Best way to get to the Hoop Dee Doo??

[disneylaura55]

hi all...starting to get excited and Panic a little....leaving in 3 weeks
was just looking over all my reservations and etc....
our first night we are going to the hoop dee doo...how do we get there...or what is the fastest way. we are staying at riverside
we will have a car...i love parking the car then leaving it their for the week and just use disney transportation...but should we drive?? THANK YOU!!

so grateful for disboards and all the awesome help i have gotten with my trip!!!

 

[Karbase8]

If you don't want to drive, you can take the resort bus to the Magic Kingdom, then get on the boat ferry to Fort Wilderness, you would have to leave about 90 minutes before it's not that bad going that route.

 

[DizFanSLD]

Driving would be the most efficient way, but make sure you allow enough time to park at Fort Wilderness and then take the internal bus to Pioneer Hall. If you are at the MK, you could always take a boat to FW, but then you will need to catch a boat or bus back to a park or hub to get to a bus for your resort, so driving really is the best option.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

Just my 2cents but I would drive as well. You can go by way of the MK to get to FW but I think there is a back road that would be quicker from where you are staying. I just know the names of the roads that well. Of course if I were driving with you I could find it.(HAHA). Hopefully someone will come along to help. Otherwise, pose the question on the Transportation board and they will know for sure. It does take awhile to get there so leave early- there is plenty to see once you get back by Pioneer Hall.

 

[North of Mouse]

hi all...starting to get excited and Panic a little....leaving in 3 weeks
was just looking over all my reservations and etc....
our first night we are going to the hoop dee doo...how do we get there...or what is the fastest way. we are staying at riverside
we will have a car...i love parking the car then leaving it their for the week and just use disney transportation...but should we drive?? THANK YOU!!

so grateful for disboards and all the awesome help i have gotten with my trip!!!

We love the 'no driving' at Disney also and enjoy the transportation as part of the experience - especially the boats. We get enough driving and enjoy leaving it to Disney.

I would, personally, take the bus to MK as Karbase8 said. It is such a nice ride on the ferry to FW, then you are 'right there' at Pioneer Hall as soon as you exit the boat.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

DD and I ended our most recent WDW visit at the Hoop Dee Doo, we'd spent all day/evening in the MK and took a ferry to FW, after our time there we walked 30 seconds and got on a bus that took us back to POP!

 

[tobikaye]

Using Bonnet Creek to Vista Way from POR to FW it is only about a 5 minute drive. When I have stayed at FW, we would pass POR using the side roads to get to FW instead of World Drive. I would drive unless you want to eat up some time or all of the potential drivers want to indulge without worrying about driving back.

 

[wiigirl]

If you don't want to drive, you can take the resort bus to the Magic Kingdom, then get on the boat ferry to Fort Wilderness, you would have to leave about 90 minutes before it's not that bad going that route.

 

[wisblue]

As much as I generally enjoy leaving the driving to Disney, if I had access to a car and was staying at Port Orleans, I would drive. As a previous poster said, it is a very short and simple drive to FW and, because it would require 2 legs, taking Disney transportation all the way would probably take the better part of an hour longer just to get to the parking lot at FW. For the most part, your short drive would not be on the busiest roads on the Disney property.

 

[Robo]

Driving would be the most efficient way, but make sure you allow enough time to park at Fort Wilderness and then take the internal bus to Pioneer Hall. If you are at the MK, you could always take a boat to FW,

but then you will need to catch a boat or bus back to a park or hub to get to a bus for your resort...

Disney provides buses back to the resorts directly from the Hoop Dee Doo bus stop (Settlement Bus Stop) after the evening Hoop shows.

I know it can be a contested topic, but driving to Ft. Wilderness and parking puts guests VERY far from the Hoop. (See below.)
It doesn't seem like much of an advantage to drive and park so far from the show, and then need to take the internal buses both ways to/from the Hoop.

 

[3dadknight]

We will be going to HDD for a 4:00 seating on March 6. We plan to be in MK all day and after the show. What time should we leave MK to catch the boat to FW? How long is the ride? Any guidance is appreciated.

 

[ElizabethG]

I would take the bus to MK and ferry to FW.

Once we were at AK and took the bus to FW. That wasn't bad. However, the internal bus was a nightmare! We vowed never to do that again. First, it was packed with people going to MBYBBQ and HDDR. We had to take the second bus. Then it stopped at each stop. I swear the stops were 100 yds apart. So, I wouldn't drive just to get on the internal bus.

