Well, I guess I'm the lone bus fan! LOL
One of the great things about vacationing at WDW for me is that I don't need a car once I get there. We drove last September (for the first time in over 10 years!) and we parked the car, and then *LITERALLY* forgot where we parked it, because we used Disney's own internal transportation system for everything!
I don't have to load/unload my personal scooter into and out of the car
I don't have to worry about where to park, or how to get from point A to point B
I don't have to do anything but roll on out to the bus stop (or the boat dock, or Monorail station) and go have a great day!
I know that a lot of folks get kind of freaked out about driving up and down the bus ramps, but I promise you - if you go slow and steady, then you are fine! Those ramps are made for wheelchairs and
ECVs - and because the bus "kneels" before you are allowed to drive on it, typically the slope of the ramp is actually not that great. I would choose driving my
ECV on and off of ramps at WDW over my real life back home any day!
It's all part of the adventure!
If you are nervous, you can ask the driver to watch your wheels, and tell you if you are not going straight. And they will often remind you to not turn your wheels until you are all the way clear of the ramp at the bottom when disembarking. (which is excellent advice)
And as far as "dirty looks" go... I don't see near as many of those as I used to. People are much more tolerant now at WDW. Yes, there will always be some jerk - and you may have the misfortune to encounter that person on your trip - who says something like "I wish *I* always got to board the bus first!". And the response you should give, every time is very simply this: "Yes, I board first. But you get off first, and I get off last. By the time I am unloaded from the bus, and through Security, you will already be long gone into the Park (or Resort). If I could, I would gladly trade places with you for just a day, so that I could experience the privilege of standing and waiting again. I hope you have a great time today here at Disney World!" And then smile - nicely. Because the reality is, most folks who are "mad" or "glaring" at ECV drivers simply have lousy poker faces. They are scared by what they don't understand, and they resent being reminded that there but for the grace of God...
As you probably remember, I have my own ECV, but if I didn't, I would rent from an outside vendor every time. That way I have the use of the scooter everywhere at WDW - some of the Resorts are HUGE, and Disney Springs is almost double the size it used to be now! I like to feel like I have my freedom to come and go as I please!
Whatever you decide to do dearest Bete, I hope you have a lovely trip this time!!!