Should I rent car/use taxis rather than use WDW transportation from POR?

[FlowersCroon]

Hello All,

We are staying at Port Orleans Riverside February 22-27, 2012. I keep reading 2 very different stories with regard to WDW transportation: "it's great" and "it's terrible".

I'm sure I'm not the first person to ask this question, but I'm a Disneyland girl spoiled by the wonderful proximity of everything @ the DLR. The thought of waiting 30 minutes to board a bus which will then take 30 minutes to get me to a park sounds like crazy talk! (and a waste of time)

• Am I better off renting a car and driving to each theme park?
• I have read that people take taxis to the theme parks from the resorts. Is this time/cost effective?
• Parking fees: Do the resorts as well as each theme park charge parking fees? Or, as a resort guest is the parking at the theme parks free?

Thank you SO much for your input - totally appreciated!!

 

[joelkfla]

Yes, it can take up to an hour, including wait time and travel time, to get to a park. It normally should take about half that, but there probably will be a time or two when it takes a full hour.

Resort guests do not pay for parking at either the resort or the theme parks.

Taxis are readily available at all of the parks and resorts. If you don't mind driving in an unfamiliar place, renting a car for a week will probably cost you less than taking taxis every day. Drive time to the parks from PO will generally be between 10 and 25 minutes.

At the MK, the guest parking is at the TTC, and from there you will have to take the monorail or ferryboat to the park. If you're taking the taxi, you can also go to the Contemporary and walk 10 minutes to the MK. Resort buses go directly to the park, bypassing the TTC.

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'd wait and see how it goes....we've never rented or use a car in 45 trips to WDW....patiences is a virtue and we're never in any big hurry to get anywhere....we wait for the buses, yes, no different waiting for someone in your party going to get the rental.....buses know the route and backways....if I dorve, I wouldn't know my way around.....we like to sightsee along the way and the buses are great for that....

All said and done, I'd rather save the rental money and let Disney haul me around, drop me off at the park gate and be done with it....that bus wait isn't that bad and either way the trip there is the same length in time....still plenty of time to visit a park.....but do as you may...we like the Disney transportation options and since they are free, why not use them...same answer for taxi's too...just an exora added expense.....

 

[gots2pitt]

My opinion is that the Disney transportation is some where in the middle. It also depends on how busy the parks are, time of year, and time of day. Park Closing can be a busy time for buses depending on what property you are staying at. We have stayed at the campground and never used anything but the Disney transportation. We were there in early December when crowds were light. We did see some lines mainly at park closing going to Value resorts where the buses were a couple of loads behind. Disney transportation is what you make of it to a point. If you are not willing to wait, your travel plans are scheduled too tight, or you don't like riding mass transportation the Disney transportation might not be for you. We found it to be fine but we understand how it works and how long it takes to get there. Disney transportation will not be instant gratification, and the only think you will be in control of is when you make it to the bus stop. But I will continue to use it.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

If I've learned anything from my 3 trips to DW, compared to DL is that WDW needs to be taken at a much slower pace. Unlike DL, where everything is close and you can go and go, WDW needs to be savored. Waiting for WDW transportation is just part of the experience for us. I've had to learn to slow down and have patience when at WDW.

 

[FlowersCroon]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

My timing will be the deciding factor here. I am there Feb. 22-27 which is Presidents' Week and the weekend of the Princess 1/2 marathon. A part of one of those days I will lose at the Expo (picking up bib, etc.) I don't know how much walking I'll be able to do after the marathon. So I need to take in as much as possible in presumably 4 days. My daughter (14) and I love attractions/rides so our goal is mostly to ride as much as we can as we have no desire to see water parks or parades - so that helps with scheduling and transportation too. I do want to see Fantasmic! and Illuminations.

Resort guests do not pay for parking at either the resort or the theme parks.

Joelkfl, thank you that is great to know! Also great to know that driving to MK will still have me using the ferry to get into the park.

If I've learned anything from my 3 trips to DW, compared to DL is that WDW needs to be taken at a much slower pace. Unlike DL, where everything is close and you can go and go, WDW needs to be savored. Waiting for WDW transportation is just part of the experience for us. I've had to learn to slow down and have patience when at WDW.

disneyfaninaz, The slowing down will be my problem, for sure. I've literally gone to Disneyland just to have dinner after work meetings. I eat at Disneyland, walk over to California Adventure and ride Tower of Terror and then have a glass a wine and head to Screamin'. LOL I don't even understand how people can make dining reservations at WDW - how do you know you'd even make it on time?

Disney transportation is what you make of it to a point. If you are not willing to wait, your travel plans are scheduled too tight, or you don't like riding mass transportation the Disney transportation might not be for you.

Gots2pitt, thanks for this reply also! I need to be realistic as far as how much I can do!

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

Thank you all so much for your replies!

