Direct bus from Epcot to Hollywood Studios/Animal Kingdom in the morning?

[PinAddict]

I originally booked my upcoming stay at Pop Century, but I decided to switch to Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista. They offer a free shuttle to WDW, but it only drops off at Epcot and I’ll need to get to HS and AK as well. I’d like to utilize the free transportation if I can, but I’ll just Lyft from the hotel if it requires more than one transfer.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Do you have park hopper (PH) tickets?

Only dropping at Epcot works well for MK but is challenging for the other 2 parks.

MK: You can take the monorail to MK (although you did not mention that park.)

DHS: There are a few options to get to DHS (Skyliner, Friendship boat, walking) BUT all of them involve entering Epcot and walking through to Internatiinal Gateway. These options will only work if you have PH tickets.

AK: You may take a bus from Epcot to AK BUT those buses don’t start running until 10AM.

If it were me I would plan on alternative modes of transportation in the mornings going to DHS and AK as you will lose valuable time just getting to those parks.

 

[PinAddict]

Do you have park hopper (PH) tickets?

No, I have the 3-day 3-park ticket that includes 1 park per day admission to each park except MK.

 

[gottalovepluto]

No, I have the 3-day 3-park ticket that includes 1 park per day admission to each park except MK.

You’re stuck. To get to DHS from EP without entering you’d have to transfer to a hotel.

Rideshares are really cheap, just Uber/Lyft.

 

[PinAddict]

You’re stuck. To get to DHS from EP without entering you’d have to transfer to a hotel.

Rideshares are really cheap, just Uber/Lyft.

Unfortunate, but expected. I wish I could’ve kept Pop Century; I stayed at AoA last year and loved riding the Skyliner.

 

[Dug720]

Unfortunate, but expected. I wish I could’ve kept Pop Century; I stayed at AoA last year and loved riding the Skyliner.

Yeah, sometimes the savings of off-site get cancelled out by disadvantages - or actual spending of money on Ubers/Lyfts/Taxis.

 

[PinAddict]

Yeah, sometimes the savings of off-site get cancelled out by disadvantages - or actual spending of money on Ubers/Lyfts/Taxis.

I think I’ll still be saving a decent amount; with my Hyatt employee discount, the room’s only $59 per night.

 

[EACarlson]

Will you have a car? I think you'd be better off driving and parking. $30 per day for parking, I would bet that you'll spend more than that for rideshares to and from.

 

[PinAddict]

Will you have a car?

I will not.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I think I’ll still be saving a decent amount; with my Hyatt employee discount, the room’s only $59 per night.

Sweet! We do what we have to do to stretch the vacay budget and that’s a substantial savings!

Maybe view the rideshare day and a nice little treat since you will get to be on your own schedule instead of the hotels.

 

[Lewisc]

From your hotels website

Scheduled shuttles to either Disney's Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom are currently available daily, with two morning transports from the hotel and two evening transports from the parks back to the hotel. To reserve a spot on the shuttle, stop by Guest Services/Concierge Desk, located in the lobby, at least 30 minutes prior to departure on the same day.

You NEED to contact your hotel. What time do the shuttles leave? How many stops? What happens if the bus is fully booked when you try to make a reservation?

DHS to EPCOT walk, boat or skyliner
DHS TO AK bus, too early.. walk or boat to BWI and bus from there.

Ride share, 2 per day, should cost $40 - $50, total both trips. Wait out surge pricing.

Pop and AoA are more expensive then All stars. I'd book All stars, if the rate is under $150. Definitely book All stars for anything close to $130.

 

[PinAddict]

You NEED to contact your hotel.

I did; I asked them to email me the current schedule. It only goes to Epcot at 9:45 and 10:45.

 

[Lewisc]

Ride Share is the way to go.

Very tight budget, proof of concept or material for blog etc...

There should be a Lynx bus stop within walking distance of your hotel. Lynx to DS walk to SSR Disney bus to your park.

 

[Spamcastle]

I did; I asked them to email me the current schedule. It only goes to Epcot at 9:45 and 10:45.

Is that the time it picks up at your hotel? If so by the time you get to the park all you will need to do is catch the connecting bus at Epcot to the other parks.

I would check with the hotel and see what the actual "pickup" time is and if there are additional stops on the route. I stayed offsite one time and the bus picked up at multiple different hotels causing a delay longer than I expected. Had I known I would have just caught an Uber.

If you are near Disney Springs you may want to look at their options. While they dont go directly to the park you can catch a bus to the Polyneisian and walk to the TCC.

 

[sam_gordon]

IMO, scheduled shuttles from outside hotels are simply bad ideas. As mentioned, they're only at certain times, and only go to certain places. With Disney, "Time is money". A shuttle picking up from the hotel at 9:45 (can't read the image, going off the post) means at least 10:00, if not 10:15 to get to Epcot. Then you need to wait for a bus to HS or AK (15 minutes(?)), then the trip there. You're not getting to the park until close to 11. That "loses" a lot of park time IMO. Then you lose the time on the night end based on when you need to catch the return bus.

My family did that for a trip WAY back and after about 2-3 days we elected to drive to the parks. The "free shuttle" just wasn't worth it.

I suggest either looking into a rental, planning for ride share, or moving back to an on site hotel.

 

[Lewisc]

I suggest either looking into a rental, planning for ride share, or moving back to an on site hotel.

Sometimes you get what you pay for. The hotel can include free theme park shuttle on its amenity list without actually offering a shuttle that makes sense.

PP suggested DS. The walk is at least 3 miles. Lynx to DS, walk to SSR then bus to park works but an hour trip vs 15 minute ride share.

OPs hotel works if you drive or ride share.

 

[PinAddict]

Tough call to make. Now I’m considering All-Star Sports instead, which would come to about $300 more than my total at the Hyatt. Pro: more convenient transportation. Con: no free breakfast, adding more to my total.

Another factor to consider is that after I visit Animal Kingdom on Wednesday, I’ll be moving to the Hyatt Place across from Universal; I’d have to figure out the luggage situation.

 

[Lewisc]

Tough call to make. Now I’m considering All-Star Sports instead, which would come to about $300 more than my total at the Hyatt. Pro: more convenient transportation. Con: no free breakfast, adding more to my total.

Another factor to consider is that after I visit Animal Kingdom on Wednesday, I’ll be moving to the Hyatt Place across from Universal; I’d have to figure out the luggage situation.

You're on a budget. Instead of paying an extra $300 pay an extra $120 - $150 and use ride share. Coming back to your hotel take Disney transportation to DS or SSR then ride share. You'll save $5 or so, maybe more from the AK.

New ride share customer. Load the apps a week or so before your trip. You'll get new user promotions.

Ride Share or Lynx to your Universal area Hyatt.