Staying on-site, have rental car, to which parks/resorts should we drive?

[leadfootlevi]

Here's a rough outline of our plan:

2/2 2:15 PM Flight arrives at MCO (hopefully!). We'll do a grocery stop on our way to POR. 6:55 PM Reservations at 'Ohana.
2/3 DHS
2/4 EP
2/5 Family portrait session at the Poly at 8:30 AM. HDDMR at 4:00 PM
2/6 AK
2/7 MK - we HAVE to drive on this day because we need to be there early for a tour
2/8 EP
2/9 MK and flight departs at 8:55 PM. We will drive on this day because we will check out of the hotel before we head to the MK and I want to maximize park time.

I thought I read the it's recommended to use Disney transportation to get to the MK, but that just won't work out for us, unfortunately. We are early risers so hopefully we can get one of the closest parking spots.

What about the other parks/resorts (particularly the Poly and FW) - is it preferable to drive or use Disney transportation? Where can I get a printable map of the WDW roads?

 

[Donna M]

Sometimes we like to take the buses to the parks so we don't have to bother with driving, other times we take the car.

Definitively take the car to any other resort since buses don't run to those places efficiently.

 

[cjnix29]

You have to take disney transportation to the MK. The buses drop you closest to the front gate. But if you drive, you will have to take either the monorail or the ferry boat, after you walk from the parking lot. We usually drive to HS, because parking is fairly close. Parking is good at Epcot and at AK too. You should drive to Ft. Wilderness for HDDR, and it's easy enough to drive to the Poly too. There is no resort to resort transportation except for your personal car.

 

[madthemouse]

Just adding my 2cnts. For the last 14 years we have rented a car. I prefer this over the WDW transportation that we used for our first 4 years. I enjoy driving, so on vacation is not a problem. And we enjoy the first ride of the day, "The Tram" from the parking area. Even when we stay at the BWV or BCV I still drive or walk (Sometimes) to DHS. With the exception of walking to Epcot, we will always take the car to where we're going. IMO, I think you may find driving to and from, more relaxing.

You can get maps from Mapquest, which will show time and distance. I can assure you, that if you're driving anywhere at WDW, getting from point A to Point B will not take you more then 12 minutes. That's not speeding. WDW is large....But not that large. From two of the most distant points, SSR to AK. Can be tranverse in less then 12 minutes.

Good luck and enjoy!