POP -- bus or car to the parks?

[pgsahm2]

My sister and I are staying at POP mid-August. We are driving down so we'll have a car available if we need it. Based on bus wait and travel time, would we be better off taking the Disney buses to the parks or driving the car? Does this apply to all of the parks or is there a specific park that would be better to drive to?

Just wondering what others think. I've never stayed at POP or traveled during August. Thanks!

 

[spiceycat]

my experience with Pop buses and others can be and are different.

had wonderful experience with the Pop buses - hardily any wait (set my stop watch so I know). generally less than 10 minutes.

the only problem was going home at night - after MK closed - but hey everyone was waiting - you should have seem the people waiting for the ferry or monrail.

MK is the only park that I would not drive too. Not worth it.

AK is a toss up - you can get there a little faster if you drive. but the buses are much closer to the entrance that the parking lot.

Epcot - this one is really close to Pop - so is studios.

 

[engle]

DRIVE!! I hated waiting for the bus at POP and everywhere else actually!! The only time I took a bus is when I went to Pleasure Island...we wanted to drink. And we ended up taking a cab back because the bus took FOREVER!!!

 

[iluvgoofy24]

I would NOT DRIVE!!! The bus stops are closer than all the car spots. Also, hey part of staying on Disney property is being able to not drive while you are on 'vacation'. Ever since we have been down there and the buses have been running, we have had virtually NO problems.

 

[raider97]

We were at Pop last April and the buses were terrible. So much so that DH swears he isn't going back without a car. So I vote car, but it all depends on how the buses look like they are running.

 

[iluvgoofy24]

just thought I would share this post with everyone....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=23160296&posted=1#post23160296

 

[ADisneyQueen]

There is no way I would take a car to MK. I takes too long to ride the tram and then the monorail or ferry. With the bus you can bypass all that. The other parks- well it depends on how early you get there for a good parking space.

 

[jwwi]

Take your car to every park, except MK. I went in 11/07 and last week. We used the bus during the Nov trip, the car this past trip. Even though the parking lots seem far from the entrance there is a tram that takes you very close to your car. I definitely did more walking to the buses than I did to the tram/car. Plus you have to wait for buses, your car is always available. We also kept a cooler in the car so we could have a nice cold beverage when we got to the car. We went to MK, AK and EC park all on the same day, I know that is a lot of moving, but it would have been much more difficult without the car. We even went to Outback on 192 for dinner, so having the car was great.
For everyone who uses Magical Express the buses are fine, but if you have a car, i.e. you drove to WDW, use your car.

 

[danny25]

our experience is: fantastic bus service, relax and no drive, enjoy the buses and talk with your family while other person take you to the parks, and then no need to wait for the parking transportation because the buses take you almost to the gates, enjoy your vacation time and don´t drive

 

[danny25]

we have stay many times in pop and we can say only one thing the service bus is very good, so don´t strees yourself and relax and don´t drive in your vacation time

 

[mickeybrat]

I would take the buses on your early days! If you're going to the parks late afternoon or evening I would drive. I don't know if you have breaks planned during your days or not, but if you do make your transportation decisions based on the time of day.
The transportation isn't bad from POP, but at close it can be bad from any park to ANY resort. So bus on early days an drive at night!

 

[mchllevns]

We have always had good experiences with the buses...very little wait time going to or leaving the parks! When the crowds have been large leaving MK, they have added extra POP buses. What a treat to have a vacation without driving, parking, etc! And it's always interesting to chat with the other guests!

 

[Shmily1]

We've stayed at POP nine times and have never had a problem with the buses. We would NOT drive!!!

 

[BamaFan121s]

I guess you are hit and miss w/ buses. I've stayed at POP and had great bus service, then there wre times I stayed there and it was horrible. There have been several times where the trip (from waiting to stepping off at the park) has been an hour for AK and Downtown Disney...maybe because they stop at waterparks on the way? You may want to consider driving there. I would NEVER drive to MK...it would take far longer byt he time you parked, took the rode the tram to the TTA, got on the monorail/ferry, walked to the gate.. Driving to MGM is not so bad at all because the parking lot is small and it doesn't take long to get to the gate.

 

[j_lehr]

My family stayed at Pop during Christmas week and we had no problems with the busses at all. We hardly ever waited for a bus. At night coming back, they were slightly more crowded obviously but that didn't bother us. My husband constantly gave up his seat for others but that is the type of guy he is.

The only night that was really bad was when it started raining at Studios and everyone was leaving at the same time. But even then Disney was great because they brought over extra buses from the cruise line.

My daughter and I are staying at Pop again in March and we will be using busses. We would have to rent a car if we wanted one and it isn't worth the expense or stress of driving around Disney.

 

[pgsahm2]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I'd really rather not have to move the car once we get there. I've stayed on Disney property twice before -- once at ASMu and last February at AKL. We used the buses the entire time for those trips. That's what I'm hoping for again at POP.

However even though the time frame we are going is considered "value" I am not sure what to expect for crowds (Aug 13-17). The other two trips were in more off season times. And being new to POP too makes me rethink the buses since I've read such mixed reviews on them.

Again, thank you for your input. Feel free to keep it coming! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we do not have to move the car ONCE from the time we arrive to the time we leave!