Buses from FW to Parks

[2totsmom]

We are taking our first trip to FW in January. I have tried to study the bus routes etc...We are renting a golf cart and plan to take Disney transportation to all the parks. Does anyone have any suggestions on how much time I should alot from getting from FW to the Parks. We have ADRs at several places and just want to make sure I alot enough time. Any suggestions for a first timer will be much appreciated

 

[DisneyBishops]

Just me but i would take the boat over to MK and then the monorail from there. The buses are fine but they have to deal with traffic and the boat and monorail don't. You can also take the monorail to the transportation center and go anywhere from there.

If you have plenty of time the buses are fine.

 

[2totsmom]

Thanks! Any other suggestions for a first timer at the fort? It will be DH, DS6 DD4 and me, just don't want to miss anything

 

[2goofycampers]

Allow at least 1 hour to the parks, allow at least 1 and 1/2 hours to other resorts if using the bus system.

 

[rapriebe]

After we sat for 45 minutes last week at Disney Studios waiting for a bus back to FW, we said no more buses. We drive to all of the parks, except MK of course.

 

[Us3]

I honestly think its hit or miss with the busses. We have never had any issues with the busses and never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a bus either going to/from a park. We take the boat to MK, and busses to all of the other parks and DTD. Since you are renting a golf cart, that will save a lot of time on the inside transporatation at FW....and the kids will probably love the cart and busses!

 

[Us3]

I just wanted to add...We have waited longer for a boat to arrive at FW to take us to MK than we have ever had to wait for a bus to take us to the other parks??

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Another fun transportation is the boat that goes between Hollywood Studio's and Epcot. I agree the buses can be a hit or miss deal and also agree the golf cart will really help with transporation inside FW.
Have Fun!

 

[ntsammy5]

We have waited longer for a boat to arrive at FW to take us to MK than we have ever had to wait for a bus to take us to the other parks??

I bet the otters were driving!

 

[vick]

Another fun transportation is the boat that goes between Hollywood Studio's and Epcot. I agree the buses can be a hit or miss deal and also agree the golf cart will really help with transporation inside FW.
Have Fun!

I never knew a boat went between HS and Epcot. Where do you board, and how long does it take to go between the 2 parks?

 

[TheFlame]

We just got back from our third trip to Disney since Oct. 2007 and bus transportation is getting worse each trip! We finally decided to drive to all the parks and DTD except MK on this trip. We took the boat to MK but I would also suggest taking the orange bus to WL and and catch a bus from there to the MK. After reading on here about how many people drive to the parks, we tried it this time after going the bus route on our first day. We waited an average of 15-20 min. each time we took the bus at our loop(1300/orange bus) to either the outpost or settlement. That won't be an issue for you with the golf cart, but I would still allow at least 45-60min. of waiting and riding to get to all parks and DTD.

The bus system STINKS.....DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JoanneNC]

Even with a GC we still drove to all parks and resorts except for MK which we took the boat. Sadly it's hit or miss in how long it will take by bus. They can get delayed in traffic - taking longer to load, etc.. I have seen 2-3 empty buses all show up for one park and it would have been 30 mins since seeing a bus for another park.

Basically - if you are running late for an ADR - the bus will be late
If you are running early, the buses will be prompt. Murphy lives on the WDW busline

 

[ntsammy5]

I never knew a boat went between HS and Epcot. Where do you board, and how long does it take to go between the 2 parks?

If you walk out the entrance to MGM, walk straight ahead, do not go to the buses or trams, and you'll walk right into the boat docks. The trip stops at the Swolphin, BC/YC, and BWI before it reaches the IG. About a 20 minute trip.

 

[2totsmom]

thanks everyone for the information, i guess we will try the buses and if it does not seem to be going our way we will drive. Can't wait only a few more weeks and we will be there!!!

 

[Us3]

I bet the otters were driving!

As a matter of fact, the boat had made a quick stop at DI to drop off all of the beer the otters had swiped which delayed the boats arrival to the marina!

 

[AuburnJen92]

As a matter of fact, the boat had made a quick stop at DI to drop off all of the beer the otters had swiped which delayed the boats arrival to the marina!

darn otters!

 

[vick]

If you walk out the entrance to MGM, walk straight ahead, do not go to the buses or trams, and you'll walk right into the boat docks. The trip stops at the Swolphin, BC/YC, and BWI before it reaches the IG. About a 20 minute trip.

Thanks. We'll have to check that out on our next trip.

 

[Shan-man]

We just spent 8 days at the World and used WDW Transport a lot. My mother was with us the first few days so we drove then, and then switched to buses for the last few days. I would say that by time you get through the parking gate lines, get parked out in the north-forty, wait for a tram, and get trammed-in you could have waited for a bus at FW. I found the buses to be very frequent and doubt I ever waited more than 10 minutes. I would just as soon not hassle with remembering where the car is, dealing with idiots who are too busy reading signs to drive in one lane, etc. I'm here to relax though, so take it for what it's worth.

I would have liked to have a car when going resort-to-resort though... that can take a lot of time. We ate at Citricos on our last night, and the quickest route I could think of was boat to MK and then boat to GF. We were late. Not too bad, but the line for boats to GF was stacked and backed with folks leaving the MK and trying to avoid the CRAZY line for monorail service. We had used a car to get to GF a few nights prior when we ate at Narcoosee's with mom and used valet parking. Ten dollars! We could have taken a cab! You would think that if you're dropping $250 for dinner they would give free valet! Ah, Disney! Anyway, I hope some of this is useful to you.

 

[Us3]

I would say that by time you get through the parking gate lines, get parked out in the north-forty, wait for a tram, and get trammed-in you could have waited for a bus at FW. I found the buses to be very frequent and doubt I ever waited more than 10 minutes. I would just as soon not hassle with remembering where the car is, dealing with idiots who are too busy reading signs to drive in one lane, etc. I'm here to relax though, so take it for what it's worth.

I couldn't agree more! We've heard so many horror stories about Disney transportation from fw lately, it's nice to hear another good report! As long as we've had the cart to get around inside FW, the busses to the parks have been great for us!

 

[mikmouse]

We just spent 8 days at the World and used WDW Transport a lot. My mother was with us the first few days so we drove then, and then switched to buses for the last few days. I would say that by time you get through the parking gate lines, get parked out in the north-forty, wait for a tram, and get trammed-in you could have waited for a bus at FW. I found the buses to be very frequent and doubt I ever waited more than 10 minutes. I would just as soon not hassle with remembering where the car is, dealing with idiots who are too busy reading signs to drive in one lane, etc. I'm here to relax though, so take it for what it's worth.

I would have liked to have a car when going resort-to-resort though... that can take a lot of time. We ate at Citricos on our last night, and the quickest route I could think of was boat to MK and then boat to GF. We were late. Not too bad, but the line for boats to GF was stacked and backed with folks leaving the MK and trying to avoid the CRAZY line for monorail service. We had used a car to get to GF a few nights prior when we ate at Narcoosee's with mom and used valet parking. Ten dollars! We could have taken a cab! You would think that if you're dropping $250 for dinner they would give free valet! Ah, Disney! Anyway, I hope some of this is useful to you.

Thanks for the info. Glad you were finally able to take this trip and it certainly sounds like you had fun.

On another topic, we have FW reservations for Dec. 5, 2009 for 9 nights. Since you were there during similar timeframe, can you comment on the crowds? We were there over Thanksgiving, and of course it was crowded, but not to the same degree whatsoever as in previous years.

Thanks and get back to NC safely and Merry Christmas.