Transportation to Dowwntown

[QcDISer]

Hi everybody,

Is there direct transportation from the parks to DTD or do we have to go from the parks to our resort, then transfer to a bus to DTD?

Thanks.

 

[ghtx]

No direct transportation from theme parks to DTD.

 

[QcDISer]

Thx

I thought this would be a nice feature for people wanting to end a day at the parks with dinner and relax time at DTD... I'm sure the buses would be full each time.

But again, Disney probably thought about it before and there is some reason why they do not have this.

 

[DSLRuser]

It can be done wiith a little bit of a walk.

Take a bus to Saratoga Springs Resort. Then walk through the resort to DTD. They have a path that is set up for this walk.

The only issue is, the bus station is on the other side of the resort. a good 1/2 mile walk. but it can be done.

 

[SA mom]

They used to run buses between the parks and DTD. People figured out that parking at DTD was free and so would park there all day while they went to the parks, leaving no room to park for people actually going to DTD.

 

[~Tonga Wingo~]

There is free parking at DTD so it keeps people from being able to park there and take a bus to one of the parks...thus not having to pay the parking fees at whichever park. I understand this...but people could still park at DTD, transfer to a resort and then to the park of their choice so it doesnt make a whole lot of sense...

 

[ttintagel]

There's also the option of taking a bus to Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter, and then taking a boat from there to DTD.

 

[QcDISer]

There is free parking at DTD so it keeps people from being able to park there and take a bus to one of the parks...thus not having to pay the parking fees at whichever park. I understand this...but people could still park at DTD, transfer to a resort and then to the park of their choice so it doesnt make a whole lot of sense...

Yes. Or they could offer the ride from the parks to DTD only, not the other way around. These buses could then be serviccing resorts from DTD to resorts to make sure they do not run empty. This could be managed through a transpotation management system.

ttintagel: There's also the option of taking a bus to Port Orleans Riverside or Port Orleans French Quarter, and then taking a boat from there to DTD.

Yes, we'll probably do this since we will be staying at POR. It will still be a waste of time in transportation after a day at AK to a ressie at DTD...

Thanks!

 

[mesaboy2]

There is free parking at DTD so it keeps people from being able to park there and take a bus to one of the parks...thus not having to pay the parking fees at whichever park. I understand this...but people could still park at DTD, transfer to a resort and then to the park of their choice so it doesnt make a whole lot of sense...

Disney made it harder, but not impossible. Apparently it's okay with them as long as you want to waste a bunch of park-time to save $14.

 

[Jestocost]

As PPs have noted, you need to go from a park to a resort to get to DTD; but you don't have to go to your resort.

From the MK, for example, you could walk to the Contemporary and get a DTD bus there. Or you could just jump on the first bus you come across and transfer wherever that takes you.

I don't think the SSR option is as difficult as the PP noted. If you take the SSR bus just make sure to stay on until the Congress Park bus stop and walk from there. That's the stop closest to DTD and the walking path.

 

[DSLRuser]

Apparently it's okay with them as long as you want to waste a bunch of park-time to save $14.

$14 x 6 days at the parks = $84

i would rather save the $84 and spend it on other items, like snacks or gifts.

Even when I stay off site, I go park some place (free) and then take disney transportation. Crowds and a little extra time do not bother me. $14 to park, does bother me.

 

[sabrinadv1]

Parking is a lot more expensive in other places. In new Orleans parking was $35 a day at our hotel.

 

[Cyrano]

Moving to Transportation board.

 

[goofy4tink]

Let's put this as plainly, and as simply, as we can. If you want to go to a park, and you want to drive your car, then you need to park in the parking lot provided for that particular park. You don't get to head to, say, BW and park there in order to access either DHS or Epcot. You don't get to park at the CR or Polynesian or GF and then head to the MK. Parking, for more than a few hours, at the resorts is supposed to be limited to those paying to stay at that resort.

Buses to, and from, DTD to parks were not discontinued due to people abusing the free parking. In all reality, the buses back to the resorts don't even start until later than park opening..so what would be the point? They stopped running the buses because there was little call for them. I have had several bus drivers tell me exactly the same thing over the years.
And now?? If you want to park at DTD and go to a park?? Sure, if you don't mind taking at least 90 mins to do so..and you have to wait until about 9:30 to do it.

If you stay off-site, and you drive a car to the parks, then you should be budgeting parking costs into your overall budget. It's really not so fair to take, free, what someone is paying for. And that's what you're doing if you park at a resort in order to get to a park without paying to park.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There is free parking at DTD so it keeps people from being able to park there and take a bus to one of the parks...thus not having to pay the parking fees at whichever park. I understand this...but people could still park at DTD, transfer to a resort and then to the park of their choice so it doesnt make a whole lot of sense...

Of course the parks will have been open for hours.

Buses don't run from DTD to the resorts until a hour to two hours after DTD opens.

Penny wise and pound foolish to waste half a day to save $14

 

[goofy4tink]

There is free parking at DTD so it keeps people from being able to park there and take a bus to one of the parks...thus not having to pay the parking fees at whichever park. I understand this...but people could still park at DTD, transfer to a resort and then to the park of their choice so it doesnt make a whole lot of sense...

Okay..lets say you drive to DTD at about 8:15...you want to make rope drop at, say, Epcot. Okay...walk over to the bus stops (going to take you about 5 mins or so). You find the bus stop for BW or YC/BC. Then, you wait. You could be waiting for up to 2 hrs!!! Why? There is no reason for buses to be arriving at DTD until much later...the shops don't open until 9:30, earliest. And even then, the buses back to resorts are sporadic until later in the morning. So, lets say you get lucky and a BW bus comes and you get on by, hmmm, 9:30. Now, it will take you about 15-20 mins to get to BW. Once there, you now have to walk through the resort and over to the International Gateway...that's going to take you about 20 mins. So, it's now about 10:30!!!
Or you want to go to MK? Same thing happens but you are lucky because you can take a CR bus and then it's under 10 mins to walk to the MK from there.

Using DTD to get to a park is not smart. Cheap? Sure. But what is your time worth to you?? And Disney has no plans to change any of this because it just isn't cost effective for them.

 

[sotoalf]

Makes sense. Remember when a bus existed between Fort Wilderness and the TTC? Disney eliminated it about ten years ago. I bet by that point there were three people riding it during a shift.

 

[KrazeeK120]

As PPs have noted, you need to go from a park to a resort to get to DTD; but you don't have to go to your resort.

From the MK, for example, you could walk to the Contemporary and get a DTD bus there. Or you could just jump on the first bus you come across and transfer wherever that takes you.

I don't think the SSR option is as difficult as the PP noted. If you take the SSR bus just make sure to stay on until the Congress Park bus stop and walk from there. That's the stop closest to DTD and the walking path.

I would do your first option. Walking to the Contemporary is super fast and easy, and you can grab a bus there to DTD.

Well, actually, I would drive myself. But this would be my 2nd option.