Drive or monorail from MK to Epcot?

[kaybee1476]

This will be our first trip to WDW. We will have our own car, but I want to know which would be better/faster when hopping from MK to Epcot in the afternoon: take the monorail from MK to Epcot and then take the monorail from Epcot to the TTC to get our car at the end of the night... OR take the monorail from MK to the TTC and then drive to Epcot and leave from there at the end of the night?

Thanks!

 

[Ed J]

Getting to your car from the Epcot parking lot is easier than the MK parking lot. If we hop those parks (and we do more than we don't) we park at Epcot.

If I'm reading you post correctly, I'd start off the day by parking at Epcot.

 

[conniehar90]

I would drive. The parking spots at Epcot are all fairly close to the gate (usually you don't even need to take a tram). At the end of the night, you will be tired and not up for the monorail to TTC and the long walk/tram to your car.

 

[wdwrich]

Our strategy has been to have the car at the park at which we will end our day. So either drive to EPCOT from MK as a pp suggested, or park at EPCOT first thing in the AM and ride the monorail to/from MK from there. The latter option means you woudn't have to move the car when you hop.

 

[sharadoc]

Getting to your car from the Epcot parking lot is easier than the MK parking lot. If we hop those parks (and we do more than we don't) we park at Epcot.

If I'm reading you post correctly, I'd start off the day by parking at Epcot.

Great advice, and has the added "attraction" of the monorail in both directions!!

 

[newyorkmike]

The line to the monorail back to Magic Kingdom gets very long very quickly after Illuminations is over. I would park at EPCOT all day and take the Monorail to/from Magic Kingdom as others have suggested so you can walk to the car and get out of there quickly at the end of your evening.

 

[kaybee1476]

Getting to your car from the Epcot parking lot is easier than the MK parking lot. If we hop those parks (and we do more than we don't) we park at Epcot.

If I'm reading you post correctly, I'd start off the day by parking at Epcot.

The problem is we have an 8:15 ADR at Crystal Palace that morning, so we'll need to drive to MK first.

Sounds like we just need to drive between parks. The kids may need an afternoon break anyway. Thanks!

 

[joelkfla]

The problem is we have an 8:15 ADR at Crystal Palace that morning, so we'll need to drive to MK first.

As the MK parking lot is at TTC, and as the Express Monorail probably won't be open yet, don't forget to allow for time to ride the Resort Monorail from TTC to MK, stopping at Poly & GF along the way.

 

[MICKEEP]

Our strategy has been to have the car at the park at which we will end our day. So either drive to EPCOT from MK as a pp suggested, or park at EPCOT first thing in the AM and ride the monorail to/from MK from there. The latter option means you woudn't have to move the car when you hop.

Thats the best answer: ALWAYS LEAVE YOUR CAR AT THE PARK YOU WILL END YOUR DAY AT.

In addition to the basic logistics of the situation, you are most tired at the end of the day and all you want to do is get in your car and get back to your hotel ASAP


Slightly Off Topic - I always feel bad for the people who park their car at AK in the morning and then wind up closing MK. When they finally get to AK, at the end of the night, they have that long walk out to their car, in a deserted, relatively "dark" parking lot.

 

[kaybee1476]

As the MK parking lot is at TTC, and as the Express Monorail probably won't be open yet, don't forget to allow for time to ride the Resort Monorail from TTC to MK, stopping at Poly & GF along the way.

I was planning on being at the TTC at 7:30am. Will that give us enough time to board the resort monorail and get to the MK entrance by around 7:45? That's what I'm shooting for, so we can get through the bag check and take pictures on a relatively empty Main Street before checking in at CP. Also hoping to be seated earlier than 8:15 so we can get finished close to the 9am opening.

Does the resort monorail run continuously from 7:30 (an hour and a half before park opening) or will we have to wait awhile for another train if we miss the first one?

