Should I use my car or the busses?

[ProvidencePete]

I'm staying at the Coronado in a couple of weeks. I have a rental car. Should I use the car to get around, or does it make more sense to use the busses? Do they charge you to park when you stay on Disney property? Is it easier taking the busses because they drop you off closer, or would you go with the rental car? I've ridden the busses around Disney before, and I guess it isn't that bad, but am I better off just using the car or will it be too much of a hassle? Any thoughts?

 

[Byrd]

We stayed at CS in 2000. I think that the bus service was better than some of the other resorts that we have stayed n since. The busses are an adventure. If you decide to drive you will have a parking pass because you are staying onsite.
I know you will have a blast!
Byrd

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

We have found it to be easier to use our car for DTD and Water Parks.

DTD - Because it is usually much quicker, we can leave when we want to, and we don't have to carry any purchases on the bus.

Water Parks - Easier to carry Beach Bags, etc. in our car.

Everything else...including the parks...we hop on the bus or water launch. (Or walk if we are at the BC, BWI, YC to Epcot)

Have fun!

 

[DeeCee]

Buses!

I don't usually have a car there, but if I did I would still use the buses. For me it is just more relaxing not having to think about traffic.

 

[honeymom]

Our last trip in June 2001, we had a rental car. We were going from POFQ to the Contemporary for a Chef Mickey's dinner. We waited until 20 minutes before the reservation to go, jumped in the car and the car wouldn't start. We ran to the bus stop. A bus came quickly for the Magic Kingdom. From there we ran to Chef Mickeys and made it on time. After that, we have always taken the busses. There were a couple of long waits, but most waits were under 10 minutes with many under 5. We're going again this March and not even bothering with a rental car.

 

[soccer mom]

Getting from resort to resort would be the only time it would be really nice to have a car. Getting to the parks is fine by bus. We feel like part of the magic is letting someone else do the driving. If you are flying, have you thought about having a towncar take you to and from the airport? It is usually a lot cheaper than renting a car. If you make purchases in the parks or at downtown disney, you can have your packages sent to your hotel at no charge as long as it is not the day before you leave for home.

Have a great trip!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

When we stayed at CS the resort is so spread out that I wished that we had of had a car since the parking lots are spread around and are closer to the various buildings. The only place I wouldn't have driven to would have been Magic Kingdom since the parking lot is far from the park and the bus lets you out right in front of the park.

T&B

 

[hannahryan]

We have always rented a car because we've been afraid to depend on the buses. I'm considering trying it this time though. How costly & convenient are the airport transfers?

 

[airhead]

We used the WDW transportation on our last trip(4 years ago) and it was fine. We were there for 5 days to "do Disney" and and nothing else.And, it was early November and no crowds! I'm renting a car this time because we'll be there twice the time and doing other Orlando things. We will definitely use the buses from AKL,but probably not so much at night or at the Dolphin. I know I'll be glad to have a car.We like to explore when we go on vacay,
especially at Disney!!!!


airhead(..."where'd I paak that cah?")

 

[SisterBear]

Part of or Disney experience is meeting people from all over the US and other parts of the globe. Taking a relaxing bus ride from resorts to parks is a way to relax, meet people and undwind after a long day. I agree that driving to the water parks might make things a bit easier, but other than that, the bus rides we find are sometimes fun.

 

[SisterBear]

Part of or Disney experience is meeting people from all over the US and other parts of the globe. Taking a relaxing bus ride from resorts to parks is a way to relax, meet people and undwind after a long day. I agree that driving to the water parks might make things a bit easier, but other than that, the bus rides we find are sometimes fun.

 

[soccer mom]

hannahryan,

The first time we flew, we used Mears bus service to and from the airport. We didn't really like it. You traveled with others on a bus and stopped at several resorts before we got to ours. We then discovered town car service. We have used Your Ride four times now and have been very pleased. For us, a family of 5/6 (depending on who goes) it was much cheaper because you don't pay by the person like on the bus. It is $85-$90 round trip (plus tip). You don't ride with anyone else. They will give you a 30 minutes grocery stop and drop you off and your resort. You agree on a pick up time for the return trip and you are all set. They have a website you can book. There are several companies in the area and you should definately check it out. You can find more info and reviews of service on the transporation board.

