Bus or drive to MK with double stroller Easter week?

[starsweeper]

We are driving down from KY for the week leading to Easter, and staying at POR. We plan to be at MK every day for the 7am EMH and hop or return mid-day for a break. Is it worth it to lug myself, 4 young kids (8-3yo) and a Baby Jogger City Mini Double stroller on the bus, or better to drive to MK? If I should drive, what time should I leave to be there before 7am?

 

[erionm]

If you drive, you also have to deal with the parking lot trams and either the monorail or ferry to get between the TTC & the MK.

If you take the bus, it will drop you off in front of the MK.

 

[tobikaye]

If you drive and get to TTC early enough you should be able to make the walk to the TTC, but it can feel far if you are on the far outside of a lane. If you drive and want to be walking through at RD at 7 am, but not worried about being at the front of the pack, I would plan to be at TTC no later than 6:15 am. This would give you 45 minutes to get parked, load the stroller, walk to TTC, take the ferry (should be easier with the stroller) and go through bag check.

If you are going multiple days, I would say try driving one day and try taking the bus one day. That will let you know which would work best for your family for any other days.

 

[kaetra]

I would drive. You will have to fold down the stroller briefly on the parking lot tram, but you won't have to on the ferry or monorail. On the bus you'll have to fold the stroller for the whole ride.

 

[baler31]

Sometimes the ferry and express monorail are late running and not ready for early emh. I would take the bus. I don't say this lightly as i hate the buses.

 

[JimmyV]

I agree that the bus is the best of the bad options. Is there any way that you can travel with a smaller stroller than a "double urban assault vehicle"? Something that folds smaller?

 

[kaetra]

Gah! Ferry and Monorail aren't reliable during morning EMH?? Lord have mercy...

 

[baler31]

Gah! Ferry and Monorail aren't reliable during morning EMH?? Lord have mercy...

Because they primarily serve off site guests and they are not eligible for EMH. The resort monorail operates early but I have seen them hold the express monorail until closer to general public opening.

 

[baler31]

I agree that the bus is the best of the bad options. Is there any way that you can travel with a smaller stroller than a "double urban assault vehicle"? Something that folds smaller?

This...if at all possible use two umbrella strollers.

 

[kaetra]

Because they primarily serve off site guests and they are not eligible for EMH. The resort monorail operates early but I have seen them hold the express monorail until closer to general public opening.

Very disappointing though. We've been burned by the bus so many times getting to MK late because not enough MK buses show up at our resort in the morning for everyone waiting to get to MK by rope drop. But, now knowing this new tidbit I'll take the bus on EMH day and if we're waiting too long for it to arrive I will take another poster's advice and call the resort to ask for more buses!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Here's an idea. Drive to CR, valet park your car and walk to MK. Yes it adds $$ to your overall costs, but it will make your life a heck of a lot easier.

 

[baler31]

Very disappointing though. We've been burned by the bus so many times getting to MK late because not enough MK buses show up at our resort in the morning for everyone waiting to get to MK by rope drop. But, now knowing this new tidbit I'll take the bus on EMH day and if we're waiting too long for it to arrive I will take another poster's advice and call the resort to ask for more buses!

I have never seen many people at the bus stop at 6am waiting, this includes NYE and other holidays. I cannot imagine you having to wait for multiple buses. Maybe we are lucky We have never had any trouble with buses for early morning EMH MK days, even the 8am openings we are at the bus stop by 7 and have gotten there very early.

 

[vicki_c]

I recommend bus after being stuck at the TTC one Easter week morning. We missed the first 20 minutes or more of EMH. They did not start transportation from the TTC until 7 am. Now, for those early openings, we do bus only.

From AKL and OKW, we are ar the bus stop around 6 or not long after. First bus comes by 6:20-6:30.

The most other families we've ever seen on our bus is 2.

 

[nicci10681]

Please drive, as a non stroller park goer, those things can be deadly weapons! Esp during such a busy time, when the buses will already be packed to the gills. And by driving you'll all be more comfortable and not have to possibly carry/hold your child while trying to hold up the stroller while clinging to a strap while standing on the bus!

 

[vicki_c]

OP, you'll be fine on the bus, even with your weaponized strollers. Just use common sense.

 

[DisneyWisher]

We do both, we drive to MK in the morning and take bus back to room for afternoon break. Bus back to MK and drive back to resort at end of the day. By driving early in the morning we get great parking space we just walk from car. I hate buses in the morning and at night. They are jam packed. With 4 kids if you cant sit imagine the chaos, they're tired while you're trying to hold onto double stroller, bags, whatnots, while holding onto kids so they dont lose their balance when driver makes sharp turn or gets brake happy. When you have the car everyone sits, no one is holding anything...its just so much better.

 

[BoyMom81]

I'm a fan of driving with young children and strollers. After a bad experience of trying to manage a stroller and tired, cranky 3 year old in standing room only on a bus at closing time, we swore we wouldn't do the bus again until he was older. We had a much better day the rest of the week when we drove in and out of the park.