Advice on hopping & how long it takes.

[DisFam95]

We have breakfast at Cindi's and CP (2 family's) on a Thursday at MK. It's the park to avoid according to the Unofficial guide but the only date my bro could get in at Cindi's. PLus it's the EMH for MK. SO I want to park hop out of there after breakfast to either AK or the Studios.

How long does it take and do you have to transfer or is there any direct transport via bus?


Also.... My brother does not want to hop and thinks it's a waste of time. I'm a believer in the recommendations in the unofficial guide and the research that's been done on crowd levels. It says avoid Thursdays. PLus we'll not be taking part of the EMH so there will already be tons more people when we get out around 10 or so. We begin our trip earlier in the week and we always HAVE to start w/ the MK..not optional!!

DBro does not think it's necessary to hop to another park. What do you think? It's the park listed to avoid and we're missing the EMH. HE just does not get it!!!

We may not be spending much time together on our 'family' trip

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Is this something that you could decide on that day, or will this decision affect whether or not you even buy Hoppers? Your brother is right, you don't have to hop. But I like to have the option depending on what's going on. You might get out of breakfast and find that the crowds are not bad and want to stay. I don't like to get so locked into an itinerary that I can't just let the magic happen

And though the Unofficial Guide is great, it is just a guide. Do what feels right and you'll have a good time. Following any book verbatim will make your trip seemed forced. One persons "unbearably crowded" is another persons "no big deal."

 

[Spine_DR]

The park that has EMH is always a pit. I am a firm believer in park hopping usually go to 3 parks a day for all 8 or 9 days of our family trips. As far as hopping time from MK to AK or Studios thats prolly only a half hour at best, if there isnt a bus dirctly from MK to AK you can take monorail to Epcot and jump on the AK bus I saw. If you stayed in MK iam sure you would have fun still but it will be noticably more crowded than non EMH mon-thurs

 

[DisFam95]

I'm not a freak scheduler or anything..OMG it's 2:12 get to Splash Mtn

We're just going on a short trip. We're there 4 days and they are there 3 days. T/W/TH/F. I can't imagine starting at another park other than MK on the 1st day..KWIM.

I was figuring Tues: MK
Wed either AK or DS
Thurs: after MK breakfast hop to the other AK or DS. Then we're going to MNSSHP anyway that night.
Fri: we go to EPCOT when other family leaves.

He said himself that MK has the most we want to do and see with the kids so why waste a big chunk of our morning wasting that park day on breakfast. Hop to another park that typically takes less time to see all the attractions.

I've pretty much set my mind on hopping since I really want to spend my 1st day at MK so my main ???? is how long it takes and the direct transport issues.

Thanks everyone.

 

[BlindTyldak]

Oh, by all means park hop. we just hop on the closest bus that is sitting at the park we are leaving to whatever hotel, and then hop on the bus to the park we want to go to. it doesn't take long at all.

 

[Traveliz]

What time are your breakfasts?

You might have time to do a few things early before breakfast and then get a fast pass for after breakfast. I think MK is a great park to be at for the early morning hours but typically I find by 11:30 crowds have caught up with you - still you might be able to do a few things aside from breakfast.

Liz

 

[Mousema]

There are busses from all parks to all other parks.

 

[Robo]

There are busses from all parks to all other parks.

This is absolutely correct.

No need to hop a monorail to Epcot or go to a resort.
(Although you CAN, if you don't know exactly what you're doing, it can add unnecessary extra time to the trip.)

All the connections for MK are at TTC (buses between DAK and MGM, and yes, the monorail to Epcot.)
All other parks, the buses are right out front.
There is also a boat that runs between MGM and Epcot's International Gateway entrance.

 

[DisFam95]

Our breakfasts are at 9:05 and 9:15. That's a good idea to grab a FP for Pooh or PP. We do things quicker than my DBro and his family and we have the earlier time so I know we'll be done sooner than they will. DH can run grab FP's while I go slow w/ the kids and check in.

 

[BlindTyldak]

There are busses from all parks to all other parks.

Since when? I've never seen them on any prior trip . . . .

 

[Robo]

Since when? I've never seen them on any prior trip . . . .

That's how guests "Hop" with their Hopper Tix.

www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp

That link gives the various connections and travel time estimates.

 

[DisFam95]

Don't worry Blind Tyldak..you're not crazy.

There is no DIRECT park to park bus..as the above website indicates . You always have to go to another park via the TTC or another resort.

 

[Robo]

Don't worry Blind Tyldak..you're not crazy.

There is no DIRECT park to park bus..as the above website indicates . You always have to go to another park via the TTC or another resort.

That is absolutely INCORRECT information.

I take the buses directly between all parks every day, every trip.

The ONLY time you need TTC is if you involved MK in the trip.

Direct buses run between Epcot and MGM.
Direct buses run between Epcot and DAK.
Direct buses run between DAK and MGM.
Direct buses run between DAK and TTC.
Direct buses run between MGM and TTC.
Boats run between Epcot and MGM.
Monorail runs between Epcot and TTC.

