BUS QUESTION... Grand Floridian to AK and HS

[thewelts]

I know the bus situation at Disney is not great, and at times downright awful. I'm trying to plan our days for a rather tight trip and I would love to hear specific and recent Grand Floridian bus stories.

1st we need to be at Animal Kingdom for rope drop (9 AM) on Tuesday, 12/15 - departing from Grand Floridian. How much time do we need to allow? What is the route? How many stops along the way?

What about the return trip to the GF? same?
We need to be back at the Grand Floridian for a lunch date at 1 PM.

Alternately, I would be happy to pay for an UBER ride.

2nd
We need to get to Hollywood Studios in the evening for a 4 PM TOT FP+. When we stayed at the GF 2 years ago, there was a direct bus (no stops) to Hollywood Studios. It took no more than 15 minutes and was very efficient. Does that remain true?
The return bus was longer, stopping at the Contemporary and Poly, before returning to GF. Is that still true?

Because my husband and I like to walk, we may walk from HS to Epcot and then ride the monorail back to the TTC and then walk back to the GF (We have hoppers for this day, so why not?). We just need to make it to Epcot by 9:30 PM (closing time) after the 8:30 Fantasmic show. Can we make it?
We plan to send my mother and son back to the resort by bus (or Uber).

Thanks for your advice and updated information.

 

[minnie mum]

GF to AK. Buses start running to the parks at 6:30. Allow one hour to get to any park- you may have to wait up to 20 min if you arrive at the bus stop right after your bus has left. You also want to be at the park well before the official opening time since they let guests through the tapstiles earlier than the official time.

Returning to GG- be at the bus stop at least 45 minutes before your date.

Allow an hour to get to DHS. You may have to wait up to 20 min for the next bus. Better to be a few minutes utes early than late.

Return trips to the resorts at the end of the night can be very long since there are very long lines for the buses as the parks close.

I think it unlikely that you can walk from DHS to Epcot by 9:30 if Fantasmic is at 8:30.