Would like opinions on Disney Transportation vs using own car

[DisneySOS]

We are driving to WDW & will have our van with us.We are a family of 5, DH, myself, DD20, DS15 & my mom who is almost 80 & will be using an ECV. She rented one that comes apart for easy transport.

We are staying at All Star Music for 4 nights and will be going to the parks on 3 days. We do not have hoppers. We will be going to MK, EP & HS & we are planning to RD for all 3 parks. It sounds rushed but we squeezed this into our Florida beach vacation and will have plenty of downtime and relaxation for a full week afterwards.

We've stayed both on site and off. Last time was off site and driving wasn't the horrible experience I thought it might be, especially after being spoiled at the Poly.

ASM looks relatively close to both HS & EP. To me it seems silly to stand out in the hot sun with no cover and wait for a bus & perhaps even longer because of the ECV? You also have to allow an extra 30 minutes or so correct? I'd rather hop into our van & drive since parking is free to resort guests.
DH thinks I'm crazy. Also have no idea what building we will end up in so it's possible our van might be closer than the ASM bus stop!

MK is the only one where I'm really unsure of what to do. It looks like the bus might be a good option for that day since it drops you off in front. OR If we drive & park at TTC mom has her handicapped parking pass so I shouldn't have to worry about the lot being full even at an early hour.

I'd be interested in any feedback as to what might work better for all of our park days.

 

[Mikie]

All stars are pretty close to Epcot and DHS. Have you ever done disney buses with ECV? And is your mom experienced at driving it? For MK I'd take th bus because of the convenient drop off, but for the other two, it depends on your comfort driving around Disney vs your comfort getting the ECV on and off the bus.

 

[KimmiP]

I don't know what time of year you will be going but with everything you explained, I would take the van, at the very least for EP and HS. Since your will be doing rope drop you should be able to park relatively close to the entrance. MK is a toss up. But you are right waiting for the bus in that heat with no shade is no picnic. Plus after a long day you have to wait at night and then with the ECV you may have to wait for more than one bus before it can get on. Also if you want rope drop, waiting for a bus is also a toss up. There will be many trying to do the same thing, so a car might actually give you an advantage.

Have fun!

 

[bumbershoot]

For me, it's the car. Even to MK.

 

[ellie05]

We always take our car. We took disney bus once and that was enough for us.

 

[richmo]

I agree with you that it will probably be easier to drive and I'd do the same for MK.

Another option you could do with MK if you don't want to go from handicapped is you could drop your mom, the ECV and maybe the rest or some of the crew at either 'Guest Dropoff' or 'Lost and Found' and have them wait for you. To get at either of those, you would stay to the right as you go thru the parking gate, as if you were going to the Polynesian, then make a left at the traffic light (keep following signs for the Poly). Before you get to the Poly, you can go in either the 'Lost and Found' (formerly the kennel) or Guest Dropoff and drop your stuff. Then you would continue as if you're leaving Magic Kingdom area and pass the Hess station. As you're approaching the parking gate (from the opposite direction), there's a loopback into Magic Kingdom parking (it's marked) and you park normally.

 

[DisneySOS]

All stars are pretty close to Epcot and DHS. Have you ever done disney buses with ECV? And is your mom experienced at driving it? For MK I'd take th bus because of the convenient drop off, but for the other two, it depends on your comfort driving around Disney vs your comfort getting the ECV on and off the bus.

No she has only used an ECV before her knee surgery. She is able to walk but tires easily now. Between her age & the July heat the ECV was a no brainer. She is nervous about buses but DH told her he could drive it on for her if need be.

 

[DisneySOS]

MK is a toss up. But you are right waiting for the bus in that heat with no shade is no picnic. Plus after a long day you have to wait at night and then with the ECV you may have to wait for more than one bus before it can get on. Also if you want rope drop, waiting for a bus is also a toss up. There will be many trying to do the same thing, so a car might actually give you an advantage.

Exactly!

I agree with you that it will probably be easier to drive and I'd do the same for MK.

Another option you could do with MK if you don't want to go from handicapped is you could drop your mom, the ECV and maybe the rest or some of the crew at either 'Guest Dropoff' or 'Lost and Found' and have them wait for you. To get at either of those, you would stay to the right as you go thru the parking gate, as if you were going to the Polynesian, then make a left at the traffic light (keep following signs for the Poly). Before you get to the Poly, you can go in either the 'Lost and Found' (formerly the kennel) or Guest Dropoff and drop your stuff. Then you would continue as if you're leaving Magic Kingdom area and pass the Hess station. As you're approaching the parking gate (from the opposite direction), there's a loopback into Magic Kingdom parking (it's marked) and you park normally.

Didn't even think of that! I have no idea where handicapped parking is even located, just know she has one and uses it at home and she always travels with it.

 

[richmo]

Actually, especially when you're leaving, she could ride the ECV out to the parking lot. Think of it as a tram for 1.

 

[Candleshoe]

I don't like Disney buses, and almost always prefer my own car. The only exception is with an ECV. Two trips ago I was solo with my ECV and on Disney property. It was great just driving on to the bus and then into the park. Last trip I was with the family and our own car at Bonnet Creek. DH was mainly responsible for knocking it down and putting it back together again. I did try to help but I'm not very strong. He was so sick of doing that. He asked me to get a reservation at a Monorail resort the next time. (We didn't, we're offsite, but hopefully my knees will be strong enough that I won't need an ecv).

Point is, that I would ask the person who is going to be responsible for taking it apart and putting it back together again.

The bright side is that if you have your own Van you are not tied to just one way. You can try both ways.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

I would use the van in your situation.

We only use the Disney Transportation as we don't venture off property so there is no need. I've done it before and there are too many idiots at the end of the day trying to race back home. I'll take the bus.

