Is it really faster to drive to most of the parks?

[CamperMomma]

For our situation when we hopefully go, we'll have two littles...1 yo and 3 yo. To me, having our own vehicle there will be beneficial to load possibly sleeping children into (and maybe make a run out to a grocery store if they are zonked to pick up odds and ends we inevitably forgot the first time). Is the "door to door" time any faster driving...that's likely debatable when you take into consideration going through the parking gates, then a walk or tram ride. But as someone above mentioned, we can have a spare change of clothes, rain gear, etc stored away in the car while we enjoy the parks instead of hauling it all with us from our resort in backpacks and all day.

Conversely, when kids get older, I'd imagine (hopefully) that riding the bus/monorail/boats are just as much a part of the experience they would like as it is going to the park, so we'd likely leave the car parked except for when leaving WDW (when I went with my parents ages ago we always did a Cocoa Beach day ) and use Disney transportation.

Personally time can be somewhat subjective. Would I rather bus it with young kids for 30 min while they are tired, cranky, and the trip suddenly feels like an hour, or tram it and drive for 45 min where they could get away from the crowds and even konk out if they so wish, making the trip more enjoyable. I'll take the extra $ for a car (assuming we don't live close enough to drive by that point) and keep my vacation sanity.

 

[N365PA]

It all depends on the park and plans whether we'll drive or let WDW Transportation take us there. If I can ride a boat or monorail, I do. Bus, its 50/50. Many trips we haven't had a car, some trips we had a car for part, some we drove.

Even waiting to leave the MK after fireworks, heading to Pop-Century, with the hordes, I still don't mind. Some of us don't believe chivalry is dead and let the ladies/elderly have a seat. They have handles for those of us who are comfortable to stand.

 

[CooperGear]

We take a taxi. The bus is ok at the end of the day but between parks we just hail a cab and take it to the next park. It is a bit of money but it can save LOTS of time and if your time is money then there you go. We went to Animal Kingdom in the morning from our stay at Boardwalk and got a cab. We took the cab driver's cell number with us, we were there for the early opening and only wanted to go on Expedition Everest so we grabbed a fast pass and walked right on. After we got off the ride we called our cabbie and on our way out we gave our fast passes to some kids waiting for the park to open and our cab was waiting for us.

 

[7RUs]

You're right Stacey.

The signs down at the boat docks tell the story.

The boat to the Contemporary and Wilderness lodge starts early. It's not a bad walk from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom gate.



Whereas the boat to the MK says it leaves approximately 30 minutes before rope drop. It's always gotten us there for the opening act when the train rolls into the station.



The boat to the Contemporary is good for going to EPCOT via boat/monorail too. Take the boat to the Contemporary, catch the monorail to the TTC, then switch monorail lines to the EPCOT line. The elapsed time is about 40 minutes to EPCOT once the boat leaves the Fort dock.

Bama Ed

Can you take monorail from Contemporary to MK?

 

[staceyrhood]

Yes, but it will stop at the ttc, poly, and grand first.

 

[Bleu Zoo]

At our last stay at the Fort we had a car. We also have a Triple A diamond parking pass. When we went to The Hollywood Studios or the Animal Kingdom we drove and parked right up front in the diamond parking. That was really nice. When we go to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot we take the boat and the monorail and always stop off at the Wave in the Comtemporay Resort to wet our whistle's
on the way back to our site.

 

[SolitaryPhoenix]

We live less than an hour from WDW, so we always have our own car, however, I never drive to and from the parks, I let Disney do the driving! My mom's in a ECV, which can be good or bad, but for all the times we've had to wait extra time, there are plenty of times when we could just walk on and go. We prefer the boats or monorail, but don't mind the buses. I find using their transportation more convenient, and since I'm always the driver in our life outside Disney (for now!) it's nice not to have to worry about it, to just relax, maybe doze a bit on the way back to the resort, to have my daughter and/or nephew rest their heads on my shoulders while they snuggle in - a memory I'll always think of with a smile, they've done this since they were much younger, and at 17 and 16 they still do!

While yes, you may have the occasional issue as far as those who feel entitled or are just rude since you're in a bus shared with fellow resort residents from all over, sometimes you'll get impromptu sing-alongs, or conversations with people from other countries, or meet someone from the city next to yours. Like anything else, Disney transportation can be good or bad, but I find like anything else, for the most part it is what you make of it.