Have fun planning!

 

[Efastpitch]

When we go to WDW, we never use our car. We park it and use the transportation provided by Disney. We feel that this makes the vacation more relaxing. I don't have to worry about parking or fighting the traffic. The main thing to remember is, don't get in a hurry. Allow plenty of time to get where you are going and enjoy your trip.

 

[DVC-Don]

We use our rental to go to all other resorts and all parks EXCEPT for the MK. The MK we'll take the bus to.

 

[Karibeth19]

I have to respectfully disagree with everyone and say use the car! I have flown to WDW every visit except the last, and used Disney Transportation. Our last trip, we drove, and took our car everywhere and enjoyed it much more! We didn't have to spend time waiting on busses, it was much easier going to other resorts for PS meals, parking is free everywhere if you're staying in a resort, and since you're going in a couple of weeks, during a slow time, traffic won't really be an issue. We especially liked it because we had a child with a stroller, and didn't have to worry about lugging it on the busses. It's also nice to keep things in there you might need later in the day (jackets, etc.), and you can just run to the parking lot to get them (Admittedly, hard to do at MK, but good everywhere else.). Often, we would get to the park before opening, and we would be able to park very close to the entrances, so when we left, there was no need to use the trams. We could just walk to the car, avoiding tram and bus lines. You also don't have to wait on a crowded bus for your stop to finally arrive at the end of the day when you're tired and just want to get back to your room. I know everyone feels differently about this, but this is just my 2 cents.

 

[ProvidencePete]

That last reply by karibeth was the one that I was really looking for. I have stayed at Disney resorts before but took the busses, and I thought it was kind of a hassle. I never really even thought of using the car because everybody was using the busses. I figured it would be another thing that I had to worry about. I'm goign to give it a shot with the car just to see how it works out. I figured you had to pay to park too, and I know that sometimes I get lost around Disney, but I'm going to try the car and see what happens. I only got the car to go to and from the airport, and we are staying in Universal for the 2nd half of our trip, so I'll need it for that. But I want to get all that I can out of it, and I figure that it is worth a shot. If it's a pain, I can always use the bus the next day. Disney is so spread out, so you are limited to walk to anywhere no matter where you stay. I just wanted to know if anyone else knew if it was a better option.

 

[sk!mom]

I vote for both!
We ride the busses to the parks if we are just going there and back. It seems easier to just be dropped at the gate.
The car, however, was more convienent for driving to other resorts for meals and the water parks when we had a lot to haul.
We didn't find traffic to be an issue at all and the resort was always great about providing maps and directions.
We also used the car last trip to drive to Universal, so we felt that we did get our money's worth from the rental.

 

[hawkrn]

If you have to get the car anyway, to go to Univeral, by all means, USE THE CAR! We have always used the buses and had to use Mears from the airport. This last trip was just a 2 day WDW followed by DCL cruise so I rented a car at the airport and returned it at the port. It was great! WDW isn't as far from the airport as I thought since we didn't have to stop at all the other resorts first (Mears). I loved driving to the parks too. Last year we went to Boma and Hoop-de-doo from POR using the buses and it was a nightmare. This year I drove to Boma and it took 5 minutes. It is so easy to drive around there, you can't get lost. We are checking prices for June as we are also doing WDW and UO (plan on stopping at the Disney outlet too since we will have a car)

 

[airhead]

...the more I know I'll probably use my car a lot! Truth is,I really like to drive!

 

[JillL.]

Sept. was my families first trip to disney...we stayed at the ASMo
and rode the bus the first day...after beinging cramed in the bus with 2 little ones a back pack a small lunch size cooler and a stroller...NO FUNwe decieded to try and drive the next day... as all the items were nessacary for us.

we drove everyday after this ...we beat the bus everytime to the park and most days didnt have to use the tram at all. It rained everyday we were there and one day it was a monsoon thank god we didnt have to wait for the bus that day as we passed our resort bus stop and people looked like they were miserable.
Also with little ones they seem to settle right down when you get to the car because it is familar... its not hard to find your way around.

we are going back in may and are debating about staying on or off wdw since we prefer to drive. It will be some time before we can afford to stay at a monarail resort which i feel would be the most convient