Disney Transportation Help ~ I'm So Confused....

[I Book He Pays]

Hi There:

DH/I are going to WDW in May and I’m in the process of working on our master plan. We are staying at SSR and will be using the Disney transportation system. This is all new to us and trying to learn how it works.

If anyone can answer my questions (there’s a lot… sorry), provide ideas , approximate time frames to/from, etc… would be greatly appreciated. I’m so lost at this point and my head is spinning.


Here’s what I need help with…

We plan on spending the day at AK and will be taking the bus from AK to BC. ADR at Cape May Café @ 6:50pm. Since AK closes at 6pm, will we be able to make our dinner ressie if we left at 6pm? If not, what time should we leave AK? Is there a direct bus from AK to BC or will we have to transfer? How many stops will there be before we arrive at the BC? How long is the ride? How often do the buses leave from AK?

After dinner, we are going to walk around (we’ll need it! ) and will leave from BC or BW to SSR. Is one resort better than the other to take the bus back to SSR? Will we have to transfer to another bus? How long is the ride back to SSR?

Misc. Questions…

Bus from SSR to AK, Epcot & MK. Will we need to transfer to another bus? How long will it take to get to the parks? Would like to arrive at the parks between 9am-10am.

Where is the bus stop at DTD and how close is it to the boat that will stop at SSR?

I contacted DVC and the CM indicated that we could obtain a bus schedule from SSR. True? I looked on line to get a general idea of what buses to take, length of trip, stops per route, bus numbers, if we have to transfer to get from Point A to Point B, etc. Someone mentioned on another thread that there’s a site called “Our Laughing Place” that has a transportation wizard but it’s outdated so not sure if that’s true or not.

So as you can tell I’m lost, confused and most likely I confused you as well! If I did…. I’m really sorry.

To sum it up… help please!

very much!

 

[crashbb]

We plan on spending the day at AK and will be taking the bus from AK to BC. ADR at Cape May Café @ 6:50pm. Since AK closes at 6pm, will we be able to make our dinner ressie if we left at 6pm? If not, what time should we leave AK? Is there a direct bus from AK to BC or will we have to transfer? How many stops will there be before we arrive at the BC? How long is the ride? How often do the buses leave from AK?

Buses go straight from the parks to the resorts. The Epcot hotels (BC/YC/BW/Swan/Dolphin) sometimes share buses, so you may have some stops. Someone may be able to tell you the usual order for these stops. The buses go roughly every 20 minutes from the parks. AK is one of the further out parks, but I'm not how long it would take, but I would think that, if you were at the bus for 6pm (i.e. not leaving your last ride at 6pm), you'd be okay.


After dinner, we are going to walk around (we’ll need it! ) and will leave from BC or BW to SSR. Is one resort better than the other to take the bus back to SSR? Will we have to transfer to another bus? How long is the ride back to SSR?

There are no resort-to-resort buses. If there is a park that is still open, you could take the bus from BC/BW to that park and then transfer to a bus to SSR. Otherwise, you'd have to go to Downtown Disney and transfer there. Downtown Disney always seems to take forever! We often just took a cab, rather than transfer there.


Bus from SSR to AK, Epcot & MK. Will we need to transfer to another bus? How long will it take to get to the parks? Would like to arrive at the parks between 9am-10am.

You won't need to transfer to get from SSR to any park. Buses are about every 20 minutes. The time to get to the park depends on the park (i.e. AK is farther away, so the drive is longer.



I contacted DVC and the CM indicated that we could obtain a bus schedule from SSR. True? I looked on line to get a general idea of what buses to take, length of trip, stops per route, bus numbers, if we have to transfer to get from Point A to Point B, etc. Someone mentioned on another thread that there’s a site called “Our Laughing Place” that has a transportation wizard but it’s outdated so not sure if that’s true or not.

There is no schedule - buses go about every 20 minutes, but not at a set time.

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi crashbb:

Thank you very much for answering my questions and helping me learn more about the Disney Transportation system. If buses leave approximately every twenty minutes then we should be OK.

I'm hoping to be finished with dinner at the Cape May Cafe' prior to Illuminations starting. Not sure how much we'll be able to see from the boardwalk area but would like to be outside during that time just in case we can see some of the fireworks at the end.

very much for your help!

