park hopping by car, options?

[gardener14]

We will be visiting WDW in late January and staying off property. We are wondering if park hopping is best done by driving from park to park or can we park in one place and take Disney transportation to each park? If we drive between parks, do we have to pay to park again?

I thought perhaps we could park at the Magic Kingdom lots and take Disney transportation from there to anywhere we wanted. Is this possible, and if it is, is it a practical method to park hop or are we better off driving?

Thank you for any advice offered.

 

[Laz]

If I remember correctly, if you have park hopping privliges, you also my use Disney transportation. You can park at one park, and use transportation to other parks. Best way between MK and EPCOT is monorail. Best way between EPCOT and MGM is boat. Bus to get any where else. If you want access to things in your car, you may want to drive, but sometimes parking can be a problem during busy times. Personally, we avoid the buses because we do not like being packed in like smelly sardines. We drive and use AAA parking. Others have no problem with the buses.

 

[goofydad621]

Even on site we usually have a car and my suggestion is to park your car at the park you plan on finsihing up at if you do not want to drive from park to park. I myself would drive to each park it is alost always faster exception being form EPCOT to MK because of the monorail.

By leaving your car at the park you plan on finishing up at, you avoid the rush for Disney transportaion if you stay until park closing,you just get to your car and leave.

Hope this helps Dave

 

[ralfrick]

You'll only have to pay once, just save your receipt. If you want to use WDW transportation, I'd advise parking in the lot closest to where you plan to end your day.

Cheers

 

[Slacking]

With my experience, I enjoy my day much more when I can control my situation. This means driving from park to park. I've taken transportation many times, but sometimes you'll have to wait awhile for a bus and there are sometimes where the buses get very crowded. They usually take a similar length of time when all is said in done (in my experience.)

So, I think it coems down to whether you want to be flexible and go by your own schedule (car) or slightly more inflexible and go by other's schedules (bus).

LOL, don't even get me started on the trams!

 

[gardener14]

Thank you for the responses. I hadn't thought of parking at the park we will finish at. For example, if we want to spend the day at Animal Kingdom and the evening at Epcot, we could park at Epcot in the morning and immediately take a bus to Animal Kingdom. Is that what you're suggesting. Do "park to park" buses even operate that early in the day?

 

[Colorado Belle]

Yep, control freak moi likes to have the car.
But, that being said: i will often park at a monorail resort and mono to the MK...or walk from Contemporary parking.
I like to park at Beach Club and then walk/boat to Epcot.
I usualyl just drive to MGM but it is fun taking the boats there (from Beach, Yacht, Old Key West to name a few)

Sure, one has to wait for a tram to the parking lot if you have parked far back, but the movement is easier on me than the waiting...like for a bus.
Of course, preferences depend on the 'group'...lots of strollers and such would effect which way was better.

Once you pay for parking, it is good for anywhere. And if you stay on site at a resort, then you don't need to pay for parking at the theme parks (but you have to let the gate people know or wave your resort pass)

I just got back from WDW with friends, two of whom were ticked that I liked cars better than buses...I said that since we had two cars, why not everyone just do what each preferred, but it seems there was some kind of 'game' as to who could get where soonest. (Car wins most every time, esp. when staying at AKL which is a far way from most everywhere.)

Obviously my friends need to Buzz (Lighten) UP a bit. Jeez!

Colorado Belle

 

[princessknb]

This is good info to know since we will renting a car.

 

[estherhead]

I like driving my car as it is quick, but it does take you out of the Magic and back into reality. WDW transportation is a bit slower but still feels magical.

My favorite day ever was when my dad dropped me and my husband off at the Dolphin and we used Disney transportation all day without having to worry at all about traffic and parking! And then he picked us up at the same spot. Hmmm, if only I could have a chauffeur all the time....

Esther

 

[goofyernmost]

I always have my car but if I am going to spend the day between Epcot and MK then I will just choose which one to park at and take the monorail to the other.

Your parking pass is good at any parking lot on that day. You can go to all four and park there for one initial price at your first stop. It is worthwhile if you don't want to waste a large part of the day waiting for a bus or boat. If you are not in a hurry then they others are fun.