How long do the buses take?

[camtheriot]

I am making my iteneriary for the week, and I was wondering if anyone could help me with this (I have never been do Disney).
1. How much time should I allow for the bus ride to each park? 15 min, 30 min?
2.We have a rental car, but would it be easier/quicker (with 3kids - ages 8, 2, and 9mo) to use the bus or our rental car?
3. How long before opening time should we arrive at park? We will be staying in WD resort so will be using the EMH.


(I have this posted on the transportation thread, but I figured this may be a better place to get answers)

Thanks everyone!

 

[ntink]

Where are you staying? When we have stayed on property, we always found that taking the car was the quickest way to go EXCEPT for Magic Kingdom because there is no direct parking (need to park at TTC then take ferry or monorail). Busses to Magic Kingdom drop you off a few steps away from the entrance.

 

[camtheriot]

Where are you staying? When we have stayed on property, we always found that taking the car was the quickest way to go EXCEPT for Magic Kingdom because there is no direct parking (need to park at TTC then take ferry or monorail). Busses to Magic Kingdom drop you off a few steps away from the entrance.

We are staying at Saratoga Springs Resort.

Thanks,

 

[eliza61]

I've never had to wait for a bus more than 30 minutes at any resort I've stayed at, most of the time we are there within 15-20 minutes. That being said I still use my car for the simple fact IMO when my kids where smaller it was just easier to deal with stroller issues, tired kids and tired parents with my own car.
I don't do rope drops so I can't help you there but I wouldn't arrive more than 20 minutes before park opening. All you'll be able to do is stand in a crowd of people?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I always "budget" at least one hour to get anywhere onsite. You could be waiting for awhile for a bus (they say 20 minutes but we've definately waited longer than 20...especially first thing in the morning). We stay at AKL, which is about 20-25 minutes from MK...without traffic.

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

I would say 20 minutes would be on the shorter end. I would say actual bus time is closer to about 30 minutes. Unless you are there during lighter times of the years it could be shorter. Busier times with more traffic I would say 40-45 minutes.

When we go we usually head to the bus about 1 hour before the park opens for rope drop.

We have never had to wait more than 30 minutes to catch a bus to the parks. We have had to wait for more than one bus though. We have stayed at the Pop in June and August a couple of times, so not particularly slow times of the year. Now catching a bus back to the resort at park closing is another story...

 

[MickeyWanaBe]

2.We have a rental car, but would it be easier/quicker (with 3kids - ages 8, 2, and 9mo) to use the bus or our rental car?

Not sure about your family, but when we stay on property we use the bus transportation for the parks. If we are going to DTD or the waterparks we drive. It is free to park there and for some reason it takes the Disney buses a lot longer to travel these routes.

 

[camtheriot]

Thanks guys. I will definitely be using the bus to MK (hoping to avoid TTC), and we'll be visiting MK on our first day. I guess we can decide from there on if we want to use the buses or rental car for the rest of our days.

I can't believe I'm going to Disney!!!