Use bus or drive our car?

[g3pak]

We are at Pop in late September. From what I hear, the place will be packed. We are driving to WDW, so we will have our own car. Should we use the bus or drive our car to the parks each day?

We were at WDW 1 1/2 years ago at AKL and used the bus. I don't remember it being bad except for an exceptionally long wait one night at Epcot. Of course, that was a deluxe and it was February with no free dining.

I keep reading that at the end of the night the wait for buses can be rediculous. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[imthatgirl]

i will always vote for your own car. we always rent a car there. i find the bus situation a nightmare.

 

[disnut8]

We drive to the parks except for Magic Kingdom. The bus drops you off at the front so no need for the TTC.

I did stay at Pop Century and had a few days where I didn't have a car so had to use the bus. First day, I was out there about 10:30 and it was mobbed. I wanted to go to the Studios but boarded an Epcot one instead and then walked through to get to the Studios. The second day, I waited until noon and it was much better. I only came back via bus once and that was from Epcot and I was the only one on the bus in the late afternoon.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

You'll hear different responses from different people. When we go for a week our car sits and we take advantage of the Disney transportation. We never really had a problem with it. Yes, you will have a wait if you leave any of the parks after fireworks etc. when everyone wants to get back to there rooms all at the same time. Depends if you mind waiting or you are in a hurry to get back to your rooms, to me the waits are never really that bad so it doesn't bother me.

 

[pepe of ohio]

You'll hear different responses from different people. When we go for a week our car sits and we take advantage of the Disney transportation. We never really had a problem with it. Yes, you will have a wait if you leave any of the parks after fireworks etc. when everyone wants to get back to there rooms all at the same time. Depends if you mind waiting or you are in a hurry to get back to your rooms, to me the waits are never really that bad so it doesn't bother me.

We've logged 40 trips to WDW, sometimes we drove, flew and used the train and when we drove our car sat in the lot, never used it. We go to WDW because of the transportation system, very efficient, so you wait 15-20 minutes, not a deal breaker for us. We like being hauled all over WDW property for free for 10-12 nights, no car or gas or accident worries. It's just an added expense and to us not a real convenience. The bus system over the 30 some years we've been going to Disney has been the best service we've ever encountered, short wait, freezing cold A/C, door to door service, tops in our book plus we like the WL, last 10 stays and the boat to the MK is a wonderful ride. We go to DTD a couple of times on our visits and that parking lot, huge, is a nightmare, couldn't imagine driving there for a time saver and convenience in all that mess. Others swear by their own car, we do fine without.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I go both ways (I am bi transportational I guess). I enjoy having a car if I am going to do a alot of dining at other resorts or when we stay for two weeks, I like to have a car to go the beach, grocery store etc. But then again, we often don't rent a car and it never bothers us. I enjoy saving the money, I don't find the waits too bad. Also at some of the resorts, I hate the way you park in the self parking lot and then walk for what seems like an eternity to get to your room. At resorts like SSR and OKW, I love being able to park right outside my door. And then at times I hate waiting for the parking lot tram, getting let out, walking down the long row of cars (we almost always have to park in the last spot at the end it seems) then get in my car which has been sitting in a parking lot all day and has an internal temperature of 150 degrees. It can be very nice to wait for a bus, but then get into an airconditioned bus. Of course if you have to stand in the bus, well that's a different story. So I guess there are pros and cons each way. But saving money and using the transportation you paid for whether you use it or not, is a nice thing.

And when we do have a car, we almost never drive to the MK. Too much hassle.

 

[Marty Joe]

I do not need or want the hassle. The last thing I want to do when I'm on vacation is drive. It is just my luck to get lost, have a fenderbender, get a big honk'in scratch on the car in a parking lot, misplace keys, etc... I like looking at the scenery too and its hard to do when your driving.

 

[debsays]

I will say that we usually drive to Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

 

[Batthauer]

We love using the car! You have more freedom in coming and going without waiting on the bus...

