Monorail, bus, or car with young kids?

[kohlby]

We're leaving for Orlando in just over a week! My husband and I are having a debate as to what transportation to use to get to the parks. We have an 8 month old and a 3.5 year old. I'm uneasy about taking them on the buses since we can't use our carseats. I'm fine with the trams since they are much less likely to have something crash into them. (And am also fine taking a boat). We will be driving down so we'll also have our car with us. However, that means paying to park. We'll be staying on-site, first at Disney, then at Universal.

We haven't figured out which is the fastest way into each park yet. But if a bus is the fastest way, then my husband thinks we should take it. What would you do? If the fastest way is monorail or boat, then we'll do that. But what about when the bus is the fastest way?

 

[rob6597]

Where are you staying?

 

[kohlby]

The Dolphin for the first 4 nights and Royal Pacific Resort for 3 nights. (Though I know I'm posting on the wrong part of the board for Universal advice!)

 

[sbouncer]

It was my belief that if you stay on-site your parking was included when you went to the parks....I am not sure if that is the case with the Swan and Dolphin but it is worth checking out...

 

[rob6597]

I haven't stayed at the Dolphin, but I'm thinking that the bus is going to be your best (only?) option (unless you want to drive, of course...)

I stayed at the Royal Pacific last year on a business trip, and you'll just take the boat to Universal/IOA/Citywalk.

Have a great time!

 

[kohlby]

I didn't know that sbouncer. I'll have to go searching. I do know we have to pay to park at the resorts, so I didn't want to have to pay again at the parks. It would be nice if they did that.

 

[jodifla]

I wouldn't suggest a trip to Disney if you aren't comfortable with mass transit. You can get by with driving most of the time, but there's NO WAY to get to the MK without taking either a boat (no lifejackets!) a monorail (no seatbelts) or a bus (no seatbelts). And if you park in the MK parking lot, you'll be taking a tram to the front of the park (again, no seatbelts.)

 

[jodifla]

We're leaving for Orlando in just over a week! My husband and I are having a debate as to what transportation to use to get to the parks. We have an 8 month old and a 3.5 year old. I'm uneasy about taking them on the buses since we can't use our carseats. I'm fine with the trams since they are much less likely to have something crash into them. (And am also fine taking a boat). We will be driving down so we'll also have our car with us. However, that means paying to park. We'll be staying on-site, first at Disney, then at Universal.

We haven't figured out which is the fastest way into each park yet. But if a bus is the fastest way, then my husband thinks we should take it. What would you do? If the fastest way is monorail or boat, then we'll do that. But what about when the bus is the fastest way?

The bus is by far the fastest way to the MK. A bus drops you off right in front of Main Street. If you drive, you'll go to the biggest parking lot you've ever seen, then have to tram to the transportation center, where you will have to wait for either a monorail or a bus.

 

[kohlby]

I'm comfortable with a tram or a boat. I'm just iffy about a bus. Since a bus sounds like the fastest way to MK - are you all comfortable with having your young kids on it without carseats? I haven't researched the exact dangers.

 

[katerkat]

I don't know about paying to park, but we always get a car in WDW. I have no patience for waiting around for possibly crowded buses, especially with young kids and strollers. But I'm anal and like being in charge of everything.

I checked Allears and it doesn't say anything about paying to park at the parks - it mentions both the fees at SoG and Swan/Dolphin, and I know SoG parks free at the parks.

 

[Kuffam]

I agree with the car with small children, mass can involve a lot a waiting and in the off season you get around quicker. In addition have a car allows you to get off campus for shopping or eating which could save you $$.

One of thouse soft baby carriers works well for holding the baby on mass, tram, or standing in line.

 

[tjmw2727]

I can't help with Universal but I have stayed at the Dolphin many times. To Epcot and MGM you can walk or take a boat - I would suggest either over driving. To MK and AK the WDW Transportation is by bus. You can drive to both and since you are staying at the Dolphin (on WDW Property) parking is free. With your concerns, I would drive to AK but probably still take the bus to the MK. When you drive to MK you have to park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and then still take the monorial or a boat from the TTC to the MK, while the bus drops you off at the MK gates.

TJ

 

[livie1205]

i would never use disney trans. with the kids....i drive, i dont want to be stuck waiting with tired fussy kids...also i like to be able to jump in the car and run to the outlets and walmart if i need too.i am going to be at rpr in 12 days...i love that place...i would use the boat there, parking at universal in a nightmare.....after parking and walking all the way in your already tired.

 

[jodifla]

Since you can park free at the parks with your Dolphin parking pass, I'd drive but the MK if I were you, OP. The parking lots are right in front of the parks, and not as big as the MK.


You can walk to MGM and Epcot, but it's a hike.....not too bad if you have a stroller.

 

[kohlby]

Thanks all! So only the bus at MK it sounds like. We will travel with one stroller and one sling. We found it worked out well last time we went to the parks 6 months ago - but we stayed off site. We're not doing AK this trip, so that's not a concern. Our son wasn't that impressed by it. Perhaps he's been to too many zoos or maybe we scarred him with the It's Tough to Be a Bug attraction. (He only saw a few minutes of it before we had to carry him out).

I'll have to look up safety issues with bus transportation. MK is a pain to get in and out of with a car. It just seems to add so much time. But safety first, so I need to research that.

*Our plan is to stay in the parks all day. Once we're there, we're not leaving until it's time to go home likely. Our 3.5 year old won't nap no matter what - not even at Disney.

That's great to know we can park for free! Well, semi-free since we're already paying at the resort!

 

[PeachesDoesHair]

In September we went with our dd3 and our ds1. We used the umbrella strollers they sell at Disney and used Disney's Bus Transportation exclusively (we were at the Pop). We did not want to spend money on renting a car. We were able to get on and off the buses easily with the stollers and children. Most people were more than willing to let me sit down with my children. If the bus looked really crowded, we typically waited for another one. I would think whatever route you chose, you will be fine with any of the Disney transportations. My children were fine with buses. Dd3 loved sitting in the big girl seat and the bus usually put ds1 to sleep. I would not have been comforitable standing with them, however. I would usually put ds1 in the sling for the bus ride.