Is it worth driving to the parks?

[TinkGirl]

In 16 days we will be driving to WDW. This will be our first time there with a car. We have always relied on the resort buses to get to the parks. We'll be staying at BWV. I know we can walk to Epcot and take a boat to MGM. Is it worth driving to the parks? For the most part, we've been happy with the bus service, and we like that the buses drop you off fairly close to the gates--especially at MK. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

We drive, and park our car and never see it again, until it is time to leave. To us, the WDW busses are a huge part of our vacation. If you are happy with the bus service like we are, SAVE GAS. Park it and forget it.


One time, our car came in handy. We had to wait for my sister, before heading over to the Hoop Dee Doo, and we never would of made it on the busses, so, having our vehicles helped get us there on time.

 

[poohj80]

We always drive to the parks and enjoy the flexibility. We have waited way too long for buses on previous trips (not everytime, but enough to make us start driving) and have experienced the overly crowded buses especially on Extra Magic mornings. Having our own car gives us the flexibility to just pop over anywhere we want to go. Getting from one resort to another (which we like to do to take advantage of the resort restaurants) is a real hassle with busses. Also, we have found getting to DTD much quicker when driving ourselves.

 

[allamar]

We drive to the parks too. It's really just a matter of time for us - if we drive, we can usually shave about 30 minutes off the "commute" time between the hotel and the park because we don't have to wait for the bus. This helps us a lot because we like to move around a lot and not just stay at one park all day.

Also, I don't know if this is anyone else's experience, but the buses going to BWV were shared with what feels like a million other hotels when we stayed there, so we had to wait through multiple stops (either on the way to the parks or on the way back, I can't remember).

I hope you have a great time there either way!!

 

[castleri]

We usually drive to the water parks and sometimes DTD (we are usually at OKW)- the rest of the time we sit back and let them do the driving. The time to get to the TTC from MK and then to the car just isn't worth what you think you saved by not waiting for a bus - at least not for us. I would rather wait for a bus than wait in the parking lot and then being in the traffic to get back to the hotel if we stay until closing at a park. That is what is so great - you have so many choices and we don't all make the same ones. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[JimMIA]

We usually stay at OKW, which reputedly has the best bus service of any DVC resort...but we always drive to the parks. We not only drive, we usually drive and walk, rather than driving and tramming.

One reason we drive is our normal park visitation scheme, which is to go early in the morning through lunch, then back to OKW for nap/pool, and then out to dinner later. That means we arrive at just about any park, including MK, early enough to park within easy walking distance. In fact, normally we can walk faster than we could tram. For us anywhere but MK, from the time we reach the bus loading area, we are home in 10-12 minutes. At MK, that's a little longer because we have to monorail to TTS and then walk, but it's still quicker than the busses. I'd say we save 30 minutes on each round trip -- and we typically do two round trips per day.

This last trip, we experimented with driving to Epcot and then monorailing over to MK. I don't know if we saved any time that way or not (I doubt it), but it was certainly more effort than it was worth.

It is NOT all about speed, certainly. There are times when we take the boat from MK to TTS, and we love the boat ride from OKW to DTD. We almost never drive to DTD unless we're on our way home or the weather is iffy, or if we're going to Cirque.

 

[Kick Save]

From the BWV the only park we ever drive to is AK. Thanks the the TTC parking lot, the bus to the MK is just much easier. EP and MGM are walkable/boatable, unless you need to be at Epcot's front gate. DTD: always, always, always drive if you can...the bus ride from there stops everywhere, including a layover at O'Hare, I think.

 

[beccawes7471]

We have always flown into MCO and then rented a car. We love having the flexibility to come and go when we want. We have always stayed on Disney property so parking at the parks is free. We have always been able to park pretty close to the parks. We enjoy being able to resort hop for lunch and dinners without having to wait on buses. We like being able to leave the parks early afternoon when we get overheated or are ready for a break and just hopping in our car back to the resort for a swim or nap. Hope this helps, and have fun!-Rebecca

 

[Disney1fan2002]

DTD: always, always, always drive if you can...the bus ride from there stops everywhere, including a layover at O'Hare, I think.

 

[Jimbo]

DTD: always, always, always drive if you can...the bus ride from there stops everywhere, including a layover at O'Hare, I think.

We usually get a car. And while I always can drive to DTD, I can't always drive home, if you know what I mean (and I think that you do). So there's been plenty of nights where we bit the bullet and took that long bus ride. Safety first!

