AM Transportation from BW to Epcot & HS

[3happydancers]

Can anyone tell me if the boats run early enough to make rope drop at Epcot and HS? Is it quicker to hop the bus? I know we can walk but I would like to know what other options we have. I was told recently by a neighbor that the only way to get to either park for AM opening is by walking or bus.

Thanks Guys!!!

 

[DebbieB]

Can anyone tell me if the boats run early enough to make rope drop at Epcot and HS? Is it quicker to hop the bus? I know we can walk but I would like to know what other options we have. I was told recently by a neighbor that the only way to get to either park for AM opening is by walking or bus.

Thanks Guys!!!

The boats start running at least an hour before opening, maybe even 90 minutes. There are no busses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Epcot is an easy walk to the International Gateway, there is no transportation to the front of Epcot.

 

[3happydancers]

The boats start running at least an hour before opening, maybe even 90 minutes. There are no busses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Epcot is an easy walk to the International Gateway, there is no transportation to the front of Epcot.

Really, no bus transportation? I am guessing this goes for all of the resorts on the Boardwalk? So it sounds like we either walk or take the boat. I don't mind walking but with my bad feet, I try to preserve my walking time for the parks.

Can I ask if the same goes for park closing.

 

[3happydancers]

The boats start running at least an hour before opening, maybe even 90 minutes. There are no busses between BW and Epcot or DHS. Epcot is an easy walk to the International Gateway, there is no transportation to the front of Epcot.

Also, given there are no busses between the resorts and the parks, I am curious to know just how crowded the boat dock is when trying to get to the parks for opening; and how crowded are they at park closing time?

 

[DebbieB]

Really, no bus transportation? I am guessing this goes for all of the resorts on the Boardwalk? So it sounds like we either walk or take the boat. I don't mind walking but with my bad feet, I try to preserve my walking time for the parks.

Can I ask if the same goes for park closing.

No, none of the boardwalk area resorts have busses to Epcot or DHS since boat transportation is provided. Boats run 1 hour after park closing. So if Epcot closes at 9:00, the last boat will be at 10:00.

We typically walk to Epcot but boat to DHS.

 

[3happydancers]

Also, given there are no busses between the resorts and the parks, I am curious to know just how crowded the boat dock is when trying to get to the parks for opening; and how crowded are they at park closing time?

Are they as bad as the bus terminals; especially at park closing?

 

[goofy4tink]

If you wait until about 30 mins prior to park opening, then you'll have a fair amount of company on the docks...same for park closing. Especially at DHS. However, the vast majority of guests at S/D, YC/BC and BW tend to walk to Epcot and DHS. The walk to Epcot from BW is about 8 mins, to DHS is under 20.
The only time you will find buses running from any of the Epcot resorts to either Epcot or DHS is if the boats can't be out on the water....high winds, big thunderstorms.

 

[DebbieB]

Are they as bad as the bus terminals; especially at park closing?

Yes, lines can be long after Illuminations & Fantasmic.

 

[backyardponder]

Entering Epcot through the International Gateway is one of the big advantages of staying at one of the Epcot Resorts. It brings you into the World Showcase between England and France.

You should be aware that the World Showcase tends to open later in the day than the Future World part of Epcot. The Intenational Gateway does open when Future World opens, but you do have to walk directly to Future World.

 

[Sandi]

Yes, lines can be long after Illuminations & Fantasmic.

And, if you have to stand to wait for a boat, you may as well walk to your resort. It's a very pleasant walk from both DHS and Epcot.

(I recognize that some people have physical issues with standing and/or walking and my comment is not to make light of those situations. There are very valid reasons to wait for a boat and, at park closing, they run more boats than usual to address the increased demand.)

 

[3happydancers]

Thanks so much to every. It pretty much sounds easiest to walk (which like I said, I don't mind walking). I'll just have to pace myself accordingly. At least now I know how the transportation runs and the choices I have.

You all have been extremely helpful !!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Whenever I have stayed at the Boardwalk Inn I would always use the walkway to and from Epcot since it's a 5 minute walk.

Now as for Hollywood Studios most of the time I will also walk there because I think it's faster since the Boat will stop at the Yacht Club/Beach Club and Swan/Dolphin before arriving there. However if I am not in a rush then I don't mind taking the Boat.

 

[joelkfla]

Buses will take care of any guests leaving DHS who miss the last boat.

Not so from Epcot IG, as there's practically no way for a bus to get in there, and the walk is pretty short.

 

[3happydancers]

Thanks again to everyone. You are always a chock full of informations!!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Buses will take care of any guests leaving DHS who miss the last boat.

I know that Hollywood Studios does run Buses to the Epcot Resorts when the Boats don't operate during a threat of lightning. However since they also have a walkway to the Boardwalk and the other resorts, would they even run Buses if the Boats weren't running anymore after Hollywood Studios closed and the last Boat already left?

 

[TaraPA]

Are they as bad as the bus terminals; especially at park closing?

Unfortunately, yes. We took the boat from DHS to Epcot the other night after Fantasmic...had to wait for the 3rd boat! I knew we should have taken the bus between parks when we saw the line for the boat from the turnstyle, but everyone else wanted to have a leisurely boat ride. Well we all got a 45 min. wait standing in line, then a good 20 min. boat ride to Epcot!

There IS bus service between parks (Epcot & DHS) that many people don't seem to know about, so if park hopping between the 2, you have 3 options for transportation.

If you want to make rope drop at the front of Epcot, your only quick option is to take a cab from any Epcot Resort. By foot or by boat will only get you in the International Gateway, and they will hold you there or at some point further up in Future World for rope drop, but you will not be able to "get around" it to get to the very front of the park. If rope drop from the front of Epcot is a must, and you don't want to take a cab, you could get a very early start & take the bus to MK, walk to the monorail (if the monorail is open), and ride that to the front of Epcot. Now with that in mind, that will only work if either MK is opening prior to Epcot, or you get the very 1st bus from your Epcot Resort to MK. And double check monorail operating hours, I was just there & thought I saw a sign that it doesn't start running until 8am. Otherwise you may not have enough time to get to Epcot by 9am.

 

[joelkfla]

However since they also have a walkway to the Boardwalk and the other resorts, would they even run Buses if the Boats weren't running anymore after Hollywood Studios closed and the last Boat already left?

Yes.

Or, at least, the last time I drove nights about 2 years ago, we did. Things could have changed.

 

[joelkfla]

If you want to make rope drop at the front of Epcot ...

I thought I read on the Theme Parks board that rope drop had been discontinued at Epcot, and they were just opening the turnstiles at both entrances 15 minutes before park opening.

Or has that changed again?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yes.

Or, at least, the last time I drove nights about 2 years ago, we did. Things could have changed.

If I am ever at Hollywood Studios late one night next month it's something I can find out. Personally I don't mind taking the walkway back to the Boardwalk if I had to choose between that or taking a Bus.

Now when I was there there this past August going on the Boat to Hollywood Studios in the afternoon they said what time the last Boat would leave, however I don't remember them saying anything about running Buses to the Epcot Resorts after that happens.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I thought I read on the Theme Parks board that rope drop had been discontinued at Epcot, and they were just opening the turnstiles at both entrances 15 minutes before park opening.

Or has that changed again?

Sometimes the entrance at the International Gateway might not open until 2 minutes before Epcot's scheduled opening that day. This past August I was at Epcot twice when they were set to open at 9:00 AM and both times I was entering at the International Gateway entrance. The 1st time we were let in at 8:45 AM just like those in Future World, however the 2nd time we were let in at 8:58 AM.