Best Epcot resort to pass through for boat to DHS

[LandChildWorldAdult]

Hi all!

I'm considering a leisurely stroll through DHS just for Osborne Lights on our AK day (since it closes so early).

PLEASE correct me if I am wrong, but I believe there is boat transportation to DHS from all Epcot resorts? I was thinking that since park to park transport is so slow, we would take advantage of a bus to a nice Epcot resort (to see the decorations) followed by a boat ride over to DHS to see the lights and finally another bus to get back to the Contemporary (or boat back to Epcot and monorail).

Could this be leisurely? Enjoyable? Or have I lost my mind?

We can always bail and just head back by bus if we are exhausted, but I'd like a contingency, since it will be a very early night, with AK closing at 6. UG leads me to believe that we can pretty much see it all in one full day, perhaps even leaving before closing.

 

[backyardponder]

I would go through the Boardwalk. You can even walk to DHS from the Boardwalk. It is about 15 minutes. You can also walk from the Beach Club, Swan, or Dolphin.

On you plan to get back to the Contemporary...if you take the boat back to Epcot from DHS and want to get to the monorail, make sure Epcot is open. The boat goes to the International Gateway (near the world showcase area). You need to enter Epcot and walk through to get to the monorail.

 

[Sammy]

Well, if you want a leisurely boat ride, you could catch the boat at the Boardwalk, as that is the first stop after leaving from Epcot. The boat then stops at YC/BC, Swan/Dolphin, and then goes to HS. If you are looking for the shortest boat ride, I would go AK to the Dolphin, then walk through the resort to get to the boat dock.

You can also walk to HS from the Boardwalk area. We love walking along the canal and it takes about 15 - 20 minutes depending on your pace.

 

[LandChildWorldAdult]

I would go through the Boardwalk. You can even walk to DHS from the Boardwalk. It is about 15 minutes. You can also walk from the Beach Club, Swan, or Dolphin.

On you plan to get back to the Contemporary...if you take the boat back to Epcot from DHS and want to get to the monorail, make sure Epcot is open. The boat goes to the International Gateway (near the world showcase area). You need to enter Epcot and walk through to get to the monorail.

Thanks! I'll put those in my notes and maybe we'll be adventurous and take the first bus that comes for one of them

I'm sure Epcot will be open, DHS closes at 8 and Epcot at 9:30, so we should be good -- in fact, good enough that everyone will either be already gone or waiting for Illuminations.

 

[cranbiz]

UG leads me to believe that we can pretty much see it all in one full day, perhaps even leaving before closing.

This depends on your touring style and what you want to / like to do. You cannot see it all / do it all in a day. You can hit the highlights in one day. You have 2 great shows there, Finding Nemo the musical and Festival of the Lion King, 2 great walking trails, conservation station, Kilimajaro Safari, Flights of Wonder, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, etc. Trying to hit these without some of the other things, well it's ambitious.

OK, off my soap box. You can see that I love DAK. It will never be a half day park to me.

You have a couple of options, Boardwalk is the closest Epcot resort but it is the last bus stop from DAK. you are normally better off taking the park to park bus. I'm not sure why you think its slower than the Epcot resorts bus.

The Epcot resorts have wonderful decorations (but some have cut back) The carousel is back at Beach Club (and is as good as ever) but the Boardwalk does not have the carnival this year and Yacht Club doesn't have anything fancy this year (yet).

 

[LandChildWorldAdult]

This depends on your touring style and what you want to / like to do. You cannot see it all / do it all in a day. You can hit the highlights in one day. You have 2 great shows there, Finding Nemo the musical and Festival of the Lion King, 2 great walking trails, conservation station, Kilimajaro Safari, Flights of Wonder, Dinosaur, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, etc. Trying to hit these without some of the other things, well it's ambitious.

OK, off my soap box. You can see that I love DAK. It will never be a half day park to me.

You have a couple of options, Boardwalk is the closest Epcot resort but it is the last bus stop from DAK. you are normally better off taking the park to park bus. I'm not sure why you think its slower than the Epcot resorts bus.

The Epcot resorts have wonderful decorations (but some have cut back) The carousel is back at Beach Club (and is as good as ever) but the Boardwalk does not have the carnival this year and Yacht Club doesn't have anything fancy this year (yet).

I'm sure we will love DAK too. I think it is an all day with a nice break for lunch park for us. We are very likely to skip Dinosaur & Primeval Whirl (2 or 3 of us will probably ride EE). Still, since we will skip these, I think we'll have a reasonable time taking it all in. If not, we can always use some of our free time to come back. And they'll throw us out at 6, whether we've seen all we want to or not.

Maybe I am confused and thinking of the resort to resort transportation. I will certainly consider taking a direct bus. How long should I expect that to take? Would it be direct?

Thanks so much for weighing in! 1350 miles from good clam chowder? You must be from around heah ;-)

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yeah, you have me a little confused. Park to park transportation could be considered slow when one park is the Magic Kingdom, because Guests need to go through the TTC. But transportation between any other pair of parks is direct, and most assuredly faster than taking a bus from a park to a resort, then a boat (or any other form of transportation) to another park.

 

[DebbieB]

I would take the bus to the Beach Club, look at their decorations, walk over to Yacht Club, look at theirs, then catch the boat to DHS. If you have time, you could also go to Boardwalk. I'm not sure how much decorating Swan & Dolphin does.

 

[LandChildWorldAdult]

Yeah, you have me a little confused. Park to park transportation could be considered slow when one park is the Magic Kingdom, because Guests need to go through the TTC. But transportation between any other pair of parks is direct, and most assuredly faster than taking a bus from a park to a resort, then a boat (or any other form of transportation) to another park.

Thank you!

I'm sure I am over thinking this and got confused because going from resort to resort requires going through a park and changing buses (except monorail resorts or walking). I thought the boat would be a nice way to travel, but a direct bus is better, especially if there isn't much to see in the way of special holiday decorations.

I suspect our feet will prefer any mode of transportation other than walking by the end of a rope drop day.

BTW, I have found plenty of pixie dust on the transportation board. The answers do come more definitively than on some other boards though

Thanks again, everyone!!

 

[DebbieB]

Thank you!

I'm sure I am over thinking this and got confused because going from resort to resort requires going through a park and changing buses (except monorail resorts or walking). I thought the boat would be a nice way to travel, but a direct bus is better, especially if there isn't much to see in the way of special holiday decorations.

I suspect our feet will prefer any mode of transportation other than walking by the end of a rope drop day.

BTW, I have found plenty of pixie dust on the transportation board. The answers do come more definitively than on some other boards though

Thanks again, everyone!!

If you have time, I would stop at YC/BC to see their decorations, they are really beautiful.

 

[cranbiz]

I'm sure we will love DAK too. I think it is an all day with a nice break for lunch park for us. We are very likely to skip Dinosaur & Primeval Whirl (2 or 3 of us will probably ride EE). Still, since we will skip these, I think we'll have a reasonable time taking it all in. If not, we can always use some of our free time to come back. And they'll throw us out at 6, whether we've seen all we want to or not.

Maybe I am confused and thinking of the resort to resort transportation. I will certainly consider taking a direct bus. How long should I expect that to take? Would it be direct?

Thanks so much for weighing in! 1350 miles from good clam chowder? You must be from around heah ;-)

The park to park bus from DAK to Studios should take less than 10 minutes once underway. Its direct from LZ15 at DAK to LZ7 at Studios.

yup, originally from Carver, MA