Counter Service Breakfast at Monorail Resort

[jasontovey]

Here's the scenario:

I'm staying at All-Star Music. I'd like to have breakfast at a counter service restaurant at one of the monorail resorts before riding over to the Magic Kingdom in time for rope drop.

This is on a day (November 11) when the Magic Kingdom opens at 9am; no Extra Magic Hours that morning.

Is this do-able? If so, how?

Option A: I take the bus from ASM to MK, then Monorail over to Polynesian.
- No car to park.
- Do the buses run early enough? It looks like the bus will pick you up at your resort an hour before park opening, then drop you off directly at the MK and not at the TTC which is closer to the Polynesian.
- My thought: Riding the bus won't allow enough time for transportation, breakfast, and transportation.

Option B: I drive to the TTC parking lot, walk/tram to TTC, Resort Monorail over to Polynesian.
- Does the parking lot open far enough in advance to get to Polynesian and eat breakfast and still get to Rope Drop?

Option C: I drive to the Polynesian Resort parking lot.
- Do I need a reservation to park here or is my intent to dine at the quick-service place enough?
- Do I need to move my car after breakfast? Probably.

Thanks for the help!

 

[vicki_c]

Here's the scenario:

I'm staying at All-Star Music. I'd like to have breakfast at a counter service restaurant at one of the monorail resorts before riding over to the Magic Kingdom in time for rope drop.

This is on a day (November 11) when the Magic Kingdom opens at 9am; no Extra Magic Hours that morning.

Is this do-able? If so, how?

Option A: I take the bus from ASM to MK, then Monorail over to Polynesian.
- No car to park.
- Do the buses run early enough? It looks like the bus will pick you up at your resort an hour before park opening, then drop you off directly at the MK and not at the TTC which is closer to the Polynesian.
- My thought: Riding the bus won't allow enough time for transportation, breakfast, and transportation.

Option B: I drive to the TTC parking lot, walk/tram to TTC, Resort Monorail over to Polynesian.
- Does the parking lot open far enough in advance to get to Polynesian and eat breakfast and still get to Rope Drop?

Option C: I drive to the Polynesian Resort parking lot.
- Do I need a reservation to park here or is my intent to dine at the quick-service place enough?
- Do I need to move my car after breakfast? Probably.

Thanks for the help!

B would probably works best since its most direct and you can just walk to the Poly from the TTC. A is also workable.

 

[seashoreCM]

C1: Varies with anticipated crowds (!)
C2: Yes (not just probably).

 

[pooch]

specifically want breakfast at the Poly. If not, you could bus to MK & walk the short (esp from bus queue) distance to the Contemporary, have breakfast & walk back to MK.

 

[goofy4tink]

Buses start running from resorts by 6:30am..every morning. The monorail starts running by 7am.
If you don't mind taking the bus, then I would do that. Take the bus to the MK, then monorail over to the Polynesian.
You could drive to the TTC, park the car and then walk over to the Polynesian (takes under 10 mins) or take the monorail over.
I wouldn't drive and park at the Polynesian. Self Parking there isn't for those leaving their car more than 3 hrs.

 

[jasontovey]

specifically want breakfast at the Poly. If not, you could bus to MK & walk the short (esp from bus queue) distance to the Contemporary, have breakfast & walk back to MK.

That's a really good idea.

Thanks to all who replied! If I stick with Polynesian, then I'll go Option B I think, but that Contemporary plan sounds good, too.

 

[jasontovey]

Buses start running from resorts by 6:30am..every morning.

I see conflicting information on this, and Disney doesn't seem to have much information on their site that I can find. Do you have a reliable link for that? Just for my peace of mind...

I wouldn't drive and park at the Polynesian. Self Parking there isn't for those leaving their car more than 3 hrs.

I thought that might be the case but wasn't sure it it applied to guests of other resorts as well -- sounds like it does.

 

[goofy4tink]

I see conflicting information on this, and Disney doesn't seem to have much information on their site that I can find. Do you have a reliable link for that? Just for my peace of mind...



I thought that might be the case but wasn't sure it it applied to guests of other resorts as well -- sounds like it does.