 

[Deemarch]

It is a major hassle to go from resort to resort using Disney transportation...We just love our rental car!! It's all a matter of use and personal preference.

 

[Caskbill]

We always have a car and maybe drive half the time, and take the bus half the time. It all depends on our plans for the day. We don't drive to MK because of the hassle of going through TTC. Sometimes we'll drive to Epcot and leave the car there and monorail over to MK. Then come back to Epcot for the evening. After illuminations the crowds for the busses back up pretty good, and we've found we can get to the car and back much quicker than waiting for the busses.

We usually stay at OKW so the car is always closer to our villa than any of the bus stops. When we stay at the other resorts is when we tend to bus more often. For example, getting the car at VWL is a long walk, making the busses a better choice.

At BWV or BCV we usually walk to Epcot or MGM for those parks. If going to MK we'll go through Epcot and take the monorail, and finish the evening back at Epcot.

Sometimes it's fun to take the busses, and play bus roulette. That's where you go to a bus stop, and take the first park bus that comes along. Thus you don't know where you're going until the bus pulls up...

 

[Kick Save]

We usually get a car. And while I always can drive to DTD, I can't always drive home, if you know what I mean (and I think that you do). So there's been plenty of nights where we bit the bullet and took that long bus ride. Safety first!

I did toss in the caveat, "If you can."

Plus, after such an evening the layover in Chicago should get you some nice deep-dish pizza.

 

[Dean]

We drive normally and find it MUCH quicker, easier and more flexible. The exceptions are if we are park hopping or if we are going to MK. The reason for MK is to drive you have to go to T&T center, the bus goes directly to the park. We have used the bus in the past and also find it workable unless going to another resort.

 

[cobbler]

We drive, and park our car and never see it again, until it is time to leave. To us, the WDW busses are a huge part of our vacation. If you are happy with the bus service like we are, SAVE GAS. Park it and forget it.

Us too! I dont' mind waiting 15-20 minutes for the bus, its our time to relax.

DTD: always, always, always drive if you can...the bus ride from there stops everywhere, including a layover at O'Hare, I think.

This is one of the reason I love SSR, I can walk to DTD and back! The DTD busses drive me crazy

 

[RealMickey]

We always have our car, and usually drive a lot during our trips to WDW. Driving is usually quicker and gives us flexibility throughout the day. From BCV we obviously walk to Epcot, and usually boat to MGM. I have found that when going to the MK it is a toss-up. Driving ourselves, we get to the TTC quickly, but the busses drop you almost at the front gate of the MK. So even with a wait for the bus, it can sometiimes be quicker. We often resort hop for meals, and the busses can be inconvienient and very slow for those trips.

 

[SoCalKDG]

From BCV or BWV(only places we stay)

MK - Bus
EP - Boat/Walk
DS - Boat/Walk
AK - Drive
DTD - Drive
Hotels - Drive
WP - Drive

Then again with the free airport transportation we skipped renting a car and will do the same on our next trip.

 

[crisi]

From BCV or BWV(only places we stay)

MK - Bus
EP - Boat/Walk
DS - Boat/Walk
AK - Drive
DTD - Drive
Hotels - Drive
WP - Drive

Then again with the free airport transportation we skipped renting a car and will do the same on our next trip.

Pretty much us as well, except replace the drives with taxis. And we've been known to taxi to the MK (ask to be dropped at the Contemporary).

 

[disworldnum1]

we just got back from our home resort (bwv) and we always drive down and drive to dtd,ak, and for extra hours at mk we drive also.Sometimes we will walk to epcot and take the monorail to mk.Alot of times we will get off the bus at the swan and walk across the bridge to bwv and always beat the bus back.

 

[DisneyDotty]

This is a great thread! We'll be renting a car for the first time and were wondering if it's worth driving to some of the parks at times. (We're splitting our stay between POR and the Dolphin.)
Questions: (that relate--definitely don't mean to hijack the thread!)
1. DH likes WDW vacations because of the fact he doesn't have to drive the whole time (we've always relied on Disney transportation in the past.) Is there traffic within Disney property? (We're from Chicagoland). Is parking a pain?
2. How do you know where you're going? Would we need a map or is everything clearly marked with signs? (Funny--using Disney transportation in the past so much has resulted in a total lack of directional knowledge down there!)
3. When staying at the Dolphin, would we need to pay extra for parking at any of the Disney parks?
Thanks!
(love the new smileys!)