Is it worth driving to the parks?

[Hef4545]

We always drive to the Water Parks, it justs seems easier since there is always "just 5 more minutes" and we are still soggy when we walk to the bus stop. I can control the air conditioner so no one gets a chill and get them back to the room. I also love listening to all of the excitement of the day when they first get in the car. You can't hear all that when you are spread out on the bus.
Sometimes we also drive to Animal Kingdom, MGM and Downtown Disney.
We usually decide on the way out of the room.
It's great to have a choice. It's like choosing between the ferry or the monorail. On the ferry, you can hear all the sounds and see all the excitement of the Magic Kingdom as you get closer. But, the monorail is fun. I wish I were there right now.
As for knowing where you are going, there are signs posted eveywhere and you get a colorful map with all the roads and parks on it when you check in.

 

[TinkGirl]

Thanks, everyone! This really helps. I didn't realize that the Boardwalk area resorts all share buses. We will probably drive to AK, water parks, and DD. 15 days now............... I remember when we checked into SSR in January, they gave us a road map with directions to all the parks. I can't find it, so I think I must have cut up the other side for my scrapbook--hope they give them out at BWV.

 

[poohj80]

2. How do you know where you're going? Would we need a map or is everything clearly marked with signs?

Everything is clearly marked, but there is more than one way to get almost everywhere. We used to get a map of Disney property in our rooms but haven't seen one in years. I wonder if they might have one at your resort guest services. Once you start driving around though you should get the hang of it pretty quick.

 

[psu4glory]

15 days now...............

awesome, TinkGirl.....we'll be at WDW the same time as you.....only 17 days for us! but we'll be at SSR for a week, followed by a week at OKW. been counting down for MONTHS!

we always drive when at WDW. we fly into MCO and rent a car every time. like most of the others who drive, we just enjoy the flexibility. not that anyone would really WANT to - but i like having the ability to leave DIS property if i want. and having a less-than-average amount of patience, i prefer to get myself to where i'm going rather than rely on the bus system. park-hopping and resort ADR's are other great reasons for having a car at your disposal...

 

[Granny]

Everything is clearly marked, but there is more than one way to get almost everywhere. We used to get a map of Disney property in our rooms but haven't seen one in years. I wonder if they might have one at your resort guest services.

Yes, you can get a WDW map from guest services. If you're not used to driving, it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it!

 

[FLYNZ4]

We enjoy the boats and monorail. We really seem to dislike the busses... so we generally drive instead of using bus transportation.

Sometimes the kids will go off on their own, and take the busses home. Sometimes we take the busses to MK since they park so close to the gates.

When we were at BWV in Feb... we felt that it was nicer to walk to/from MGM... and faster too. However, in the summer it is too hot and humid for us so we take the boat.

/Jim

 

[jdvm]

We always have a car and always drive. We've found there's a big problem leaving the parks around noon. The busses just aren't there to take you back. The tricky one is the Magic Kingdom. In the old days you could talk your way into the Contemporary lot. Much more difficult now. We've found it more convenient to drive to the main Magic Kingdom lot than to wait for the Disney transport back to our resort.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We find driving is easier, depending on what park you are going to. MK isn't good since you have to park at TTC anyway and the bus is often faster (as long as you don't have very poor luck with it.)

Now we find driving to Epcot and MGM pretty easy, but if you are at BCV you won't need to do that.

AK, take the car. Most of the time AK shares with BB and that is bother to stop for. Also is is easy to drive to AK and I find the bus service is always poor to AK.

The time we found the car the most helpful is with the kids. They always feel asleep at night and it is much easier just to have them in their car seats then juggling sleeping kids and a stroller on the bus (if we are lucky enough to get a seat.)

Take the car to any other resort, water parks and DTD if that works for you.

BWV is a great location. You won't need a car there as much as OKW or SSR. I find a car there is very helpful.

Have a great (and safe) trip.

 

[crisi]

Yes, you can get a WDW map from guest services. If you're not used to driving, it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it!

I've said it before....I know there are three Tower of Terror signs between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom because we passed three of them last time we drove!

(There is one sign, we got a little lost).

 

[tweck]

We never see our car once we've checked into our resort. Who needs the hassle of driving when you can use that time to relax and spend the time reliving the day with your kids and spouse. It beats being cut off by drivers, forgeting where you parked the car and extra trips to the gas station!

 

[byoung]

The Disney transportation is part of the majic to us.

