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

[jeepfreak]

Even when we bring the car we always use their transportation. Some times we take the boat to the contemporary and get the buses from there. Because I really believe the higher end hotels get better service.

 

[Judique]

Even when we bring the car we always use their transportation. Some times we take the boat to the contemporary and get the buses from there. Because I really believe the higher end hotels get better service.

Not always. I've stood in MK waiting for my bus to the Epcot resort area while 3-4 loads of All Star guests were whisked away. Then had to wait while my bus made 3-5 stops.

 

[arielmomma]

It is faster to drive everywhere but MK.

 

[willowsnn3]

My family must be the only one that loves the trams, the ferry & the monorail!!
Not the busses tho.
We drive to all the parks even MK. But I want to park far enough out to get to ride the trams, lol.

 

[mikron]

Faster by direct car ride but we enjoy the buss/trams. We have used the cab system when leaving a park and wanted to get back fast. Cab cost is not that much. enjoy all things at Disney including the trasportation system.

 

[ufgator]

Yes! We drive to the parks besides MK and think it's faster. It's half and half with Epcot. We always drive to AK. We don't like waiting for the buses, and the waits can be long. And it's hard with all of our stuff with all the kids.

 

[tankerdriver]

We just got back from Ft Wilderness. Driving to the parks is faster (with the exception of Magic Kingdom). If you are like us, and had did not have a golf cart, therefore relied on the internal Ft Wilderness bus then wait for another bus to go the park placed too much "slop" time on those precious mornings.

A word of warning for the boat to Magic Kingdom, it only starts running 30 mins before park opening. We were trying to get there early to be the family of the day, and it was not an option with the boat. Also as we pulled up on the 1st boat, we nearly missed the opening ceremony at the MK. This, in my humble opinion, is a Disney Fail.

If you want to be in charge of your own timing, then drive yourself (remember parking is free when staying at a resort).

 

[staceyrhood]

A word of warning for the boat to Magic Kingdom, it only starts running 30 mins before park opening. We were trying to get there early to be the family of the day, and it was not an option with the boat. Also as we pulled up on the 1st boat, we nearly missed the opening ceremony at the MK. This, in my humble opinion, is a Disney Fail. If you want to be in charge of your own timing, then drive yourself (remember parking is free when staying at a resort).

A little trick is to take the resorts boat to the contemporary in the morning and walk over to the MK, we have made it there in plenty time to see the opening ceremony.

 

[North of Mouse]

A little trick is to take the resorts boat to the contemporary in the morning and walk over to the MK, we have made it there in plenty time to see the opening ceremony.

This is what we do lots of times. We thoroughly enjoy the walks.

Even if at times the walks/transportation is a little longer than driving, it is always an enjoyable experience because the ambiance is all Disney.

Know everyone views it differently, and needs to do whatever is most relaxing/enjoyable to them. No 'one size' fits all!

 

[RandolphNY]

I understand some of the thoughts and although I don't have a vehicle when we travel (class c with no tow) the Disney Transportation system is all part of being there.

Think of it as, scenery, camaraderie and relaxation. Your not just there for the parks. Kick back and enjoy!


49 days to go!

 

[xipotec]

Here my take , from someone that will never use anything but launches and monorails again... 1. Driving is WAY faster..... Not even close. 2. Stay as long as you want, not waiting on full bus after full bus....no worries about missing the last bus
3. No rude people to contend with, I was consistently amazed at the level of humanity on the buses, especially late at night. My views on bus transport are well known on the DIS boards!! If you have the option drive!!! If you stay at a Deluxe the monorail and launches are the option for MK, and we do use the monorail for Epcot.....

 

[bama_ed]

A little trick is to take the resorts boat to the contemporary in the morning and walk over to the MK, we have made it there in plenty time to see the opening ceremony.

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

 

[Rjmdds]

I have to agree with several of the other posters on this topic. We have ALWAYS rented a car to drive to the parks…specifically AK, Epcot and DHS. We always stay at a MK resort so we do use the monorail for that one. We find it the most useful on EXITING the park. Like others have said, the glory of just getting into that car and zipping right back to your resort is worth it for us. Not to mention, when we had little ones dozing, it was much less stressful getting into our car. I think there are two distinct opinions on this topic. I will never NOT rent a car. It allows so much more freedom not to mention time savings.

 

[Teamubr]

I was consistently amazed at the level of humanity on the buses, especially late at night.

I thought that was part of the Disney experience.

Actually, I'm one of the people that just use Disney Transportation, including the buses. I will use the boats and monorails when ever I can, but for DHS and AK, the buses are fine. The interesting folks you see/meet/encounter, we just considered part of the Disney entertainment.

WDW is one of the few places I don't get in a hurry.

j

 

[JETS70]

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.

I agree with Born 2 Fish. We have been visiting Disney for several years and with the exception of the first couple of years the majority of the time we drive to the parks. The times that we don't drive is usually dependent on the crowd size and weather. (low crowd numbers / buses not packed like sardines and not wanting to walk in the rain from the car to the tram stops)
Our biggest reason for driving is when at the end of a long fun day at a park, we enjoy an open air ride on the tram back to our vehicle. We always pack a cooler with cold drinks and a snack or two. We start the car and the AC. Get a snack and a drink and everyone gets their own comfortable seat for the ride back to the resort.

 

[xipotec]

You know another reason to drive?

You can bring EVERYTHING you might need, leave it in the car, and get it IF you need it.....

Medical stuff
Real rain gear ( not crappy ponchos)
Stroller
Extra food , water
Change of clothes

You do not have to carry these around all day then.....

As far as walking to the car to get them? Well is the tram if you do not wanna walk. I always call bupkis on the walking complaint.....you walk a day at WDW...

 

[delilah]

I don't mind the buses, and I like not spending the $500-700 it costs to rent a car. To me, the cost to fly is well worth the not riding for hours in a car. I don't find my fellow vacationers rude. So, for me, going, taking the bus for transportation is win, win, win compared to the alternative.
As far as driving being faster, I don't think so. In some instances, perhaps. At times, when we have rented a car, as an example, my son and I have arrived at Epcot from both MK and HS well before my husband was able to go to the car, move it, and arrive at the park. It's easy to underestimate those 20 minute walk to the car, twice, then finding a space, vs being dropped off directly in front of the gate. Faster by bus or monorail, but. to honest, walking is faster than the boats.

 

[xipotec]

I agree with the "not renting a car bit" , but if you drove, I still say driving is much easier, faster and more convenient.

 

[BayouDiz66]

You're on vacation.....remember. Don't stress about getting to any park 5 minutes quicker than the rest of the world. Sit back and let someone else do the driving, thinking, steering, honking, parking, etc.

Unless you really have a special need to drive....don't. You'll get there and Disney isn't going anywhere. Too many folks stress out about waiting 10 minutes for a bus, when they are about to spend hours waiting in ride lines. Consider it all part of the fun. My attitude is that I'm in Disney World and I'm not gonna let a small inconvenience like waiting for a bus keep me from having a wonderful time. Who knows you just might meet someone nice on the bus or have someone make you smile?

Remember.....it's a vacation!

 

[nabi]

Unless you are taking a cab over to Richard Petty and the cabbie crashes into another car on the way. I suppose better the accident happen then, rather than in a race car!