Bus vs. Car

cbeeindisney · Apr 30, 2019

Hi everybody!

DH and I drive to WDW and then park the car for the week and take the bus. We know that we have to pay for parking, but it is still worth it for us. We also wanted to try to use the car a bit more while down there and have wondered about parking at the parks instead of riding the bus. We wanted to try this, because we wanted to try to get right into the car- our resort always has the furthest stop to walk and also wanted to avoid the long bus lines at the end of a long park day. (Granted I know there will be walking to get to our car in a lot). If anyone has done both- which do you prefer, pros, cons? We will be staying at the resorts, so I'm hoping that it is still free for resort guests to park at the parks- if not, then we won't even attempt.

Thank you!!

rotlex · Apr 30, 2019

We have been driving to WDW for the past 10 years from PA. We drive to every park except the Magic Kingdom. (Just too much hassle and you have to take another mode of transportation to eventually get there anyway). We MUCH prefer driving to the parks over the bus. No waiting in the AM, or waiting and then standing for the ride back to the resort. I also find you get to the parks much quicker in general, and driving around the property is fun for us in itself.

sageandbelle · Apr 30, 2019

I have done both. Using the bus is very helpful when trying to go to more than one park in one day, that's what I ultimately used it for. However I did find it annoying to have to wait for the bus (I always somehow managed to miss it by a few minutes and would have to wait for the next one) and it was especially annoying at night when I was sore and tired! Being able to go by my own schedule by having a car is what I most prefer, just so I don't have to wait for the bus or deal with the (sometimes very loud/obnoxious) kids on there or anything. I'm pretty sure parking is still free for resort guests, at least that's what the Disney website still says. Hopefully this helps !

Klayfish · Apr 30, 2019

The answer will depend on your personal taste and choice. I'd suggest trying driving and seeing what you think. We stay offsite, so we pretty much need the car. However, even if we were onsite you couldn't pay me to use the buses. No way. What a horrible hassle, IMO. Have to wait on a certain schedule, then the bus will only take you to one place, so you may have to transfer buses. Ride with a bunch of tired, sweaty, cranky, cramped people...no thanks. We absolutely love having our car. We can come and go as we please, go where we want, when we want, listen to music we want, control the a/c as we want. Love it. I like to drive, so for me it's a pleasure, not a chore.

The only time we use WDW transportation, besides getting into MK, is once in a blue moon the ferry from Epcot to HS (because it's a nice ride on a cool evening) or the monorail from MK to Epcot (because I love the monorail).

firefly_ris · Apr 30, 2019

If budget wasn't a concern, then I'd rent a car to drive to the parks (we live far and fly). The buses have worked fine the last 2 trips without a vehicle, since it saved us a bundle of cash and helped us to be able to make the trip. But if I already had my car with me, no brainer, I'd use that.

Park Pirate · Apr 30, 2019

We do pretty much the same as everyone else that has replied. We never really drive to MK, as it takes more time to park, get to the ferry/monorail, and then take the ferry monorail to the gate. The bus takes you right to the gate (close, anyway). As for the others, it depends. We will generally drive to AK more times than not, as the bus ride tends to take really long, gets crowded, and often stops at Typhoon Lagoon along the way (from Saratoga Springs). If we are staying at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West, the car is typically parked right next to the bus stop. So, we will often see when the next bus is coming and then decide if we want to wait for it or drive. We like to park hop, so that influences the decision too. My favorite park to drive to is Epcot, as the parking is relatively close to the gate, so waiting for a tram is not really necessary or too beneficial (if the walk from the car to the gate is excessive for you, you may not want to even enter the park!).

foodiddiedoo · Apr 30, 2019

We rent a car every trip to Disney World. If we're staying at a monorail resort we will take the monorail/walk to MK, and then drive to get to AK and HS and sometimes Epcot. I hate the buses. People are angry, people are hot, and I hate having to wait for their schedule to leave a park or get going in the morning. You'll never "miss getting into the car" like you'll "miss getting into a bus" and have to wait another 20 minutes for something to come. Last time we went, we had a stroller, rented a minivan for the 4 adults and one child, and we didn't even fold our stroller up each time, we just dropped it in the trunk open. It was awesome to not have to fiddle with the stroller over and over again! If you can get away with a smaller car, it's totally worth it, especially if your work offers some sort of corporate discount on renting a car.

Day-Day · Apr 30, 2019

We even drive often when visiting the Magic Kingdom and parking at the Ticket and Transportation Center. This gives us an opportunity to ride the ferry or the monorail. I really like this for early morning arrival and we usually park close to the terminal so no need for a tram. I think we use the bus more often to the Magic Kingdom when we go to the park in the afternoon.

We keep a cooler in the car so when we leave the park, we all have our own seats and a cold drink for the trip back to the resort. The bus is usually packed and standing room only when we get on it...

kaytieeldr · Apr 30, 2019

Klayfish said:
Have to wait on a certain schedule, then the bus will only take you to one place, so you may have to transfer buses

Buses aren't technically on a schedule, per se. They come about every 20 minutes, so guest timing plays a big part.

