Dessert Party transportation??

[flowerbelle]

Hi! For those of you who had an early ceremony (like 10am) and a dessert party at night, what type of transportation did you use for you and DH (and/or wedding party only)?? We are likely going to be staying at the GF that night because my reception will be there, but I'm not sure what options I'll have for going to Epcot at night. Will they allow us to go (in our wedding attire) by regular bus?? Did you go by private car?? Did people take limos? (Not sure about this option because it's extra money in the budget). How did you return as well? By bus? Limo? Monorail? What would be your best advice ladies?? I really appreciate your help and input!! THANKS!!

 

[Bride-to-be]

I think you are required to have private bus transportation for all venues within a park - unless everyone has park admission.

I am not sure of all of the differences but there are two options - I think something like a round trip bus and then a regular bus charter.

I think the regular bus charter is a 5 hour minimum and is something like $92 per hour - maybe? I think the round trip bus is less, I want to say that for a RT bus everyone has to be at the same hotel or maybe two hotels. I really am not sure though. hopefully someone more knowledable will come along.

 

[honey2741]

I'm interested in hearing more about the options. I would suggest to the guests to stay as close to the ceremony or dessert party site. I've read previously that motor coach vans are much cheaper and can hold possibly 15 people??? All I know in my notes is to use the van option compared to a motor coach.

 

[lurkyloo]

We were staying at the Beach Club, so we walked to Epcot and met an event guide at the International Gateway. She escorted us to our DP. We got a charter bus for our guests because they were spread among four different resorts, but if I'd been thinking, I would have tried to get them all to stay at just 2 resorts so we could do a round-trip bus. We didn't want to leave them to make their own way to Epcot b/c most of them had never been to WDW before.

Here's the skinny on transportation:

There are three types of trips: one-way, round trip, and charter. One-way trips are only available on Disney property and travel just from Point A to Point B. Round trips travel from Point A to Point B and back to Point A. Charter transportation can make an unlimited number of stops but must be hired for a minimum of three or five hours, depending on vehicle type.

You may be able to save money and avoid having to charter transportation by adding one stop to a one-way or round trip for $20–$50, depending on the vehicle type. For example, if all your guests are staying at just two Disney resorts, you can hire a one-way motor coach and add an extra stop. However, trips with more than two stops or a transfer that lasts longer than 15 minutes automatically become charters. So if your guests are scattered among four different resorts, you will be required to charter a motor coach for a minimum number of hours that may be longer than you need. Therefore, it’s important to consider transportation when you’re setting up your room block.


I made a chart of the various types of transport and their capactiy and the cost, but it doesn't copy and paste into the post very well. Also, the prices may have gone up or down by a few dollars, depending on what Mears is paying for gas these days.

Type - Capacity - One Way - Round Trip - Charter
Town Car - 4 - $25 - not available - $40/hour (3-hour min.)
Limo - 8 - $166 - $332 - $94.16/hour (3-hour min.)
Van - 11 - $163 - $221 - $68.25/hour (3-hour min.)
Minibus - 25 - $273 - $321 - $87.15/hour (5-hour min.)
Motor Coach - 50 - $325 - $410 - $97.65/hour (5-hour min.)

 

[flowerbelle]

We were staying at the Beach Club, so we walked to Epcot and met an event guide at the International Gateway. She escorted us to our DP. We got a charter bus for our guests because they were spread among four different resorts, but if I'd been thinking, I would have tried to get them all to stay at just 2 resorts so we could do a round-trip bus. We didn't want to leave them to make their own way to Epcot b/c most of them had never been to WDW before.

Here's the skinny on transportation:

There are three types of trips: one-way, round trip, and charter. One-way trips are only available on Disney property and travel just from Point A to Point B. Round trips travel from Point A to Point B and back to Point A. Charter transportation can make an unlimited number of stops but must be hired for a minimum of three or five hours, depending on vehicle type.

You may be able to save money and avoid having to charter transportation by adding one stop to a one-way or round trip for $20–$50, depending on the vehicle type. For example, if all your guests are staying at just two Disney resorts, you can hire a one-way motor coach and add an extra stop. However, trips with more than two stops or a transfer that lasts longer than 15 minutes automatically become charters. So if your guests are scattered among four different resorts, you will be required to charter a motor coach for a minimum number of hours that may be longer than you need. Therefore, it’s important to consider transportation when you’re setting up your room block.


I made a chart of the various types of transport and their capactiy and the cost, but it doesn't copy and paste into the post very well. Also, the prices may have gone up or down by a few dollars, depending on what Mears is paying for gas these days.

Type - Capacity - One Way - Round Trip - Charter
Town Car - 4 - $25 - not available - $40/hour (3-hour min.)
Limo - 8 - $166 - $332 - $94.16/hour (3-hour min.)
Van - 11 - $163 - $221 - $68.25/hour (3-hour min.)
Minibus - 25 - $273 - $321 - $87.15/hour (5-hour min.)
Motor Coach - 50 - $325 - $410 - $97.65/hour (5-hour min.)

Thanks Lurkyloo! I am sooo grateful for your wisdom!!

Actually, I was only thinking to get the transportation for myself and DF (and possibly the wedding party)...is this too selfish?? I figure my guests will have five hours (since there is a break) to to get to Epcot so I shouldn't worry about their transportation. Actually, I was even thinking of meeting with them a little earlier than the start time of the dessert party, perhaps 30 to 45minutes prior at a location in Epcot. I was told that Disney will not allow us to get into the dessert party location until the time of start because they need to do the setup (which I think is silly), but we can mingle elsewhere in Epcot together until that time if we choose to. How does it work with guests who come by themselves to Epcot for the dessert party? Do they have to go through a particular location at Epcot and tell the folks at the gate that they are a guest for the dessert party--or do they need a ticket from me (if they don't already have a ticket)?? Does Disney then supply tickets to me for my guests for the dessert party that I have to give to them? Thanks for any input you can help with!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Guests who don't have park admission will need to meet an event guide at the International Gateway and be escorted in. Sometimes Disney doesn't let you do this, though - be prepared for them to tell you you have to pay to transport guests in backstage. It depends on a bunch of factors, like your location's distance from the International Gateway and the expected weather that night.

Also, even if they do let you do it, keep in mind that your guests will have to make their own way to the International Gateway - which is harder than just going to the front entrance at Epcot because there is no direct transportation between Disney hotels (the Beach Club being the closest one to the International Gateway). Your guests will have to change buses from their resort at one of the parks or at Downtown Disney.

Guests who have park admission already can enter Epcot whenever and just show up at your dessert party site around the same time that the escorted/bussed guests arrive.

 

[Malefi_Stitch]

Hi! Our ceremony is at 10am and we're having a roundtrip limo pick up my grandfather, DF and me at the All-Star Sports then dropping us off at the Poly where we'll be staying our wedding night. My grandfather is coming with us because he can't walk well and for very long so this is easiest for him. In our BEO, it says to have guests meet at the Gateway at 8pm for the DP to start at 8:30pm. The escorts will bring guests only after confirmation from either DF or me that everyone is there.

All of our guests, including our wedding party and parents, will have to make their way to the International Gateway on their own. I'll be writing a detailed guide for their welcome bags and I've posted this to our wedding website so there shouldn't be any surprises when the time comes. HTH!