Best way to get to Hoop Dee Doo?

[DizneeMommy]

We will do TL until early afternoon, then back to Pop for showers and rest. We have a 5:00 ADR at Hoop Dee Doo. I'm thinking: Bus to MK, then the launch over to the campground? How far is it from the dock to Hoop? If we're running low on time, we will have our vehicle and can drive over. . .where's the closest we could park?

 

[minnie mum]

I strongly advise against driving over if you can avoid it. The public parking lot is quite a distance from th HDDR site and requires an internal resort bus ride.

Go with your first instinct: take a bus from your resort to MK and the launch to FW. It is a short walk (only a couple of minutes) from the dock and is extremely well marked. Besides, the boat ride is a lovely thing to do, just sit back and enjoy the scenery and the lovely breezes.

Just allow lots of time. Leave your resort 90 min. before your seating time. I know you'll all have a great time.

 

[chartle]

x 2

The consider boat ride from the MK part of the experience.

And posted above the walk is maybe 5 minutes.

 

[DizneeMommy]

Thanks, both of you! (And thanks for the heads-up on driving over...won't do that!)

 

[Pixie Princess]

Hi fellow NE Georgian!

I know I am probably the only person who feels this way, but if you have a car and don't plan to go to MK after HDDR, drive. We did this on our last trip, and by far it was the best experience getting to HDDR we've ever had. Yes, you have to wait for an internal bus to get you back there, but we've had problems with the boat from MK route on more than one occasion.

We always do the 5:00 show, and I allow us 1.5 - 2.0 hrs to make the trip to HDDR, and it has been a crap shoot as to how close we make it. Once we were 15 min. late to the show and were running from the FW dock to Pioneer Hall. I prefer taking the boat, as it is part of the experience, but driving went so smoothly that I will do it again so I'm not so stressed out about it.

 

[beroh2253]

Hi fellow NE Georgian!

I know I am probably the only person who feels this way, but if you have a car and don't plan to go to MK after HDDR, drive. We did this on our last trip, and by far it was the best experience getting to HDDR we've ever had. Yes, you have to wait for an internal bus to get you back there, but we've had problems with the boat from MK route on more than one occasion.

We always do the 5:00 show, and I allow us 1.5 - 2.0 hrs to make the trip to HDDR, and it has been a crap shoot as to how close we make it. Once we were 15 min. late to the show and were running from the FW dock to Pioneer Hall. I prefer taking the boat, as it is part of the experience, but driving went so smoothly that I will do it again so I'm not so stressed out about it.

Your not the only ones, we have done this 4 times now, drive to the parking lot (takes about 10 minute to the lot from POP) the bus will take you up to the Hoop, after the Hoop buses are waiting to take everyone back to the parking lot. Unless you are going back to the MK then take the boat.
The Hoop-Dee-Doo is fun have a great time. We will be at POP in 2 weeks, sadly notgoing to the Hoop this time.

 

[sharadoc]

Thanks, both of you! (And thanks for the heads-up on driving over...won't do that!)

Driving isn't bad. It will be at least half the time as your plan. Plus, there's always a HUGE group of people trying to get on the boat at the same time. If you drive, park in the main lot, get on an internal bus to Settlement, you'll be there in 30-40 minutes, TOPS. And that's if you're waiting for the bus a while.

Once the Hoop-De-Doo is over, you'll have to do the whole thing in reverse. It's much easier just to take a bus to your car, then drive back home.

 

[Mom2HandR]

We had no issues doing the boat to the HDDR BUT we waited 40 minutes to get back. Everyone was taking the boat. Never again. Totally blew our evening plans.

 

[ElizabethB]

Count us among those who always drive to HDDR. It's easy to park in the parking lot and the internal bus runs regularly and very reliably in our experience. For us, parking is easier than any other option. After the show, the buses are right there waiting to take us back to the parking lot. Then we are on our way, as opposed to a boat ride back to MK, followed by a monorail ride to the TTC and then a tram to our car. We would always choose to drive and park at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[tina.tina]

If, for some reason, you decide not to drive....

We took the boat from MK. When we left, we rode the internal bus to the main bus stop. We rode the bus to DTD & shopped for a little while. Then rode the bus from DTD to Pop. We liked hopping around like that & did it more than once.

 

[DizneeMommy]

Thanks all!! I'll keep several options open. . .we don't really have any set plans for after HDD, so it'll all depend on how much time we have before. (We're hitting TL at rope drop that morning, so I'm sure by about 1 or 2 o'clock we'll be pooped and ready for some rest back in the room!)