The bus stops at the parks are Marked with the park destinations and so are the buses that run between them.

If you are at a theme-park and want to go to DTD, THEN you must go to a resort first.

 

[BlindTyldak]

That is absolutely INCORRECT information.

I take the buses directly between all parks every day every trip.

The ONLY time you need TTC is if you involved MK in the trip.

Direct buses run between Epcot and MGM.
Direct buses run between Epcot and DAK.
Direct buses run between DAK and MGM.
Direct buses run between DAK and TTC.
Direct buses run between MGM and TTC.
Boats run between Epcot and MGM.
Monorail runs between Epcot and TTC.

Perhaps it is the time of year? They may only run them when the parks are very busy because I can assure you, there have never, ever, EVER been busses for another park at a park while we were there. When you'd ask Disney transportation how to park hop, they would tell you to hop to any hotel and then take the bus to whichever park you want to go to. And I ask every time because that would save me quite a bit of time, of course.

 

[Robo]

Perhaps it is the time of year? They may only run them when the parks are very busy because I can assure you, there have never, ever, EVER been busses for another park at a park while we were there. When you'd ask Disney transportation how to park hop, they would tell you to hop to any hotel and then take the bus to whichever park you want to go to. And I ask every time because that would save me quite a bit of time, of course.

I can't believe we're having this as a serious discussion. Its not an opinion.
These buses run the year-round.

I have posted a calculator that clearly backs up this info.
What's so hard to understand?

 

[BlindTyldak]

I can't believe we're having this as a serious discussion. Its not an opinion.
These buses run the year-round.

I have posted a calculator that clearly backs up this info.
What's so hard to understand?

Oh heaven forbid someone relies on personal experience other than you, and we all know everything on the intranets is 100% accurate all the time, as well as its posters.

*pats Robo on the back*

It's okay man. I'll just continue to ask the bus drivers themselves when I get to the parks. They'll know if busses are running between parks that day I'm sure. Here. Have a Mentos.

 

[Robo]

Oh heaven forbid someone relies on personal experience other than you, and we all know everything on the intranets is 100% accurate all the time, as well as its posters.

*pats Robo on the back*

It's okay man. I'll just continue to ask the bus drivers themselves when I get to the parks. They'll know if busses are running between parks that day I'm sure. Here. Have a Mentos.

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/transportation/gettingaround.asp

Transportation FAQs:

How to get to the Magic Kingdom?

From: Animal Kingdom or MGM Studios
Take: Bus to Transportation and Ticket Center, then Monorail or Ferryboat

--------------------------
How to get to the MGM Studios?

From: Epcot & Animal Kingdom
Take: Bus

From: Magic Kingdom
Take: Monorail or Ferryboat to Transportation and Ticket Center, then Bus
--------------------------

How to get to the Epcot?

From: MGM Studios & Animal Kingdom
Take: Bus

From: Magic Kingdom
Take: Monorail or Ferryboat to Transportation and Ticket Center, then Transfer to Epcot Monorail

--------------------------
How to get to the Animal Kingdom?

From: MGM Studios
Take: Bus

From: Epcot
Take: Bus

From: Magic Kingdom
Take: Monorail or Ferryboat to Transportation and Ticket Center, then Bus

 

[Robo]

Oh heaven forbid someone relies on personal experience other than you, and we all know everything on the intranets is 100% accurate all the time, as well as its posters.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/5_Primer/wdw_transportation/wdw_transportation.htm

Walt Disney World's transportation is one of the things that make a vacation at WDW so carefree, relaxing, and magical...
The system includes the famous Disney monorail, as well as busses and watercraft, to move guests from resort hotel to park and back,

park to park,

and from any other location to another within the 30,000+ acres of the complex.

 

[BlindTyldak]

Robo, you can stop; you can post all the links you want, but I am standing by what I originally said. I, personally, have never seen any of these busses. I am not saying that they never exist, I am saying that at the times that we have been there they have not been running. This is based off of my own observations, as well as conversations with bus drivers as we traveled on the busses. I will believe my personal experience over what you say any day.

Again, I am not saying that they do not exist in any capacity or that anyone who says otherwise is wrong. I am saying how I park hop, and that I, me, not you, not Intercot, have never seen a park to park bus run and have been told to park hop by disney transportation during my trips by going to another resort or junction point.

Is that understood now?

 

[Robo]

Robo, you can stop; you can post all the links you want, but I am standing by what I originally said. I, personally, have never seen any of these busses. I am not saying that they never exist, I am saying that at the times that we have been there they have not been running. This is based off of my own observations, as well as conversations with bus drivers as we traveled on the busses. I will believe my personal experience over what you say any day.

Again, I am not saying that they do not exist in any capacity or that anyone who says otherwise is wrong. I am saying how I park hop, and that I, me, not you, not Intercot, have never seen a park to park bus run and have been told to park hop by disney transportation during my trips by going to another resort or junction point.

Is that understood now?

...I will believe my personal experience over what you say any day.

...Is that understood now?

I guess that's pretty clear.