Wouldn't it be easier to skip the busses and drive to the parks?

[mommyoeo]

I have 3 children and will carry at least 2 strollers with me to the parks. Sometimes, I will have 3 strollers because I can hook 2 of them together. I will also have both of my parents and both of my DH's parents with us. Sine we have 6 adults and only 3 kids (2:1 is a great ratio!), should we ride busses? Or should we plan to drive because we'd have 3 strollers on our laps in the busses? My MIL is disabled and will rent a scooter in the parks but can walk a little while to get inside the gates. What would be the fastest and the least amount of walking? We're staying at POP. (MIL has handicap parking) TIA

 

[donaldtutter]

if you have a car i would drive

 

[maxaroni]

I know that some may dispute this but we drove down this trip and used the car. We LOVED it. In the past, we've flown and didn't rent a car. Our neighbors went the following week, after one of our trips and rented a car. They said that they loved the convenience of the car. We thought they were nuts. Well, this year we drove and figured we'd use the busses sometimes and our car others. We used the car the whole trip and loved it. It may have been a few steps more to get to the lot but we had Diamond Parking (AAA) which is right behind handicap parking. We always got a great spot on the first or 2nd row. When we got to the car at the end of the nite, we cranked up the a/c, got a cold drink from our cooler and off we went.

I would suggest your car if you have all of that stuff to lug....

 

[mkymouse4ever]

We drove to almost all of the parks too. We usually rent a car and go back and forth between driving & bus but I usually prefer the car. I especially at the end of the nite like to have the car and miss the late bus lines. Or you can make a late nite run at fast food or krispi creme while your out.

mky

 

[asaj]

We like to drive as well. Our DD is 6 yrs old now, but when she was younger I just found it much less stressful to drive from park to park with the strollers and all. I hated trying to lug it all onto the bus while people were waiting.

Driving means you can come and go as you please, when you want, and stress free...IMHO.

Andy

 

[msmayor]

Chalk up another vote for using the car.

On one trip, we were at WDW while hubby had a business conference. We stayed at All Star (conference was at the Swan, but we were staying longer and were trying to save money on the room for the extra nights) so he needed the car to get to the Swan for the meetings. My 2 kids and I used the busses while he had the car one day to go play mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens. It took us nearly 90 minutes to get there by bus...a 10 minute drive with our car later in the week.

From that day on, we vowed to always use our car. Its just so nice knowing that your ride is there waiting for you at the end of the day, and knowing that you'll waste little of your precious time waiting for busses/transferring busses trying to get to your destination.

It also gave us the flexibility to go offsite if we chose.

 

[alwayspooh]

I am a person that is big about the disney bus system (we fly) but after traveling with my disabled mother in 12/03, I would have preferred to have a car. The bus drivers were very pleasant and the buses were equipped to handle wheelchairs but it would take a really long time to load her up, get my DD3 (at the time) on the bus with the stroller etc. A lot of people can get pretty nasty by the end of the night when everyone is really tired and they have to wait on a person in a wheelchair. We didn't mind but it made my mother feel a little awkward. Please don't get me wrong about traveling with my mother, I would do it again in a heartbeat but I would rent a car the next time so she would feel more at ease.

With as many strollers as you are talking sometimes the buses get really full in the evenings and they don't have a lot of room. We found that out really quick with standing room only on a bus and you have a DH with a stroller in hand it makes it hard to hold on to both the bus and the stroller.

 

[mommyoeo]

Thank you guys! I appreciate you writing back so quickly. I was thinking the same thing but I've never heard anyone have this opinion before. Our minivan sounds like the way to go since we'll have sooo much gear. When DH and I run to the parks alone, we'll try the bus so we can see for ourselves.

 

[bigmac5]

I liked the bus system. We had our car but chose to park it. We hopped from park to park to resort back to our resort and had only one problem our whole week. I just couldn't imagine to drive from MK after spectomagic and wishes. We had no wait for the bus and we back to our room by 11. It gave us some wind down time after the park and time to actually sit and talk to some interesting people

 

[Sammie]

I might consider driving to the parks except for the Magic Kingdom, since you have to park in the lot, then transport from there to the monorail or ferry.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i alway rent a car i hate waiting at night for the buses

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

Thanks to the OP for posting this question and thanks to all that have answered!!!

We hated the bus system last year when we went. (Nothing against the bus system, it's us!) We had thought about driving to MGM and AK this year (we're staying at the POLY so we can use the monorail for MK and Epcot). These posts have cinched that decision for us.

 

[Msslaydbug]

We have always rented a car and drove to the parks. This last time at POP we rode the buses a few times and it wasn't too bad but we still preferred to jump into the car and go without having to worry how long a bus would take, ect.

 

[the kabuki]

IMHO- SKIP THE BUSES, TAKE THE CAR, TAKE THE CAR, TAKE THE CAR

Rented for the 1st time on our last trip and can't begin to tell you how much better it is to use a rental car, especially with kids'!!!!!

