Disney Transport Question

[HeidSFost]

Hiyas all

OK, less than a month to go, and I need some advice. We are going for 9 days, and have no car, and staying off-site. Car is not an option as both me and my mum are non drivers.

We have our stay pretty well planned out, but I am a bit concerned that the only way we are going to be able to use the Disney transportation system is if we buy hopper tickets?

Our itinerary really only includes MK and MGM (Disney Wise), but we may well go to AK, but we are not sure on that one yet. We do have an evening planned at Downtown Disney, as we have booked Cirque.

We will be relying on the shuttle from the hotel the I-Drive Trolley and the Lynx buses to get us around (as well as the occasional taxi, I expect).

What happens if we just get single day admission tix for each park we go to, with regard to getting from the shuttle drop off point or the bus drop off point to the parks?

This is my first trip to Orlando, my mum has been before, but when she went, she had use of a car as my dad drove. I am just a bit confused about what happens with regard to transportation, probably because I have read loads and loads and also got Simon's wonderful book, but I can't quite get my head round it as I can't picture the system.

Basically, is it worth me getting hopper tix (probs 5 day one), in order to be able to use the Disney transportation, and how do I get around if I don't<g>.

Ta all and thanks for listening to me waffle on!

Heid
xx

 

[HeidSFost]

no idea why this came up twice! Mods, can you delete one please!

Sorry!!!!

 

[Goofyish]

With a hopper ticket you will be able to use all the Disney transport, (I have never been asked for a ticket or anything on the Disney transport anyway).

In fact, if you use a hotel shuttle to get to WDW, they usually drop off at the Transportation and Ticket Centre near MK. So you will need to use the Disney transport to get to either MK (via monorail or boat), MGM (via bus), Epcot (via monorail) or AK (via bus).

I would get a 5 day hopper - this gives you the flexibility to hop between parks; say if MK gets a bit busy towards mid-day you could hop over to AK or MGM, or to go to an evening event in another park (Fantasmic, Illumination etc.). It's nice to know you have the flexibility there if your chosen park is too busy, or you jusy fancy a change

If you need to get a taxi back to IDrive, it can be cheaper to use Disney transport to Downtown Disney Marketplace, and then get a taxi from there to IDrive.

 

[vernon]

Your single day ticket will give you access to the transport system at WDW. If your curtesy bus drops you at T+T you will be able to use the WDW transport busses to get you to the park of your choice.

 

[bengunn]

Hoppers are cheaper than buying the same number of days as single day tickets (if you see what I mean).

 

[SpottyDog]

Yep, I'd do as suggested above too, Heid. For whatever initial extra outlay Hoppers are, the extra flexibility they 'buy' you is well worth it. And yer a Disney Guest whatever ticket you have so welcome to use their transport to get yerselves around WDW whenever you visit - and they don't check anyway.

Have fun plannin.

 

[Aceman88888]

We were there a couple of weeks back and twice they asked to see our passes just before the monorail ramp at the TTC. Only a quick visual check and certainly not scanned etc.

 

[SpottyDog]

I think they check passes at TTC to stop non-passholders approaching Magic Kingdom itself rather than as a transportation check.

 

[HeidSFost]

Hiyas all

Thanks so much for all your replies! It has really helped me! We have just bought two 4 day hopper passes, and we will probably be adding Animal Kingdom along with a possible evening trip to Epcot.

I feel much more comfy now, knowing the transport won't be a problem, and I will be definitely using the Downtown Disney taxi tip!

All our tix are now bought, which is also a relief, as it means anything else we spend now will be on goodies and nosh!

Just as an afterthought, we are staying in King Suites at the Best Western International Plaza, anyone got any info on them, or the hotel in general?

Many Thanks once again

Heid
xx

 

[Goofyish]

We stayed in the Best Western Plaza in 1997 - our first trip to Orlando.
It's in a great position on IDrive. You are within easy walking distance of many good restaurants and shops. About 2 minutes walk away is a Ponderosa Steakhouse where you can get a value for money, all you can eat breakfast buffet for about $4. The lunches and dinners are good value too with the 'Grand Buffet'.

We liked the hotel. We had a standard room, which was spacious and clean, with the usual American hotel features of two queen beds, vanity area with a sink and then a separate bathroom with WC and bath/shower. There was also a wall safe which is a must (slight daily charge for this ~ $1/day). I'm not sure, but with the king suites you get a small kitchen area too.

The rooms are arranged in 3 large blocks with external corriders with a lifts to all floors. Near the lifts on each floor there are vending machines for soda, snacks and ice.
The pool is nice. Towels are supplied and there a hot tub and kiddies pool. There is also a pool side bar and next to the pool area a coin operated laundry.

The reception building houses a small gift shop and games room.

Just at the front of the hotel is a Friendy's Family Restaurant. We only went in here once (we then discovered the Ponderosa). The desserts are nice

If I remember correctly, the free shuttle buses to Disney have three scheduled leaving times from the hotel, and the same coming home. The bus drops you at the TTC, but picks up from the TTC and Epcot. I'm sure I have the times somewhere - I will try and dig them out for you.

You can probably buy a 7 day I-Ride Trolley ticket from the hotel reception; which gives you unlimited rides - we used the I-Ride a lot to get up and down IDrive to Seaworld and Belz shooping mall - some of the drivers are a bit of a laugh though! Ye-Haa
I think the routes have been extended now down to the Premium Outlets mall.

Hope you have a nice trip - if you have any specific questions about the BWP or that part of IDrive please ask away

 

[HeidSFost]

Hiyas all

just a quick note to say thanks for all the replies, they really helped. Especially Goofyfish who really put my mind at rest about my hotel

I ordered tix on the 30th for a 4 day hopper ticket, and got them through Maple Leaf http://www.mapleleaftickets.com/

The tickets arrived this morning! 4 days to get to us from the US is excellent, they are also the actual tickets, not just vouchers. Now me and mum get to argue about who gets Mckey and who gets Minnie<g>.

I also booked the Fantasmic Dinner Package for the Brown Derby this afternoon, all booked for the 27th at 5pm - got through to an operator really quick as well. I shall be boring and have the Cobb Salad<g>.

Just what I needed as a nasty cold decided to attack at the weekend and I feel terrible!

Thanks for all your help guys!

Heid
xx