Early morning transportation

[joy@disney]

We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and have an 8:00 am breakfast reservation at 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian). Since the busses won't start running until 8:00, who has a thought on how we can get to GF before 8:00.
Thanks.

 

[winthropf]

Busses start running about 6:30 to handle breakfast ADRs. Tell the driver where you have the ADR and you may be dropped off there rather than at a park. I have been on a bus to MK once that dropped a family off at GF first because they had an ADR at GF.

 

[joelkfla]

The driver might offer to drop you off if you are the only Guests on the bus, but plan on transferring to the monorail at the MK.

You also have the option of riding the boat to CR, and boarding the monorail to GF there. The first boat should leave around 6:55-7:00, which should get you to GF just about right. Allow a few minutes walking time from the WL lobby to the boat dock.

 

[dmunsil]

We are staying at the Wilderness Lodge and have an 8:00 am breakfast reservation at 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian). Since the busses won't start running until 8:00, who has a thought on how we can get to GF before 8:00.
Thanks.

A cab will take two minutes max, and is unlikely to be more than $4. It's literally about half a mile via road. Just walk out front and say to a valet, "We need a cab to the Grand Floridian". The valet will call a cab over, will help you into the cab, and usually will tell the driver where to go while you're getting in. Worst-case, you might have to wait a few minutes for a cab to arrive, but usually there are cabs waiting at all of the deluxe resorts.

When you get there, round up the fare to the nearest dollar, and maybe add another dollar if the total tip is less than 50 cents. I would just have a five ready to go.

If you leave your room at 7:40 you are essentially guaranteed to make your 8:00 ADR.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A cab will take two minutes max, and is unlikely to be more than $4. It's literally about half a mile via road.

One point five miles, and four minutes, according to the basic map app on my iPod .

 

[Alesia]

A cab will cost $8 to $10, plus tip.

 

[wdwrich]

Busses start running about 6:30 to handle breakfast ADRs. Tell the driver where you have the ADR and you may be dropped off there rather than at a park. I have been on a bus to MK once that dropped a family off at GF first because they had an ADR at GF.

Even if the driver can't drop you at GF, get off at MK and monorail or boat over to GF.

 

[dmunsil]

One point five miles, and four minutes, according to the basic map app on my iPod .

You're right. I had a brain fart and mentally imagined going to the Polynesian. Still, the point remains. The quickest solution by a massive margin is a cab, and it's not going to cost a whole lot. The Mears cab fare estimator estimates $6. With tip, call it $7.

http://www.mearstransportation.com/taxi-services/taxi-fare-estimator/

Orlando cab fares are $2 meter drop and $2.40 per mile, so that sounds about right.

For me, given the amount of money we spend to get to WDW, stay in deluxe resorts, nice meals, etc. the idea of saving about 30 minutes of waiting and riding in busses and monorail is completely worth $7. But of course everyone has their own estimate of what their time is worth.

Don

 

[wdwrich]

For me, given the amount of money we spend to get to WDW, stay in deluxe resorts, nice meals, etc. the idea of saving about 30 minutes of waiting and riding in busses and monorail is completely worth $7. But of course everyone has their own estimate of what their time is worth.

Absolutely. That's why we always rent a car.

 

[dmunsil]

Absolutely. That's why we always rent a car.

Agreed. We did without a car the last trip, though. And when we had to get to another hotel quickly...we took a cab.

We had two bus experiences that were bad enough that we won't be repeating that experiment again. So we're back in the "always rent a car" category. I do wish Disney transportation was good enough that we didn't feel like we needed to rent a car. But that's a whole other topic, rehashed continuously on these boards.

Don

 

[bleeps]

For me, given the amount of money we spend to get to WDW, stay in deluxe resorts, nice meals, etc. the idea of saving about 30 minutes of waiting and riding in busses and monorail is completely worth $7. But of course everyone has their own estimate of what their time is worth.

Also agree with this -- we do in fact make good use of Disney transportation overall (and put up with some of the inconveniences inherent in that), but for early morning ADRs, or late at night if we're just too tired (or are going to/from from a special meal or something) we just jump in a cab. We account for it in our budgeting and it makes a huge difference in enjoying the vacation.