Advice Hopping Epcot to Magic Kingdom

[Anjali1712]

This December trip will be our first time using the park hopper option. On one day we’d like to spend the first half of the day in Epcot and hop to the Magic Kingdom around 2-3pm (we have a CRT reservation at 4pm).

What do you think would be the best option to do this? We’re staying offsite and have a rental car and a 8.05 breakfast at Garden Grill.


1. Park the car at the Epcot parking lot and then in the afternoon drive to the Magic Kingdom parking lot

2. Park the car at the MK in the morning and use the monorail to get to Epcot before the park opens. In the afternoon use the monorail again to the TTC

3. Is there a third/better option I haven’t thought of?


I’m not sure if the monorail will work early enough to get to our PPO breakfast in Epcot? And I’m sure my family would prefer a parking spot at the MK without having to use the tram after the fireworks, so maybe parking at the MG in tho morning and using the Monorail to Epcot would be better?

 

[Robo]

1.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

This December trip will be our first time using the park hopper option. On one day we’d like to spend the first half of the day in Epcot and hop to the Magic Kingdom around 2-3pm (we have a CRT reservation at 4pm).

What do you think would be the best option to do this? We’re staying offsite and have a rental car and a 8.05 breakfast at Garden Grill.


1. Park the car at the Epcot parking lot and then in the afternoon drive to the Magic Kingdom parking lot

2. Park the car at the MK in the morning and use the monorail to get to Epcot before the park opens. In the afternoon use the monorail again to the TTC

3. Is there a third/better option I haven’t thought of?


I’m not sure if the monorail will work early enough to get to our PPO breakfast in Epcot? And I’m sure my family would prefer a parking spot at the MK without having to use the tram after the fireworks, so maybe parking at the MG in tho morning and using the Monorail to Epcot would be better?

So just so I understand it correctly, you plan on being in the MK until fireworks and then leave afterwards? What time are fireworks on your night?

 

[nursejackie]

There is another option, park at the Epcot parking lot (which will be near the front has you have a PPO ADR), then after enjoying Epcot jump on the monorail to TTC for MK, and reverse the journey after MK (as long as Epcot is still open as monorail will stop running). If you go to MK in the afternoon odds on you'll have to park miles from the TTC and have to use the tram both ways. I'm not sure which I would do, but I just thought I'd throw in another option.

 

[georgina]

We prefer to drive when we have a rental car, I would go with #1, drive to Epcot then drive to the MK lot so you can leave from there to go back to your hotel. You will probably have to use a tram to get to the TTC from the parking lot, but they run continuously. I don't know that I would trust the monorail to Epcot to get from the TTC to an early breakfast.

 

[Anjali1712]

So just so I understand it correctly, you plan on being in the MK until fireworks and then leave afterwards? What time are fireworks on your night?

We'll probably be staying until Once Upon a Time and I'm pretty sure that after that my family will be quite exhausted and happy to get back to the hotel as soon as possible. OUAT is 9:45 that night

So being able to get back to our car as fast as possible (well "fast" is relative in MK) would be good. But as georgina said I'm not sure I can trust the Monorail that early

 

[srwarden1928]

When I last hopped Epcot to MK I parked at Epcot, monorailed to MK, monorailed back to Epcot. I got to park really close to Epcot, as I rope dropped, and it was REALLY easy to get back to the car getting back to Epcot well after it closed. Ask the CM at the monorail when the last one back to Epcot will be that night.

 

[wgeo]

Personally I go with #1. My preference at the end of a long night is always to get to my car the quickest.

Also - when we hop we sometimes leave a cooler with water bottles/snacks in the car and grab them when we go to the next park. Saves a few bucks.

 

[Bbguy5]

You will need to go through security again at TTC so that will add some time. Just keep that in mind.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I would park at MK and catch the monorail over to EPCOT for your breakfast ADR. It would make an early start but:

1. If you're driving to the MK, you would want to leave plenty of time to get to your car, drive, park, walk or catch the tram, wait for the monorail or boat and get to the MK. You still have to get through security and walk to the castle and you are meant to check in 15 minutes before your reservation time so 3:45pm. I would want to be walking out of EPCOT gates no later than 1:30pm to allow plenty of time without feeling rushed. If you're in World Showcase, you would want to start walking out by 12:45pm-1pm.

2. If you have parked at MK and you're in World Showcase, you could exit via the International Gateway and catch a MK bus from the Boardwalk, Beach or Yacht Club. It will take you right to MK (you don't need a bus or monorail) If you're walking out of the IG by 1:45pm-2pm it should give you plenty of time to make your CRT reservation. And that way your car is at MK when you're finished for the night.

This December trip will be our first time using the park hopper option. On one day we’d like to spend the first half of the day in Epcot and hop to the Magic Kingdom around 2-3pm (we have a CRT reservation at 4pm).

What do you think would be the best option to do this? We’re staying offsite and have a rental car and a 8.05 breakfast at Garden Grill.


1. Park the car at the Epcot parking lot and then in the afternoon drive to the Magic Kingdom parking lot

2. Park the car at the MK in the morning and use the monorail to get to Epcot before the park opens. In the afternoon use the monorail again to the TTC

3. Is there a third/better option I haven’t thought of?


I’m not sure if the monorail will work early enough to get to our PPO breakfast in Epcot? And I’m sure my family would prefer a parking spot at the MK without having to use the tram after the fireworks, so maybe
parking at the MG in tho morning and using the Monorail to Epcot would be better?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I think I’d lean towards parking at MK given your circumstances since I’d rather have my car at MK that night for when you’re leaving. The Epcot monorail has generally been starting at 7:30AM lately, so getting to your PPO ADR is doable (I’d want to be at the Epcot monorail platform catching that first 7:30 trip). You can double-check Epcot monorail times in place when you are there via the Times Guide, or this is a helpful bookmark as well: http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/p/weekly-walt-disney-world-times-guides.html

Sounds like a long, but fun day - good luck!

 

[fairestoneofall]

I would not drive from one to the other. With baggage check now being at TTC, you would have to go through baggage check multiple times. Leaving your car at one park or the other would allow you to just baggage check THAT park and then monorail hop back and forth without having to go through baggage check again.

The best option for not having to do multiple baggage checks is to park at Epcot. Then, you can baggage check there before taking the monorail to TTC when you leave Epcot. Once at TTC, you will not have to go through baggage check again before getting on the monorail or ferry to MK.

When you exit MK, you can get onto the Epcot monorail with Epcot without going through baggage check again.

However, when exiting the monorail at Epcot, if you plan to go INTO the park, you'll have to do baggage check again.

I hope that all makes sense.

Baggage check for Epcot is at the park's entrance. Baggage check for MK (for those driving) is at the entrance to TTC.

 

[TheRealTeal]

If you are intending to stay through the rest of the night at MK then I would absolutely park at TTC in the morning and get to EPCOT from there.

We typically drive between parks, but since you're hopping to make an ADR that could add a lot of time and make you stress. And then at the end of the night when you're exhausted and probably a little cranky, you won't have to walk miles to get back to your car, because hopefully parking that early will get you a closer spot than you would get at 2 in the afternoon. Even with the tram we often have to walk quite a ways to get back to our car at TTC.