Dolphin -> CR, Polynesian, AKL

[backinseptember]

I'm deciding which restaurant to choose for our last day breakfast. We're at the Dolphin and will eat at BW and BC for other meals, but since we don't have to rush the last day, I thought we'd eat elsewhere for our last day breakfast before heading back to airport.

I'm also toying with getting a car since I am starting this trip with a day at Universal IofA and have to get from there to the Dolphin.

What is the most efficient way to get to each of these from the Dolphin -- and how much time to I need to allow for a 9:00 ressie?

Contemporary Resort Chef Mickey's
Polynesian Resort Kona Cafe
Animal Kindgom Lodge Boma

 

[skelooch]

With a car there is no problem getting to anywhere on or off property. Any Disney resort is no more than 5 or 10 min away.
To get to other resorts without a car is another story and especially from a non Disney resort such as the Dolphin. I'm not familiar with transportation to and from the Swan or Dolphin, but I'm sure someone else will be, that can give you more specific recommendations for getting from point A to point B.

I haven't done the breakfasts at Kona Cafe and Boma, but of all the ones I have done they are pretty much all the same, with different characters.

Good Luck and have a great stay at the Dolphin.

 

[vicki_c]

You would take the bus from the resort to the closet park (so MK for Poly/CR, and AK for AKL). Then from there, you will have to transfer to another form of transportation - monorail or boat (and you can walk from MK to CR), bus from AK to AKL.

I would allow at LEAST an hour.

 

[backinseptember]

Great, thanks.

Sounds like a car may be quicker. If I get a rental car and drive to the resorts, will I have to pay for parking? Will it be a long walk from parking to the restaurants? (PR Kona, CR Chef Mickey's, and AKL Boma)

 

[CarolMN]

Great, thanks.

Sounds like a car may be quicker. If I get a rental car and drive to the resorts, will I have to pay for parking? Will it be a long walk from parking to the restaurants? (PR Kona, CR Chef Mickey's, and AKL Boma)

The Dolphin charges everyone, even guests of the hotel for parking - on a daily basis. I think it is currently $9/day. You may want to re-think getting a rental car for your entire stay.

No one has to pay to park at a WDW resort (unless they choose to use valet services). But you may have an issue getting into the parking lots for the MK resorts in the morning (even with an ADR), depending on the time of the year and how busy it is when you go.

The CR and the Poly can be especially difficult since many try to park there to go to the parks. Again, it just depends on how busy the parks are when you try. AKL should not be a problem.

 

[joelkfla]

To get to other resorts without a car is another story and especially from a non Disney resort such as the Dolphin.

The Swan & Dolphin are served by Disney Transport just like a fully Disney owned & operated resort. In fact, they share transportation with the Boardwalk & Y&B Clubs for most destinations.

Getting to any of the 3 resorts listed by the OP for a 9 a.m. ADR is easy.

For CR or Poly, take the bus to MK, and walk or monorail to the CR, or boat or monorail to the Poly. For Boma, bus to AK, and transfer to a AKL bus for a10 minute ride.

8:00 should be OK if you don't mind possibly arriving a few minutes before or after 9:00; or 7:45 if you prefer a little cushion.

Driving should take about 15 minutes, plus parking and walk time of course, and a few minutes for possibly waiting at the security booth and the MK toll booth. All 3 of those resorts are roughly the same distance from the Dolphin.

 

[grimley1968]

If you are thinking about getting a car that last day, I'd go ahead and do it. There is a car rental desk right inside the Dolphin, making it simple. And I'd go ahead and make it a one way rental, with drop-off at MCO.

You'll be allowed to park for free up to 3 hours at any of the resorts you're thinking of going to for breakfast. I highly recommend Kona Cafe at the Poly.

I'd allow 15-20 minutes door to door, if driving. I would say 10 minutes, but I always seem to make a wrong turn or two when driving around WDW. If going to the Poly you'll have to go through the MK gate and stay to the right. Tell them you're going to the Poly for breakfast and they'll wave you through.

Editing to add: I now see you're thinking about getting the car for multiple days. In that case you would have to pay for parking at the Dolphin, though not at the parks and not to visit other resorts for up to 3 hours.

 

[grimley1968]

I haven't done the breakfasts at Kona Cafe and Boma, but of all the ones I have done they are pretty much all the same, with different characters.

Kona Cafe does not offer a character breakfast, just normal breakfast. 'Ohana has the character breakfast inside the Poly.

However, I think the breakfast food offered by Kona far surpasses the quality of any character breakfast in all of WDW.

 

[backinseptember]

Kona Cafe does not offer a character breakfast, just normal breakfast. 'Ohana has the character breakfast inside the Poly.

However, I think the breakfast food offered by Kona far surpasses the quality of any character breakfast in all of WDW.

Being that DD is 15, I had not even considered the character aspect. But now that you've mentioned it again, they do make for an occasional hug with great photo!