 

[joelkfla]

I was planning on being at the TTC at 7:30am. Will that give us enough time to board the resort monorail and get to the MK entrance by around 7:45? That's what I'm shooting for, so we can get through the bag check and take pictures on a relatively empty Main Street before checking in at CP. Also hoping to be seated earlier than 8:15 so we can get finished close to the 9am opening.

Does the resort monorail run continuously from 7:30 (an hour and a half before park opening) or will we have to wait awhile for another train if we miss the first one?

I'm not sure about the times, but 15 minutes is probably a bit too short.

The trains start at 7 a.m., and again I'm not sure, but I think they run about every 10 minutes. The time spent on the train may be 15 minutes by itself.

I think allowing a total of 30 minutes would be safer.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm not sure about the times, but 15 minutes is probably a bit too short.

The trains start at 7 a.m., and again I'm not sure, but I think they run about every 10 minutes. The time spent on the train may be 15 minutes by itself.

I think allowing a total of 30 minutes would be safer.

Sometimes during the morning they like to hold the Resort Monorail at the stop it's currently in for longer periods of time after 7:00 AM. A couple of years ago when my family and I were staying at the Contemporary we were going to Epcot and when we got on the Resort Monorail at 7:15 AM I remember it was just sitting at the Contemporary station for at 25 minutes. No announcement was made that anything was wrong with it or the whole Resort line, so at 7:40 AM we decided to get off since Epcot was opening at 8:00 AM for AM Extra Magic Hour which we weren't going to make and instead that day we went to the Magic Kingdom.

Now I am not sure if they still do anything like that today, however just incase that's something to consider.

 

[kaybee1476]

Sometimes during the morning they like to hold the Resort Monorail at the stop it's currently in for longer periods of time after 7:00 AM. A couple of years ago when my family and I were staying at the Contemporary we were going to Epcot and when we got on the Resort Monorail at 7:15 AM I remember it was just sitting at the Contemporary station for at 25 minutes. No announcement was made that anything was wrong with it or the whole Resort line, so at 7:40 AM we decided to get off since Epcot was opening at 8:00 AM for AM Extra Magic Hour which we weren't going to make and instead that day we went to the Magic Kingdom.

Now I am not sure if they still do anything like that today, however just incase that's something to consider.

You're making me really nervous! I want to be sure we're inside MK before 8am. Aagh!!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You're making me really nervous! I want to be sure we're inside MK before 8am. Aagh!!!

Well if it makes you feel better that only happened to me just one time and I can't remember that happening anytime after that.

 

[kaybee1476]

So what time would YOU be at the TTC if you want to be inside MK by 7:50am? (In this scenario, you have a 5-y-o, an almost 3-y-o, and all that goes with them, including a double stroller.)

 

[Alesia]

Are you staying onsite or off. If you're staying onsite it would be best to just take the bus to MK and leave your car at the hotel for the day.

If you're staying offsite, you should plan on arriving at the TTC by 7:30.

 

[kaybee1476]

Are you staying onsite or off. If you're staying onsite it would be best to just take the bus to MK and leave your car at the hotel for the day.

If you're staying offsite, you should plan on arriving at the TTC by 7:30.

We're staying off-site... and 7:30 was my target time (to park in the TTC lot), but now I'm wondering if we need to get there earlier than that.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

kaybee1476,
Instead of taking the Express Monorail or Resort Monorail once you get to the TTC, if the Boat that goes to the Magic Kingdom is operating have you thought about taking that?

 

[kaybee1476]

kaybee1476,
Instead of taking the Express Monorail or Resort Monorail once you get to the TTC, if the Boat that goes to the Magic Kingdom is operating have you thought about taking that?

What time does the ferry start in the mornings? I assumed it would be the same time as the express monorail but I have no idea. That would be great since it would go directly from the TTC to MK, right?

 

[Alesia]

We're staying off-site... and 7:30 was my target time (to park in the TTC lot), but now I'm wondering if we need to get there earlier than that.

You should - I meant to type 7:15.