Should we take bus service or drive to parks?

[kandb]

We will have our minivan (driving down from NY). We also booked through AAA (I think they give you some pass to park closer). Anyway, we are staying at POFQ and I'm wondering if it will be better to take the bus or if we should drive? Any opinions? Thanks, Linda

 

[Hawk]

except for MK.

Tim/Hawk

 

[steffali]

We are driving down too from NY We booked through AAA and we will be driving to the parks and using the Monorail to MK and Epcot.

 

[disneydoula]

We did the AAA Diamond Parking pass thing on our last trip and thought we were really cool with preferred parking at MK. Then we got out of the van and discovered we weren't at MK, but at the TTC. It was like a scene from National Lampoon's Vacation.

Driving everywhere else, though, was fine.

 

[disneydom]

sorry I would leave the driving to Disney dropped in front of each park busses every 10-15 min ,faster and less stessfull, we never drive and after a day at the parks it's just easer to be driven home

 

[benedicttw]

We drive everywhere. We have not taken a bus in the last 4 trips. Find that it is a little further then the bus stop but much faster and we do not have to sit or stand as you go to multiple resorts.

Everyone has different experiances.

 

[bytheblood]

sorry I would leave the driving to Disney dropped in front of each park busses every 10-15 min ,faster and less stessfull, we never drive and after a day at the parks it's just easer to be driven home

That's my vote!

 

[seetheworld]

Great question! I am looking forward to more responses on this. We have always used Disney buses and we have never rented a car. On our upcoming trip, we have seriously considered renting a car as we haven't had the best of luck with the Disney buses. It seems that they usually have several stops and it can take over an hour to get to where we want to go. Occasionally they are fast, but not usually and many times we stand and the seats are taken. I look forward to more post on this.

 

[dixipixi]

I think it depends on your lifestyle and personality. Since we live in a very rural area, public transportation of any kind is a novelty to us. We have to drive everywhere, so it is relaxing for DH and I to park the car once and let someone else drive. Our kids are older so we don't have to worry with strollers and it's no problem for us to stand if the bus is crowded.

We have also stayed offsite before and didn't have any problems driving to the parks. I don't like driving to MK...would much rather take the bus/boat/monorail...anything that avoids the parking lot and TTC!!!

 

[Decfish]

Every time we’ve gone to WDW we always used DT. I always considered this the best way to get around WDW. However, this past trip, on the advise of my brother, we drove to each park instead of riding the buses. It was much easier and quicker to drive to the parks. One exception is MK, since you are parking at the TTC. We found it much more enjoyable to take the Tram to your own vehicle after a long day as opposed to waiting at the bus stop, praying the next bus will be from your resort and then cramming into an overcrowded bus. We did use the monorail to park hop, otherwise we drove everywhere.
One thing we did discover…the signage around WDW leaves a lot to be desired. However, after a day or two it was not an issue.

 

[B&WMickey]

This was our first trip without a car and it worked out better than I could have expected. We stayed at POR and we never waited more than 20 minutes for a bus, probably 5 to 10 minutes on average. Only once or twice did I have to stand and I’m the kind of person who gives up my seat the moment I notice the bus will be full. However, I am the kind of person that if I had a car I probably would have driven it to more places but since I didn’t have that option I was able to roll with things easier.

 

[kimis]

We will have our minivan (driving down from NY). We also booked through AAA (I think they give you some pass to park closer). Anyway, we are staying at POFQ and I'm wondering if it will be better to take the bus or if we should drive? Any opinions? Thanks, Linda

I still say use Disney's transportation. You don't have to hassle with parking or anything else. So you have to wait a few minutes for the bus it is still saving some time by going to your car and driving back to the resort. Either way you will have a great time.

 

[Geoff_M]

We drive everywhere, except for MK.

 

[binky]

Definitely WDW transportation! Or at least try it out and then see if it works for you. After driving from NY, I would not want to SEE my car until it was time to go back home! Unless you are very impatient or the type of person who "has to make good time" I don't think you will have a problem with the buses. You might be able to get to the park a little quicker in your own car, but for the small difference I would let Disney do the driving. Don't get me wrong, I found the buses to be very efficient and we never waited more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus at POR. We never had to stand on the way to the parks, but often had to stand on the way back at night. At POFQ you will be the first on and off, so that's even better. So at least start out riding the bus. Hopefully, you will also have no problems with them Have a great trip!

 

[WillCAD]

Disney transportation will take you anywhere you want to go on Disney property.

But certain trips will take TIME, and time is a precious commodity to me on vacation, so I drive everywhere.

Driving myself takes less time than waiting for a bus, boarding the bus, waiting for the bus to arrive, and getting off the bus.

Driving myself means I never have to stand up - there is always a seat available in my car, and never anybody to give me the evil eye if I don't hop up and offer it to them.

Driving myself means the only B.O. I smell on the way back to my room is my own. And I bathe and use deordorant, so it's not that bad.

Driving myself means the only screaming I have to hear is from teh radio - a radio where I and I alone control the station.

Driving myself means I can crank the A/C as high as I want it.

Driving myself means I can go anywhere I want to go, no transfers, no waiting around for a second bus, no 90-minute travel times from one resort to another. And if I decide I want to go off-site, I go; no waits, no taxis, no questions.

 

[The Bad Witch]

Does WDW offer free parking at the parks if you are staying onsite?

 

[Chester's Mum]

We used to always bring our car or rent a car for the entire trip. Parking is free for resort guests, the resort will give you a permit to put in your windshield. We found driving to the parks to be okay, except MK. You have to take the tram to the Ticket Transportation Centre, then a monorail or ferry to the park (FYI-if you haven't already been). I think everyone should experience it once, there is something exciting about seeing the Castle get closer and closer from that ferry. However, we sometimes park at EPCOT and take the monorail to MK and then return to EPCOT for dinner though. You might be disappointed with the AAA diamond card, you have to walk still a bit of a distance, and cross the road dodging trams on the way. We only used it once, then went back to parking in the regular lot. We like the trams anyway.

In our last 2 trips we used disney transport almost completely. Found it to be much less stressful than driving (...getting lost, etc.).

It is nice to have a car for at least part of the trip, to shop and experience other Orlando attractions. You'll find it's quite difficult, and expensive to get off Disney property if you don't have a car.

I intend to keep using disney transport, I find it efficient enough to get me where I am going, but it still slows me down a bit and makes me relax more on my vacation.

 

[Buzz2001]

except for MK.

Tim/Hawk

Ditto!

 

[pilferk]

I drive...a LOT. My commute, one way, is about an hour and 15 min.

When I get to Disney, I like to take the busses, right up until I don't.

Seriously, to and from the main parks, we take the busses (or the monorails, depending on where we're staying/going). If we're going to one of the water parks, to play mini-golf, to Downtown Disney, or to eat at one of the resorts, I drive.

That being said, if I was going during a spring break, or summer vacation, I'd drive everywhere. The busses get too crowded, IMHO.

 

[kstinnett]

I am driving from MO and taking 7 people in May. I think I have decided to drive to the parks instead of using Disney Transportation because of the crowd levels and we have an infant and a stroller. Can anyone tell me if it is possible to drop them all off at the entrance somewhere rather than just parking and everyone taking the tram to the entrance. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.