We only take Disney transportation to the Magic Kingdom...

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We were there for Free Dining last year and we also stayed at POP. We used the Disney buses the entire time. We never had to wait very long for a bus. Even at park closing, when the lines were long, they would sometimes have two at one time lined up to pick up guests. We usually drive to WDW, so we always have our own car, but we never use it. We just park it when we get there and use Disney buses the entire time. We did fly this past September, and we still didn't need a car. Renting a car would have been a big waste of money for us. We have always found the Disney transportation to be very efficient.

 

[jennykay]

Just one more person here who likes the bus! There are pros and cons to either, so you'll just have to decide for yourself (sorry, I know that's not much help!) We stayed at Pop last Sept and only used our car once - to drive to the Boardwalk for dinner.

Basically, I'd rather stand and wait a while and be able to zone out, plan the day, talk to the kids about everything, meet new people, etc...during the commutes than to find the car, fight traffic, ask the kids to please be quiet so I can figure out where I'm going, etc. Plus, my kids think the bus is another ride at Disney! DS said it was his favorite part (until we rode Splash Mountain, but I digress...) No matter what you end up doing, you'll have a great time. Don't sweat it!

 

[OKW Lover]

With the exception of going to the MK, we always drive to the parks. The car goes when we want to go, plays music we want to hear and the person next to you didn't have beans for lunch. Usually :

We also love making side trips to other resorts, or even off-property, so having a car is a must for us.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

If you drive down definitely use the car. It's just easier, especially with children! You know it's there when you need it! Parking is FREE if you're staying at Disney anyway! The few times we've used the bus weren't the best times spent at Disney. However if you are within a boat ride or monorail ride to the parks I'd definitely say USE that!

 

[danielmorgan03]

The buses from and to Pop were fine. We never waited long except for one bus leaving Epcot. Don't waste the money and suffer the hassel.

 

[srwarden1928]

I would prefer the car. Now if I could use the monorail or boat to get to a park I would. Busses just arent my idea of a fun time.

 

[jennykay]

With the exception of going to the MK, we always drive to the parks. The car goes when we want to go, plays music we want to hear and the person next to you didn't have beans for lunch. Usually :

We also love making side trips to other resorts, or even off-property, so having a car is a must for us.

Okay, well that is a good point. On one bus trip we were a little too near a particularly smelly person. I had forgotten all about that. But my ds can make smells that are at least that bad, so maybe you should all use your car during September and stay away from us on the bus!

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I would use the bus, much faster that way.

 

[standleyent1]

I would use your car because of the freedom and the wait times for the buses. I always go on EBay and find a AAA Diamond Parking pass because I like parking in the VIP section of the parks so I can get in faster and not have to depend on the tram to come around. The only park I have reservations about is MK because you have to go through the TTC and that can be a bit of a hassle but on the flip side you could take a nice relaxing boat ride or of course use the monorail which is always a pleasure and you are right at the front gate. If you use the AAA pass at DHS you will be able to park up close to the entrance and walk in instead of having to use the tram. If you cross the bus lane to the left as you are walking up towards the entrance you can use the employee entrance and avoid any lines at the security check point. Its an public entrance but few people know about it, its nice to miss the lines and you only have 1 security guard to get through. Epcot parking is nice, as well, you park all the way over to the left and in the front row usually and you don't have to fight the crowds while trying to get into or out of the park. AK is great as well no tram and a short walk to the front gate even shorter than using the buses. And like the other posters said it is nice to have the option of going off property and not having to fight for a seat on the bus or waiting in a long line with others.
Have Fun!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We use the Disney buses. I would rather wait a few minutes and step into an air-conditioned bus than to have to trek all the way across a parking lot, strap my kid into a very hot carseat, and navigate back to the resort. Ugh. We do drive to WDW so we have our own car, but we rarely use it. We prefer the buses.

 

[RachaelA]

We used our car last January at Pop. The buses were so packed every morning and evening. It was so nice just to walk to the car and be able to leave.