Hi Catherine! Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel. Let's help you find the best way to get around the Walt Disney World Resort.
To drive or to bus? My family is local, so we always have a car with us at Walt Disney World. The one Theme Park that's most inconvenient for driving is probably the Magic Kingdom. You park your car, then ride a tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center and board the monorail or ferry to the park entrance. Just getting to that magical touchpoint to enter the park can take 30 minutes. From Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, you have a perfect option with the boats that will take you straight to the park entrance. In this case, I'd definitely skip the car and take the boat to the Magic Kingdom.
You may find a car most convenient if you have dining reservations in another resort hotel. The general recommendation is to allow 90 minutes to travel between resort hotels using Disney transportation, while driving to the same location could take you just 10 to 15 minutes. You'll likely receive a 2- or 3-hour parking permit, which should be plenty of time to enjoy your meal.
Also, if you're planning a late night in a Theme Park, it might be easier to drive than to wait with hundreds of other Guests for a bus after park closing. You can hop in your car and be "home" while others are still at the bus stop.
While there are times the car comes in handy, we also enjoy the opportunity to skip driving when we're planning an extended stay. Take a look at your schedule and see where you might find it's easier to drive yourself or to relax and let Disney do the driving for you. I hope this helps makes your Walt Disney World vacation a breeze, Catherine. Please stop by and see us again if you have any more questions. We love to help!
Kathy K