Calling all Disney veterans!!

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

This is our first Disney visit as a family, and I need alot of help! I would like to know the best strategy for getting to my character meals, also when to leave, etc. We will be staying offsite at Windsor Hills. I have an 8:10 ressie for Crystal Palace on Monday April 3rd. We also have an 8:30 ressie for Chef Mickey's on Thursday April 6th. Also, Thursday is EMH for MK. Please help me figure out when I should leave my condo, and the best way to do all this as I am mostly clueless. Thanks!!

 

[cdpa4d]

Well...from my experience it takes longer than you think to get to your destination. I would leave your condo at least one-hour prior to your PS.

Crystal Palace - Leave your condo one hour prior to your PS. Park in the MK parking lot. Take the shuttle to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Hop on the express monorail to the park entrance. Enter the park to CP. The express monorail should be operating by the time you get there.

Chef Mickey's - Leave your condo one hour prior to your PS. Park in the MK parking lot. Take the shuttle to the Transportation and Ticket Center. Hop on the resort monorail. This monorail will stop at the resorts. The express monorail does not. Take the resort monorail to the Contemporary and exit. Take the escelators down to the 4th floor where Chef Mickey's is located. Once you have finished breakfast you could walk to the entrance of the MK.

The other option you have here is driving directly to the Contemporary and getting a temporary parking permit. However, once you are finished with breakfast you will need to move your car to the MK parking lot and take the monorail over to the park entrance (if you are going to the MK that day). If it were me I would just park in the MK parking lot and take the resort monrail over to the Contemporary so you don't have to waste your time later parking your car in the MK parking lot.

 

[jwann]

My piece of advice????
STAY ON-PARK

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

I could not stay on site if I wanted to at this point in the game. Unless I wanted to lose alot of money!!

 

[mouseplanner]

I've read that you have to be a WDW resort guest to use the monorail - they check for resort ID. Is that true or is it likely that they will not check? We will also be staying off Disney property but it would be very convenient to take the monorail to our Chef Mickey dinner. By the way, is the Chef Mickey dinner just as good as the breakfast? Thanks.

 

[dreamscometrue47]

You do NOT have to be a Disney resort guest to use Disney transportation. You just need to have valid admission to the theme parks. Otherwise how would offsite guests parkhop or get to the MK or Epcot from the TTC? I have been to WDW at least 20 times, stayed offsite probabbly 15 times, and was never asked for any id to ride the monorail.

And to the OP, I would leave your condo at least one hour prior to your ADR. If you have any concerns or trouble getting on the monorail to MK, find a CM and explain that you have an early ADR. They'll direct you where to go.

Have a fabulous trip!