 

[backyardponder]

since it sounds like you might be "walkers", remember SSR is walking distance to DTD...a long walk, but we've done it many times. You could take a bus to DTD then walk back to SSR.

 

[goofystitchfan]

Have a great time. We own at SSR and that is always where we stay. We ususally will take the boat over to DTD.

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi backyondponder:

since it sounds like you might be "walkers", remember SSR is walking distance to DTD...a long walk, but we've done it many times. You could take a bus to DTD then walk back to SSR.

We like to walk but have to be careful since DH has back/hip issues. As long as he takes a break periodically he should be OK.

Do you know where the bus drops you off at DTD? We were thinking about doing that and taking the water taxi back to SSR.

very much for your help!

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi goofystitchfan:

Have a great time. We own at SSR and that is always where we stay. We usually will take the boat over to DTD.

Thank you very much! We are so psyched and can't wait to go. Our last time at WDW was in February 2003. This is the first time we are staying on property and at a DVC resort. The excitement is building, the planning is at full speed and I'm pulling my hair out trying to work on the master plan, etc. Friends of ours owns at SSR and they love it.

very much for your help!

 

[joelkfla]

There are 3 docks at DTD. The SSR boat calls at the Pleasure Island dock, which is near Paradiso Restaurant.

There are 2 bus stops at DTD: Marketplace and Pleasure Island. The PI stop is about 1/4 mile walk to the PI boat dock.

Most of the day, all buses go to both stops: MP first, then PI. In the morning before 11 a.m., most buses stop only at MP, and after about midnight all buses stop only at PI.

 

[dzorn]

I would allow more time when leaving AK. Since it is closing time you may need to wait for more than one bus. I would be out of there by 5:30-5:40. I would rather be early to an ADR.

Denise in MI

 

[LaurenT]

If DHS is still open when you're ready to leave the Boardwalk area, you could take the friendship boat to DHS and cacth your SSR bus there....

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi joelkfla:

There are 3 docks at DTD. The SSR boat calls at the Pleasure Island dock, which is near Paradiso Restaurant.

There are 2 bus stops at DTD: Marketplace and Pleasure Island. The PI stop is about 1/4 mile walk to the PI boat dock.

Most of the day, all buses go to both stops: MP first, then PI. In the morning before 11 a.m., most buses stop only at MP, and after about midnight all buses stop only at PI.

Thanks so much for the bus/boat stops. This will really help us out planning our time at the parks and at DTD.

very much for your help!

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi Denise (dzorn):

I would allow more time when leaving AK. Since it is closing time you may need to wait for more than one bus. I would be out of there by 5:30-5:40. I would rather be early to an ADR.

I prefer not to risk beign late for our ADR. Rather play safe and arrive early than losing our ressie due to being late.

very much for your help!

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi LaurenT:

If DHS is still open when you're ready to leave the Boardwalk area, you could take the friendship boat to DHS and cacth your SSR bus there....

That's a neat idea. Do you know the distance between the dock and bus stop at DHS?
very much for your help!

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi LaurenT:

That's a neat idea. Do you know the distance between the dock and bus stop at DHS?
very much for your help!

The boat docks are right across from the bus stops. Depending on where the SSR bus stop is, it coud be between a 6 min walk and a 2 min one. But it's easy to find..get off the boat, walk straight up the path from the dock, cross over the entrance area, keeping DHS on your right, the parking lot on your left and you'll see the bus stops!

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi goofy4tink:

The boat docks are right across from the bus stops. Depending on where the SSR bus stop is, it coud be between a 6 min walk and a 2 min one. But it's easy to find..get off the boat, walk straight up the path from the dock, cross over the entrance area, keeping DHS on your right, the parking lot on your left and you'll see the bus stops!

Perfect! I really like this idea. We love boat rides and it would be nice to take one after dinner... our mini cruise for the evening!
very much for your help!

 

[sharadoc]

Hi goofy4tink:

Perfect! I really like this idea. We love boat rides and it would be nice to take one after dinner... our mini cruise for the evening!
very much for your help!