 

[sturowski]

We take the bus to MK and get on the ferry to fort wilderness.. Then hop n the resort bus back after the show

 

[Axel]

We will be going to HDD for a 4:00 seating on March 6. We plan to be in MK all day and after the show. What time should we leave MK to catch the boat to FW? How long is the ride? Any guidance is appreciated.

It's about an 8 minute boat ride from the MK to FW. The boats run about as regularly as busses (perhaps even more so sometimes). Seating at HDDR is reserved so you don't need to worry about getting there early to get a good seat.

However, you do still need to check in before the show and there is a photo opportunity (we've gotten some of our best family photos here!), so I would plan on being at FW no later than 3:15. There's a playground there and plenty to see so you shouldn't have a problem keeping the kids occupied and the adults can grab a drink at Crockett's Tavern (they have an outside serving window) and sit on the deck while you wait.

So. Leave MK no later than 3, get on a boat, and amuse yourself at FW while you wait!

 

[HelenParr]

I would go to MK and take the boat to FW.

First reason: we enjoy the adult beverages at HDDR, and would not chance driving back after. Also, the boat ride from MK is just fun. Cool to see the Bay Lake area, and Pioneer Hall is a very short walk from the dock. We think of the boat part as just part of HDDR fun.

We target arriving 30-45 minutes in advance. Boat arrival time is not 100% predictable, like most DW transportation. Boat ride takes about 15 minutes. If I were going to 4pm show, I would be at the MK boat launch by no later than 3pm.

In fairness, other than getting your photos taken, there isn't a whole bunch to do out there waiting for the doors to open (which do not open early). You can look at a few animals and the resort/gift shop nearby. But if you go super early, you could be standing around for a bit.

 

[B.B. Sots]

We take the bus to MK and get on the ferry to fort wilderness.. Then hop n the resort bus back after the show

When we stayed at POR this is exactly what we did..

Disney provides buses back to the resorts directly from the Hoop Dee Doo bus stop (Settlement Bus Stop) after the evening Hoop shows.

I know it can be a contested topic, but driving to Ft. Wilderness and parking puts guests VERY far from the Hoop.
It doesn't seem like much of an advantage to drive and park so far from the show, and then need to take the internal buses both ways to/from the Hoop.

Agree with Robo here.. it is not much of an advantage when you have to wait for the FW bus system. Once on the bus at the Entrance of FW you have to wait through all the stops until you reach the Back of the resort. If you are lucky enough not to get caught behind a golf cart and only have a few riders, it will still take a bit of time.

Learned this lesson when we stayed at the Cabins.

I would leave a 1.5 - 2 hour cushion to get to the HDDR when using Disney Transportation (bus to MK -> Boat to FW)

 

[3dadknight]

It's about an 8 minute boat ride from the MK to FW. The boats run about as regularly as busses (perhaps even more so sometimes). Seating at HDDR is reserved so you don't need to worry about getting there early to get a good seat. However, you do still need to check in before the show and there is a photo opportunity (we've gotten some of our best family photos here!), so I would plan on being at FW no later than 3:15. There's a playground there and plenty to see so you shouldn't have a problem keeping the kids occupied and the adults can grab a drink at Crockett's Tavern (they have an outside serving window) and sit on the deck while you wait. So. Leave MK no later than 3, get on a boat, and amuse yourself at FW while you wait!

Thanks. We've been to WDW 4 times in the last 10 years and never thought about doing HDDR before. Sounds like a great way to finish our last full day on trip number 5.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if not partaking of adult bevs, then drive if you want but a lot of times the buses for other resorts are parked waiting for their guests and back up internal buses. also at arrival times esp the early show internal buses can have longer waits as this is break time for the drivers and less buses are on the loops. yes the internal buses stop at all the loops to pick up and let off guests who are staying at those sites and HDDR is at the turn around area for the buses, in other words the last stop. if par taking adult bevs, then ferry from MK and bus to Port Orleans is the way to go

 

[mdrob214]

I would go to MK and take the boat to FW.

First reason: we enjoy the adult beverages at HDDR, and would not chance driving back after. Also, the boat ride from MK is just fun. Cool to see the Bay Lake area, and Pioneer Hall is a very short walk from the dock. We think of the boat part as just part of HDDR fun.

We target arriving 30-45 minutes in advance. Boat arrival time is not 100% predictable, like most DW transportation. Boat ride takes about 15 minutes. If I were going to 4pm show, I would be at the MK boat launch by no later than 3pm.

In fairness, other than getting your photos taken, there isn't a whole bunch to do out there waiting for the doors to open (which do not open early). You can look at a few animals and the resort/gift shop nearby. But if you go super early, you could be standing around for a bit.

^^This!
It IS easier to drive. But the last few times we were at HDDR our waiter was quick to keep my drink full!