Difference between disney buses and driving

[cfoshe]

We are looking at going again in late July 2015. We have only used disney transportation, but will have our 4 year old grandchild with us and do not want to have hold him sleeping on the bus after the park.
For those who have used both disney transportation and driving a car to the parks. What is the pros and cons for each. Which do you prefer? At the end of the night is it faster to wait on the bus with everyone leaving or waiting on the tram to go to find your car? Last one, what is the furthest they drop you from your car in the parking lot?

[manutd1]

To me...there are no cons to driving.
First of all, i love to use disney transportation.
Its easy, free and we do it evert time........except when we drive to wdw. (which is rare) but, the last time we dove 2012...we drove to the parks everyday. There were no issues at all. I think the roads are CLEARLY marked as to where you want to go and in a way...with kids, it IS easier to just drive. As much as i like disney transport...you will have to wait a bit and if the bus is full...you may not get a seat ( i also don't think thats an issue either...i have stood happily many times..how can i complain..its free). So, If i were you and I had my car....Id drive. We just usually fly...so buses for us.

[cfoshe]

Thanks for the input. We have always just used the disney buses and I always stand on the way back from the parks to let kids, women or old people to have the seat. Last time we took our grandson he was 1 and easy to hold even standing on the bus, but at 4 he is getting heavy and we will be driving down this year.

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

I am a fan of driving as much as we can at Disney. DH is a fan of the busses, so it makes for some very interesting conversations in our house.

But, he is a good husband, and we usually drive. At busy times (opening and closing) there is so comparison ... getting to your car is quick and easy (even if you have to take a tram, there is seldom a line) and you're comfortable (and cool) while heading back. No waiting in a bus line, and no risk of having to stand.

As the PP said, roads are well marked and it is easy to get around.

What sold me was the simple fact that in my car, I was only 7 minutes from POFQ to Epcot, yet I would usually wait longer than that for a bus.

The busses do a great job, but I love having my car!

[MargaretMessler]

I used to exclusively use the buses - and occasionally still use them - but I don't mind the driving. Its well marked and much quicker. In all parks except MK, it is actually possible to just walk to your car if you so choose rather than wait on a tram. And no question quicker.

[Main Street Jim]

Having your own vehicle allows you the freedom to go where *you* want, *when* you want, and not have to go through possibly four or five other stops at a few minutes each.

Last September was our first "real" Disney vacation (after having worked there for almost ten years), and we used the buses. It would take us an hour or more (sometimes) to get where we wanted to go. Driving your own vehicle, it shouldn't take you more than about 15 minutes.

Downside: if you have a child in a stroller, loading/unloading the stroller, folding/unfolding it for the trams can be frustrating. My suggestion for anyone with strollers driving their own car is to *leave the stroller folded up* when you get to the parking lot, because you're just going to fold it up again at the tram, especially at Magic Kingdom. At the other three parks, it *is* possible to just walk to/from your car to/from the entrance/exit at the end of the night.

[yankeesfan123]

We drive to every park except MK. I've found it faster to just take a bus to the main gate usually. Depending on the time of day, the monorail or ferry line can be quite long from the MK parking lot.

[Melanie]

We drive to every park except MK. I've found it faster to just take a bus to the main gate usually. Depending on the time of day, the monorail or ferry line can be quite long from the MK parking lot.

Totally agree with this, and recommend this very thing all the time. Love driving to the other 3 parks though.

[eandrsmom]

We always drive. Even when we fly to Disney, my DH insists on renting a car. I've gotten to know the area very well, and Disney property is VERY well marked. Since you're staying onsite, parking is free. With a little one, it will be nice to have access to a grocery store if you need to get a few things.

[brownie]

Driving instead of taking a bus is the way to go. We usually regret having taking a bus when we could've driven

[SandmanGStefani24]

we will only drive nowadays. we used the busses once, but what killed it for us was the wait to go home after the fireworks at MK. After about two hours of waiting we finally got going. Never again. Plus, there's nothing like being able to sleep in a bit knowing you can GO when you want, and stay as long as you want knowing you can LEAVE when you are ready. No standing when your legs are dead tired waiting for a bus, nothing but a nice cool and QUIET car ride home. Plus it's pretty darn quick too. You can also stop at the Hess or other stations and get a snack or drink if needed.

[Scar]

I can't stand the buses. I would usually pay more to stay at an Epcot resort just so I didn't have to use them much. The first time we stayed at Pop, no car. Second time, I rented one for the whole week just so I didn't have to rely on the buses.

[magicofdisney]

We drive to every park except MK. I've found it faster to just take a bus to the main gate usually. Depending on the time of day, the monorail or ferry line can be quite long from the MK parking lot.

Totally agree with this, and recommend this very thing all the time. Love driving to the other 3 parks though.

I'll completely agree with these two. When driving to MK you may have to take the tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there you must take the monorail or ferry over to the park. This can add up to well over an hour from the time you park to the time you arrive at the MK gates. We always have a vehicle but we always bus to MK.

[Cass&KenziesMom]

I'll completely agree with these two. When driving to MK you may have to take the tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there you must take the monorail or ferry over to the park. This can add up to well over an hour from the time you park to the time you arrive at the MK gates. We always have a vehicle but we always bus to MK.

Actually not true. You can also take a bus from TTC to MK. We did this last time we went (which was the week after Christmas). It was much faster jumping on a bus than waiting for the monorail or ferry. But to answer the original question we drive. We no longer stay on property to be able to use the busses but we have before and we definitely prefer driving.

[MizMissy]

I get "car" sickness when riding public transportation (bus, monorail, boat) so driving is the best option for us. Also, my husband is a control freak and impatient, so Disney transportation is too much for him to handle. On our last trip, we stayed at the Contemporary. That way, we could walk to the MK (the only park that requires you to use some form of transportation from the parking lot) and drive to the other parks and restaurants.

[Anthony007]

Always used the busses.......does it not cost something to park at the parks?

[mamatedd]

Always used the busses.......does it not cost something to park at the parks?

Yes. It costs $17/ day (that I can remember), but if you stay onsite, you get a parking pass for the duration of your stay.

[Main Street Jim]

Another "plus" for driving your own vehicle:

It will be nice to have access to a grocery store if you need to get a few things.

You can also take a bus from TTC to MK. We did this last time we went (which was the week after Christmas). It was much faster jumping on a bus than waiting for the monorail or ferry.

Since when is there a direct bus from TTC to MK...? I know there's buses from TTC to the other three parks and back, but to MK...?

We no longer stay on property to be able to use the buses, but we have before and we definitely prefer driving.

You don't have to "stay on property" to use Disney transportation. For example, if you have a dining reservation at a resort, you can use the bus from the park to your resort of choice.

Another coupla tricks for leaving MK at the end of the night?

1) If you've parked your own vehicle at the TTC, take the *resort* monorail from MK to TTC. *MUCH* quicker than waiting on the "Express" side at the end of the night. It's the second stop on the Resort side.

2) Instead of waiting an hour or more on a resort bus *at* the MK bus stop, *walk* over to the Contemporary, and take a bus to the nearest theme park or Downtown Disney, then *your* resort bus from there.

[ANG]

We usually stay at a resort with at least one park to use either the monorail or walking. We always drive to AK. And usually to HS to leave at our own time from Fantasmic. We have 3 kids and strollers and we loathe folding them for buses.

[Cass&KenziesMom]

Jim we were there from Dec. 26th-31st and every day we did MK we took a bus from the TTC to MK. Instead of turning left for the ferry or going straight for the monorail we hooked a right and there were busses taking people to MK. The CMs acted as if it were a regular thing.