Do you drive or take the Disney bus to parks?

[micknminnie]

We drive down to WDW so having our minivan is convenient. Last year we tried taking the buses on our first day with 3 small children and 2 coaches. It was too hectic. Getting on a crowded bus with the coaches and trying to hold on while holding onto the kids was hard. We found it much easier to just drive to the parks the rest of the week. We are planning on driving again in a few weeks, its less stress.

 

[bracjeff]

We usually drive to Blizzard Beach,Typhoon Lagoon,and Downtown Disney The rest we take the bus.

 

[mousebymarriage]

If we fly to Disney then we usually take the busses but, my family meets us at Disney and they have a minivan and a Suburban. If we have ADR's for dinner at one of the resorts then we just pile into the cars and go, the rest of the time we all bus it. If we drive to Disney then it depends but, most of the time we use the busses.

 

[KingStefan]

It depends for us. Before ME (which we've never taken for one reason or another), we always rented a car anyway, because we found we could usually get one for the length of stay for less than bus fare or limo or even taxi.

Now that's all different, though. But still if our first or last day (or both) is offsite it is still applies. Even if we use ME one way, it's worth the extra cost to have a car just in case.

One thing people haven't mentioned is that for most resort-to-resort trips, taking a car (or a taxi) is almost a must. Of course if you are going to a MK resort and will be going back before an hour or so after the parks close there is no problem. Otherwise it is a real pain.

For example, one day this coming trip, we're going from POR to DS, then to AK until closing (7 PM) then to AKL for dinner. We figure we'll be through at about 10:45 PM. Now how do we get back to POR? There is only one option, and that's DTD. The UG give estimates of an average of 88 min, and worst case of 116 min. That's an hour and a half to two hours to go between two resorts when the parks are closed! The answer for us is to take a car that day or take a taxi home at night!

It is also worth it to have a car to do at least one off-site shopping trip. For cereal or milk or beer or personal items, you can save a bundle if you can get off-site easily.

From anywhere to MK and between parks, Disney transport is a definite yes for us, however, barring some other reason.

 

[disneytopdog]

Can some one explain this AAA parking pass. I am a American Automobile Association member but cannot find anything about it on their website. Is this something you can purchase? Is it worth it?

 

[daliseurat]

There's really not much to argue over if you have a car when you stay on property. DRIVE. Do it one day and see how you like it. Won't cost anything. Bus MIGHT be faster to MK because it drops you at the gate area instead of TTC. Generally, you wait longer for busses later in the day at resorts, and during busy times for people leaving the parks. It's a very individual thing. Try it.

 

[Chrononymous]

Neither my mom nor I have a Driver's Licence. So for us, the Bus system is a godsend.

I have gotten really use to the bus routes, and they have become another part of the magic experience of being there.

They are air conditioned, they are comfortable (compared to many other buses I have sat on) and they are efficiant, for the most part.

Although there was that one time, when we had a bus trainee, and almost smashed into Planet Hollywood...but well, it was memorable!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Both, depends on the way the winds blowing and if there may be a wee hello cheeky involved later in the day.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

We drive there and we never take Disney buses...we know Disney property very well it is easier then waiting on a crowded slow bus..

Bingo!!! We do/feel the same. Disney transportation for us is boats and monorail. They are enjoyable.... buses .... not even close!

 

[jen2009]

We take the bus when staying on property. By the time you drive and wait for the trame to pick you up...its just as easy to ride the bus. Saves our gas for the trip home. We did drive once to DTD because it was pouring down rain and it was are last day to shop. I did not want to stand in the rain with wet packages and we could not send them to the resort because we were checking out the next morning.

 

[KingStefan]

Can some one explain this AAA parking pass. I am a American Automobile Association member but cannot find anything about it on their website. Is this something you can purchase? Is it worth it?

The AAA parking pass allows you to park in a small reserved section up front near the gate. It's normally only for people who book through AAA as their travel agent. However, I have heard of people walking into the AAA office and asking for one and getting it. Perhaps the people in that AAA office thought that he had booked with them and he just didn't get the passes with the package, because I think you have to ask for them.

