Dinner at 1900 Park Fare, but staying at ASTMus...how do I get there and back?????

[realhousewife]

I need a little assistance. I decided to branch out and plan a nicer dinner at 1900 Park Fare. We will be at MK that day, and I thought it would be a nice end to the day. I believe I can take the Monorail from MK to Grand Floridian.

However, after dinner, what is the best way to get to All Star Music again? Going monorail to TTC, or getting a bus to DTD and transfering to my hotel? This is all a little new to me. Usually we eat in the parks and just go to and from our hotel.

This will be early Nov. Can anyone let me know how long this trip could take? Or, if I should just eat at Crystal Palace that day b/c it would be easier?

Thanks for your expert advice

 

[hannahdrewmom]

From MK I'd take the boat to GF ... it's normally faster than the monorail since it's the first stop.

After dinner I'd take the monorail to mk and then bus to resort.

 

[realhousewife]

Thanks, I didn't know about the boat service to GF!

 

[hannahdrewmom]

Yup... it goes from MK to GF and then to Poly and then back to MK. So on the way there it's the first stop and cut off the monorail stop at CR, TTC, and the Poly. On the way back the monorail is fast since MK is the first stop and the boat would do Poly before MK.

 

[snykymom]

Only caveat - make sure that MK is open, or closed less than 1 hour after the end of your dinner! Otherwise, the monorail/buses may not be running any more. At that point, you can either go to DTD and take a bus back to your resort, or take a cab for about $15.

 

[wolf29]

There is also a walking path from GF to MK. It's a nice option if the Electric Water Pageant should be going by when you get out of dinner.

 

[realhousewife]

Thanks, everyone for all this great advice! We are really looking forward to this ADR

 

[Isaiah55.1]

will be a memorable time for the kids. It has a very festive atmosphere, and of course lots of good food, fun drinks, and desserts. Transportation home will be easy. Just take the monorail back to MK, and then the bus to your resort.

 

[purple figment]

There is also a walking path from GF to MK.

You cannot walk from the GF to the MK because there's a waterway that separates the two. You are probably thinking of the walkway between the Contemporary and the MK.

 

[hammie59]

We just did this, but in the reverse order. Save yourself a headache and take a cab. It took us nearly and hour and a half using Disney transportation. We were staying at POP, so we had to take bus to EPCOT (MK was first choice, but waited over 15 min for one, until we finally gave up) then monorail to TTC (which we waited a long time for), then resort monorail to Grande Floridian. We were totally late. Coming back after dinner, you might have to deal with all the people coming back from the parks.

Unfortunately we didn't learn our lesson when we had an ADR for TREX a few days later. Similar fiasco coming from DHS, since buses don't go to DTD from there. Had to go to hotel first, then catch diff bus to DTD, then make 2 more stops. Again, a huge chunk of time wasted. That transfer was close to 2hrs when all was said and done. You have to keep in mind you have no idea how long you'll be waiting for each bus or monorail. We did A LOT of waiting, so next time it's a cab for us.

 

[realhousewife]

We just did this, but in the reverse order. Save yourself a headache and take a cab. It took us nearly and hour and a half using Disney transportation. We were staying at POP, so we had to take bus to EPCOT (MK was first choice, but waited over 15 min for one, until we finally gave up) then monorail to TTC (which we waited a long time for), then resort monorail to Grande Floridian. We were totally late. Coming back after dinner, you might have to deal with all the people coming back from the parks.

Unfortunately we didn't learn our lesson when we had an ADR for TREX a few days later. Similar fiasco coming from DHS, since buses don't go to DTD from there. Had to go to hotel first, then catch diff bus to DTD, then make 2 more stops. Again, a huge chunk of time wasted. That transfer was close to 2hrs when all was said and done. You have to keep in mind you have no idea how long you'll be waiting for each bus or monorail. We did A LOT of waiting, so next time it's a cab for us.

Hammie, What month were you there? I'm wondering if it will be less crowded for us since we are going first week of Nov? Also, how do you get a cab in front of a park? Is it hard to track one down? I don't recall seeing cabs on my last trip.

 

[2forMe]

You will be fine. I would budget about 30 minutes to get to GF if you are taking the boat from MK. If you take the monorail it would take about 20minutes. Going back to mk will be about 5 minutes, not including waiting for the monorail.
If going from your resort remember busses come every 20 minutes or so

 

[hammie59]

Realhousewife-

We were there May 9-19 2011. We never took the cab, but a few times I saw them lined up just kinda waiting for any takers. If there isn't one, you can just call one up on your cell or ask a CM. Don't let my experience scare you, just be prepared to set aside more time then usual if using Disney to get to and from any other resorts or DTD. You will need at least an hour and that's with no mistakes. We had the unfortunate luck of watching all the park buses that we didn't need come 2-3 times without every seeing the one we needed. That really hurt our timing.

 

[realhousewife]

Thanks for the heads up, Hammie. I will budget a full hour travel to and from the GF and DTD.

 

[2010Disneymom]

We had breakfast at GF on morning. We took the bus from POP to MK and then rode the monorail to GF. On the way back we did the reverse.
Another day we had dinner reservations at Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge, so we took the bus from POP to DHS and got on the Wilderness Lodge bus. It worked beautifully and when we were done with that meal, we rode the boat back to MK. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the bus system. I learned a lot reading what others had posted here and it really helped. Read trip reports of people who have stayed at the same resort you will be staying at. I had read a report written by someone that had stayed at POP and they would very often ride to DHS (because it is closer to the resort than the other parks) and then change buses. Look at maps and make sure you know where your resort is in location to the parks. Being familiar with your surroundings can save you a lot of time....and we all know how valuable Disney time is!!!