DTD help needed

[bocaj1431]

With all the DTD traffic due to expanding and construction, which will be the quickest or best option for transportation? Last year we made the mistake of going to villans night at HS and it was a nightmare just trying to get into the parking lot. I never want to go through that again. It took us about 45min just to get into the parking lot from the corner turn.

Should we take the bus from the hotel (AKL) to DTD? (which I am thinking will be a bad decision) Take a taxi from AK to POR and take the boat from there to DTD. Last choice, take a taxi to Saratoga hotel and then walk from there to DTD. I thought I read that there is some walkway you can use to get to DTD from this hotel, but is it long distance or a short walk? For those who have recently already tried these options what was your experience?

When traveling home I am assuming we should use the same option or will traffic not be as bad in the eve and we can just take the bus from DTD to our hotel?

Thanks for any help.

 

[CAS239]

I can speak on walking there from a hotel..but as far as drive yourself, bus, taxi. Drive yourself.

If you're in traffic, unless you can fly, you'll be in the same traffic no matter the mode of transportation. I'd drive myself as to get there and leave when I wish and not have to wait for the bus to come.

The traffic is not bad at all if by any chance you can avoid weekends and around 5pmish

 

[bocaj1431]

I can speak on walking there from a hotel..but as far as drive yourself, bus, taxi. Drive yourself.

If you're in traffic, unless you can fly, you'll be in the same traffic no matter the mode of transportation. I'd drive myself as to get there and leave when I wish and not have to wait for the bus to come.

The traffic is not bad at all if by any chance you can avoid weekends and around 5pmish

Thanks for the info.

I had read somewhere that the traffic is extremely bad due to the construction going on regardless of when you go. Have you recently traveled to DTD?

I prefer either to take the boat or the walk from Saratoga if the traffic is really that bad. But I am just unsure as to witch is the best option.

 

[CAS239]

Thanks for the info.

I had read somewhere that the traffic is extremely bad due to the construction going on regardless of when you go. Have you recently traveled to DTD?

I prefer either to take the boat or the walk from Saratoga if the traffic is really that bad. But I am just unsure as to witch is the best option.

Yea we go about once a month. So I was there this past weekend. Sidenote, Planet Hollywood has a lot better food than House of Blues lol.

Normally during the week when there's not a ton of cars on the road, it's smooth sailing. We stay off site so I take that road through DTD to go to the parks. Normally I'm through the area in just a minute or two. Normally on the weekend or around prime dining hours/when people are off work, it can get backed up. It's not necessarily the road construction that makes it rough, because it's 2 lanes each way with turning lanes at the lights. Just when a lot of people go there at the same time, everyone's trying to park in such a small area. It's mainly the parking garage, so that lane can get backed up. Put that with tourists not knowing where their going so you have people trying to merge in a long line and cutting people off. Then add in pedestrians crossing the street so you have the light staying red for extra longer while a mass of people flood across.

During prime hours it can get backed up far. When I see that I drive a little further and detour around DTD.

So those that say that traffic is a mess and they won't go back to DTD etc etc..they probably went on the weekend or just when traffic was heavy. If I only saw that too, I wouldn't blame them. But from when I head through, more times its smooth sailing rather than backed up traffic.

So anyone that asks on here..I always say just try to avoid those busy hours and you should be good.

 

[POOHsie]

We used to always stay at POR or POFQ and used the water taxi service to DTD a lot. The last few years because of DTD construction we've stayed elsewhere on Disney property. However, there was always a night when we popped in to POR, parked, walked around. Last year we took the boat to DTD. It's by far the easiest way into DTD. We didn't spend too much time at DTD, just looked around. If a person were to do that, the last boat back to POR would be 11 or 11:30pm, and there would be a waiting line that would fill more than one boat. So plan to be in line 10:30-10:45pm. One final treat is, upon arrival back at POR, Yehaa Bob's show will be going strong Weds-Sat nites.

 

[superrach]

Just went yesterday. Got there about 11:30am; parked in a lot behind Cirque with no problems. The crowds really picked up by 4 or 5pm. Anytime that time of day or later I would definitely rely on Disney buses.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Viilians definitely was a crowded fiasco last summer. It's the first time I considered Disney overly crowded.

