Car or Monorail?

[ColleenS]

Hi,

On our first night in June we have reservations at 1900 Park Fare for dinner at 5:00. We'd like to go see Illuminations after dinner.

What would the time difference be between these two? And is there one you recommend?

Drive to EPCOT & park
Take Monorail to GF
EAT
Monorail to EPCOT
Illuminations
Drive back to hotel

OR
Drive to GF
EAT
Drive to Epcot
Illuminations
Drive back to hotel

We're staying at Pop Century. Normally I'd say the second one is easier, but it's our first night and we'll be there with my 7 year old triplet cousins who've never been before. I thought they'd might get a kick out of riding the monorail and seeing everything.

What do you think?

 

[kaytieeldr]

What about: Bus to MK, monorail to GF, bus to Epcot, bus back to Pop?
Or, bus to MK, monorail to GF, monorail to TTC/to Epcot, bus back to Pop? Especially if you have spare time - and you should - your triplet cousins and one adult can ask/wait to ride in the front car of the monorail with the pilot, on the trip from the TTC to Epcot. That's THE best ride - the track loops through Future World before you arrive at the unloading platform.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Or, bus to MK, monorail to GF, monorail to TTC/to Epcot, bus back to Pop?

That is what I would recommend since there is no direct bus from the Grand Floridian to Epcot. So that means the only option is taking the Resort Monorail to the TTC and transferring to the Epcot Monorail.

 

[dmunsil]

I concur with the suggestion of bus to MK, monorail to GF, monorail to TTC and Epcot, bus to hotel as a good way that uses only Disney transport.

But assuming the OP prefers to drive, or needs to drive for some reason, of the two the OP mentioned obviously the second is the fastest. There's always some waiting with the monorail or bus. Because of the variable waits for each monorail, the first option might take only 10 minutes more, or it could take 40 minutes more. I could conceive of it actually taking slightly less time if you happened to catch each monorail right when you walk out to get it, but I wouldn't count on it.

I agree that the monorail is well worth taking at some point, purely as a "ride." Whether that specific point in your vacation is the best time to do it is unknown without seeing the rest of the itinerary. If there's a day that's going to be split between Epcot and MK that might be the best time to do it. If you've just gotten there any everyone's tired, the kids might not be able to appreciate the monorail.

If you get there and they're bouncing off the walls and want some Disney magic immediately, then a monorail ride to start everything off might be just the ticket.

So it might be worth playing it by ear. See what the kids are up for. Maybe pick another day when a monorail ride would also work well and keep that in your back pocket in case the first night doesn't work out.

Don

 

[kaytieeldr]

Or, wait! I've got yet another idea!

Drive to GF
Eat
Everybody except driver takes monorail to TTC then monorail to Epcot, again waiting if necessary (and interested) for the front car from TTC to Epcot
Driver drives to Epcot
Party meets at predetermined location.

 

[dmunsil]

I like it! Efficient, and magic-maximizing.

Don