WDW Bus to parks or drive

[cleocat30]

We'll be staying on site for the first time ever. I'm VERY excited because I've heard how great it is to stay on disney property. We'll be at the All Star Movies resort. We = me, husband, 4 year old daughter, 17 year old babysitter and 17 year old friend of babysitter.

I like the idea of not driving once we get there. Is the bus system convenient? What's good....what's bad? Should we just drive to parks? Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Lisa

 

[OKW Lover]

You'll get a lot of conflicting opinions on this one.

I'll start it off by saying I much prefer to drive. My car goes when I'm ready to go, it plays the tunes I like, it isn't over-crowded, I always get a seat, the AC is set the way I like it, and it goes directly to a parking space near my room.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

I personally don't mind the bus system and don't rent a car when staying on site. But then, I only travel in the off season (never have gone the summer or Christmas/NY's) so the busses have never been crowded.

However, there have been times when it would have been nice to just jump in my own car back to the resort, especially after a very long day/evening at the parks with 2 kids.

The one park where I would definitely take the bus to would be the Magic Kingdom as the bus will leave you off at the entrance to the park. If you drive, you'll need to park at the TTC, take a tram to that entrance, and then either a ferry/monorail to the Magic Kingdom. It doesn't seem bad in the morning but it can be really tiring at the end of a long day.

 

[CleveRocks]

You'll get a lot of conflicting opinions on this one.

I'll start it off by saying I much prefer to drive. My car goes when I'm ready to go, it plays the tunes I like, it isn't over-crowded, I always get a seat, the AC is set the way I like it, and it goes directly to a parking space near my room.

Mine is one of those conflicting opinions. Okay, I've never had a car there, so I can't honestly say I "prefer" the buses, but I do really enjoy the buses. Totally a matter of personal preference.

I enjoy leaving the driving to someone else. I drive every day of my life, and a Disney vacation is one of the few times in my LIFE that I can not drive for a week and still enjoy myself. I've literally never had a vacation or business trip when I haven't rented a car at least some of the time. That being said, I'm also a city kid who's been using public transportation buses since 7th grade (no yellow school buses in Philadelphia after 6th grade, at least when I was in school).

Disney is that one destination where I can just relax and enjoy. OKW Lover loves getting into the car and setting the AC. I love getting into an already air conditioned bus, and being able to rest my legs, eyes and BRAIN.

I also really enjoy the socialization that often occurs on buses, at least around me. I've usually found it a great opportunity to strike up conversations with others. Of course, I didn't like it when I traveled in May of 2005, 3 months after my Philadephia Eagles lost in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, and it seemed like many people on each bus I rode were wearing Patriots' gear. I didn't enjoy THOSE conversations so much, but that's a story for another thread.

I can totally understand people not liking taking the buses. They can be crowded and noisy some or much of the time, you almost always have to wait at least a few minutes for them, and so on. I don't think people who drive themselves are wrong or crazy or anything, I just like it better the way I do it. And besides, if more people drive there will be more room on the bus for me!

ALSO, if you plan on doing a lot of resort hopping (like for meals), then renting a car is the way to go, in my opinion. It can be done without a car with some deft planning, but it seems to me that driving from one resort to another (except for the monorail resorts) would be much easier than using Disney Transport.