Ride or Drive

[ditchdoc1017]

Do you ride or dive to the parks, if you ride about how long does it take the buses to get around.Is it faster than the car?

 

[VACAMPER]

We took buses and had no problems.

 

[Rhonda]

Driving your own car is always faster, but the Disney transportation is more fun! For us, it's part of the Disney experience. It's so nice to park our car when we get there, and not move it again until we go home!

 

[djblu883]

when not taking little kids I prefer to ride...when hauling baby stuff and tired kids..I prefer to drive..getting "home" quickly after a long day with a child in meltdown or asleep is more relaxing than an hour of getting back via bus and changes

 

[TheFlame]

Based on our trip in Oct. 2007 the bus transportation was fine and we never drove. We have never driven to a park when staying at FW.

BUT...............

Based on our trip in Jan. 2008, every bus trip we wished we were in our own vehicle! The bus system was AWFUL! The wait for the bus inside the campground was the absolute worst! I do know we were there during the first phase of the internal campground bus changes(they changed the map while we were at our bus stop) but I can tell you we spent hours that week riding or waiting on buses! We really thought and hoped it would get better and resisted driving because Disney transportation has always seemed like the best option. I am not convinced of this anymore. I don't think that it is just campground buses either but I don't have first hand knowledge.

Anyway, I am rambling. I don't know what we will do in August if we encounter the same problems. We will probably try to drive a day or two to see how it works. All of that being said, I still love riding the buses(just not all day!) and getting to know the drivers. The drivers also sometimes have great personal pin collections for our kids to trade with and they love getting the transportation cards from them!...........JMHO

 

[2goofycampers]

we take the boat to the MK, drive everywhere else. time is precious when at WDW.

 

[Mellisa]

We plan on using the disney bus system

 

[DavidH]

We typically take the buses - it is just part of the experience for us. Last trip we were meeting someone at AK and drove to make sure and be on time. It only took 10 -15 minutes to drive, but could have taken almost an hour by bus.

The real problem about the buses is the time really varies. If you arrive at each bus stop just as the bus pulls up, it is not bad. If you arrive in time to watch the bus pull away, the wait for the next bus seems to take forever. Watch the connecting bus pull away too and it is an hour to AK.

 

[PanFanAL]

we take the boat to the MK, drive everywhere else. time is precious when at WDW.

This is what we plan to do as well.

 

[chief19spixi]

I am not a bus fan so the only time I wanna be on any bus is if I HAVE to be on one!! So we take the ferry to mk and drive everywhere else!

 

[ntsammy5]

Driving your own car is always faster, but the Disney transportation is more fun!

What she said!

It can take a while on the buses, but it's also fun to listen to the drivers sometime and you can get into the weirdest conversations with other riders.

Having said that, sometimes we drive, but only when we're in a hurry to get beer at Epcot.

 

[ChristusG]

We usually drive. For several reasons....

1. We have small kids and it is just easier to put them in their carseats than to try to lug them through the bus line, onto the bus, hold onto the stroller, etc.

2. It is faster to drive.

3. We got a crazy bus driver one time who flew around corners and drove fast.

We do the bus sometimes.....just for the experience mostly. But we mostly drive to parks. But if we are staying at FW and going to MK, we just take the ferry. It's a straight shot.

 

[MomofPirate&Mickey]

When we were there at Christmas time, we waited 45 minutes in the cold for a bus at AK back to POP. No kidding, we saw at least 5-6 buses for AS Sport & Music in the time it took for our bus to finally show up.

Then in Feb. when we were there visiting w/ DH's parents, we waited about the same amount of time for a bus from Epcot to AK. Same story about 10 other buses passed us by. Some guys in line stopped another bus, but all the driver would say was that "we're on a computer schedule, your bus will be here shortly."

That being said, we had a wonderful driver coming back from MK one night at Christmas time. Kept the lights on & chatted the whole way back. Talked about the water bridge. Also, how WDW got it's name. Fantastic CM!!

But we usually do take the buses or monorail when we're there. Don't really want to spend the $$ in gas driving everywhere, even though it would be faster.

 

[ditchdoc1017]

Ok sounds like ferry to MK then drive everywhere else. Thanks

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

I'm with Rhonda. We attribute the busses as part of the Disney Experience. The only time we drive is when we go to Downtown Disney for the day. We can shop and make trips out to the van to put it away and continue more shopping, instead of lugging it around all day long. Other than that, it's busses and boats.

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I'm with Rhonda. We attribute the busses as part of the Disney Experience. The only time we drive is when we go to Downtown Disney for the day. We can shop and make trips out to the van to put it away and continue more shopping, instead of lugging it around all day long. Other than that, it's busses and boats.

I agree. I want to park my car and not move it all week. The busses can get crowded, but it is one less thing to worry about.

 

[AuburnJen92]

When DS was smaller, (he is now 4) we took the car to the parks. Now that he knows what the buses and boats are, we take the transportation because I need my sanity! I liked having the car for a quick getaway, but either way is really fine with me.

 

[TxTink :)]

we take the boat to the MK, drive everywhere else. time is precious when at WDW.

I agree- & we do the same thing. We did the buses in the past but sometimes we had to wait and the diesel fumes made me feel terrible. I also hated riding them at night & sometimes they would keep the inside lights on, which made me nauseous.

 

[mdoc]

We drive. If it was up to me, we'd drive to all the parks except MK, but DH insists on driving there too. The man likes to have his car handy (as if the WDW parking lots are handy). When it's just me and the kids, we'll take the boat to MK and drive to the other parks. To me it makes no sense to drive to MK - by the time you drive there, park at the TTC and take the monorail, it takes longer than the boat does. Everywhere else, I think driving is faster, and since the parking is free when you're on site, why not?

 

[ditchdoc1017]

Sounds like driving is the way to go.