Baby on Board

[bradandsarabr]

My family (kids 4 & 1) will be driving to Disney soon. We are staying on-site. Once there, what would you recommend? (1) driving to the parks (2) waiting on bus. Our concern is being able to quickly get back to the room with the 1 year old without subjecting everyone on bus to his crying.
txs

 

[durangojim]

Where are you staying? If you have a boat or monorail access that is your best bet. If not, then a car would be quicker than bus except for MK.

 

[alya922]

I'd definitely advise you to drive. Driving is the most convienient in my opinion, as I've done both options. Getting to your car is simple as the tram to the parking lots leave every couple minutes and you don't have to deal with waiting and overcrowded buses if the park is emptying out...or even possibly needed to stand on the bus if its really crowded. Plus you can store anything you may need in the car, i.e. sweatshirts, food, toys, stroller, etc.

We always took Disney transportation for probably our first 10 trips. Now we always rent a car and we fully believe its worth the cost just for the convienence of it.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

If you are going to be getting to the parks early in the morning then I think driving might be easier. Getting there early will allow you to be close to the entrance for quick escape if need be. I recommend taking Disney transport to the Magic Kingdom though. This way you won't have to take a monorail or ferry and then the tram to get to your car. You will just have to hop on a bus from the turnstyle to your park.

Judge from your kids moods though. if you think they will be ok on the busses, then they are definately easier to use in my opinion.

 

[mrtoad]

The only bad thing with driving will be holding a baby on the tram to the parking lot. Other than that, driving is better than the buses with a small child. Not because of the crying on the bus but because waiting for the bus with a small child or worse, having to stand on the bus with a smaill child.

 

[Coree]

We'll also be making this trip with a one-year-old later this month and will definitely be driving to the parks for exactly this reason.

 

[Nansafan]

With young kids driving is great. Some of the best naps my nephews got were in the car traveling from the resort to whichever park we were headed and back again. Even a short trip/nap is a good recharge.

 

[magicmom]

We have gone many times with very little ones. My kids are now 6 and twin 2 1/2 year olds and we are going in 4 weeks. My best advice is to take the buses to MK but to the other parks it is better to drive. We usually take pajamas and leave them in the van. Then at night when we are leaving we change the kids. From the time we leave the parking lot to the time we get back to the hotel it is night-night and all we have to do is park by our room and carry them to the room. This beats them falling asleep on the bus and then having to walk from the front of the hotel to your room with an exhausted child and exhausted parents!

It is also good when changing parks. Especially in the summer. Everyone could use a nice cool ride in the air conditioned car! This way if they fall asleep for a quick nap you can just sit in the car in the air conditioning and recharge yourself for the rest of the day!

:wave:

 

[danpam1024]

We always stay on site and find it better (for us) to take our car...no waiting and smushing on the crowded bus. Parking is free anyway. Less hassle w/ the stroller and tired cranky little ones!

 

[coltow]

TAKE THE BUS TO THE MAGIC KINDGOM!!! We had a car for our trip a few weeks ago. The bus to MK drops you off at next to the entrance. If you drive you need to 1st take the tram and then either momorail or ferry. The travel from the parking lot to the main entrance could take 30 minutes as opposed to the bus which you will only have a 5 minute walk at most.

In the past we had used the busses and at EPCOT and AK we felt as though we could have parked closer to the park than where the bus dropped us off.

 

[Ringo8n24]

We used the bus with our daughter. She usually fell asleep at the end of the day anyway so she was quiet. On the way there to the parks, she was really good, too, because she was really excited and asking questions. I think the bus ride added to the magic and anticipation rather than the same old carseat she is used to.