Staying on property, bus vs. car?

[dec2901]

I am sure this has been asked and answered many times, but I couldn't find it in the stickies. We will be staying on property and will have a car. Is it quicker to use WDW transportation or our car to get to the parks? We will have a 3yo with us.
Thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

After the experiement we did car is faster.
DH took the car from the park to SSR while I took the bus He wait almost 40 for me to arrive! Next day we did it in reverse and he waited 25 minutes for me to arrive at the park. That's an hour a day wait for one RT to a park and if you go to two parks that is 2 hour times the number of days spent on vacation and that adds up to a lot of wasted vacation time waiting for a bus!

Plus at the end of the day you are guaranteed a seat if you are driving

 

[sam_gordon]

For quickness: Car (exception: MK)
For Cost: Bus
For "ease": Personal preference

 

[Gumbo4x4]

For Cost: Bus

There is no parking fee at the parks for guests who stay on property

 

[sam_gordon]

There is no parking fee at the parks for guests who stay on property

You're correct. I was assuming rental car costs.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You're correct. I was assuming rental car costs.

True - went back and OP said they'd have "a" car. I just assumed that meant their own car, but maybe not.

 

[WMorganS]

(erroneous post deleted)

 

[WMorganS]

There's times you'd want a car, but I'd say do NOT get one since you have a 3yo (father of 7yo twins here).

At the end of the day, if you have a car, you'll be walking to the tram, waiting, walking to the car, loading it, then driving back to your hotel. Just getting on the bus beats that hands down!!

There are two caveats:

(1) You NEED a car if you're staying at treetop villas. If you're staying there, get a car and know you're always driving, even.to MK (unless you're going to DTD, of course).

(2) Bussing between hotels can take a LONG time. All the bus routes run to/from the attractions (i.e. theme parks), so getting from one hotel to another hotel by bus means switching at an attraction and the. waiting for another bus. If your schedule includes a lot of dining reservations at hotels, then having a car would make sense.

-- Morgan

 

[dec2901]

DH, DS, and I are flying; however my mother is terrified of flying so she will be driving down. We also have the AAA parking benefit. Not for sure what that includes but I know we have it.

 

[loveswdw]

We have done both no car and car trips. For us, the convenience of the car outweighs the cost. I hate waiting for the bus and then dealing with the crowds, whether you'll get a seat. With a child you have to fool with getting the stroller on & off the bus (yes, you have to with a car but you don't have to deal with impatient, tired people who just want you to get on the bus) and you have to do this on the trams, too.

If you like to resort hop (which we do), car is the best way. Otherwise, you take a bus to DTD or the parks then transfer and vice versa. It can take you a good 2 hours to get from one resort to another depending on how long you have to wait.

Plus, a bus has to make multiple stops within the resort and some stop at the water parks too. Many times, if you stay at an Epcot resort, you may have 5, yes 5 stops. Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club/Swan and Dolphin.

You will kill a lot of time with the buses. But we do take the bus to the MK. The bus lets you off near the entrance. If you drive, you have to park, then tram to TTC, then ferry or monorail to MK. The bus is definitely easier at MK.

 

[CPT Tripss]

For quickness: Car (exception: MK)
For Cost: Bus
For "ease": Personal preference

Yeap! Car except for Magic Kingdom.

 

[pepe of ohio]

47 trips to WDW and never used or rented a car yet,,,, unnecessary expense in our book!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

47 trips to WDW and never used or rented a car yet,,,, unnecessary expense in our book!!

Part of OP's party is driving their own car down, so the car will be there anyway

DH, DS, and I are flying; however my mother is terrified of flying so she will be driving down. We also have the AAA parking benefit. Not for sure what that includes but I know we have it.

 

[conniehar90]

Definitely car - except for MK. Plus, you have AAA parking so you will be close enough to walk to the parks and not have to take the tram.

We also really like to control our own destiny by not having to wait for a bus or worry about the bus being full when the park closes, etc.

 

[sam_gordon]

47 trips to WDW and never used or rented a car yet,,,, unnecessary expense in our book!!

We haven't done as many trips, but even when we have a car, it stays in the resort lot unless we're going off property.

I like being "chauffeured" while on vacation.

The waits for the bus/no seat doesn't bother me. In fact, I don't get that someone will complain about a 20-30 minute wait for a bus, but it's no problem waiting an hour or more for an attraction.

 

[Bullseye]

Drive the car everywhere including the MK. Getting from the MK parking lot is no where as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be. Plus your 3 yr old would probably like traveling by monorail and/or Ferry. The car is way faster and more comfortable. You'll be happy when you can plunk your child safely in the car seat and get a cold drink out of the cooler you have in the trunk. Driving around WDW/LBV is fun and easy. Even if you get lost, just turn around and you will find signs everywhere showing where to go.

 

[davedmaine]

I'd say it depends on where you're staying too .. OKW or POR, I'd want a car; the properties are just way too spread out..
Apart from that, MK is really the only one I wouldn't want to drive to.

 

[ain0004]

We rent a van. we have tried trips and hated it. We feel trapped. Not that we won't grab a disney bus every now and then. But we also run to walmart or target. Anything to save a few $$. Trust me as much money as disney charges for things you can easily pay for a day or two of a rental.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The waits for the bus/no seat doesn't bother me. In fact, I don't get that someone will complain about a 20-30 minute wait for a bus, but it's no problem waiting an hour or more for an attraction.

'Cause you can't fast-pass the bus

 

[theyoungs07]

Another vote for drive...especially with AAA parking pass! No trams for you . I also agree that monorail from MK to the TTC is usually better than cramming on a full bus with multiple stops after closing down the park. I stay offsite these days, so of course I drive.

You could be standing on a crowded bus for 20 minutes, or your little one could fall asleep peacefully in their familiar carseat...