Parking perks?

[laurainsem]

I read in a 2007 Disney book that we can park for free at the parks if we're resort guests. Does anyone know if this is true or not? If so, would you use the FW bus system or drive yourself? I'm wondering if its really worth driving my car or not.

 

[loriandmatt]

yep, it is true. when staying at the fort we already have out own car there becase we used to tow the camper, so we use it to go back and forth to most places onsite (and offsite). we do prefer to get to MK via boat though, and occasionally (when time is not of the essence) will boat to MK and then monorail to EPCOT.

we aren't huge fans of the bus system across the board anyway, so we never actually used FW's bus service. Others have praised it however.

 

[TheFlame]

This is such a mystery at FW at least for us, but I don't know how bad the busses are at the other resorts. This is truly great question.....with many answers and opinions to come!

Your parking pass for any Disney resort is good at all Disney parks and attractions.

This past trip is the first time we took the advice from many on here and drove to all the parks except MK. If you stay at FW the boat will take you from the marina at FW right to the MK in about 15 minutes!

For the past 2 years we always rode Disney transportation and ignored people that said driving was the way to go. We just couldn't believe that it was faster, but it was. We have found that the bus system is not the way for us to get anywhere on Disney property after the trip this past Nov. Alot of people like the busses because they don't want to drive once they get there and say it is part of the Disney experience. For us, our time there is valuable and I don't like riding a bus for an hour to get to a park that is only 15 minutes away. It is very frustrating at FW to get on a bus at your loop, ride for at least 15 minutes to get to the front(30 if you are on the orange route!), then wait possibly 15 minutes or more for a bus to a park that is still 20+ minutes away. We really like riding the bus and don't want to drive while we are there, but feel for us that it is a better use of time to drive ourselves. It is up to you and I suggest you at least try driving one day to see what you think! JMHO......

 

[bxtx]

According to an unofficial Disney guide book, here are the commuting times from FtW entrance to the various parks via car and the Disney system. We use bus & boat for MK but our car for all others esp. as we are still with young kids and strollers etc.

Time in minutes
MK
Car = 37
Disney = 16

Epcot
car = 18
Disney = 48

DHS
car = 19
disney = 39

AK
car = 24
disney = 42

Typhoon Lagoon
car = 10
disney = 37

Downtown Disney
car = 11
disney = 45

Blizzard beach
car = 19
disney = 42

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Wow that's interesting. We'd about decided we just will stay at the parks instead of going back to FW to have lunch.. because of the time issue. We didn't want to waste SO much time going back and forth to FW.

Looks like if you drive to park, drive to FW for lunch, drive back to park, drive back to FW after park that evening- that if you do that driving instead of the busses you could save up to/about 2hrs time driving vs. using the buses!

I figured the busses were slow. I know it took FOR-EVER to get to FW and back when going to the campfire singalong- the majority of the time was basically spent on the busses within FW and then waiting for a bus when trying to leave FW. So I had a pretty good idea that besides the boat to/from MK that travellng away from/back to FW would be time consuming.

 

[TheFlame]

According to an unofficial Disney guide book, here are the commuting times from FtW entrance to the various parks via car and the Disney system. We use bus & boat for MK but our car for all others esp. as we are still with young kids and strollers etc.

Time in minutes
MK
Car = 37
Disney = 16

Epcot
car = 18
Disney = 48

DHS
car = 19
disney = 39

AK
car = 24
disney = 42

Typhoon Lagoon
car = 10
disney = 37

Downtown Disney
car = 11
disney = 45

Blizzard beach
car = 19
disney = 42

Wow! This is very good information! This will be helpful to those of us that stress the time-saving factor of driving. Like I said before, I don't like to waste time riding on a bus even if I am on vacation and "not in a rush". I would rather be riding rides instead of riding a Disney bus no matter how much unstressful and fun it is!

 

[laurainsem]

Ya'll are so helpful! I didn't realize driving was so much faster than the buses. Glad to hear the parking is free; I think we'll try it for all the parks except MK. I'd hate to waste our time switches buses and monorails when we could be having fun or resting!

 

[AuburnJen92]

We try to only use the boats for MK, the rest we drive for.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Okay now that I've changed my mind about using the busses and instead going to be driving- tell me the truth.. is it hard to find your way to parks if you're driving from FW? Are there any tricks or special ways that are the best way to get there or are there signs that direct you the entire way? help! LOL It's not going to save us time if we take off driving and get lost or go the longest way possible. LOL

 

[2goofycampers]

There are plenty of signs and they will give you a "map of the world" when you check in.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Car vs Bus is definitely dependent on the time of year. If you are parked in the hinterlands of a themepark you should factor in the walking time and/or the wait time for the shuttle to get to the front of the entrance. This is especially true for MK.

One plus is that if you DO drive to a park, then drive elsewhere for lunch, then return to the park is that if you return late enough you might get a close spot.

The one time I stayed in the cabins we expedited the bus wait by walking to the front of FW to catch the bus.

 

[AURAVAD]

Does having a AAA (I think it is called a Diamond pass) parking pass get you a closer, better spot if you drive to AK or DHS or Epcot?

 

[Born 2 Fish]

When you read this,, keep in mind, we do not have small children,(I do enjoy children as long as they are taught to behave properly by their parents),,and I am gett'n to be a old grump,,, this is just a opinion, not a attack.

For us, driving to the parks (cept for MK) is faster.
Besides the fact, I would rather take the time to drive ourselves than wait in a line of miss behaved children cause their parents are apparently to busy to keep them under control, and then you board a bus after what can sometimes be a long wait, only to be beat to death by parents who feel the need to drag a baby buggy the size of a Mack Truck down a 2 foot isle along with their 85 lb. back-pack. And then you get the pleasure of hearing the tired, screaming, and hungry children (again, the parents fault) and many of the adults feel this need to tell EVERYONE on the bus all about their day, at the same time while try'n to talk over the other person. Now I'm not looking for a library atmosphere, but it can get real loud at times.

I will say this,, the morning bus rides to the parks aren't as bad as I just described (cept for being beat by a buggy),,but at the end of the day, you have to ride that bus back.

Also,,not all parents are this disrespectful of others,, BUT for the most part you will find them on most bus.


just my opinion.

 

[TheFlame]

When you read this,, keep in mind, we do not have small children,(I do enjoy children as long as they are taught to behave properly by their parents),,and I am gett'n to be a old grump,,, this is just a opinion, not a attack.

For us, driving to the parks (cept for MK) is faster.
Besides the fact, I would rather take the time to drive ourselves than wait in a line of miss behaved children cause their parents are apparently to busy to keep them under control, and then you board a bus after what can sometimes be a long wait, only to be beat to death by parents who feel the need to drag a baby buggy the size of a Mack Truck down a 2 foot isle along with their 85 lb. back-pack. And then you get the pleasure of hearing the tired, screaming, and hungry children (again, the parents fault) and many of the adults feel this need to tell EVERYONE on the bus all about their day, at the same time while try'n to talk over the other person. Now I'm not looking for a library atmosphere, but it can get real loud at times.

I will say this,, the morning bus rides to the parks aren't as bad as I just described (cept for being beat by a buggy),,but at the end of the day, you have to ride that bus back.

Also,,not all parents are this disrespectful of others,, BUT for the most part you will find them on most bus.


just my opinion.

EXACTLY!!!