MK 8am opening....bus it?

When the Magic Kingdom is scheduled to open at 8am (not extra magic hour), is it best to take the bus there if you want to see the 7:40am opening show? I was thinking of driving the golf cart to the Outpost Depot around 7am. Does that sound about right? TIA!

You can do buss, but I would do the golf cart to boat.

Thanks! I didn't think the boat would run early enough?

CJK said:

Thanks! I didn't think the boat would run early enough?

Click to expand...

1) Boats start running at 6:30am.
2) They start getting to FW about 6:45am.

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BAY LAKE & SEVEN SEAS LAGOON RESORT BOATS to/from WL-FW-CR-MK:

Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom: (RED FLAG)
One MOTOR LAUNCH run each day at 0830-hrs (0730-hrs for EMH) and terminate operations about
one hour after the MK closes. These boats run only between MK and WL.
Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom: (GREEN FLAG)
One MOTOR CRUISER and one MOTOR LAUNCH runs each from 0830-hrs (0730-hrs for EMH) until about
one hour after the MK closes. These boats run only between the MK and the FW.
Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Contemporary: (BLUE FLAG)
Two MOTOR LAUNCHes run at 0645-hrs daily. Both run clockwise (FW>WL>CR>FW) until about 1500-hrs
and then reverse direction (CR>WL>FW>CR) at 1500-hrs. Launches terminate at 2330-hrs.

CJK said:

Thanks! I didn't think the boat would run early enough?

Click to expand...

Some things here need to be clarified.

There are two sets of boats that will get you to the MK, CJK.

The smaller boats that leave off the right side of the FW dock are similar to the Jungle Cruise boats. They start at the times indicated by TRS and circulate between the Fort, Contemporary Resort, and Wilderness Lodge ONLY. You can use these to get to the MK by walking from the Contemp pier past the Contemp and its parking lot to the MK gate. Not a bad walk - we've done it many times. Obviously these will get you to the MK in plenty of time for the show and rope drop.

The larger boats leave off the left side of the FW dock and go to the MK. However, the first one leaves the Fort dock about 30-35 minutes before MK opening. If you get the first boat it will GENERALLY get you there for the pre-show. However, I have seen the pre-show go off early at times (this is the exception rather than the rule). Some posters here have missed the start of the pre-show by taking the first big boat but that is not a frequent event.

Some folks want to be at the front of the rope drop - big boat is not good for that.

If you want a stone cold guarantee of seeing the pre-show, use the small boats and walk or other (bus, drive and park).

We usually take the first big boat and do just fine or take the small boats and walk.

Have fun on your trip!

Bama Ed

Thanks for this wonderful explanation!!

So thankful for all of you who give the little details that make a HUGE difference. I am mostly a lurker but our first FW trip is coming up in Jan and I am getting ridiculously giddy!

Ok people! I'm still confused on the bus from FW to MK thing.

There is now a bus that runs from FW To MK at the outpost? There was some talk a while back about a trial thing but I don't remember getting conformation that this is now a permanent deal.

Direct bus to MK or ???

I'm still under the impression that the only direct way to MK is via the main boat and that boat may or may not make it prior to opening ceremony.

For a sure fire way to make it inside MK (beyond the turnstiles for opening ceremony) FOR US is to take an early resort boat to contemporary and walk to MK from there. SURE FIRE PLAN HERE!! This is what we will be doing in 178 days from now

In fact, when we do this and we are inside the turnstiles before opening ceremony and one of the first hundred or two in the park this gives us a jump start and most the time an extra ride or two in within that first hour.

When we are in that "sweet spot" we can do Peter Pan, Pooh, Little Mermaid Ride and Thunder Mountain X2 without a line.

When we are getting off that main boat (while opening ceremony is going on) we can do 3 verses 5 rides in that first hour.

Another route we like to take is Space Mountain, Buzz, Pirates, Thunder Mountain and all possible within that first hour IF and only IF you are inside that turnstile prior to opening ceremony.

When you are getting off the boat and the opening ceremony has already started, do know that about 2000 people are in front of you by that time.

MINUTES make a huge difference HUGE!

Now I'm sure there are going to ones that argue that you can totally make it to opening ceremony on the main FW boat but I have never experienced this. Some have, us never.

This is just what we do.