 

[DisneyBrat]

Just got back a couple weeks ago and yes it is CRAZY with the traffic. We stayed the first 2 nights at POFQ and used the water taxi. EASY PEASY! Not sure if that would work for you but you could go to POFQ and use the water taxi

 

[eeyore45]

I would take the water taxi from POR - if you don't have a car, then maybe taxi (or Uber) from DTD to your resort (if you will be there later than the last boat back)

 

[bocaj1431]

Yea we go about once a month. So I was there this past weekend. Sidenote, Planet Hollywood has a lot better food than House of Blues lol.

Normally during the week when there's not a ton of cars on the road, it's smooth sailing. We stay off site so I take that road through DTD to go to the parks. Normally I'm through the area in just a minute or two. Normally on the weekend or around prime dining hours/when people are off work, it can get backed up. It's not necessarily the road construction that makes it rough, because it's 2 lanes each way with turning lanes at the lights. Just when a lot of people go there at the same time, everyone's trying to park in such a small area. It's mainly the parking garage, so that lane can get backed up. Put that with tourists not knowing where their going so you have people trying to merge in a long line and cutting people off. Then add in pedestrians crossing the street so you have the light staying red for extra longer while a mass of people flood across.

During prime hours it can get backed up far. When I see that I drive a little further and detour around DTD.

So those that say that traffic is a mess and they won't go back to DTD etc etc..they probably went on the weekend or just when traffic was heavy. If I only saw that too, I wouldn't blame them. But from when I head through, more times its smooth sailing rather than backed up traffic.

So anyone that asks on here..I always say just try to avoid those busy hours and you should be good.

Thanks for explaining what was causing the traffic and the worst times to go. That helps.

I'm glad you liked Planet Hollywood because we have reservations there. Can't wait.

 

[bocaj1431]

We used to always stay at POR or POFQ and used the water taxi service to DTD a lot. The last few years because of DTD construction we've stayed elsewhere on Disney property. However, there was always a night when we popped in to POR, parked, walked around. Last year we took the boat to DTD. It's by far the easiest way into DTD. We didn't spend too much time at DTD, just looked around. If a person were to do that, the last boat back to POR would be 11 or 11:30pm, and there would be a waiting line that would fill more than one boat. So plan to be in line 10:30-10:45pm. One final treat is, upon arrival back at POR, Yehaa Bob's show will be going strong Weds-Sat nites.

I think we will take the boat then. We stayed at POR before and loved it. I like the theme of the hotel, the people who work there, Bob's show and we really liked their QS. Actually the Pasta bar is better than some of the DW restaurants we have been to and I like their cheesecake. If it were not more points than BLT VGF and some of the other DVC villas we would stay there.

Thanks for the tip about the boat ride back.

 

[eeyore81]

We took the bus from AKL yesterday. We left the hotel around 4:00 and returned about 7:30. We had no problems at all. I was dreading it but really didn't see any traffic or delay in our trip. The bus let's you off really close.

 

[CAS239]

Thanks for explaining what was causing the traffic and the worst times to go. That helps.

I'm glad you liked Planet Hollywood because we have reservations there. Can't wait.

Nice..PH is our favorite restaurant there. The memorabilia is great, the food is delicious, and you get big portions to match the prices

 

[bocaj1431]

We took the bus from AKL yesterday. We left the hotel around 4:00 and returned about 7:30. We had no problems at all. I was dreading it but really didn't see any traffic or delay in our trip. The bus let's you off really close.

That is good to know. We have two days and nights in DTD so if the boats shut down due to lightning we can take the bus.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

[Judique]

That is good to know. We have two days and nights in DTD so if the boats shut down due to lightning we can take the bus.

Thanks to everyone for their input.

Going to do a lot of shopping and dining? In addition to Planet Hollywood I really liked Raglan Road when we were there a few months ago.

I like WP at the Marketplace for a nice lunch.

It was busy with traffic when we drove but not impossible and the new parking garage is so much better than trying to find parking.

The boats are lovely to ride.

Buses let you off in several locations, so you may want to plan that as well because DTD can be a lot of hot walking. Enjoy your visit!

 

[bocaj1431]

Going to do a lot of shopping and dining? In addition to Planet Hollywood I really liked Raglan Road when we were there a few months ago.

I like WP at the Marketplace for a nice lunch.

It was busy with traffic when we drove but not impossible and the new parking garage is so much better than trying to find parking.

The boats are lovely to ride.

Buses let you off in several locations, so you may want to plan that as well because DTD can be a lot of hot walking. Enjoy your visit!

Definitely stopping at Basin, love that store. We are also trying splitsvile for the first time and lunch at paradiso 37. I've always wanted to try Raglan Road but my son put a veto on that. He is such a picky eater.

Thanks for the tip about the busses.