the resorts to the parks? I know I don't pay to park at the parks if we stay onsite.

We do not take the bus. We have always been an adult couple, an adult couple with other adults, or an adult couple with another family; and as my husband says there is nothing magical about a bus. We have an old GPS and loaded the resort locations into the GPS via the Mousesavers website--it was free.

That said, we have taken the Magical Express from the airport in the past, and find that to be a good service. The service back to the airport 4 hours in advance was a bit too slow for us. The buses around WDW--not so much. We did WDW buses one time, and felt like we wasted half our days waiting. With a car, we can go anywhere we want. It is much easier to drive directly to a reservation or if we get to a park and it is too full, we can just go back to the car and hit another park.

We have gone to WDW for at least 1 week for the past 6 years, and with advanced planning we have never paid more than $125 including taxes for a 1 week rental car and one time $75 (I only rent the car inside the MCO terminal--no off site places, takes too long). It give us the ability to go where we want, and visit anywhere (like the grocery store or Chic fil a (however that is in IL now too)). We usually visit the outlet mall one day (hit the Disney outlet for some deals), sometimes another theme park, or just eat at a non-Disney location.

The only place we would consider take the bus is the Magic Kingdom, because if you drive you have to park at the TTC and take the ferry or monorail. The resort bus essentially drops you off at the entrance.

Our next trip is tentatively in early December of 2011. This will be our first trip with an infant, and we only plan on visiting WDW for 3-4 days. We have kicked around a few ideas about where to stay. Since it is likely we will only be visiting MK and Epcot (my husband wants Mike in the barber shop to give her first hair cut) and she will be around 7 months old; we are thinking of staying at a MK monorail resort. We "think" this will facilitate an easy nap time. (This is a huge change for us--normally we just stay Value (mostly POP); we can afford Deluxe-we are just cheap).

We are still not positive on our hotel choice, but we likely will still get a rental car, we like the flexibility. If we decide to skip the Deluxe--we will at least stay Moderate (we have done that in the past) to avoid any large groups and get to a more family (hopefully quieter) environment.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I can't comment on stroller lugging because I have never done that. I have one child who is now 18. I love the busses. . .just because I don't have to navigate. . .I hate being the navigator. however, now that I live here I love my car. . .still prefer the busses. . .

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We do a combination of driving and using the buses. Most of the time we drive because I hate the feeling of being dependent on the buses and not being able to come and go when I want to. But my now 6yo loves riding the buses so we do it a couple times each trip for him.

 

[bicker]

The cost, hassles and risks of renting a car are simply far too high, given that Disney Transportation is free.

 

[rvchat]

The cost, hassles and risks of renting a car are simply far too high, given that Disney Transportation is free.

I agree ^^^ and the bus was and is great for us.

 

[melk]

We have always rented a car, until our last trip. We used the buses and hated it! My DH said never again, we will always rent a car from now on. If you check Mousesavers and check often on rates, you can usually get a pretty good deal.

 

[lucyem]

We drive to WDW and after the 24 hours in the car the last thing we want to do is deal with a car. The only time we bother with the car is if we are eating dinner at another resort. Overall we find the transportation system pretty good at WDW.

 

[DisneyScraps]

We drive, a car rental is essential to our Disney trips. The busses take a lot of time and I don't want to waste a minute that I could be in the parks. We only take the buses if we are drinking.

To us the walk to the bus stops is as long as the parking lot. difference is when I get to the car I have air conditioning a minute or two later and within 15 minutes we are back at the resort.

Lisa

 

[nunzia]

We do not take a bus, a boat or a car. We go to Disneyland Resort instead of WDW, have nearly all the same rides or better (not the Animal Kingdom and not as many restaurants) and then just easily walk everywhere. We stay at the VGC so when we get tired or wet on GRR we are between 3 and 15 minutes from our room. Perfect

 

[Marionnette]

We never have an issue with the buses but I guess that we have gone enough times that we know how to get around using Disney transportation well. There have been a few times when we have used a taxi (about $20 with tip) to get from one resort to another because of an ADR but those times have been rare. Certainly more cost effective than renting a car for the duration of the trip!

In two years, you will not be stroller free but hopefully you will not need the uber-large double stroller. By then your two oldest should be able to tour the parks without needing one. Dealing with a smaller stroller for the toddler should make life easier on the buses.

Another option: stay on the monorail and take advantage of using it and the boats so that you don't have to fold the stroller up at all. You can visit the MK, EPCOT and DHE without ever having to take a bus if you park hop thru the International Gateway.

 

[jodifla]

95 percent of the time, car! Buses take too much time, especially trying to get from resort to resort for dinner reservations.

 

[ReneeA]

We've rarely had any wait for Disney busses - and have had great experiences with Magical Express. However, we go the last week of August into September, and the crowds are very light...I'm wondering if that has something to do with it.

I also stopped lugging a stroller around with us when the kids were 4 & 5. We just slowed things down and kept their schedule - up early, back to the resort for swim time & rest, not terribly late nights. Mine were 7 & 8 our last trip...there is no way I'd have taken them if they had to use a stroller...but that's just me.

 

[Jacksnsteve19]

I prefer the busses. Before married and kids - I had gone with my family and then with some friends (2 sep occasions) and both times had a car. The hassles of driving somewhere and parking and then remembering where we parked - waiting for the tram to the car - -it was such a pain!
The last 3 times (married and with my own kiddos) we have NEVER rented a car. We have enjoyed the busses both to/from the airport and to/from the parks and wherever else. I agree that sometimes the hassles of bus transfers to get to a rstuarant is a pain, and we hae decided to try to avoid too many of those on future visits.
We go to the parks with the idea that we are only using their transportation and that is how it is. Honestly, my husband is quite impatient and he would rather wait for the bus than have to figure out how to get some where and where to park!
I think this bad cab experience left a bad taste with you - and hopefully it will never happen again!!

 

[YayDisney!]

We always rent a car. My DH insists. He's now a master at parking and maneuvering through the roads in WDW after 10+ trips. I'm not against the buses in any way, DH does not like to wait. I can tell you that having a car is so, so nice. We are in and out of the parks much quicker and painlessly. And, we can come and go off property much easier. We like to shop and sight see other places in and around Orlando while we are vacationing at WDW.