Best transportation to get to MK or Epcot for Rope Drop?

[monkeybug]

(I'm guessing a car is the quickest route to DHS and AK)
I like the idea of taking a boat to the Contemporary and then using the monorail to get to the TTC and getting to Epcot that way, but does it add a bunch of time compared to just driving?

 

[FtW Mike]

Fastest way to MK from The Fort any time is the boat directly to there. The boats are running one hour prior to opening. If you drive then you will have to contend with the parking lot then either ferry (might be better/faster option) or Monorail to gates. Buses to AK again start about an hour prior to park opening

 

[monkeybug]

Fastest way to MK from The Fort any time is the boat directly to there. The boats are running one hour prior to opening. If you drive then you will have to contend with the parking lot then either ferry (might be better/faster option) or Monorail to gates. Buses to AK again start about an hour prior to park opening

I had read on a Facebook page that to get to the MK for RD I should take the boat to the contemporary and then walk to the MK because the boat directly there doesn't start running until 30 minutes before park opening, that isn't the case?

 

[amylevan]

The boat from FW to MK starts running 1/2 hr before opening. Depending on the time of year (ie how busy it is...), that is enough to get you there for rope drop. If you want to get to MK earlier than that, yes, take the boat to the Contemporary and walk the rest of the way.

Taking the boat to the Contemporary and the monorail to EP requires a monorail transfer at the TTC, and is in no way an efficient way to get to EP. Especially if you are trying to make rope drop. We come home that way occasionally, but only because the kids love the monorail.

We are rope drop people and exclusively use Disney transportation (buses, boats, etc). It can be done from the fort. But driving will also work.

 

[bama_ed]

I am with amy on this one.

While the direct big boat is INTENDED to get you to the MK before rope drop, its not guarenteed to. Last week the two days i was at MK for rd, the Fort boat missed rd both times. Once it sat jjst off the pier waiing for the WL big boat to back out and leave then for the small GF boat to leave.

The second morning the rd was about 10 minutes before the scheduled top of the hour. The Fort boat had not yet arrived.

Bama ed

 

[tiggerdad]

I still can't figure this out. Not once in the three times that we have tried to make ropedrop from the Fort has the direct boat gotten there on time. Ed described two more situations with similar results.

Why is it the boat doesn't get going earlier in the morning since it obviously fails repeatedly to get there in time for ropedrop? Not that it can't get there on time, but it is never referenced as a good idea to try.

 

[monkeybug]

The boat to the Contemporary starts much earlier than the boat to the MK, right? I think we'll just plan on getting to RD that way, cutting it close stresses me out, lol!
My kids love the monorail too, and now that I'm thinking about it there isn't much at Epcot which would require us getting there at RD, so maybe we'll take the long way via the boat to the Contemporary, even though it's more time consuming.

 

[amylevan]

I still can't figure this out. Not once in the three times that we have tried to make ropedrop from the Fort has the direct boat gotten there on time. Ed described two more situations with similar results.

Why is it the boat doesn't get going earlier in the morning since it obviously fails repeatedly to get there in time for ropedrop? Not that it can't get there on time, but it is never referenced as a good idea to try.

We've done it, but during a pretty slow time in early February. Basically, the boat was pulling into the docks as the welcome show was starting, and by the time we got through security and the turnstiles, they had just released the droves. So, the best I can figure is that WDW long ago decided that the 1/2 hour before was "sufficient" to get you there for rope drop. So, in their minds, why get going any earlier?

 

[amylevan]

The boat to the Contemporary starts much earlier than the boat to the MK, right? I think we'll just plan on getting to RD that way, cutting it close stresses me out, lol!
My kids love the monorail too, and now that I'm thinking about it there isn't much at Epcot which would require us getting there at RD, so maybe we'll take the long way via the boat to the Contemporary, even though it's more time consuming.

Yes, the boats between the Contemporary, the Wilderness Lodge & the fort start running earlier. I assume due to the character breakfasts at Chef Mickeys.

 

[Nan P]

We did the Crystal Palace for early breakfast in December and knew the way to get to MK on time and before rope drop was the first boat (6:45 am I think) to Contemporary and that nice walk from there to the Magic Kingdom. Worked like a charm for us. Thinking the bus from the outpost would get you to EPCOT before rope drop?

 

[4ParkFamily]

We did not want to walk from Contemporary to MK for rope drop so we could save our energy to run to Mine train so we took the internal bus to bus to WL then the bus to MK. The bus to WL starts running an hour before rope drop.

 

[Maligator]

Slightly off topic here but confirmation... The bus from outpost WILL get you to rope drop at EPCOT no problem. We did it twice last visit without even trying.

 

[amylevan]

Yes, the buses from the outpost will get you to EP, HS or AK for rope drop.

 

[tiggerdad]

So, we need a faster boat.

 

[Maligator]

So, we need a faster boat.

Yeah, This one should do. Plenty of room for the kids in back...

 

[tiggerdad]

Needs a sign:

Get in
Sit down
Hold on

 

[PaHunter]

Needs a sign:

Get in
Sit down
Hold on

take small children by the hand and please take all your personal belongings....

 

[kenzieq]

What do I do if I have an early breakfast reservation a ohana? Take boat to contemporary and then monorail to Polynesian? Or would driving be easier?

 

[amylevan]

What do I do if I have an early breakfast reservation a ohana? Take boat to contemporary and then monorail to Polynesian? Or would driving be easier?

The boat to Contemporary plus the monorail would work. Although, it's just down the road if you drive; so I'd be inclined to drive.

 

[peg110]

Yeah, This one should do. Plenty of room for the kids in back...

What it lacks in capacity, it can make up for in speed.