Is it faster to get around with your own car?

[ljcbrown]

I'm glad to read this because I was wondering the same thing. DH and I are taking our girls, 3 and turning 7, for the first time at the beginning of June. We're driving from Louisiana and are staying at one of the resorts so we'll already have our car. I was just thinking with a sit & stand stroller our car would be easier.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

We typically pay $150-$170 tax inclusive for 10 days in a rental car. We typically fill up once. It would be a waste of a $4000 vacation to spend 2-3 hours a day waiting for and riding Disney buses. Worth. Every. Penny.

yes, but you have to offset all this savings with the cost of the rental car, which doens't exist when use Disney transportation.

We like to use Disney transportation and supplement with a few cab rides for ADRs at other resorts (especially the breakfasts).

 

[ccgirl]

I'm glad to read this because I was wondering the same thing. DH and I are taking our girls, 3 and turning 7, for the first time at the beginning of June. We're driving from Louisiana and are staying at one of the resorts so we'll already have our car. I was just thinking with a sit & stand stroller our car would be easier.

Well worth it IMHO. I have stood holding a sleeping child on the bus while trying to juggle the stroller one too many times. With a child and stoller a car is invaluable. After waiting in line for the rides the last thing my children wanted to do was wait in line for the bus too.

 

[Brian Noble]

Not having a rental car means you're not tempted to take a trip to the outlet malls or Wal-Mart for stuff you probably don't need.

Two words: self control.

It would be a waste of a $4000 vacation to spend 2-3 hours a day waiting for and riding Disney buses.

I almost always rent a car, and almost always consider it a good value. But I do infrequently take a bus somewhere (typically if I'm planning that second margarita) and I don't believe that the average person spends an *extra* 2-3 hours in *one* day vs. driving themselves where they want to go.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Always have rented a car and don't see that changing. I rent a car for my personal convenience and to me time is money, so waiting for a bus, every day would be a waste of money, when I don't have to wait, I can just go when and where I want without too much hassle.

If I take what I make an hour it doesn't take much to exceed the amount of the rental cost in terms of time I can enjoy being at the parks and doing what I want, rather than waiting for transportation.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

When you vacation with the ADD family (us) 2-3 hours can be a conservative estimate. An example? Glad you asked. A typical WDW would find us waking up at CBR and zipping over to the Poly to grab a Tonga Toast before heading over to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon for a few hours then over to Earl of Sandwich for a tuna melt before heading back to CBR to shower, change and hit up a park until our reservations at Boma for dinner. Afterward back to the hotel or to a park with late hours. And that's just when we stay on Disney property.

and I don't believe that the average person spends an *extra* 2-3 hours in *one* day vs. driving themselves where they want to go.

 

[ccgirl]

About waiting....if you are doing more than 1 park in a day it is quite possible to spend at least two hours waiting and on the buses. Don't forget, resorts share buses so once you wait for the bus, get on the bus, then the bus stops at other resorts and then to the park. One day we did HS and AK. We waited 25 minutes at the bus stop to get a bus to AK. The bus stopped at other resorts then got us to the park. It was 1 hour from the time we left our hotel room. We then waited 25 minutes to get a bus to HS. We stayed until the end of the night and had to wait two busses before we got on one that we had to stand on. The bus stopped at other resorts before it got to ours. That was about a 40 minute wait alone. If we had also gone to DTD, that would have been crazy as we would have had to wait the 40 minutes for the bus to take us to a resort then wait for another bus to take us to DTD since the buses from DTD only run from the resorts to the parks. When I am driving my car it never takes me more than 10 minutes to get from the front door of the hotel to the park. Taking the bus it takes double that and that doesn't include the wait time. I only mention this because I was shocked the first time I used the transportation. I thought the buses came right away and just brought you straight to the park. If you don't mind the waiting and it taking so long to get you to the park then the buses are a great thing.

 

[Lewisc]

When you vacation with the ADD family (us) 2-3 hours can be a conservative estimate. An example? Glad you asked. A typical WDW would find us waking up at CBR and zipping over to the Poly to grab a Tonga Toast before heading over to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon for a few hours then over to Earl of Sandwich for a tuna melt before heading back to CBR to shower, change and hit up a park until our reservations at Boma for dinner. Afterward back to the hotel or to a park with late hours. And that's just when we stay on Disney property.

Brian said:

and I don't believe that the average person spends an *extra* 2-3 hours in *one* day vs. driving themselves where they want to go.

I don't think anyone ever said your family is average.

Pick a family member. Have them use Disney transportation to match your schedule. Probably need to take a bus from DTD directly to AKL for dinner. Probably the only way to join you at dinner.

Obviously anyone with your schedule needs a car, or a large budget for taxis.

A guest staying at an EPCOT resort can walk to 2 parks. Is likely to be having many dinners in a WS restaurant. Can easily get back to their hotel for an afternoon swim or shower.

I don't know if it's still true but I read the average Disney guest only makes 2-3 trips during their families lifetime. Those guests are far more likely to spend most of a day in one park.

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

When you vacation with the ADD family (us) 2-3 hours can be a conservative estimate. An example? Glad you asked. A typical WDW would find us waking up at CBR and zipping over to the Poly to grab a Tonga Toast before heading over to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon for a few hours then over to Earl of Sandwich for a tuna melt before heading back to CBR to shower, change and hit up a park until our reservations at Boma for dinner. Afterward back to the hotel or to a park with late hours. And that's just when we stay on Disney property.

LOL! you need a car.

 

[mfulk]

I appreciate all the opinions. We're driving from NC so will have our car there regardless. I'm so glad I asked this though because we've never stayed on property before and I just assumed the buses were faster. After reading all the responses I think we'll be using our car instead.

 

[ccgirl]

I appreciate all the opinions. We're driving from NC so will have our car there regardless. I'm so glad I asked this though because we've never stayed on property before and I just assumed the buses were faster. After reading all the responses I think we'll be using our car instead.

And that 's why I give my opinion when asked. The first time we stayed on property I thought they would be faster too because, after all, you are on property! I didn't know they shared busses with other resorts. Or, that you could wait for 20 minutes before a bus even came. I am also not a veteran as far as public transportation so I didn't realize they really can pack those busses in tight where quite a few people are standing.

Have fun! We're not going as a family until next year so I am living vicariously thru everyone else.