 

[NCRedding]

On our typical trip to WDW, I park and ride the bus, but have always had a car (either rental or our own). This past January, I didn't rent a car, and used ME to get to SSR. I was traveling with my SIL and sis, and we wanted to maximize our time in the parks (we were only there from Wed-Sun), and do good bit of park hopping, so after spending way too long waiting for buses, I rented a car for the last 2 days. It made our trip so much more enjoyable. on future trips, I will probably drive sometimes (if I'm not planning on staying for the closing), and take the bus some.

 

[TCARON]

We always rent at MCO and drive to Animal Kingdom and MGM. We also like to drive to the Swan & Dolphin to visit the Boardwalk.

Have not riden a bus for 6 years!

Tip: Get a AAA pass for parking, it's free, from your local AAA office and its allows you into the front parking rows at the park, which are used for handicap, etc.

It works great!

 

[poohj80]

Tip: Get a AAA pass for parking, it's free, from your local AAA office and its allows you into the front parking rows at the park, which are used for handicap, etc.

Our AAA only gives these passes when you book a package through them.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Back in the 90's when we stayed at WDW, we almost always used the buses. Since buying into DVC, we always have a rental car anyway, and we've moved to driving almost everywhere. There is a level of convenience and time-control to driving that simply isn't there in public mass transit. In our recent trip, we took the bus exactly once - to the MK for a non-EMH morning rope drop. We did this because we've seen delays at the parking kiosks and TTC-to-MK transportation, and the bus drops you off right up front. We got to our SSR bus stop at 7:30 and got the first bus to MK; we had some waiting to do, but it worked out.

However, we prefer not to have to deal with the buses; nothing starts a trip to a park on the wrong attitude like seeing that park's bus pull away as you're walking to the bus stop, and it's a nasty way to end the day when you see other resorts' buses arrive and depart while you stand there.

When we drive, we simply walk down to our car (conveniently close at SSR) and leave when we want to. At the parks, we try to park close and walk; if it is in the afternoon or evening, we treat the tram like any other Disney attraction.

Granny makes a good point: driving around WDW can be challenging if you aren't familiar with it; once you are, however, it really isn't that tough - only 3 main roads to deal with, and the signage is pretty good.

TinkGirl: that map is on the other side of the 8.5 x 11 SSR map they give you. It was on the back of the BCV map we got, too.

[...] 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. [...]There are times when we take the boat from MK to TTS, [...]

Boy, I didn't know that Tom Yeary had that kind of pull; both a monorail and a boat to TTS!!!

 

[Granny]

When we drive, we simply walk down to our car (conveniently close at SSR) and leave when we want to.

Ah, some of DrT's subliminal sales message coming into play here!

Boy, I didn't know that Tom Yeary had that kind of pull; both a monorail and a boat to TTS!!!

Talk about a direct pipeline into Disney!!

 

[Disney Doll]

If you are at the BWV, you can walk/boat to Epcot and MGM. I would take the bus to the MK, because it drops you off right in ffront, as opposed to driving, where you park, take a tram to the TTC, take the monorail or ferry to the MK. If you are intent on driving to the MK, drive to the VWL, valet park your car there for free as a DVC member and take the boat over.
AK is about the only place we drive to, because it's just a park the car and take a tram...pretty quick and simple, and if you get there early, you can actually be close enough to the entrance to park your car and walk.

Between resorts, if we have dinner reservations or such, we drive. Shopping at DTD, we drive. Drinking and carousing at DTD, we bus. Water parks we drive. Mini golf we would walk to Fantasia Gardens from the Boardwalk area(over the Boardwalk and through The Swan), drive if we were going to Winter Summerland.

 

[barbarabee]

Mini golf we would walk to Fantasia Gardens from the Boardwalk area(over the Boardwalk and through The Swan), drive if we were going to Winter Summerland.

Over the Boardwalk and Through the Swan, to Fantasia Gardens we go!

We even got creative this last trip, going from MK to Disney/MGM Studios we took the resort bus from MK (avoiding the extra trip to the TTC) to the Swan, then hopped on the Boat to the Studios...total trip time was under 45 mins.

I like having a rental car, this last trip we were there for 2 weeks and used up 5 gallons of gas, so we certainly didn't use it much, but it's nice to have it there when you want it...for AK, DTD (except parking can be a bear there), and going to other resorts. But, with Magical Express, it depends on how much extra the rental car costs. This trip it was $250, which I felt was worth it for the time savings to/from the airport and the flexibility when needed.