How do you get around WDW?

[jstarcze]

Sometimes I use Disney Transportation other times I use my car. Since it's only 8 hrs or so to WDW I normally drive, so my car is available. Most of the time I use Disney Transportation, but say I'm going to a park later in the evening and expect to be there close to closing time, then I'll drive to avoid the bus lines at the end of the day. I normally drive to DTD and to restaurant ressies at the resorts.

 

[quirty30]

I'm a single mom, and if I have to drive, it detracts from my vacation. So we deal with WDW transportation, even if it does cut into our time a little bit. And in 10 trips over the last 3 years, I think we've splurged on a taxi about 5 times when we were running late for an ADR and didn't feel like "transferring" at Downtown Disney in order to get to our destination. And that's really my only complaint with Disney transportation - getting from resort to resort. But like I said, it's rare that we can't make it work for us.

 

[mom2alix]

We've always used Disney transportation. Not having to drive is one of the best parts of WDW vacations according to my DH.

 

[crisi]

We supplement Disney transportation with cabs. We probably spend $100 on cab fare over the course of a week - which is still cheaper than any car my husband would be willing to rent.

 

[Anal Annie]

I can't imagine spending $300 on a car when Disney provides FREE transportation! We have never rented a car for our time at WDW. I can see where it would be handy for getting to an ADR or for going "home" at the end of the night when the parks close & the buses are super busy but I still can't justify spending the money for one when we can get around for FREE.

We are planning to go to Universal this summer for a couple of days & I am looking into the idea of renting a car for 1 night / 2 days VS the idea of taking a taxi over because we're likely going to book a room over there for their onsite perks & benefits (express pass & early entry). I don't even know how one GETS a taxi at Disney? Are there usually just some waiting out front? Does anybody know how much a taxi would cost each way to go over to Universal for 3 people?? I think a car will run us about $75 for 2 days + $15 parking at the Universal hotel so anything less than $100 would be a savings.

 

[DizGirl20]

Wow, thanks everyone for the different perspectives. Based upon the overwhelming majority vote here, I went ahead and booked our first Magical Express reservation! My plans were to skip our favorite restaurant (Boma), but I am thinking maybe we can take a taxi for that one ADR. It will def be cheaper than renting a car for the week.

I keep saying I want to experience "something new" this year... who would have thought that "something" would turn out to be Disney Transportation!

 

[wcpamotm]

On many of our last few trips we have rented a car. But we do drive to WDW now and then, and so we have our own car available. And we have had trips where we had no car available, and might well again.

We nearly always take Disney transportation to the Magic Kingdom; otherwise, when we have a car available we usually use it. But there are exceptions, for example, taking a boat from OKW to the Marketplace.

 

[crisi]

Wow, thanks everyone for the different perspectives. Based upon the overwhelming majority vote here, I went ahead and booked our first Magical Express reservation! My plans were to skip our favorite restaurant (Boma), but I am thinking maybe we can take a taxi for that one ADR. It will def be cheaper than renting a car for the week.

I keep saying I want to experience "something new" this year... who would have thought that "something" would turn out to be Disney Transportation!

What we usually do for a reservation like that is spend the morning at the park, head back, about three go to another park, and then take the bus from that park to our dinner reservation. Then we are only catching the cab home.

You do need to give yourself plenty of time with Disney transportation, buses are supposed to run every 20 minutes - more often at park opening and closing, but if you arrive right as a bus left, and the next one is a little late, it can be 30 minutes between buses and another 20 on the bus to reach your destination.

 

[JimMIA]

We're within easy driving distance, so we always have our own car.

While you can make do with Disney transportation, I'd much rather drive. We like mid-day pool/nap breaks and that can be two hours of wasted bus time via Disney. With a car, it's just a short drive/park both ways.

Having a car also opens up a vast universe of attractive dining possibilities offsite. We never eat dinner onsite anymore -- the choices offsite are so much more varied, better quality, and less expensive that we always go offsite for dinner. Plus, it's good to take a break from the Mouse.

And if you want to go to Universal, Sea World, or any of the other alternatives, you'll certainly need a car.

Last trip was all-Disney, but the trip before that was 3 days at Disney, one day at Discovery Cove (LOVED that!), and one day at Sea World...which we also enjoyed. In fact, last trip, DD9 was asking to go back to Sea World/Discovery Cove. (Money is no object for a 9 year-old!)

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We generally use Disney transportation. DH really likes not driving for the week.

Sometimes though, its just easier to drive. It also depends on where we are staying. If we are staying at Boardwalk...then we definitely use Disney transportation. If we stay at Kidani Village -- then we have the car with us the whole time!

 

[Chellymouse]

We've only rented a car for a day or two if we are leaving property for some reason. I will have a rental for 1/2 of our upcoming trip because my national conference will be held at the convention center and I will need to get over there several days. we'll also probably use the car on BB EMH so that I can get back in time to leave for conference. Otherwise, we have ALWAYS used Disney transportation (since our 1st trip on property in 2000) Sure, there have been longer waits for a bus here or there, but overall, we've been very satisfied with Disney transportation over the years. We've stayed all over property including All Stars, POR, SSR and BWV.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

50-50 between Disney Buses and our car.

When we go to BB & TL I drive, I hate waiting for the bus when we're all damp and soggy and the car is much quicker in and out.

and if we're going to eat late at a resort or park I like to have the car to go back to the villa.

 

[thepops]

Although lots of folks have run into issues with Disney Transportation, I personally haven't hit a big snafu. So I'm with Disney Trasnport. Saves me a few bucks and if I really need to get somewhere more quickly for an ADR or something, we'll take a cab.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

WDW transportation works great as long as you don't try to get fancy and remember that sometimes you have to wait for a bus.

We Love to sit back and watch people freak out over the buses not coming every 5 minutes.

We usually stay at SSR within walking distance of DTD. You can get everywhere in the world from DTD.

Otherwise, we will drive to a water park (don't want to sit on a cold bus while in bathing suits), or, if we want to go on a 'date'.

 

[Nikisha421]

always disney transportation...I hate driving in general, so for me any vacation is the best time not to have to drive....

 

[dvc_john]

Even though I have a car with me, I rarely use it when staying on property. I recently spent 5 days at BLT and 5 days at BCV just before Christmas, and a week at SSR followed by a week at OKW just after Christmas, and only used the car to move from one resort to the next. I think the longest bus wait was about 10 minutes. But most often it was 5 minutes or less.

 

[Sammie]

Disney, it is part of the fun of going.

 

[Mrmrezg]

We have always driven to WDW, and we still prefer to use Disney transportation. There has only been one time that we needed our car while on property, and that was because we were to lazy to walk from KV to JH, and the shuttle had stopped running. Getting to resorts from resorts does tend to take some creative planning but that is part of the fun.

 

[allshookup]

One of the biggest draws for us is not having to drive anywhere while on vacation especially if we've had a few drinks w/ dinner. We consider waiting for the bus, monorail, etc. part of the fun. It's down time to relax, people watch & meet some great folks.

If we want beer/groceries we grab a cab for less than $15 & we can pick out our own stuff & it takes less than an hour. We have many of the same restaurants at home that are in the Orlando area & our favorite restaurants at WDW have a view of MK. Can't get that off-site!

 

[PoohsFan1]

We always take the Disney transportation. We were just talking a couple of days ago about possibly taking our car sometime in the near future since our kids are older now and can handle the 20+ hour ride down.