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

[RachSal]

I was reading through the unofficial guide to WDW and it said that it was faster to drive to Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom than to use Disney transportation from the Fort. I was wondering if that seems realistic to you guys since we haven't ever stayed there. Also it said that to Magic Kingdom it took 17-27 minutes using the "Disney system." Would you say that means the boat or the bus? Thank you all, as you can tell I'm starting to get pretty excited!

 

[connor2002]

The lack of driving everyday is one of the main reasons We stay at the fort. I would not want to drive everyday and park....

 

[chipscamping buddy]

Straight answer, yes it is faster to drive.

The better question might be how much faster and is it worthwhile? In my experience driving around WDW, I don't really drive any faster than the buses, so the only real time savings comes from waiting for the bus. Assuming you aren't always lucky enough to have the bus waiting for you as you walk up, the buses usually run about every 20 minutes. If you have my luck, you will be waiting all twenty. However, you won't have to park and walk/tram to the entrance to the park. If you are quick, at least five minutes for that, so you are really looking at saving maybe 15 minutes. I would rather take the bus and save the hassle of driving and just leave fifteen minutes earlier.

 

[SinceDay1]

Straight answer, yes it is faster to drive.

The better question might be how much faster and is it worthwhile? In my experience driving around WDW, I don't really drive any faster than the buses, so the only real time savings comes from waiting for the bus. Assuming you aren't always lucky enough to have the bus waiting for you as you walk up, the buses usually run about every 20 minutes. If you have my luck, you will be waiting all twenty. However, you won't have to park and walk/tram to the entrance to the park. If you are quick, at least five minutes for that, so you are really looking at saving maybe 15 minutes. I would rather take the bus and save the hassle of driving and just leave fifteen minutes earlier.

We were just there and DW and I had this discussion, as I had a car this trip due to it being a workaction... We timed this and you are spot on, there is a slight possible savings of time, but as you said, walking to get the car, then parking, then walking to tram and tram ride, we actually found riding the bus in some cases was faster, sometimes driving was, but most saved time 5 minutes. Again, this is when we were lucky and bus pulled right up, we did have to wait once 10-15 minutes and it was slightly longer.

Richard

 

[Born 2 Fish]

yes it is faster.

I know this is gonna sound complicated but in my mind it isn't. Whether or not we drive depends onna lotta things,,, weather,, what time we wanna be there,,how bigga hurry we're in,, when do we think we wanna come back, (how hungry I am) etc.
We drive some, we bus it some.

 

[jessica52877]

We always drive no matter what, I don't like getting on a Disney bus. We also enjoy going to the different resorts and for sure that is way faster!

 

[DanceisArt]

YES!!!
This is the third year in a row that we have stayed at FW. We decided to drive to all parks except for Magic Kingdom. It is sooooo much easier and faster to drive. We are a family with 4 children so the bus ride has been an awful experience. To get to the parks it is more than one bus ride. There have been times in past years where we couldn't get on the first bus that came because there were so many people waiting to get on.
This year it was very easy. Just follow the signs to your designated park, show your parking pass (you park for free with it), and park. We usually get to the parks pretty early so we don't even need to use the parking lot tram. We just walk to the entrance.
I will say that I sort of missed using the Monorail this year. That's an experience all in itself. If you wanted to take it to Epcot you could. Depending on where you are in FW, you may need to take a bus to the boat dock, then you would take the boat to the Contemporary, then take the monorail to Epcot. I can't remember but I think you have to change trains and take two monorail rides to get there.
The only place you DO NOT want to drive to is Magic Kingdom. You have to take the ferry to park from the parking lot anyway. From FW you will go to the boat dock and take 1 boat to Magic Kingdom. It's a fairly short ride. Sometimes there will be a lot of people waiting for the boat and there will be a fairly long line. You may have to wait for a second boat. This has only happened to us once or twice though.

