? about getting around with no car

[Jane E.]

Every year dh and I love going to the Wine Festival. This year ds and his newlywed wife want to ride up with us to visit WDW. They want to go to MGM. I figured we could drop them off. The only problem is meeting up afterwards. The calendar lists MGM as closing at 7:30 BUT Fantasmic is offered. What time does the show end & how long would it take for them to get up front.

I figure that we'd probably get out of Epcot about 9:30 or so. Doesn't Illuminations take about 20 min?

Now for my questions, could they ride a WDW bus to meet up with us at Epcot? Are taxi's available? How much do they cost? I'm thinking of PL a hotel which dh & I always do. If I PL a hotel for them AND it has a shuttle available I figured they may be able to ride that shuttle if we call ahead & talk with the hotel.

The easiest thing for them would be to stay at a value resort & ride WDW transportation directly to their hotel. However, money is tight for them right now. I think the value resorts are $99 (next month $49!)

Any suggestions? Dh & I just want to go and enjoy ourselves without having to worry them. You know how crazy WDW is at closing!

 

[spiceycat]

tell them where to meet you at Epcot - like in front of the Norway church or restuarant.

after Studios closes - they can take the boat to Epcot - this is very, very, very popular - so it might take 40 minutes. If they feel this is too long - they can walk - the path is along the BW side - walking should take around 20 to 30 minutes.

they will be going in the back gate of Epcot - International gateway. - So maybe you could meet them in the gardens in France or Canada. Or in the area around the Intenational gateway.

there is a bus (or was the last time I looked) that also goes from Studios to Epcot. the problem is it stops in the front of Epcot and I don't think it would be any faster than them walking from the Studios to get to you.

Also make sure they have a park hopper - not a one day ticket - one day ticket and they can't meet you at Epcot and they can't ride the WDW transportation system either....

 

[Jane E.]

Pat, thanks for your reply. I didn't realize that a boat went from MGM to Epcot. Also, I wasn't sure who could ride WDW transportaion. We usually have our car so the only transportation we've taken is the monorail or the boat to MK. Thanks for your help.

 

[spiceycat]

the boat goes to D/s, BC/yc, BW then EPcot then BW, BC/yc, D/s then studios

if they take the boat tell them to ask the boat driver if it is going to Epcot - sometime the boat does not - and he will let them off and tell them to where to catch the Epcot boat

walking is generally faster.

 

[Jane E.]

After reading your original post, I went to the official WDW site and looked up transportation. Sure enough it lists a boat & bus for Disney MGM. In the meantime, we've going to be staying at the Sheraton Safari so they may be able to take the shuttle that services that hotel directly from the Studios to the hotel. Thats next on my list of phone calls. Thanks for your help!