How can anyone choose driving over a Disney bus when going to Magic Kingdom?

[R W B]

My g/f and I did a small 4 day Orlando trip last month and she talked me into doing the MK for one of the days. Well we weren't staying on property so of course we had to drive and park and IMO that just sucks. I mean Disney does the best they can but theirs just no good option IMO. When we parked we waited for the tram which took a little under 10min and then we got to the TTC and the monorail line was crazy long so we chose the boat and we waited a good 15-20min until we got on that. Sure the drop off points might be closer then the buses but that's it. The point of this post is I dont get why people complain about waiting for a bus when you still have to wait for a tram and monarail/boat when you drive.

Overall I'm happy we did drive and park atleast one time because now I won't second guess myself when I stay on property and only use Disney transportion.

 

[bethram]

I agree, getting to MK by car is tough! DH is not a bus person, so when we planned our last trip we stayed at WL so we could take a boat to MK. It was so much easier!

 

[lilclerk]

If I have a car, I usually drive to the MK. Not to save time, but as an excuse to ride the monorail

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

When we drove to the MK we got there early and had AAA diamond parking so we didn't have to wait for the tram and there wasn't much wait. I would imagine if you got there later there would probably be a longer wait and not as close of parking spots.

 

[olinecoach61]

I agree, I would never want to drive a car down there. The Disney transportation system does a pretty good job once you consider how many people they move year.

 

[rsoxguy]

I'm afraid that I must disagree with the assertion that the buses are more convenient. I have never taken a stop watch to Disney World, and so my opinion is more anecdotal than it is scientific. I have always found it easier to drive my vehicle to the parks, as opposed to the bus system. I have taken the buses almost exclusively when staying at a Disney resort, but I find the process to be a grueling exercise in added toil. My reasons are as follows:

* The wait for a bus can, at times, can be considerably longer when departing the resort on route to the parks. The Magic Kingdom can be worse than the others, but I can beat most of the buses to the parks if I simply get in my car, drive to the park, hop on a tram and monorail, and enter.

*Waiting for the bus for a ride to the park in the morning almost guarantees that the day will begin hot and sweaty.

*The wait time in leaving the parks at closing (which is what I do) can be a lengthy, hot experience. The monorail and tram wait can be quicker than some the buses.

*The drive back to the resort in my car involves sitting comfortably, air conditioning, quiet, and the scent of my family's body odor without the aid of fifty other varieties.

I believe that preference is a matter of personal opinion, so take this post as a simple opinion, but I don't have any great love for the buses.

 

[Florida_is_hot]

20 - 30 minutes waiting for bus.
The bus often need other stops.

The mad dash after the park closes.

Also if my car is in the lot, when the crowds, heat and humidity build I may jump in my car leave Disney property for lunch.

 

[sgtmgd]

I prefer using the bus for the ease of it...any mode of transportation is going to involve some wait at Disney..and opening and closing in particular is hectic..so I prefer to wait just once for the bus..or boat to get to the resort..I don't really have a hot sweaty expierence waiting on the busses in the morning as the stops are shaded and they run every 20 minutes...but everyone is different ..

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

The bus works for the MK, but isnt so grand for other parks. I drive to AK and the studios. I dont drive to Epcot for other reasons.

 

[bgraham34]

I prefer the bus just because when I goto the world I want a vacation from it all. Spending 2 plus hours a day in the car driving to and from work can get boring. Its nice to have someone else drive me. That in itself is a vacation.

 

[rufio]

We've always taken the bus, but we normally try to leave before closing to miss the rush. We pick one night to see fireworks at MK and Epcot, and on those nights we battle the crowds. I can't imagine it would be much better sitting in a line of traffic at closing.

 

[flynnibus]

The MK is the anomoly since they added the bus service right next to the park. There, buses offer a more direct route... if you can get to your bus station.

For all the other parks and locations, parking is on much more even footing and is generally much less stressful than dealing with waits, buses, etc.

At EPCOT for instance, walking to your car is generally an option.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

MK is the only park where Disney resort transportation is probably quicker than your own vehicle.

 

[Nemo14]

Having waited 30 minutes or more for a bus after treking over to the bus stops, only to be packed in like sardines, we've learned to take our car even to to the Magic Kingdom. Might not always be faster, but far less stressful.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

We haven't taken the bus to MK in quite some time. Our last two stay on property was at Wilderness Lodge and the boat ride to MK is awesome. Short lines and it's really quick. We like driving better because you don't have to wait for a bus to come pick you up or fight the crowds at the bus stops at the end of the night and you're guaranteed a seat in the car vs standing on the bus. And there is never a line of cars trying to exit the park. We've never gotten stuck waiting in traffic to leave the park. I guess it's just different preferences for different people

 

[Funfy]

We've always taken the bus, but we normally try to leave before closing to miss the rush. We pick one night to see fireworks at MK and Epcot, and on those nights we battle the crowds. I can't imagine it would be much better sitting in a line of traffic at closing.

I agree. Plus we plan the time for the buses. I think they make the roads confusing on purpose, plus if we all drove our cars-what a nightmare!

 

[bethymouse]

I agree, I would never want to drive a car down there. The Disney transportation system does a pretty good job once you consider how many people they move year.

Finally- some KUDOS for Disney transportation!

 

[bethymouse]

To each his own, I say.
I am happy to just park my car at my resort and just let Disney do the driving!
We've experienced some "bad" bus rides/wait times, but overall the transportation system is quite effective IMHO.
I know there are "bus haters" out there, but if you time it right, you won't have to deal w/ the crowds, etc...

 

[draybook]

We've only used a Disney bus once, and it wasn't by choice. We had finished up at WWoS(cheer) around noon and decided we'd park at the MK, monorail over to Epcot and then back to MK for EMH. When we got to the platform we waited for about 10 minutes before they told us that all of the rails were down. So, they sent us down to the bus area and they brought in buses to take us to Epcot. We had to wait for the second bus, which took about 20 minutes to get there. Once we were all loaded, it took about 20 minutes to get to Epcot.

This was on March 10th, 2012, between the hours of 12 noon and 1:30pm. I can only imagine what it would be like during heaver peak times at closing/opening.


Thanks, but no thanks. As Rsoxguy said, in our own car we have our own odors, own ac, and we're guaranteed a seat. We can also jam Disney tunes on the way back to the resort, instead of listening to some parent gripe at their tired child, or some know it all give false information about Disney.


Nope, we'll stick with our rental car. Besides, we might have an itch to go somewhere else after leaving the parks, and a rental is more convenient in that aspect.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

We enjoy taking the bus. Once less thing to contend with and worry about.

I'm always amazed at the wait times people report and having to battle the crowds; not to say that I don't believe the reports I just can't believe we have never experienced them before.

We have never waited for than 15 minutes for a bus when going to the parks and generally have always had a seat to sit in. Mind you, we are early birds and also try to be at the parks before rope drop.

As far as leaving the parks, we do have to wait a little but that tends to be more understandable. We choose to shop around and let the crowds thin out before we leave the parks;CMs are usually pushing us out. Because we stay later in the evenings we know that we will have to wait a while for a bus (we know they are paying catch up with the mad rush out), but it has never been more than 20 minutes and its never really been in any type of major line.

The last thing that helps us out is that we try to never go during peak seasons. I don't think we would go during Christmas week, Easter and/or 4th of July if someone paid us. Its just not worth the hassle.