My timing will be the deciding factor here. I am there Feb. 22-27 which is Presidents' Week and the weekend of the Princess 1/2 marathon. A part of one of those days I will lose at the Expo (picking up bib, etc.) I don't know how much walking I'll be able to do after the marathon. So I need to take in as much as possible in presumably 4 days. My daughter (14) and I love attractions/rides so our goal is mostly to ride as much as we can as we have no desire to see water parks or parades - so that helps with scheduling and transportation too. I do want to see Fantasmic! and Illuminations.



Joelkfl, thank you that is great to know! Also great to know that driving to MK will still have me using the ferry to get into the park.



disneyfaninaz, The slowing down will be my problem, for sure. I've literally gone to Disneyland just to have dinner after work meetings. I eat at Disneyland, walk over to California Adventure and ride Tower of Terror and then have a glass a wine and head to Screamin'. LOL I don't even understand how people can make dining reservations at WDW - how do you know you'd even make it on time?



Gots2pitt, thanks for this reply also! I need to be realistic as far as how much I can do!

If you're strapped for time I would cut Fantasmic. DL's is way better anyways.
Now that we moved away from DL (Portland to KC), a few years ago we miss the DL Fantasmic.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

As a PP said it can take 1 hour to get from a resort to a park. So if you go to a park every day and are there for say 7 days heres the math: 2 hours a day spent going to/from a park times 7 days = 14 hours of your vacation spent on traveling to/from parks! This is just based on making one trip a day to a park. If you go back to your resort for a break and then go back to a park that is another 2 hours added to your commuting total.

In May we had a car and decided to do a test. When we left Epcot to go to SSR my husband took the car to the resort while I took the bus. He noted what time he arrived at the resort. Then he note what time I arrive at the resort. I arrived at the resort 40 minutes after he did!

 

[maxiesmom]

LOL I don't even understand how people can make dining reservations at WDW - how do you know you'd even make it on time?

Disney suggests that you give yourself and hour and a half to make it from your resort to your ADR. Usually it doesn't take that long, but if you are unlucky sometmes it does.

You really can't plan down to the minute at a place like WDW. It is just too big, and there are too many variables that will throw a tight schedule off. One thing I have leared over many trips is to leave some room in the schedule for stuff that may pop up.

 

[FlowersCroon]

If you're strapped for time I would cut Fantasmic. DL's is way better anyways.
Now that we moved away from DL (Portland to KC), a few years ago we miss the DL Fantasmic.

Really? I'm so excited to check it out because there is REAL seating for it!

Thanks maxiesmom and Shelly F - Ohio!

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I would rent a car. You could be to your car and back to your resort and then back to the same parking lot you just left in your rental car while others could still be standing in line waiting for a bus.
I did NOT envy those waiting in line for a bus at park close with sleeping or crying over tired kid. Then to watch the people pack on was just insane.
I just walked to my car and put my sleeping kids in a car seat and drove off to be at my townhouse in no time flat.

Sarah

 

[TheWog]

I don't think anyone walks to their car from MK, correct? Aren't there trams and shuttles and boats and monorails to get to and from the parking lot? I have never driven, so I am not positive. I do know that it took 12 minutes for a trip from AKL to MK from when doors closed and the bus started moving to when it stopped and doors opened. You could walk up and walk right on a bus or you could end up waiting and yes, we did wait a few times. It is all in the person and your timing. We were not in any huge rush so we could wait, but each of the busses pulled up close to the gates at the parks vs. parking in the parking lots. There are give and takes and everyone has their own experiences. Sounds like you might benefit from a car, because of certain time obligations.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't think anyone walks to their car from MK, correct? Aren't there trams and shuttles and boats and monorails to get to and from the parking lot? I have never driven, so I am not positive. I do know that it took 12 minutes for a trip from AKL to MK from when doors closed and the bus started moving to when it stopped and doors opened. You could walk up and walk right on a bus or you could end up waiting and yes, we did wait a few times. It is all in the person and your timing. We were not in any huge rush so we could wait, but each of the busses pulled up close to the gates at the parks vs. parking in the parking lots. There are give and takes and everyone has their own experiences. Sounds like you might benefit from a car, because of certain time obligations.

You are right, you either need to boat, monorail, or tram over to MK from the TTC, which is the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom.

 

[TheWog]

You are right, you either need to boat, monorail, or tram over to MK from the TTC, which is the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom.

Thanks. Some of these extremely long bus trip times quoted may or may not be accurately compared to parking at most/some parks. Offset from waiting a few mins for a bus to arrive at a resort is the ride to the monorail/boat from your car and then the ride to MK. Also, the walk to get your car in the lot may or may not be the same time as getting to the bus stop and having a bus pull up. WDW transportation is not the worst thing in the world, but it may not suit the OP's particular situation. Not sure much time will be saved, but the peace of mind might be worth it vs. the expense.