Park transportation or driving ourselves?

[Fintastic]

We'll have our own vehicle when we go to WDW. Should we take advantage of the park transportation to and from our hotel or should we just drive ourselves around?

 

[tmt martins]

We do a mixture of both . Mk is Disney Trans and some of the rest are drive to.

Most of the time we will drive early morning then head back to the room then at night just take the bus.

 

[Donald - my hero]

Personally -- it's CAR all the way! Buses limit us just too much. I know a lot of folks prefer to uses buses so that the magic is complete BUT for me to stand around in the heat/humidity would make me completely crazy. when we go to MK, we drive to Epoct, take the tram to front where the monorail is and hop on it (waiting possibly to ride up front cause that is fun) then we switch to either the resort line or express line! This cuts down on the "just where did we leave the car in the magic kingdom lot"

Others will post their choice I sure!

 

[Fintastic]

We'll be staying at ASMo - could we just park at Animal Kingdom (which the map says is the closest park) and ride the monorail to whichever park we want to visit?

 

[havencruiser]

There is no monorail at AK. I think the Disney buses are a lot easier most of the time, except maybe at AK. The parking lot there isn't quite so big as the others. If you are going park to park or to DTD, the car might make sense but don't drive it to one park just to get transportation to another.

 

[Fintastic]

There is no monorail at AK. I think the Disney buses are a lot easier most of the time, except maybe at AK. The parking lot there isn't quite so big as the others. If you are going park to park or to DTD, the car might make sense but don't drive it to one park just to get transportation to another.

Really? So everybody who goes to AK has to drive themselves or take the bus?

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Really? So everybody who goes to AK has to drive themselves or take the bus?

Yes. Epcot, MK and the MK resorts are the only areas serviced by monorail. AK is by bus or drive yourself, so is MGM(I think, there might be a boat from some resorts).

 

[Fintastic]

I thought the monorail serviced every park. Shows what I know.

 

[disneyfansmandl]

Our first trip to WDW was two years ago and we stayed at AKL. It seems like it was the furthest away from just about everything riding the Disney Buses. This time we will rent a car for part of the stay to increase our park time and convenience. I just cannot stand the though of a morning at Blizzard Beach and having to ride back to the hotel in wet clothes. That said, we thought Disney did a good job providing buses, monorail and boats as needed. And I am glad to see someone else besides us books over a year in advance. A whole year of looking forward to the Magic.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know a lot of folks prefer to uses buses so that the magic is complete

While other folks prefer to use the buses simply because we CAN; I commute in and out of Boston every day and lemme tell ya - somebody else wants to transport me? I'm in!

Our first trip to WDW was two years ago and we stayed at AKL. It seems like it was the furthest away from just about everything riding the Disney Buses.

OTOH, it's the closest resort to Animal Kingdom (and no, they're not the same animals )

Seriously, if a Guest feels the 'need' to drive, keeping in mind you may well need to take a tram from wherever your car's parked to the park entrance - drive to Epcot, MGM, and Animal Kingdom; for Magic Kingdom take the bus! Take the bus! Take the bus!!!

 

[Fintastic]

And I am glad to see someone else besides us books over a year in advance. A whole year of looking forward to the Magic.

Yeah! I'm the kind of person who really needs something to look forward to, and booking early gives me something to look forward to longer!

 

[fireplug]

We never drive our car to the parks while there. We have driven to a different resort or golf course but thats all we drive. Yes we have had to wait for a bus once in a while but all in all parking lots are a complete hassle to us and we cant stand them. Also even though a bus or two is crowded once in awhile they are usually nice and cool not HOT like a car thats been sitting out all day.

Squid

 

[shannn]

So, we're staying at the Beach Club. I was planning on

driving to Animal Kingdom
bus to Magic Kingdom
boat to MGM
drive to Poly (for Ohana)

Am I wrong? Should we drive to MK or MGM?

 

[blitzkrieg048]

While other folks prefer to use the buses simply because we CAN; I commute in and out of Boston every day and lemme tell ya - somebody else wants to transport me? I'm in!

OTOH, it's the closest resort to Animal Kingdom (and no, they're not the same animals )

Seriously, if a Guest feels the 'need' to drive, keeping in mind you may well need to take a tram from wherever your car's parked to the park entrance - drive to Epcot, MGM, and Animal Kingdom; for Magic Kingdom take the bus! Take the bus! Take the bus!!!

The Trams at the parks run much more frequently than the buses do at the resorts, there's no contest there. That's why I drive it's the best. Especially when you have to go to resort to resort.

 

[Edd]

Does it cost $10.00 per day to park in the theme parks, if you are staying at Disney. I seriously don't know the answer.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Does it cost $10.00 per day to park in the theme parks, if you are staying at Disney. I seriously don't know the answer.

Nope! It's free - a rarity at WDW. Just make sure you have the resort parking pass when you enter the parking lot.

To the original question, we drive to all the parks except MK. The parking lot to the main gate at MK is too much of a hassle and takes too much time. We really like the convenience and flexibility of having our own car for mid- day breaks, resort/dining hopping etc.

 

[Kimberly815]

We usually have a rental car as well, and I am all about driving to the parks instead of buses!!

 

[crashbb]

If I'm staying at YC, am I allowed to drive to the Poly and park there? I have a dinner reservation at Kona Cafe and was thinking of driving to the Poly, eating and then taking the monorail to MK. Then, the monorail back to the Poly when done at MK. Is this allowed? Or would I have to drive from the Poly to MK after dinner?

 

[fonsy]

I would like to know too.

 

[LoraJ]

If I'm staying at YC, am I allowed to drive to the Poly and park there? I have a dinner reservation at Kona Cafe and was thinking of driving to the Poly, eating and then taking the monorail to MK. Then, the monorail back to the Poly when done at MK. Is this allowed? Or would I have to drive from the Poly to MK after dinner?

I think you have a 3 hour limit to park there. I think when we had O'hana dinner reservations, we parked at TTC (we were able to get a spot close to the Poly), walked to Poly, ate dinner and then took the monorail to MK.