 

[BayouMickey]

A couple years ago I tore my ACL right before our trip, so i was ECV bound. We flew in and used Disney Transportation (we always had previously too). Honestly? It wasn't all that bad. But I'm a very easy going kind of guy, so I may not be the best informant here. you are the first on the bus but last off, I found the drivers very accommodating. If you are not what we call down here a "nervene" or a stickler for schedules, Disney transportation is a very viable solution.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I use Disney transportation for MK and Downtown Disney. Otherwise, I prefer to drive. It's too much hassle to wait for the bus with young kids and strollers. On our family trip last August, a couple was nice enough to let my girls to sit on their laps during a packed bus to MK from POR. Thinking about spend extra time and drive to MK this year.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

For convenience I would use your van for visiting all of the parks. Since you are only visiting each park once, the hassle of getting the ECV on and off of the buses wouldn't be worth it for me. For MK rope drop, get there super early. I would try and use the ferry boat to get to the front gate. It can feel less crowded than the monorail.

 

[Shmily01]

We always prefer to drive. When I'm ready to get out of the park, I don't want to have to wait for a bus, etc. But that is just our personal preference.

 

[Disfan1968]

Aside from the occasional hiccup in transportation such as a large crowd requiring a second bus, or perhaps a slightly late bus here and there we have found Disney transport to be great. There was one time at AoA when we waited a half hour for a MK bus, at which time literally three buses pulled up at once. We suspect someone there got re-routed to us as quite a line was building. But again, that's ONE incident like that in over a hundred drops offs and pick ups. It's usually pretty spot on in our experiences.

 

[tobikaye]

Would your husband be the one driving to the parks from the hotel? Could if be that he does not want to deal with driving once you get there? Also, how will be taking apart the ECV and putting it back together? I was able to do this with the one my sister rented, but the first couple of times I took it apart, it took me longer so we probably did not save but 10 minutes versus if we had taken a bus. Once I got used to the process, it only took me about 2 minutes to take it apart and load and about 2 to take it out and put together.

If this is something you or one of your kids could do on your own, maybe you and one kid drive your mom and your husband and other kid take the bus. You can both leave the room at the exact same time and see how gets where faster and with less stress?

I will say that when I have my sister I usually have to drive everywhere as she has a developmental disability and a phobia of not having transportation. Even when I do not have her with me, but have access to a car, it is about 65% drive and 35% bus at WDW.

 

[DisneySOS]

I never really experienced problems with taking the buses to the parks in the past but I also wasn't trying to get there at a particular time either so it wasn't that big of a deal if we waited an extra 10-15 minutes. I do remember having to turn in the rented stroller at the end of the night and having a very cranky toddler on our hands while we waited for quite some time (totally understandable at park closing) and DH having to hold him while standing on a crowded bus.

Point is, that I would ask the person who is going to be responsible for taking it apart and putting it back together again. The bright side is that if you have your own Van you are not tied to just one way. You can try both ways.

Another family member rented the same scooter and he said it was a breeze. That said, DH & DS would be responsible for taking it apart. We had planned on practicing at the resort the day before when we get it as well as mom taking a few laps.

I would use the van in your situation. We only use the Disney Transportation as we don't venture off property so there is no need. I've done it before and there are too many idiots at the end of the day trying to race back home. I'll take the bus.

DH used to drive an ambulance in NYC traffic - he's a pro with dealing with idiot drivers, lol!

For convenience I would use your van for visiting all of the parks. Since you are only visiting each park once, the hassle of getting the ECV on and off of the buses wouldn't be worth it for me. For MK rope drop, get there super early. I would try and use the ferry boat to get to the front gate. It can feel less crowded than the monorail.

MK will be our 3rd park day so I have plenty of time to get the boat schedule - I was thinking this would be a very good option as we've done it before just not that early in the morning.

Would your husband be the one driving to the parks from the hotel? Could if be that he does not want to deal with driving once you get there? Also, how will be taking apart the ECV and putting it back together? I was able to do this with the one my sister rented, but the first couple of times I took it apart, it took me longer so we probably did not save but 10 minutes versus if we had taken a bus. Once I got used to the process, it only took me about 2 minutes to take it apart and load and about 2 to take it out and put together.

If this is something you or one of your kids could do on your own, maybe you and one kid drive your mom and your husband and other kid take the bus. You can both leave the room at the exact same time and see how gets where faster and with less stress?

I will say that when I have my sister I usually have to drive everywhere as she has a developmental disability and a phobia of not having transportation. Even when I do not have her with me, but have access to a car, it is about 65% drive and 35% bus at WDW.

He probably thinks I would ask him to drive each time but honestly I'm totally comfortable doing it if need be. I think splitting it would be fair - I can take the morning when there's less traffic! If we had more than 3 days I would totally split up and test it out but I don't want to waste time having one group waiting on the other.

Thanks for all the input! Not leaving until July and gives me good advice.

 

[Brian Noble]

Ordinarily, I would drive. With an ECV, I might be more inclined to take Disney transportation.

 

[bumbershoot]

Two trips ago I was solo with my ECV and on Disney property. It was great just driving on to the bus and then into the park.

Solo, I can totally see that.

He probably thinks I would ask him to drive each time but honestly I'm totally comfortable doing it if need be. I think splitting it would be fair - I can take the morning when there's less traffic!

Driving around WDW isn't hard at all. Especially if you have a driver who listens to the navigator, and a navigator who is good at navigating, and can do so clearly and quickly. Basically, know what area you're coming from and what area you're going to, and follow the signs pointing the way to the area you're going to.

For handicap parking, just ask the CMs pointing the way in the parking lots!