Staying at POR-use car to get around??

[KJF0528]

So we are driving down to DW from NC. We will have our own car while there.

I know that driving to MK doesnt make sense as parking isnt close to MK any ways. But for the other parks:

We will be at Epcot on Saturday, Dec 21st. Drive or ride bus? How long would the bus take to get there during this week?

At MK on 22nd. Taking bus. Want to be there for EMH which are at 7am scared1 that day. Need to be waiting for bus by...6:15?? 6:00??

HS on 23rd. Drive or take bus??

AK on 24th. Drive or take bus?? We arent using the EMH here, we want AK to be a late start/chill day after commando style at MK and Epcot and HS.

Thanks for yoru advice. Just not sure when it would make sense to save the time and drive, if it ever does. Kinda worried about trying to leave the parks when they close!

 

[I Love Pluto]

You are going at a very busy time. Traffic will be crazy. If I had the choice - I would stay with the bus!

(We'll be there the following week. We know it's busy, too - but it's so much fun!)

Enjoy your trip!

 

[mikehn]

I dont see any clear advantage to using the bus. There will be long lines and crowded buses. Parking is free and you are in control.

 

[Pembo]

I dont see any clear advantage to using the bus. There will be long lines and crowded buses. Parking is free and you are in control.

AGreed!

And if you are a rope drop person, don't be afraid of parking at the MK. We found it to be much easier than expected. And there is nothing better than not having to wait for an overcrowded bus at the end of the day.

 

[bumbershoot]

I dont see any clear advantage to using the bus. There will be long lines and crowded buses. Parking is free and you are in control.

Agreed!

AGreed!

And if you are a rope drop person, don't be afraid of parking at the MK. We found it to be much easier than expected. And there is nothing better than not having to wait for an overcrowded bus at the end of the day.

I agree with this as well! Or if you're getting there much later on, as people start to clear out for breaks and hopping and meals. We've had amazing luck with our parking spots at MK, getting up very close (we've never had to ride a tram, we just follow the walking path to monorail or boats) by getting there nice and early or some point after noon.


OP, for MK, to catch a bus you'd want to be there bright and super-early. To get a good parking spot...same deal. I prefer the car.

We're really starting to be drivers-to-everywhere, if we have any choice in the matter. (choice would be away by rental cars being crazy-expensive)

 

[tobikaye]

If you decide to drive to MK for the 7AM EMH, then I would still suggest leaving no later then 6:15 am, probably 6 am. Driving: 10-15 minutes; TTC parking to Resort monorail: 5 minutes (at least); Resort monorail to MK: 10-15 minutes (I always get on a monorail that gets held up at one of the resorts for a bit.)

For DHS and Epcot, I think it would be a wash on bus vs car. For AK, I do prefer to drive there for some reason.

Note that I cannot remember if the express monorail or boat runs before EMH starts. If those do, take one of those instead of the resort monorail to save about 5-10 minutes.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

All depends on how much of your vacation time you want to waste waiting to get on a bus. As PP mentioned you will be going at peck time and you may have to wait for more than one bus to get back to the resort. I would drive.

even on MK day. For Thanksgiving people were reporting having long waits and had to wait for 2-3 buses before there was room for them.

 

[seashoreCM]

Disney buses start running around 6:30 in the morning but not necessarily at as frequent intervals as during the middle of the day.

The express monorail and the large (Seven Seas Lagoon) ferry may sometimes not start running until as late as 20 minutes before public opening at Magic Kingdom.

 

[KJF0528]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate your advice. I was really leaning towards driving and glad to see that it isn't one of those crazy newbie mistakes!

 

[I Love Pluto]

I see that I am outvoted - but my advice still stands - take the bus!

 

[KJF0528]

lol we will take the bus for our MK days. I am reeeeallly good at getting lost and mixed up and bassackwards so no transferring and changing!

But I do think that we will definitely drive to AK. I kinda want to pop over and see the lodge too, I was so torn about staying there! maybe next time....

 

[sharadoc]

AGreed!

And if you are a rope drop person, don't be afraid of parking at the MK. We found it to be much easier than expected. And there is nothing better than not having to wait for an overcrowded bus at the end of the day.

Exactly! The ferry is always waiting. The monorail is very busy most of the time so the ferry is your best bet.

I suspect the bus lines will be insane. We drive everywhere. POR is so centrally located you'll be fine timing-wise no matter where you go.

 

[bumbershoot]

lol we will take the bus for our MK days. I am reeeeallly good at getting lost and mixed up and bassackwards so no transferring and changing!

Where do you think you would get lost?

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I also would take the car, earlier the better as special days it will be packed. If your car is in traffic, so will the bus. But, at least you will not be waiting for buses in long lines.

 

[ssei7802]

POR- Riverside now uses an articulated bus for the MK. POR - French Quarter uses old style bus to MK.

 

[wdwrich]

We've stayed at POR two times with a rental car. For EPCOT, DHS and DAK, driving yourself is definitely the better choice. For MK, it's a toss-up. We drove sometimes and took the bus other times. Time from POR to the MK gates was about the same either way.

Some advice if you are staying in the POR mansions. Do not book a river view room. We did on our second stay and it was a long walk to the nearest parking area.