Buses only start 45 min prior?

[BZMomNJ]

We'all be staying at AoA for 3 nights next April. MK is scheduled to open at 9 our first day, and 8am EMH on the second day.

I've read suggestions to be in transit 1.5 hours prior to opening to make rope drop. But it seems like the buses only start running h 45 min prior to park open.

Does everyone just drive themselves or take an uber?

 

[joelkfla]

No, the buses start running around 6:30. The first bus from each resort generally leaves sometime between 6:30 & 7am.

 

[gemduncan]

I'm following this post... We are also staying at AoA in February. MK is open 9am-8pm the day we plan to visit. How early do we need to leave AoA on the shuttle?

 

[Marc D]

The ride (and walk from the bus stop to the gate, including security) from AoA to MK is at most 30 min, and probably much less before 8 am. If you are on the bus at 7, you'll wait at least 30 min in line at the turnstiles.

 

[AngiTN]

The ride (and walk from the bus stop to the gate, including security) from AoA to MK is at most 30 min, and probably much less before 8 am. If you are on the bus at 7, you'll wait at least 30 min in line at the turnstiles.

Except they don't open the gates at 8:00. The shows starts at more like 7:40/7:45 (or move up an hour for opening at 9:00)

 

[maxiesmom]

The ride (and walk from the bus stop to the gate, including security) from AoA to MK is at most 30 min, and probably much less before 8 am. If you are on the bus at 7, you'll wait at least 30 min in line at the turnstiles.

If they are on the bus at 7, yes. But they may not get on a bus right at 7. And a good part of that 30 minutes at the park will be clearing bag check and getting into the park. And that will put the towards the back of the mob of people waiting to get the day going.

 

[CarrieR]

We usually stay at Pop and aim to hit the busses between 7:45 & 8. I would say 7:45 for MK, 8 elsewhere. In my experience, you need to budget for:
*15 minutes to wait for bus (it could arrive just as you walk up - or you could wait a while)
*30 minutes for bus ride (MK only - 15 minutes sufficient other parks)
*10-15 minutes to clear security and turnstiles

At MK, as long as we're there before the welcome show (which runs 15-20 minutes prior to opening,) I feel like we're in good shape. You clear the turnstiles prior to park opening and wait in a "mob" in front of the train station.

For other parks (DHS) your "pole position" matters more; for others still it matters less (AK, where there is a LONG distance - walking fast can make up any deficit AND the attractions are either high capacity or not terribly popular.) But due to the varying distances to the parks, we find our "time to bus stop" answer comes out pretty close to 8 every time.

And the busses have been running for a while by then.

 

[BZMomNJ]

We usually stay at Pop and aim to hit the busses between 7:45 & 8. I would say 7:45 for MK, 8 elsewhere. In my experience, you need to budget for:
*15 minutes to wait for bus (it could arrive just as you walk up - or you could wait a while)
*30 minutes for bus ride (MK only - 15 minutes sufficient other parks)
*10-15 minutes to clear security and turnstiles

At MK, as long as we're there before the welcome show (which runs 15-20 minutes prior to opening,) I feel like we're in good shape. You clear the turnstiles prior to park opening and wait in a "mob" in front of the train station.

For other parks (DHS) your "pole position" matters more; for others still it matters less (AK, where there is a LONG distance - walking fast can make up any deficit AND the attractions are either high capacity or not terribly popular.) But due to the varying distances to the parks, we find our "time to bus stop" answer comes out pretty close to 8 every time.

And the busses have been running for a while by then.

Thank you! We'll plan to be at the bus stop by 7:45 for a 9am open. All this planning is stressing me out. Lol. When we stayed at Paradise Pier in DL last year, we just walked across the street. I'm spoiled now.

 

[CarrieR]

DL is *such* a different beast. WDW is my "home" but I've been hankering for a visit to the left coast parks lately!

I will say, as an addendum to the above, I travel with an all-adult party who are saavy WDW tourists. As long as we're at the parks before RD, we're usually able to work our way towards the front of the pack - no strollers, longer legs, no worries that we'll lose someone in the crowd. If I was traveling with small children, I might add an extra 15 minutes to those times... it really depends on your "risk tolerance." A once in a lifetime trip with tiny guys & I think I'd push it just that smidge sooner.

 

[ShellyShell]

Ok I have this same question but i'm staying the week of Christmas. I'm going on12/26 and the Early Morning show starts at 6:45 am and EMH starts at 7pm. If the buses don't start running till 6:30pm how is making those times possible. Should I drive?

 

[WEDWDW]

Ok I have this same question but i'm staying the week of Christmas. I'm going on12/26 and the Early Morning show starts at 6:45 am and EMH starts at 7pm. If the buses don't start running till 6:30pm how is making those times possible. Should I drive?

Magic Kingdom buses will start running even earlier that week in order to get Guests to MK in time for the7:00 AM EMH.

 

[ShellyShell]

Magic Kingdom buses will start running even earlier that week in order to get Guests to MK in time for the7:00 AM EMH.

That's good to know! Thanks!