Best way to get to parks from Shades of Green?

[GoldeneyezCA]

Hello,

We will have 11 people (2 of whom need car seats) staying at SOG beginning this weekend. After reading through various websites, it looks like driving our rental car or Uber may be the easiest way to go, but I would like some advice about the most efficient way to get to the parks.

MK - walk/golf cart to Poly and catch monorail, drive, or Uber?

Epcot - Uber or drive?

HS - Uber or drive?

AK - we will be Ubering around 6:30-6:45 to EMH Sat 8/19 since we didn't get FOP FP's 60 days with our throwaway campsite.

Other considerations:
- I just bought two Bubble Bum inflatable boosters for the Uber rides, will throw them in our lightweight stroller.
- Considering using Express Transportation IF we decide to park-hop, but it looks like the last day to buy is 8/16 and we arrive 8/18 (park days 8/19 - 8/23). Not sure what do to about this, may just buy it for the day if we decide to park hop.
- Is preferred parking really helpful for any of the parks?

Thank you!

 

[cdnjason]

MK - walk to Poly and take monorail
Epcot - walk to TTC and take monorail
HS - Uber or car rental
AK - Uber or car rental

If using Uber, you can request a drive with car seats.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

Why not take the SOG buses? We haven't stayed at SOG in a few years - do they not have the buses to the parks anymore?

 

[GoldeneyezCA]

It seems that some of the SOG buses only come once per hour, and I'm prioritizing efficiency over cost. I don't want to be exorbitant, of course, but standing in the Florida sun waiting for shuttles for 20 min is not our cup of tea, and I'm trying to minimize some of the walking for the very young and elderly in our party to conserve energy.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[sharonabe]

Considering using Express Transportation IF we decide to park-hop, but it looks like the last day to buy is 8/16 and we arrive 8/18 (park days 8/19 - 8/23). Not sure what do to about this, may just buy it for the day if we decide to park hop

Unless I've missed a confirmation somewhere this morning, this is still just a rumor, so don't give up hope just yet.

If you do drive to the parks and park hop, don't forget the "hassle" of needing to get back to your car at the end of the day.

It sounds like you know this already, but just in case, you will need to pay to park at the parks, but you only have to pay once per day, so if you want to use your car to park hop, that's an option as well.

 

[GoldeneyezCA]

Sounds like Express Transportation announcement came out today, so that's a bummer.

But thanks for the response and the reminder about park-hopping and going back to the original park if we drive. That made me laugh, because we are DL AP's and don't have to consider it, but it would have occurred to us...eventually!

 

[Robo]

Sounds like Express Transportation announcement came out today, so that's a bummer.

But thanks for the response and the reminder about park-hopping and going back to the original park if we drive. That made me laugh, because we are DL AP's and don't have to consider it, but it would have occurred to us...eventually!

If Express Transportation ends, there is still free transportation that operates directly between all parks provided for "park hopping."

 

[FastPasser.]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/walt-disney-world-eliminates-express-transportation-service/

 

[Amanda Hall]

If you time the shades of green bus right it works well . We liked it for Animal Kingdom as the drop off is closer to the front then some others. Also, the drop off for Disney Springs was at the front of the central bus area. Very convenient and nice to know exactly when a bus would be arriving. We just walked to poly for the monorail to MK.

 

[firstwdw]

Shades buses are fantastic-better than Disney! If you drive you will be paying parking. There are so many options for transportation at Shades: This what we do at Shades:

MK: golf cart or walk to Poly and hop on monorail (or the Poly boat to MK)
Epcot: walk to TTC or take the SOG bus to TTC and hop on monorail
HS: direct bus from SOG
Ak: direct bus from SOG (plus the bus stop at AK is closer than many of the resort buses and it is covered with benches for waiting at the end of the day)
just be certain you know the SOG bus schedule. They are ON TIME and you always know when a bus will show up.

Or you can always walk to Poly and use Disney buses, monorail, boats.

 

[matheke]

Shades buses are fantastic-better than Disney! If you drive you will be paying parking. There are so many options for transportation at Shades: This what we do at Shades:

MK: golf cart or walk to Poly and hop on monorail (or the Poly boat to MK)
Epcot: walk to TTC or take the SOG bus to TTC and hop on monorail
HS: direct bus from SOG
Ak: direct bus from SOG (plus the bus stop at AK is closer than many of the resort buses and it is covered with benches for waiting at the end of the day)
just be certain you know the SOG bus schedule. They are ON TIME and you always know when a bus will show up.

Or you can always walk to Poly and use Disney buses, monorail, boats.

If you miss the bus at Studios or Animal Kingdom (They come once an hour) then take the bus to the Contemporary and monorail to the TTC and catch a bus there (20 minutes).

We never had a problem catching the bus back. You just have to budget your time and know to be there about 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

 

[Robo]

It seems strange that Shades does not simply offer more buses.
They cover so much and do it so well, otherwise, at WDW.

 

[firstwdw]

Shades buses are not a problem at all. You just need to know when to be at the bus stop which is so much better than standing around wondering and waiting on a Disney bus! We waited 50min to get a bus back to a Disney resort from Hollywood Studios. Yet when we stayed at Shades, we knew the exact time the bus would be leaving-we spent time in the gift shops, grabbed a quick snack and leisurely made our way to the bus-which was already there. The driver let us all on to get out of the heat and have a seat and we waited 10min until the scheduled departure time. For the number of guests at Shades it is not cost effective to run more buses. They do an excellent job with their busing though and we much prefer it over our many stays at Disney properties. We spent much much less time standing around waiting for buses at SOG. Plus the best part, you have a better chance of getting a seat on a SOG bus and not being packed in-much less stressful than Disney bus system and no sharing with other resorts or multiple stops at the resort. My family chose Shades of Green for our next trip and one the reasons is that the buses are much better in our opinion. Some hate the scheduled buses but we love it!

 

[pcoleman]

I would stick with SOG buses. I have waited way longer for Disney buses than SOG. Always know when they will pick up and drop off. You might end up waiting at least 20 minutes for other options. The buses are always clean and I never had to wait for another bus because the first one was full. I would only consider other option if you need to be somewhere before SOG transportation starts.