Hi, Nicole!
I need to put a disclaimer on my answer in that I am probably in the minority when it comes to the great "bus vs. rental car" debate! I am a real rental-car-kind-of-mom! I rarely visit Walt Disney World without getting a rental car. I like the flexibility and not waiting at a bus stop, but that is just me.
I think that driving, especially to early breakfast
reservations at resorts, is much more efficient, and you can time your morning better. If you know you want to leave at a certain time, you hop in the car and go. With the bus, you can wait up to 20 minutes for a bus which can be very disappointing, especially first thing in the morning. To get resort to resort often involves bus transfers, and I certainly cannot handle that in the wee hours of the morning.
Now for my second disclaimer: Forget everything I just said if you are going to the
Magic Kingdom! Going to the Magic Kingdom is the one time I use the bus. If you drive, you must park in the main Magic Kingdom parking lot, then take the tram to the TTC, then take the monorail or ferry to the main gates. This is a very time consuming process. The bus, on the other hand, will drop you very near the front gates, and like magic you are there!
The majority of guest use
Disney transportation exclusively, and that definitely works. My suggestion is to figure out where you need to be and if it seems easier to drive, then take your car. If nobody feels like driving, know that Disney transportation is there to get you where you need to be.
Good luck zooming all around WDW property whether by car, bus, monorail, or boat!
Cathy