 

[DanceisArt]

YES!!!
This is the third year in a row that we have stayed at FW. We decided to drive to all parks except for Magic Kingdom. It is sooooo much easier and faster to drive. We are a family with 4 children so the bus ride has been an awful experience. To get to the parks it is more than one bus ride. There have been times in past years where we couldn't get on the first bus that came because there were so many people waiting to get on.
This year it was very easy. Just follow the signs to your designated park, show your parking pass (you park for free with it), and park. We usually get to the parks pretty early so we don't even need to use the parking lot tram. We just walk to the entrance.
I will say that I sort of missed using the Monorail this year. That's an experience all in itself. If you wanted to take it to Epcot you could. Depending on where you are in FW, you may need to take a bus to the boat dock, then you would take the boat to the Contemporary, then take the monorail to Epcot. I can't remember but I think you have to change trains and take two monorail rides to get there.
The only place you DO NOT want to drive to is Magic Kingdom. You have to take the ferry to park from the parking lot anyway. From FW you will go to the boat dock and take 1 boat to Magic Kingdom. It's a fairly short ride. Sometimes there will be a lot of people waiting for the boat and there will be a fairly long line. You may have to wait for a second boat. This has only happened to us once or twice though.

 

[Nightmarelover]

Faster..probably. I however usually travel with to persons that require mobility scooters to get around and we feel it is more convenient for our needs to drive to the parks. However yes one of the perks of staying on site is the transportation benefits.

 

[tobikaye]

When I stay at FW, it does seem easier to drive to the parks, except MK. The car is right at the cabin and my mom and sister both have mobility issues so we use their HC sticker and can usually park close so it is an easy in and out at the parks. My parents and I would still like to take WDW occasionally, but my sister tends to panic if we go without the car.

As for MK, we always take the boat as it is just a great way to arrive a MK and the parking at TTC is difficult in the HC section. If one wanted to take a bus to MK, they would have to take the bus from near Pioneer Hall to WL and then switch to a MK bus there.

 

[iuki]

Although I haven't stayed at FW, I have stayed at POFQ. If you have an ECV, waiting to get on a bus can, at times, take forever. We had waited for 1 1/2 hours before my DH complained at the front desk. In my opinion, driving to the parks is quicker, but going to MK would be better to take the ferry.

 

[rock_doctor]

It is not a speed issue, imho. It is freedom of being able to leave and go where you want with out having to wait here or squeeze yourself into there and so on. There is always somebody who will sprint and then dive (like their life depended on it) for the last seat that was supposed to be yours... We drive everywhere, haven't ridden a Disney bus since the 80s...

 

[jbrostek]

Never drove, never had to squeeze on a bus. I cant see it saving much time unless you have a valid Handicap placard which lets you park close.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

We have been staying at the Fort annually since 2005. The first few years we took the buses, the last few years we have used a rental car. No question that driving has been much faster than the buses.

 

[retired and happy]

We have never driven to any of the Parks. We let Disney do the driving and navigate the traffic. We take the boat to the MK, and the busses to AK and HS. For EPCOT we usually take the boat to MK, the Ferryboat to the TTC, then the monorail to EPCOT. Most of that is to please our special needs son who loves to ride...especially the Ferryboat and monorail. Is any of this faster than driving? I can't say, but it works for us with 2-3 wheelchairs.

 

[sharadoc]

It is not a speed issue, imho. It is freedom of being able to leave and go where you want with out having to wait here or squeeze yourself into there and so on. There is always somebody who will sprint and then dive (like their life depended on it) for the last seat that was supposed to be yours... We drive everywhere, haven't ridden a Disney bus since the 80s...

Yes, this!

Plus it's so great to come back and park right at your front door, instead of having to walk from the bus stop.

 

[tiggerdad]

Yes, this!

Plus it's so great to come back and park right at your front door, instead of having to walk from the bus stop.

I actually like the walks, getting to see others and socialize. Unless it's raining...then socializing sucks.
I really don't mind the wait. Prefer it over hassel of driving. I drive 12 hours each way to get there pulling a 35 foot camper. I have no desire to do any other driving after I get there.

Sent from my Desire HD using DISBoards

 

[whiplash]

Faster yes but we like the boat, the busses and the tram for the experience AND watching all the people and the kids..we get great enjoyment out of listening to the kids and the adults talk about their day or their plan for a day. Love Disney transportation! It always a real treat for us, part of the trip, worth a few extra minutes!

 

[gillenkl]

I guess my family is odd - we LOVE riding the disney busses.

 

[North of Mouse]

I guess my family is odd - we LOVE riding the disney busses.

We do too! The Disney transportation is part of the experience for us. We've been going to Disney nearly since day 1 and have always left the driving to Disney - much more relaxing for us. We don't feel like it takes long at all.