Drive our own car or take bus from WL to Epcot

[sleepingbeautymama]

We have a dinner reservation on our first night of arrival at Epcot. We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. Would it be easier to take the bus at WL to Epcot or would it be easier to just drive our own car to Epcot? I was curious what it was like to park at the parks themselves. Are there shuttles from the parking lots or are the parking lots not that far? I really like the comfort of my own vehicle especially with my health issues but I don't want to have an extremely far walk in the parking lots. Thanks

 

[betterlatethannever]

We have a dinner reservation on our first night of arrival at Epcot. We will be staying at the Wilderness Lodge. Would it be easier to take the bus at WL to Epcot or would it be easier to just drive our own car to Epcot? I was curious what it was like to park at the parks themselves. Are there shuttles from the parking lots or are the parking lots not that far? I really like the comfort of my own vehicle especially with my health issues but I don't want to have an extremely far walk in the parking lots. Thanks

There are trams that take guests from the lots to the front gate for all the parks except MK. At MK the trams take guests to the TTC where guests either take the monorail or ferry to the MK gates.

You will end up walking farther by taking the bus. The walk from the bus depot to the front gate is longer than the walk from your car to the trams plus the walk from the trams to the front gate.

At Epcot, the parking lot is divided in two and the tram runs down the middle. So, you may end up parking at the far end of a row. Even then, it is less walking.

Now regarding your concern about walking too much in the parking lot. I am not sure where your ADR is at Epcot, but if it is in Italy, (for example) you will end up walking almost a mile to get there. The parking lot walk will pale in comarison.

Ed

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

Thank you Ed. We will probably just drive our car then. We are going to Norway for the Princess Storybook dinner. Any idea how much time we should give ourselves for the whole trip (drive time to Epcot and walking to Norway)? Thanks

 

[betterlatethannever]

Thank you Ed. We will probably just drive our car then. We are going to Norway for the Princess Storybook dinner. Any idea how much time we should give ourselves for the whole trip (drive time to Epcot and walking to Norway)? Thanks

Timewise, the big uncertainty is Epcot front gates. Last month, a couple of days we were in line for 20 minutes getting through the gates.

From the time you are in your car at WL parking lot:

20-25 minutes to Epcot front gate
5-20 minutes through turnstyles
15 minute walk to Norway

Ed

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

Thank you Ed for the info.

 

[disneymom1]

You might want to consider driving your own car and parking at the Boardwalk hotel or the Yacht and Beach Club and walking or taking the boat to the back entrance to Epcot, especially if your ADR is near that entrance. We have done this a couple of times when entering Epcot in the evening for dinner. I think the walk is shorter than from the front entrance and it is usually fairly quiet and pleasant.