Best Entry and Transport

[Kitzira]

First time Disney World visitor. Growing up in Texas, I only imagined the theme parks I'd only see were Six Flags, never Disney.

I'm a semi-local (Palm Coast) meeting some friends driving in from Texas. Since it's a 2 hour drive for me to meet them, I'm debating if I should park in the general parking for the theme park, or park at their Disney Hotel (Coronado) & use the morning bus transport with them. They're supposed to be adding me to the booking on Sunday, but I'm only staying 1-2 nights there. We're doing Monday Hollywood Studios, Tuesday Magic Kingdom, Thursday Animal Kingdom. I'm driving home Tuesday night or Wednesday morning and then returning Thursday morning.

Also, since I'm having to pick up my 'tickets', do I pick them up & show my Florida DL at any Main Gate at any park? I didn't purchase a Magicband as my impression was that the app was supposed to replace that, but after lots of reading and messing with the app, it just hides the ticket in Google Pay's Passes folder with no shortcuts to get to it quickly.

And lastly, I didn't purchase the ParkHopper option, as wasn't sure if we were going to use it. Is it easy to add to the Ticket once there and more plans are finalized in my group?

 

[CarolynFH]

I'm debating if I should park in the general parking for the theme park, or park at their Disney Hotel (Coronado) & use the morning bus transport with them.

It will be easier to coordinate a place to meet up with them at Coronado, so that's what I would do - park at CSR and take the bus with them. When you arrive at the CSR parking gate, tell the guard you're checking in and give them the name the reservation is under. They'll also need your photo ID.

Also, since I'm having to pick up my 'tickets', do I pick them up & show my Florida DL at any Main Gate at any park? I didn't purchase a Magicband as my impression was that the app was supposed to replace that, but after lots of reading and messing with the app, it just hides the ticket in Google Pay's Passes folder with no shortcuts to get to it quickly.

Yes, you can pick up your tickets at the ticket booths outside the first park you visit. You can ask for a ticket card (hard plastic like a credit card) and use that in place of a MB.

I didn't purchase the ParkHopper option, as wasn't sure if we were going to use it. Is it easy to add to the Ticket once there and more plans are finalized in my group?

Yes, you can upgrade your ticket to a Hopper at any time. Be aware that you will pay the same price whether you upgrade the first day or the last and whether you use hopping privileges once or every day.