Well....nothing any more reliable than my past experience over the past 5 or so years! If you call Disney, they will tell you that buses start running an hour prior to park opening. But, in all reality? They start running by 6:30....I have never been left stranded, waiting for an early morning bus. But, if you're more comfortable, then just drive and park at the TTC.
You get a parking permit that is usable at your specific resort. You can 'probably' park and leave your car at the Polynesian. But in all reality??? Long term parking at these resorts is for those who are paying for the perk of easy access to parks.

 

[Shannon G]

If you want to cut down on the travel time by using your own car and not have to move it, you could also use valet parking at the resort. I have repeatedly been told by CMs (on more than one occasion they have actually suggested it, when I didn't even bring it up) that if you valet, you can leave your car there and go whereever you want, then come back for it later.

I have also found it varies as to whether they enforce the 3 hour parking limit - they seem to be more flexible at low crowd times (when the resort presumably isn;t full). When we were there recently, we went to grab a bite to eat at the Contemporary before going to MK. When the guard directed me to park in the self-parking lot on the left, I asked if she could direct me to valet, explaining that I was going to use valet because I understood we could then leave the car there while we went to MK. She told me to just go ahead and park in the self-parking lot and I could leave the car.

That being said, I would not go to resort expecting to be able to leave the car in self-parking. But you can leave it if you pay for valet.

 

[redoschi]

Similar situation here.

I was thinking of driving to Boardwalk for breakfast at the Bakery then going to HS and returning for the evening entertainment back in Boardwalk.

This would work best if we could just leave the car there and take the boat to and from HS instead of driving to Boardwalk, driving to HS and driving back to Boardwalk after HS closes.

Does anyone here know if it would be allowed? (We are staying onsite at Pop if that makes any difference).

 

[vicki_c]

Similar situation here.

I was thinking of driving to Boardwalk for breakfast at the Bakery then going to HS and returning for the evening entertainment back in Boardwalk.

This would work best if we could just leave the car there and take the boat to and from HS instead of driving to Boardwalk, driving to HS and driving back to Boardwalk after HS closes.

Does anyone here know if it would be allowed? (We are staying onsite at Pop if that makes any difference).

No you can't leave your car @ the Boardwalk parking to go to DHS. You can pay to valet park at the Boardwalk for the day, or you can park across the street from the resort in the overflow lot. I would just park @ DHS and take the boat to Boardwalk if you want. But I really wouldn't bother with Boardwalk Bakery for breakfast. I'd rather grab something at Starring Roles @ DHS than bother with all that.

 

[Alesia]

I see conflicting information on this, and Disney doesn't seem to have much information on their site that I can find. Do you have a reliable link for that? Just for my peace of mind...

You can ask any WDW bus driver. They will all tell you that buses start at 6:30 every single morning.

 

[goofy4tink]

Similar situation here.

I was thinking of driving to Boardwalk for breakfast at the Bakery then going to HS and returning for the evening entertainment back in Boardwalk.

This would work best if we could just leave the car there and take the boat to and from HS instead of driving to Boardwalk, driving to HS and driving back to Boardwalk after HS closes.

Does anyone here know if it would be allowed? (We are staying onsite at Pop if that makes any difference).

You really aren't supposed to park at a resort and then go to a park. If you do try to do this, at least be considerate of the BW people that have paid a premium for this resort and want to park their cars there. You can park behind the Hess station, across the street from the entrance to BW. Yes, it is further than the guest parking, but that's where non-guests should be parking.

You really are better off just taking the bus to DHS, or parking at DHS, and walking/boating over to BW. You also will find that the Bakery isn't all that terrific. You really are better off grabbing something right at DHS..Starring Rolls is a good spot.

 

[vicki_c]

Goofy4tink and vicki are simpatico on our BW Bakery opinions this week!

 

[goofy4tink]

Goofy4tink and vicki are simpatico on our BW Bakery opinions this week!

I like it there, I do. But, I just don't get the whole 'oh, I have to go to The Bakery to buy something, it's so wonderful' mentality. It's a bakery. I actually much prefer the bakery on Main St in MK. At least you can get a somewhat decent breakfast sandwich there.

 

[redoschi]

Thanks! I think I'll change plans a bit then and grab breakfast elsewhere before going to HS (it opens at 9am so plenty of time for breakfast elsewhere).
And taking the car to BW in the evening after we leave HS (I can park there if I'm going to Jellyrolls, right?)

Thinking of trying Pepper Market @ CSR which has the QS-credit buffet breakfast.