TAKE THE CAR!!!

 

[AJKMOM]

We always take the bus to the Magic Kingdom. That way, we get dropped off at the front gate, avoiding the parking lot, the tram, and the monorail or ferry. Other parks, we drive our rental.

 

[Florida_Mom]

Here's sort of a related question:

We're staying at WL when we go to MVMCP. Coming back to the lodge that night, is it better to wait for the boat to the resort or the bus or just take the car? I'll have my DS8 and my DS4 with me. It will be very late for them, which is why I am concerned about a long line waiting for the boat.

Thanks!

 

[bubba73]

My feelings exactly. We were at Pop in June and used the bus only once during our stay. The amount of time that we waited in line for the bus and then the ride to the park was time we could have saved and been in the park. We figured close to 30 minutes elapsed. Besides, with the free parking pass you get by staying at the resort, you are not paying the parking fees so drive and save time. It will be one less line that you have to stand in during the stay.

 

[minnie61650]

I might consider driving to the parks except for the Magic Kingdom, since you have to park in the lot, then transport from their to the monorail or ferry.

Actually if you park in the handicap area at the MK lot there is no tram
from the parking lot to the TCC. There are a few wheelchairs to use.
My advice for the MK lot is to either park in the regular lot and take the tram or park in the handicap area and use a wheelchair.
I made the mistake of thinking I could walk to the TTC and rent an EVC.
There were no EVC's available there and no wheelchairs for use there either.
By the time I got up the ramp for the monorail I was in severe pain and on the verge of tears.From then on I have always rented an EVC from offsite and taken the buses.The buses really are wonderful and the use of the EVC saves me from a lot of pain and makes my vacation much more enjoyable.
Walking from the paking lot to the EVC rental is too far for most with a disablity.
See if you can rent a regular WC for MIL to use to get from the parking lot to the EVC rental if you choose not to rent offsite. Then when she rents the EVC they can tag her WC and it will be ready to take back to your car when she leaves the park.

Another thing to consider is there is a limited amount of EVC's for rent.
If you get to park in late morning they might be all taken. If you deside to leave and go to another park or to park hop they may not be available to rent.

I understand strollers can be a hastle on a bus but trying to walk from the parking lot to the main gate, then going through bag check, then waiting to rent an EVC really takes it toll on a person with limited mobielity.

I would also suggest that because of mobility issues she should rent an EVC
from an offsite company.
I have a disability and have rented mine from Care Medical (800-741-2282) and Walker Mobility (888-726-6837) in the past. I would recommend either one.The cost is about $30 a day. The ones at the parks cost $35 a day and are bigger and have 4 wheels kinda like a golf card. They are harder to steer and to control. If she rents from an offsite rental they will deliver the EVC to bell services at the resort. She can use it to go to the pool, and food court as well as the bus stop. If she is not familar with a scooter have her practice at a store before the trip.Walmart and Target as well as several stores have them for customers.
Almost all the Disney buses are accessible. I love using my EVC it gives me more indepence and helps keep my pain to a minimum. I just back my EVC into the room, plug it in and I ready to go to the parks in the morning.

There is a way disassemble the EVC and it will fit in trunk of a full size car.

Enjoy your trip at Disney and make sure MIL uses a wheelchair or an EVC in the parks.
EVC's are more expensive but it is well the cost to me. I don't feel like I'm holding up my group when I use the EVC.
Have fun!
Linda

 

[vanyel]

Another vote for the car. I've done both and much prefer having a car. I often take the busses back to the resort for a mid afternoon break, especially if I have a good parking space The busses are not as crowded then.

MK is a pain though, when you drive because you have to take other transportation to the park besides the tram. I've even thought of parking at EPCOT then taking the monorail over - anyone ever try that?

Thank goodness others prefer the busses or it would be even worse in those parking lots!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I commute to work every day. I spend at least an hour in a car. I'm always the driver wherever I go. I put a good 20K+ miles on my car each year. So I am very happy to leave it to Disney to drive around while I am there.

Normally I'm a do-it-yourself'er, but not here. I've never found the bus system to be any less than wonderful. The key is not trying to get a bus with everyone else. It's MK closing time (let's say 9PM) and everyone and their brother goes to the busses at the same time. I don't. I hang out on Main Street, get a snack, or just sit and marvel at the castle. When people have cleared out, then I head down to the busses. Big line? I take a seat on the wonderful benches. The busses keep coming until there aren't any people - I've never actually stood in a bus line for more than 5 minutes.

I really enjoy spending a week somewhere and never once setting foot in a parking lot - and I love the magical busses that make it all possible. If it's ever that bad, I take a cab - $10-15 a few times during a vacation is still less than renting a car.

So here's a vote for no car - it's not for everyone, but man I love them busses.

N.E.D.