WDW with little ones-rent a car or use Disney transport?

[Simba's Mom]

Which will be more convenient for our 4 and 2 yo granddaughters? On one hand, DH (Grandpa) wants to rent a car so we can get straight to the park without waiting for and riding a bus. However, DS (Dad) wants to use the bus so he doesn't have to bring car seats. But we're not sure about juggling the firs and the stroller on the bus vs throwing the stroller in the trunk. It's been lots of years since we've been to WDW with little ones. What do you all suggest?

 

[Minniesgal]

I think in this case it should be up to the parent. The buses are manageable with strollers especially with several adults. Personally I would always prefer a car but if your son prefers the bus I would go with that .

 

[brockash]

Which will be more convenient for our 4 and 2 yo granddaughters? On one hand, DH (Grandpa) wants to rent a car so we can get straight to the park without waiting for and riding a bus. However, DS (Dad) wants to use the bus so he doesn't have to bring car seats. But we're not sure about juggling the firs and the stroller on the bus vs throwing the stroller in the trunk. It's been lots of years since we've been to WDW with little ones. What do you all suggest?

If your ds who I assume will be the one handling the stroller, then z
I'd for sure just use Disney transportation. We go every year and have had kids between a few months, toddlers, preschool etc. It's not fun dealing with strollers on the bus but it's completely doable and really sometimes I feel like it's easier at some parks like MK because the bus drops and picks you up right outside the gate instead of having to take the boat/monorail to parking lot etc.

 

[rillsung]

Since our first daughter was born, we rented a car UNTIL last Christmas. Last year, we had 6yr, 3.5yr, 1yr daughters with the 2 of us. It was just going to be way too expensive compared to previous years. It was not horrible. The buses ran very frequently and most of the time we didn't have too much trouble sitting on the bus. We are seriously debating getting a car this year. We would like to have it to go to LEGOLAND or Animal Kingdom and AK Lodge would be more convenient in a car. BUT trying to juggle 3 harness carseats and the 2 strollers and the 3 girls and all their stuff through the airports is not easy. We currently have one rented, but are still deciding... Another big factor for us is that we are staying at the Boardwalk so EPCOT and the Studios are within walking distance and the bus to the Magic Kingdom is easier than the car anyway....

 

[ShayBells]

I agree with your DS .. To me a stroller on a bus is a lot less hassle than car seats.

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[Simba's Mom]

So far it sounds like using Disney transportation is the way to go. Maybe it will be either VWL, BCV, or AKV, which all have single stop buses. OKW, which is a great resort, but only with a car (the multiple bus stops don't appeal to me) is probably out.

 

[henry72]

We have never brought our car seats with us since we use ME and then the Disney transportation on the resorts. We had no problem with taking the stroller on the bus. IN fact we found it quite easy but then again ours was very simple to fold up and carry. (MacClaren Volo) Just make sure to have the kids and stuff out of it and ready to go when the bus shows up and you will have no problem.

 

[maplevale]

We did Disney with just Disney Transport with our 9 month old, 4 year old, myself, DH and my parents (late 50/early 60's). We rented a double City Mini.... DH said it was a bit of a pain (he stood and held the stroller most times) but not horrible (in fact I suggested a car next time with a 6 and 2.5 year old and he said no).

As long as you don't overload the stroller, keep everything in 1-2 diaper bags that have good zip closures it's not bad. We stayed at POR and the longest we waited for a bus was leaving MK at 11pm - I think we waited 3-4 buses but it was less then an hour.

 

[epsmith921]

We stayed in a Disney resort specifically so we didn't have to bring a car seat for our two year old and mess with installing, etc.

It was so easy. I know double strollers are larger, and we went during September, but we rented a city elite, which is larger and heavier than the mini that many rent and didn't have any issues with it on the buses, monorail, or boats.

I would take our diaper bag and the toddler, and my husband would take the stroller. He even took the toddler and stroller by himself back to the resort and it was not an issue.

For us, we liked it a ton and would definitely do it again. Our car seats are just too large/heavy for trucking through the airport and too expensive for me to be willing to check them.

 

[newtexan]

We've done both.
We prefer the Disney bus - and so do the kids, i just kept the kids stuff in a backpack under the stroller, and would grab it and the smallest child, letting my husband fold up the stroller - before the bus came, so noone was waiting on us to try to get in.
With the flying and car seats, be sure they have an up-to-date FAA approved sticker on them or the airline won't let you use them, and they have to be stowed under the plane, where they get very dirty and could be damaged. To get them through the airport easily, we used a bungie cord and strapped them upside down to our pull along carry-ons and did fine.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We debated this for LONG time before out trip. We were experienced with the Disney buses, but not with our toddler. We ended up sticking with the buses. It really was not a problem, except sometimes leaving the parks at night when the toddler is asleep, one person had to hold the sleeping toddler and one person had to hold the stroller- sometimes while standing up. If we had two kids I don't think we could have pulled that off. But with grandparents to help that could be easier (or don't stay out so late that they fall asleep).

I am glad we stuck with the buses because the car seat makes my son fall asleep and he probably would have fallen asleep every time we park hopped which would have led to little fits to wake him up. And plus he thought it was soooo COOL to ride the bus.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

But on the other hand if you need to make a run to a grocery store or drug store you will have a car if you rent.

 

[mousehunter3]

Disney transport. We toyed with idea of renting a car too, but the more we thought about it, the more hassle we realized it would be. We were flying so we would have had to bring carseats along. You would probably still have to take the shuttle from your car to the park and back to your car anyway. Then just driving when you are tired at the end of a long day... Seemed like a big pain to me.

 

[wiigirl]

I think in this case it should be up to the parent. The buses are manageable with strollers especially with several adults. Personally I would always prefer a car but if your son prefers the bus I would go with that .

x2

 

[Betty Rohrer]

remember with the ages of the kids MK does not have a parking lot, you have to take either monorail or ferry from the parking lot plus maybe a tram. bus is right at the gate.

 

[dsneygirl]

So far it sounds like using Disney transportation is the way to go. Maybe it will be either VWL, BCV, or AKV, which all have single stop buses. OKW, which is a great resort, but only with a car (the multiple bus stops don't appeal to me) is probably out.

VWL and BC share with other resorts though. But then you have lots of other options (walking, boat etc) I would leave it up to the parent. Parking can be a big hassle. We were car seat free this trip and it is great. We rented a car last trip and used it maybe 50% vs Disney Transport 50%.