Disney Bus service

[caperguy]

I can't recall - can you get a bus from Downtown Disney to, say, MK, first thing in the morning? Does it go direct from DD to MK?

We're staying offsite at Hilton O-LBV, which does have a shuttle, but I hear it is a shared one between several hotels and possibly 2 park stops.

thanks!

 

[BrianL]

No, there is no bus direct to MK, or any park, from Downtown Disney, however you can always take one to the Contemporary, then walk or monorail to MK. I am not sure how early they start the DTD bus service though. It seems to me that the DTD buses are pretty infrequent until the late afternoon/evening prime time.

 

[drusba]

Disney no longer has buses that run directly between the parks and Downtown Disney. Went away because so many offsite guests were parking at DD and taking bus to parks, thus making it difficult to find parking at DD. You also have an issue that you may not even be able to go early morning from DD to a resort such as Contemporary and then walk or monorail over to MK because the resort to DD buses do not start early enough to get you to a park by park opening (they usually start running from the resorts to DD at about 8:30 so first available bus at DD to a resort is usually after 9

 

[caperguy]

Ok, we'll just go with the hotel shuttle early enough to get us there for our first FP+.
thanks

 

[Robo]

Ok, we'll just go with the hotel shuttle early enough to get us there for our first FP+.

How early is your first FP+?

 

[caperguy]

How early is your first FP+?

Space Ranger Spin at 9:05-10:05am, plus we have to get the DAS at MK Guest relations first (well, don't have to, but would be more convenient)

I was thinking about getting the 8:30am shuttle from the hotel (they said it leaves every half hour)

 

[JimmyV]

Ok, we'll just go with the hotel shuttle early enough to get us there for our first FP+.
thanks

If timing is a major concern, you could always take a taxi to the TTC and take a monorail or ferry to the MK, or take the taxi to the Contemporary and then walk. People often overlook the fact that almost any transportation difficulty can be overcome with a twenty dollar bill and a cab.

 

[caperguy]

If timing is a major concern, you could always take a taxi to the TTC and take a monorail or ferry to the MK, or take the taxi to the Contemporary and then walk. People often overlook the fact that almost ant transportation difficulty can be overcome with a twenty dollar bill and a cab.

good point....could you just take the taxi directly to MK?

Do you have any estimate how long it would take to do what you proposed? (ie how long the monorail from TTC would take, taxi ride, etc).

Why I'm really concerned is that we're only going to MK for that one day so I want to be as efficient as possible.

 

[caperguy]

I assume the taxi of choice is typically Mears?

 

[minnie mum]

good point....could you just take the taxi directly to MK?

Do you have any estimate how long it would take to do what you proposed? (ie how long the monorail from TTC would take, taxi ride, etc).

Why I'm really concerned is that we're only going to MK for that one day so I want to be as efficient as possible.

If you only have 1 day, and you want to be at the front of the RD crowd, you need to get there early. I'd leave an hour early. And I'd take that taxi to the Contemporary. The gates are only a 10 minute walk from there.

 

[caperguy]

not looking to be there for rope drop...we have a long travel day the day before, so getting up in time to leave the hotel by 830ish will be a task
Just trying to get to MK for just after 9.

good info about Contemporary walk, thanks

 

[JimmyV]

good point....could you just take the taxi directly to MK?

Someone will correct me if I am wrong. They always do. But I don't think taxis can go to the MK. If speed and efficiency are the goals, the fastest approach is to go to the Contemporary and walk. It is about a 7-10 minute walk to the MK from there. And if you take a cab, you might be able to ask the driver to let you out right past the crosswalk that leads to the MK instead of driving all the way to the Contemporary entrance. From the crosswalk, you are looking at a 2-3 minute walk.

 

[caperguy]

I just looked at the map and that makes a lot of sense...wouldn't have to walk much farther than if you were one of the furthest buses.
thanks all!

 

[Hopefully]

not looking to be there for rope drop...we have a long travel day the day before, so getting up in time to leave the hotel by 830ish will be a task
Just trying to get to MK for just after 9.

good info about Contemporary walk, thanks

If you want to be at MK just after 9 you need to leave your DTD hotel a bit before 8:30.
I agree the best bet is a taxi to CR and walk. Nothing other than the WDW buses can access the MK directly

 

[caperguy]

If you want to be at MK just after 9 you need to leave your DTD hotel a bit before 8:30.
I agree the best bet is a taxi to CR and walk. Nothing other than the WDW buses can access the MK directly

Would we have to leave before 830 if we took that taxi? (wouldn't be a half hour drive?)
When I tried to book Mears taxi online, they said a destination was indeed MK....I wonder where they would drop you off? Same with DS, as there is no hotel as close as Contemp. is to MK.

At least we can use the hotel shuttle when returning from MK/DS in the evening (I think their pickup point is one of the further bus stops)

 

[Robo]

Would we have to leave before 830 if we took that taxi? (wouldn't be a half hour drive?)
When I tried to book Mears taxi online, they said a destination was indeed MK....I wonder where they would drop you off? Same with DS, as there is no hotel as close as Contemp. is to MK.

There are "guest drop-offs" at all of the theme parks, just outside the main gates...
EXCEPT for MK.

The Mears "MK" info is, at the very least, misleading.
The MK "guest drop-off" is at TTC (the MK parking lot.)
Then, you'd still need to take a ferry or monorail to the MK gates.
Inefficient use of resources and time.

If you are taking a cab to MK, you want to have the driver take you to the Contemporary.
Then, walk to the MK gates.

 

[caperguy]

awesome! thanks

 

[Hopefully]

If you were to choose to cab it to DHS there is a guest drop off there, as Robo stated. There is no hotel as close as the CR is to the MK, but the BWI or the Swan/Dolphin are all within walking distance. It would be a 15 - 20 minute walk.

 

[caperguy]

If you were to choose to cab it to DHS there is a guest drop off there, as Robo stated. There is no hotel as close as the CR is to the MK, but the BWI or the Swan/Dolphin are all within walking distance. It would be a 15 - 20 minute walk.

thanks, I'm glad I asked you people about this, as we would have either taken forever to get there, or been dropped off where we weren't expecting. Only reason we'd be taking the taxi there is we're coming from a Hilton time share presentation at Parc Soleil, so it would save quite a bit of time rather than returning to HOLBV then take a shuttle. At least DHS is more direct drop off.

Anyone know if the Mears taxi accepts visa if you pay them in their vehicle rather than pre-booking?

 

[lroger01]

Note that on your return trip you'll need to go to the TTC to pick up your bus. The bus stops outside the MK gates are for resort busses only. If your hotel is within walking distance of DTD, you could take a contemporary bust there or a Disney bus to Saratoga Springs and walk from there. I'd be sure to check the distance to make sure you're ok with that walk after a long day in the park!