Boat to MK from FW or car faster?

[cressy]

We'll have a rental car at our FW cabin, and we have a AAA parking pass, which gets us a good close parking space at the TTC.Will our car or the boat from FW get us to the MK faster? Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

If you drive, you will be parking at the TTC. That means you still need to take the ferry or the monorail across the Seven Seas Lagoon to get to the MK. The boat will drop you off right at the MK. (I think the boat may stop at the WL before going to the MK, but I am not 100% sure about that).

Others may have a different opinion, but if I were staying at FW, I'd take the boat to the MK and drive everywhere else.

 

[drusba]

If you have up close parking privileges, the car may get you there faster. From your cabin to MK you need to take an internal bus to the Trading Post area and then the boat to MK. Total trip time about 30 to 35 minutes. If you drive you need to park at TTC and then take monorail or boat over to MK. That total trip time could be as low as 15 to 20 minutes if you have up front parking privileges and you do not have to wait long for a monorail.

More significant issue is coming back from MK. If you plan to leave at closing time when huge numbers are leaving then boat from MK to FW may actually be faster. That trip to your car from MK to the TTC can take a very long time when you have thousands of people waiting for that same monorail you are.

 

[jwill]

I think the boat at FW would be faster most if not all of the time.
Even with a good parking spot at the TTC you still have to take either the monorail or ferry boat over to the M.K. Chances are you would have to wait for either of these options same as you would have to wait at the F.W. dock for the boat to show up.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by drusba
If you have up close parking privileges, the car may get you there faster. From your cabin to MK you need to take an internal bus to the Trading Post area and then the boat to MK. Total trip time about 30 to 35 minutes. ...(snip)....

Can you actually park next to your cabin? I thought all the cars had to stay in a lot near the entrance unless you are camping. If so, wouldn't you have to walk or take a bus to get back to your car???

It's been along time since I've been to FW so maybe I am remembering something incorrectly or even hallucinating something that never was!

 

[jwill]

CarolMN you are correct, you still have to leave your car in the lot in front of FW if you plan on driving it during your stay. On the other hand you can park your car at your cabin or site but you can't drive it around except of course to checkout.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

The boat will be about twice as fast in all cases. Period.

If you choose to drive, it would take at least 15-25 minutes if not more just to reach the parking lot. FW is in such a location, so that you need to go around and about to get there. Once you reach the parking lot, you have two choices. Park in the regular sections, and take the parking tram... or park in the AAA Diamond Lot, and walk. There is no tram service from the Diamond Lot. It's about a 10 minute walk... about the same amount of time, if not more, than taking the tram. Yes, you are closer to the TTC... but, IMHO, it's not worth it. Now, you still have to take the Ferry or the Monorail to the TTC... each option will probably take you an estimated 15 minutes to get to the MK.

Just take the Settlement Purple bus (which runs every 10 mins) to the Settlement, and then catch the Cruiser... it'll get you there faster, and with less effort on your part. Besides, the boat ride is quite enjoyable.

 

[drusba]

As to the info above at FW, you are always allowed to park at your cabin and drive from there to the outside. You can also drive around part way inside FW like to the one trading post (not main one).

 

[cressy]

Computer problemos!!And less than a week before we leave for WDW!!Thank you for the very useful information. I think, based on your replies, that we'll take the boat when we plan on returning to FW, and take our car when we're hopping to another park, except maybe Epcot.Oh, but wait-when your car is parked at your cabin, you can't drive it out to another park? So you would need to keep your car in the parking lot and drive your golf cart(if you spring for one) to the parking lot?( The computer problem was "corrupt files", whatever that means-I am totally low-tech, so had to get someone to reset everything!! 5 days of no Disboards with our trip coming up!I was going nuts!)

 

[PatsMom]

You can drive your car to any park (as of my last trip in 11/2001). The car is parked next to your cabin and you come and go as you please - we drove off site for meals several times. It is only internal to FW that you really can't drive. There is no parking at Pioneer Hall, so you can't drive to catch the boat - you have to take your golf cart or a bus. The bus system has changed since I was there but in the past we never had problems getting a bus to catch the boat to MK. There was a 15 minute parking spot at the Meadows Trading Post - convenient to pick up packages you had shipped from the parks.

 

[Tony P. IL.]

I don't think you should care to much about 5 or 10 minutes. I would take the boat as this only adds to the vacation. I drive everyday and look forward to boat rides, monorails and all other types of transportation Disney offers. Again this is a vacation and not a race to get back and forth to work as most of us do.

 

[PinMan]

hey tony i agree with you pal, take the boat, take some pictures, enjoy the sites & ride.

 

[jwill]

I agree wth Tony P. also. One of my favorite parts of vacation at WDW is not having to drive or worry about where in the huge parking lot I left the car. It's nice not having to carry car keys around or fear losing them also. Using the Disney transportation is part of the fun and adventure, and also add to the total experience.