Hi. you can catch the boat from the Beach Club dock to DHS and it will take about 20 minutes. The boats run for an hour after park closing and the buses run for two hours after. I don't know what the DHS hours are for that day, but if it's open until 9, I would suggest walking over to the bridge that goes between the Boardwalk and Yacht Club and watch the Illuminations fireworks from there. Then you can walk to the Swan/Dolphin dock and hop the boat to DHS.

Or, walk over to the International gateway and watch them from the boat dock area then hop on the boat there to DHS.

Many people use the boats to hop between Epcot and DHS so you won't be the only one making that trip.

Enjoy Cape May Cafe - it's one of our faves!

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi sharadoc:

Hi. you can catch the boat from the Beach Club dock to DHS and it will take about 20 minutes. The boats run for an hour after park closing and the buses run for two hours after. I don't know what the DHS hours are for that day, but if it's open until 9, I would suggest walking over to the bridge that goes between the Boardwalk and Yacht Club and watch the Illuminations fireworks from there. Then you can walk to the Swan/Dolphin dock and hop the boat to DHS.

Or, walk over to the International gateway and watch them from the boat dock area then hop on the boat there to DHS.

Many people use the boats to hop between Epcot and DHS so you won't be the only one making that trip.

Enjoy Cape May Café - it's one of our faves!

Thanks so much for the ideas... I really like having options. This is turning out better than I anticipated.

I just checked the park hours and DHS is open until 9pm. That will give us plenty of time to eat, walk around the boardwalk afterwards, watch the Illuminations fireworks and leave. We won't be out super late since it will be a full day at AK for us.

I'm guessing that the boat ride from Swan/Dolphin won't be as crowded that time of evening compared to those leaving EPCOT. True?

We are looking forward to dinner at the Cape May Café. DH loves seafood and I'm a meat/potatoes girl so it's perfect for both of us.

very much for your help!

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi sharadoc:

Thanks so much for the ideas... I really like having options. This is turning out better than I anticipated.

I just checked the park hours and DHS is open until 9pm. That will give us plenty of time to eat, walk around the boardwalk afterwards, watch the Illuminations fireworks and leave. We won't be out super late since it will be a full day at AK for us.

I'm guessing that the boat ride from Swan/Dolphin won't be as crowded that time of evening compared to those leaving EPCOT. True?

We are looking forward to dinner at the Cape May Café. DH loves seafood and I'm a meat/potatoes girl so it's perfect for both of us.

very much for your help!

Well, while the numbers of people getting on the boat at the S/D may be smaller than those getting on at Epcot, it will be full of those who got on at Epcot. The boat runs from Epcot to BW, then to YC/BC (as soon as the dock is rehabbed anyway) and then to the S/D before heading to DHS.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

[/FONT]

The boat you would pick up at the Swan/Dolphin is coming from Epcot. The Friendship boats start at the Epcot International Gateway and continue on through to the DHS. Along the way the boats stop at the Boardwalk, Beach/Yacht Clubs, and Swan/Dolphin.

As to your question about how crowded it would be I don't know how many people leaving Epcot are going to the boats. People staying at one of the Epcot resorts would just take the short walk rather than wait for the boat in most cases. If the DHS is still open the boat might be busier than usual.

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi goofy4tink & wdwgoofeeee:

Well, while the numbers of people getting on the boat at the S/D may be smaller than those getting on at Epcot, it will be full of those who got on at Epcot. The boat runs from Epcot to BW, then to YC/BC (as soon as the dock is rehabbed anyway) and then to the S/D before heading to DHS.

The boat you would pick up at the Swan/Dolphin is coming from Epcot. The Friendship boats start at the Epcot International Gateway and continue on through to the DHS. Along the way the boats stop at the Boardwalk, Beach/Yacht Clubs, and Swan/Dolphin. As to your question about how crowded it would be I don't know how many people leaving Epcot are going to the boats. People staying at one of the Epcot resorts would just take the short walk rather than wait for the boat in most cases. If the DHS is still open the boat might be busier than usual

Thank you both for letting me know what the boat route is since I wasn't aware of it. We won't have access to the EPCOT boat since we'll be in AK that day with no park hopper. I guess we'll have to take our chances and hope we can get a seat after Illuminations. If either one of you have any suggestions please let me know.

very much for your help!