Departing via the TTC after Wishes

[bkaz]

Okay...trying to plan our trip to MK with our 4 yr old and 8 yr old the first week of March. I am stressed about "should we stay for the fireworks or not" since we are staying off site and will have to use the TTC parking. Any suggestions? Will it be a nightmare if we stay for the fireworks and then head for our car? By 9:30 our kids (and us) will be tired and cranky and if we have to stand and wait for a long time it will not be pretty!

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

Yes, stay for the fireworks, they are awesome!

What night of the week do you plan on seeing Wishes?

Start now planning your exit, mostly by realizing that it will take a bit to leave. You have 2 methods, monorail or ferry, I believe the ferry will hold more people.

After the fireworks, don't rush out with everyone, hang around, wait for the crowd to clear a bit. Get a snack, sit down and people watch. Shop in the Main St shops, they are open. Hang near the castle, maybe you will see the Kiss Goodnight. No one will rush you out, take your time.

In other words, if your trip is in March, start making mental adjustments now, and you will be fine when the time comes.

Wishes is definitely worth it.

 

[scanmom]

well, if you do see wishes, then go to the TTC, you WILL have a long wait at the boat/monorail. But, wishes is so good, it is worth it. I think I would go for a midday rest, then try to stay up late for wishes with the kids. And a plan that has helped us before is to hang around after wishes. Have a late night snack, and find a table or bench on main street and just relax and people watch, and watch the castle change colors. This is a good time to chat with the kids about what they liked the best and the least of all the things they have done on the trip so far. And, if it isn't your last day, you can plan the next days fun!!! At Disney, it is easy to get caught up in the go-go-go mode, so this is a good time to relax and actually TALK to the kids!!! and an added binus, when you notice the thinning crowds, leisurely walk to the gates and hop on a monorail or boat to take you to the parking lot, and have little or no time actually waiting in a line!!!

 

[bkaz]

Thanks! That's the second question really...we will be available to go to the parks Sunday - Friday. Sunday is EMH at MK, so we were thinking we would go to AK or MGM on Sunday and then do MK on Monday. At the same time I hear that MK is busiest on Mondays...so we could push it to Tuesday...but don't know if the kids can wait that long to ride Buzz! Thoughts?

My fear about hanging around after the fireworks is that the kids will be too tired to do that...but we are thinking we'll take a break mid-day back to our hotel so that they can hopefully make it that late!

48 more days to figure this all out!

 

[dizenthusiast]

If you want to try and leave right after Wishes, you may find it quicker to take the Resort Monorail, rather than the Express. The queue for the Resort Monorail is usually much shorter, and the extra stop at the Contemporary before it gets to the TTC isn't really that big of a deal...

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

While I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Wishes, doing what you are suggesting is exactly what made our family say we would never stay off-site again. The Spectromagic parade was awesome and Wishes was awe-inspiring, but dealing with the mass of humanity afterwards just plain stunk. We watched the on-site resort guests get on their way with tremendous jealousy as we waded through and waited with the throngs of people afterwards. It took us about 2 hours after the fireworks ended to get to our car between waiting for the ferry and then taking the tram to the right lot. Never again. I guess part of the unpleasantness was not expecting it to be that way...so you are at least going in with eyes open. Good luck! (oh, this was in May, btw)

 

[disneyfan581]

It will be an adventure trying to get out of the park and to the TTC. You will have to wait a long time for the ferry or the monorail.

 

[srpietrzak]

Just did that on Monday (jan 9) was not bad at all, 10 min wait for ferry (take the ferry, hold way more people) no traffic leaving TCC by car.

 

[QT Pooh]

We did just that last night at MK. We watched Wishes (which started at 8) and then we watched the wave of people leave. We were in the Rose Garden section and stayed there for about 20 minutes then started walking toward the Partners statue. At 8:30, the Kiss Goodnight happened, and right after that, we left. We were able to catch the first monorail back to the TTC. Of course, last night there was no EMH and no Spectro, which would factor into the crowd level. It took us another half an hour to get from the monorail back to our hotel. There was no problem here!

 

[always quiet]

I have a suggestion for you. If you want to make a prompt exit (without waiting for the crowds to leave before you head out), stand at the end of Main St. as close to the train station as you can. We stood under the flag pole and as soon as the final firework finished, we turned and headed out. We were on the first boat out! Also, head under the tunnel on the RIGHT side...there is a stroller return in the left tunnel and there is nothing worse than getting nailed with a stroller by a frazzled parent trying to return one of those things.

 

[OhioGrumpyGirl]

We always use the resort monorail. We've done it on every trip and usually don't have to wait to get on. You have to stop at the CR, but it's worth it!!
You HAVE TO say and watch Wishes. It is the best part of being there. I still get tears in my eyes watching my son watch it and seeing the excitement in his eyes

 

[trstno1]

We always use the resort monorail. We've done it on every trip and usually don't have to wait to get on. You have to stop at the CR, but it's worth it!!
You HAVE TO say and watch Wishes. It is the best part of being there. I still get tears in my eyes watching my son watch it and seeing the excitement in his eyes

I have to second (or third) this suggestion. Never take the express monorail. Stroll on up to the resort monorail - the wait never seems that bad, and we always get to sit.

The sad thing is that you can see the express monorail from the resort monorail. The people over there always looked miserable, crammed in like sardines. I always wish that there was someway I could let them know.

 

[SunnyD]

We visited MK and stayed to watch Wishes in March 2004 and 2005. There was a huge crowd all the way from the park exit up the ramp to the monorail. We timed it to see how long it would take to get on and it only took 10 minutes. When you reach TTC, the trams are just as quick and they don't take much longer even if you are at the farthest lot from TTC.

Don't miss Wishes even if you're tired. SpectroMagic and Wishes are special and will bring back memories you can savour for a lifetime. The wait is worth it. Enjoy!

 

[MareSINY]

Ok, now for another point of view. LOL

What about watching Wishes from TTC? They pipe in the music and you can see it perfectly from there. It's not as close as if you were right there in MK, but it's still beautiful. Or you could visit CR and watch from there. Drive over to the CR and tell the guard you are there either to visit or eat and they'll give you a temporary pass. Go on up to the 4th floor concourse and they have a small seating area outside where you can watch Wishes. Afterwards you can either hop in your car and head out or head over to see the electric water parade before heading out. Either of those two choices will be a lot less stressful with two tired kids.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

I have a suggestion for you. If you want to make a prompt exit (without waiting for the crowds to leave before you head out), stand at the end of Main St. as close to the train station as you can. We stood under the flag pole and as soon as the final firework finished, we turned and headed out.

Be sure that the show is over!!! It lasts about 12 minutes, and has at least 2 spots where the action pauses for dialog, and many people start to leave during this gaps, not realizing there is more to the show!

 

[The Sweetness]

Heres what I always did~

#1 stayed as close to the end of main street for the show (when I was there it was spectro)

#2 take resort monorail back to GF, Poly, or Contemprary where I had valet parked my car that morn. Its not free to valet anymore, but Id still pay and tip valet over ttc, or epct lots any day

 

[maliboomer]

As soon as the show finishes, Main Street becomes completely blocked with people moving at half a mile per hour. It took 20 mins to get from ten yards from the Partners statue to the train station, which apart from being slow was incredibly uncomfortable and losing your child unless you have a full body harness can be almost inevitable. Find a place to sit down and admire the castle, or go into a shop and browse around for half an hour.

Then, make you way towards the exit and take the boat or resort monorail. The TTC express is like a Tokyo subway at rush hour.