Attn: Planning Experts. I need your info!

[Boo Bear]

I'm putting the final touches on my touring plans for our trip in a few weeks and I need everybody's expert help in trying to determine when to plan on initiating transportation, whether it be by foot, bus, or taxi. It will just be me and DS3 with easily collapsable stroller and backpack. We are staying at AoA in a Little Mermaid room, which will be helpful for some of the questions.

Are we better off paying for a taxi to take us to the Poly for an O'hana ADR at 9:30am or should we just leave super early and take a bus? If we take the bus, what time should I plan on catching a bus to the TTC?

What time should I plan to catch a bus from AoA to Magic Kingdom for 9am rope drop?

What time should I plan to catch a bus from AoA to Magic Kingdom for 8am EMH rope drop?

I was advised to catch a bus at 7:30am for DHS rope drop. Is this accurate?

What time should I catch a bus from AoA in order to be at Epcot around 3:30pm?

What time should I leave Magic Kingdom to walk to Chef Mickey's?

What time should I catch a bus from AoA to make it to MVMCP by 4pm?

Our dates are Dec 1-4th.

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[Mikie]

I stayed at Pop, which is very near AofA. For your rope drop questions, we were in line for MK buses about 8:20 for rope drop and got to the gates just AFTER the welcome show and people had been let in. That's how I like to do RD, actually, being there early, but not having to stand around in a crowd.

7:30 was about right for getting in line for the bus for DHS to do "real" rope drop (meaning I was actually there about 4families back from the tap stiles waiting for them to start letting people in)

Walk from MK exit to Chef Mickey - I'd allow 15 min for a casual stroll and getting all the way in, up the elevator.

If you're not early risers, it is certainly more convenient to take a cab to O'hana. Otherwise you have to build in plenty of time for waiting on a bus, transferring to monorail, actual monorail ride - I'd be in line at AofA at 8:00 for that if using buses.

Not really sure about your afternoon arrivals. . .

 

[practicallyperfect77]

My rule of thumb is at bus stop 1 HR before posted opening time. I think all parks open 10-15 mins early. But 1hr ahead of time gets me at the park and toward front of line. I have most recently stayed at Pop (very close to AoA) and I want to say the trip from resort to HS was around 15 mins. Ya just never know how long you will have to wait for the bus. Getting to MK is closer to 20 mins though. For bfast at ohana, I would still say 1hr before. Figure it takes about 20 mins to bus to MK, 10 mins to get to resort monorail, and then maybe 10 mins from MK monorail to Poly. The walk from monorail to Ohana check in is maybe 2 mins. You could also take a boat from MK to poly as well. I believe I was told it stops at GF first but we did monorail so I don't know for sure.

Eta: on the afternoon one to get in at 4, I might budge and say 3:15 so then you aren't waiting too long at MK. I would think you can get through bag check though and then might have to wait in line to get in.

 

[Starhart81]

We stayed at AoA our last trip, and the busses were very inconsistent. We never waited longer than 30 minutes for a bus, but we waited over 15 minutes most mornings. We are a rope drop family staying at AoA in January, so this is what we would do. These are times to get in line for the bus at AoA.

9:30 Ohana- 8:00 to MK for monorail to Poly.

9:00 MK- 7:45 for opening show.

8:00 MK- 7:00 for EMH.

9:00 HS- 7:45 or 8:00 depending on how far back in line you want to be.

3:30 EP- 2:45 to be at EP by 3:30.

Chef Mickeys from MK- we have only used the monorail and gave ourselves a 30 minute cushion.

4:00 MK- 3:15 to be at MK by 4:00.

We have found from our years at CBR and from AoA, that 45 minutes is usually the longest it takes from in line for the bus to getting in line at the gate.

 

[Mikie]

On DHS, I was intent on getting there near front of the line to get to Jedi Training sign ups, so left at 7:30. I agree that 7:45 or 8 is sufficient if you're just hitting the park in general to get in toy story, Rockin roller coaster or tower of terror lines.

 

[Mrs D]

You've gotten good advise on times. Only one I'm going to add
MK to Chef Mickey's- walking will be fastest. Allow 30 minutes (5 minute walk).
Exit MK, go left past bus depots. Cross street at light. Walk through parking lot at Contemporary, go inside.

 

[Boo Bear]

We stayed at AoA our last trip, and the busses were very inconsistent. We never waited longer than 30 minutes for a bus, but we waited over 15 minutes most mornings. We are a rope drop family staying at AoA in January, so this is what we would do. These are times to get in line for the bus at AoA.

9:30 Ohana- 8:00 to MK for monorail to Poly.

9:00 MK- 7:45 for opening show.

8:00 MK- 7:00 for EMH.

9:00 HS- 7:45 or 8:00 depending on how far back in line you want to be.

3:30 EP- 2:45 to be at EP by 3:30.

Chef Mickeys from MK- we have only used the monorail and gave ourselves a 30 minute cushion.

4:00 MK- 3:15 to be at MK by 4:00.

We have found from our years at CBR and from AoA, that 45 minutes is usually the longest it takes from in line for the bus to getting in line at the gate.

Thanks!!!

On DHS, I was intent on getting there near front of the line to get to Jedi Training sign ups, so left at 7:30. I agree that 7:45 or 8 is sufficient if you're just hitting the park in general to get in toy story, Rockin roller coaster or tower of terror lines.

We want to be near the front too to ride TSMM standby, then go meet some characters and use our FP+ for TSMM.

You've gotten good advise on times. Only one I'm going to add
MK to Chef Mickey's- walking will be fastest. Allow 30 minutes (5 minute walk).
Exit MK, go left past bus depots. Cross street at light. Walk through parking lot at Contemporary, go inside.

Thanks!!!

My rule of thumb is at bus stop 1 HR before posted opening time. I think all parks open 10-15 mins early. But 1hr ahead of time gets me at the park and toward front of line. I have most recently stayed at Pop (very close to AoA) and I want to say the trip from resort to HS was around 15 mins. Ya just never know how long you will have to wait for the bus. Getting to MK is closer to 20 mins though. For bfast at ohana, I would still say 1hr before. Figure it takes about 20 mins to bus to MK, 10 mins to get to resort monorail, and then maybe 10 mins from MK monorail to Poly. The walk from monorail to Ohana check in is maybe 2 mins. You could also take a boat from MK to poly as well. I believe I was told it stops at GF first but we did monorail so I don't know for sure.

Eta: on the afternoon one to get in at 4, I might budge and say 3:15 so then you aren't waiting too long at MK. I would think you can get through bag check though and then might have to wait in line to get in.

Yeah it's better to be safe than sorry. I've never relied on WDW buses so I'm a newbie as far as that's concerned.

I stayed at Pop, which is very near AofA. For your rope drop questions, we were in line for MK buses about 8:20 for rope drop and got to the gates just AFTER the welcome show and people had been let in. That's how I like to do RD, actually, being there early, but not having to stand around in a crowd.

7:30 was about right for getting in line for the bus for DHS to do "real" rope drop (meaning I was actually there about 4families back from the tap stiles waiting for them to start letting people in)

Walk from MK exit to Chef Mickey - I'd allow 15 min for a casual stroll and getting all the way in, up the elevator.

If you're not early risers, it is certainly more convenient to take a cab to O'hana. Otherwise you have to build in plenty of time for waiting on a bus, transferring to monorail, actual monorail ride - I'd be in line at AofA at 8:00 for that if using buses.

Not really sure about your afternoon arrivals. . .

We are early risers. Well, I'm not but DS is and that means I am too!