I've never used one, but Richard at KK told me (Richard, please correct me if I don't get it exactly right) that it's not really that big a deal anyway, because the lots sometimes fill up on a busy day, so it's only good if you go in the early morning. Also some of the spots are quite far from the gate. With the tram in operation, you never really have to walk very far anyway, so to him it's not that much difference.

Plus, I like the tram banter. I also like to watch people who have never been on the tram before trying to figure out where to put the kids and how to load the strollers, etc.:lol:

 

[Master Yoda]

The AAA parking pass allows you to park in a small reserved section up front near the gate. It's normally only for people who book through AAA as their travel agent. However, I have heard of people walking into the AAA office and asking for one and getting it. Perhaps the people in that AAA office thought that he had booked with them and he just didn't get the passes with the package, because I think you have to ask for them.

I've never used one, but Richard at KK told me (Richard, please correct me if I don't get it exactly right) that it's not really that big a deal anyway, because the lots sometimes fill up on a busy day, so it's only good if you go in the early morning. Also some of the spots are quite far from the gate. With the tram in operation, you never really have to walk very far anyway, so to him it's not that much difference.

Plus, I like the tram banter. I also like to watch people who have never been on the tram before trying to figure out where to put the kids and how to load the strollers, etc.:lol:

Yep, that has pretty much been my experience with them. The AAA spots are always close to the gate but in the grand scheme of things no parking spot is any farther away from the gate than the walk to the tram. At best they are great if you have a stroller that will not fit on a tram. If you can get them great but it is not something that I would go out of my way to get. I certainly would not forgo booking with KK just to get one. I used AAA before and found their Disney service inconsistent. Sometimes I would get an agent that could tell you the names of all of the cast members that would would be working on JC during my trip trip while I have had another tell me to make sure that I rode Spiderman when I went to MK.

 

[CastleBound]

Well I've never driven to WDW, but I would have to imagine I could possibly do a mixture of drive and bus. I love staying in the Disney atmosphere at all times, so the bus is a good way of doing that. There is also those times where you have a crowded bus, long line, or something else that seems to take forever and a car would seem nice. I'm not sure, I guess it would all depend on how I felt about it once I drove down there!

 

[julsie]

always take the disney buses, but last year i stayed at all-stars music and found the transport system there was that great i mean 1 bus for 3 hotels just dosnt work

 

[Disney05]

We always stay on property and like not having to worry about renting a car. Plus we save money by not renting a car. On the other hand, I'd love to have a car for at least one day to get some discount shopping done.

 

[KRW101]

If we fly we use the buses - not a lot of fun at park closing.

When we drive down we use the car, which is the transportation we prefer.

We're flying in October - guess I have to be ready to crowd on to the buses at closing.... Oh well.

 

[kashmir]

We always rent a car when we go to WDW....We ALWAYS stay on property, but like the convenience of having a car to go off property for shopping, etc. PLUS when you have the parking pass from the Disney hotel where you are staying, the parks DO NOT charge for parking :sohappy: :sohappy: Our opinion is that it's just better than taking the buses to the parks. No waiting for bus (going and coming) and no stops in between destinations. Just a thought....

I second that! My husband never gets lost, and feels in more control to travel off property.

 

[kashmir]

But - for DTD, we always take the bus. There is never any car parking there, so the bus it is. MK is up in the air - sometimes we take the bus, sometimes we drive, but that's just because we enjoy taking the monorail/ferry into the MK. There's just something about the ride over - especially on your first day.

We were just at WDW the last week of July and had no trouble parking at DTD... we went three times!

 

[Mukta]

For me, my vacation at WDW includes not driving. I fly there, take DME to my resort and Disney transportation the rest of the trip.
I stay at the Beach Club, so I walk to Epcot, boat to DHS, monorail to MK and bus to AK.

 

[WDW Vacationer]

I read this as Do You Drive A Disney Bus To The Parks.:hammer::brick::hammer::brick::hammer::brick::hammer::brick::hammer::brick: