Should we get a car if staying at SSR?

[ryansgirl96]

So, I've done a search but can't seem to really find the best answer. So my apologies if I am repeating. We will be heading to WDW mid Nov and staying at SSR. It will be 2 adults and 2 small children under 4. We will probably have a double stroller. How is the transportation from SSR to the parks? I did find the order of the bus stops so have put in a request for something in the Springs section bc it's close to everything or the Grandstand bc it's first on the bus route. Do you think we should just chalk it up and rent a car though? I didn't know that if you stay on resort then parking is free at the parks which does change things a little... We probably won't be coming back in the middle of the day as the kids generally just nap in the strollers so that's not as much of an issue.

PLUS, I currently have a ressie for the week of Thanksgiving with Hertz b/c we are visiting family afterwards for Thanksgiving and it's costing us $310 for a weeks rental for a full-size. I would hate to have to double the cost for another's weeks rental for WDW. But I will if the transpo is going to be a nightmare, lol!!


Thanks in advance!!

 

[skelooch]

To get back and forth from the parks Disney Transportation works ok as long as you have patience and don't mind spending a little of your time getting to the bus stop, waiting perhaps up to 20 minutes for the bus, hoping the bus isn't crowded, then approx 15-45 minutes to get to the park depending on the bus having to make other stops within SSR or other resorts before heading to the park, and dealing with the double stroller on the buses.
And then doing the same thing returning to SSR.
Plan at least 60 minutes each way.

If doing any ADRs at other resorts, it can be more time consuming, because there are no resort to resort buses, you would have to transfer at DTD or a park. So you will need to be aware of what time parks are open until before planing your trips to other resorts.
For those I would would allow 90 minutes each way. It could be better but you never know.

Keep in mind that temps can be cool in the morning and evenings at that time of year.

There is always the option of grabbing a cab when necessary.

 

[supersuperwendy]

We stayed in the Grandstand section pretty close to the bus stop. We had great luck with buses. The buses came very regularly and I can't remember having a long wait one time! I thought we'd need a car too, but we didn't and used Disney transportation and it was fine.

 

[kkmauch]

Having done this last year with a 4 year old and 5 year old in a double stroller, I can tell you we did just fine. We stayed in Congress Park for two reasons: one, it's nearest DTD so any transportation to another resort and late night ghirardelli treats were a quick walk; and two, it is the first stop on one of the bus routed (typhoon lagood/dtd maybe?).

The kids were eager to walk to the bus stop and try to guess which bus would be ours, then we'd load with the stroller and be on our way. The stroller at the parks was great, then straight to the bus stop in the stroller with either sleepy, crabby sleepy or zonked kids. Getting them out of the stroller and onto the bus was really the only challenge and it was something we mastered by the end of the trip. One would take the kids out while the other handled the stroller and we'd put them back in until we got into the villa.

Our transportation was always quick and we hardley ever waited with our longest wait being 15 minutes on one occasion. The only time a car might have been nice was at the Hoop Dee Doo Review, but we managed just fine.

Good luck to you and don't be affraid to give the bus and stroller a chance.