Klayfish said:
Ride with a bunch of tired, sweaty, cranky, cramped people.

They have to ride with you, too. I know, not actually you. But there isn't a person or party who isn't tired or sweaty or cranky or (at certain times) cramped, or some combination.

KayaWildfire · Apr 30, 2019

We were hardcore bus people until this last trip when we had a car. It was so nice driving everywhere, everyone had a seat, you could go at your schedule. Another big perk was having it if you wanted to eat the resorts, no messing around with a million transfers to get back to your resort.

Tink_83 · Apr 30, 2019

I personally like driving. I am that person that would show up just after the bus left, then collapsing the stroller and stowing it, plus removing it when we get to the location, all that sounds like a lot of effort (I get that I do that for my minivan as well, but it’s different when it’s part of your normal routine). I also happen to enjoy the view of the castle on the ferry ride over to the MK (leaving in the evening is sort of a different story and at some point you just sort of want to be back at the hotel).

Then there is the fact that I tend to get nauseated on bus trips. In fact I like the ferry not only because you don’t fold down the stroller but you also have fresh air which i need to keep the motion sickness at bay.

In the end I think this is a personal preference, some people don’t like to drive in unfamiliar places, that has never been an issue for me so driving seems like the logical conclusion.

Klayfish · Apr 30, 2019

kaytieeldr said:
Buses aren't technically on a schedule, per se. They come about every 20 minutes, so guest timing plays a big part.

They have to ride with you, too. I know, not actually you. But there isn't a person or party who isn't tired or sweaty or cranky or (at certain times) cramped, or some combination.

Yeah, guest timing definitely will play a role (from my understanding of how they work, never used them). Either way, I just like being able to go whenever I want.

Oh believe me, I'm not excluding myself in that group of tired, sweaty, cranky people. I sometimes quite resemble that remark. :crazy2:

foodiddiedoo · Apr 30, 2019

Klayfish said:
Yeah, guest timing definitely will play a role (from my understanding of how they work, never used them). Either way, I just like being able to go whenever I want.

Oh believe me, I'm not excluding myself in that group of tired, sweaty, cranky people. I sometimes quite resemble that remark.

But wouldn't you rather be in a car with AC you can set yourself with your own music and have a guaranteed seat at the end of the day when you are tired and cranky and sweaty? Because I sure know I would.

Klayfish · Apr 30, 2019

foodiddiedoo said:
But wouldn't you rather be in a car with AC you can set yourself with your own music and have a guaranteed seat at the end of the day when you are tired and cranky and sweaty? Because I sure know I would.

Yeah...that's exactly why I said I'd never use a WDW bus.

foodiddiedoo · Apr 30, 2019

Klayfish said:
Yeah...that's exactly why I said I'd never use a WDW bus.

Exactly my reasoning too

sponica · Apr 30, 2019

I've had a car when we stayed offsite and we needed it. We fly down so if we're onsite, we don't rent a car. Personally I'm exhausted at the end of a day and would rather just collapse on a bus than take a tram out to where I'm parked, REMEMBER where I'm parked, get in the car and hope for a spot near the room.

cgattis · Apr 30, 2019

sponica said:
I've had a car when we stayed offsite and we needed it. We fly down so if we're onsite, we don't rent a car. Personally I'm exhausted at the end of a day and would rather just collapse on a bus than take a tram out to where I'm parked, REMEMBER where I'm parked, get in the car and hope for a spot near the room.

That’s me exactly. Plus for much of the year in Orlando, the car isn’t even cooled off inside by the time I get back to my resort; the bus is ice cold when I step in. And I’m sweating all over Disney’s interior, not mine LOL. I drive 100+ miles a day, and usually drive 10 hours to the parks, so I rarely use my car. I do agree it’s great for park hopping or resort dining, though.

DVC Jen · Apr 30, 2019

We always drive from Texas to WDW. We also always drive ourselves to the parks. It is so much nicer to have the privacy and comfort of your own car than another cattle call for a crowded everyone in your bubble ride back to the resort.

Disneypro1 · Apr 30, 2019

If we fly or drive....once we are there we always use disney transport. Too easy not to.

AngiTN · Apr 30, 2019

We have done both.
Hate dealing with a car at WDW
First time we tried the buses we fell in LOVE and gave up driving for flying and have never looked back.
The reasons we do not want to have a car are
#1 - we want to enjoy an adult beverage. DH will not drink even 1 and then drive.
#2 - traffic and road construction
#3 - it's vacation and driving is work (he drove 5 hours today and will drive 5 hours back home tomorrow). A vacation from being behind the wheel for him is like a vacation from cooking for me. Having to do either on vacation takes away from the relaxing part
#4 - We both like to close our eyes on the bus. They frown on it when you close your eyes behind the wheel of a car.

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