Parking at the parks

[clonetothebone]

If you know where you are going, driving is always going to be faster except for going to the MK. The Disney Bus will drop you at the front gate but if you drive to MK you have to park at the TTC, take a tram to the Monorail Station or Ferry Landing then go to the front gate.

We thought the bus service was slow but then we live on the plains where public transportation sucks so we are used to jumping in the car to go everywhere. It probably isn't really that bad of a wait but we like the ability to just get in and go. Only downside is the bus is usually cool when you get on and the car is about 47 bazillion degrees from sitting in the sun all day.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We drive down so we always have a car. But if I didn't have one, I certainly wouldn't pay to rent one if I were just planning on staying onsite.

Bus is always faster to MK.

You either wait for the bus, or you
1. Wait for boat or monorail.
2. Wait in the tram line
3. Wait in the throng of traffic to get out.
Note that the AAA lot here actually stinks. It's up front, but it's off to the side past the blue lot and the tram doesn't go over there. So you have to walk past the blue lot, and through a tunnel under a road to get to the TTC.

And note that when people say you have to park at the TTC? The parking lot is across the road and access to the TTC is through a tunnel. Usually that means you park and take a tram to the TTC. Unless you're up front in the AAA lot where it's actually worse because you get to hoof it.

Bus and car are about the same to the other parks. Bus slightly faster to EP and MGM. Car faster to the water parks and AK.
Car was very much faster to the other resorts. But instead of paying over $100 to rent a car, you could pay just about $15 for a cab ride on the one or two occasions you need it.
The AAA lot was great at AK and was good at EP and MGM.

You either wait for the bus or wait for the tram and then wait for the other cars to get out. Take your pick.

Plus, there are certain resorts where it's a hassle just to get your car.

 

[PortieOwner]

I like driving a rental car when on vacation. My cars at home are old, tired, rusty, and don't always work quite right. But in Orlando I can rent a nice vehicle with cold, cold AC for $100-150 and drive it on nice roads in beautiful Florida (roads where I live in the DC area are crowded, potholed, and inhabited by psychotics).

So I drive to most of the parks. The exception is the MK, where buses *usually* work better (but that depends upon meal plans too).

Portie

 

[dbal]

We always rent a car and my dh doesn't mind driving. But after reading this thread I'm rethinking taking the bus to MK. I understand it seems faster to get there, but how about leaving the MK? Either midday or at park closing? How is the wait for the bus at these times?