Epcot to HS and HS evening plans

[Amusement]

I have a few questions about our plans to park hop from Epcot to HS one day. The projected crowd level is a 4, but it is also the very last day of Food and Wine.

We're finishing a tour in Future World around 1:00 and then we are going to head over to Hollywood Studios. We're still sorting out what we want to do for lunch. The big goal is to avoid a crowded World Showcase and head to HS with enough time to watch the 5:00 Beauty and the Beast Show and fast pass Toy Story and Star Tours, grab a quick dinner, and see the Osborne lights.

Right now I'm tentatively planning:

Finish tour around 1:00
Head to the Studios
3-4 Star Tours FP
4:45 Be at Beauty and the Beast
5:30 - 6:30 Toy Story FP
Grab something to eat
Osborne Lights
Park closes at 8pm

How much time should we allow for getting from Future World to the boat to HS to the park?
We are thinking the boat ride would be a nice way to rest our feet after being on a tour all morning.
And does this look like a reasonable plan?

Thanks!

 

[sharadoc]

Expect 45 minutes minimum. If the boat is there when you get to the dock, you're in good shape. Otherwise you may have to wait 20 minutes.

 

[AngiTN]

It takes about 45 min to boat from Epcot to HS. That doesn't take in to account waiting on a boat. It is faster to walk but as you said, it is a nice way to rest your feet.

 

[Amusement]

Thanks, that's good to know! Can you eat on the boat or should we plan on eating before or after we hop over to HS?

 

[sharonabe]

I vote to eat at Sunshine Seasons in FW (GREAT food!), and then take the bus from the front of the park over to HS. Much less walking, and much less time needed.

 

[Alesia]

It takes about 45 min to boat from Epcot to HS. That doesn't take in to account waiting on a boat. It is faster to walk but as you said, it is a nice way to rest your feet.

The boat takes 20 to 25 minutes.

 

[WEDWDW]

Just my experience,but the fastest I have ever made it was 20 minutes and the longest was 35 minutes.

It all depends on how long each of the 3 "stops" takes in route and that varies from trip to trip.

 

[DanBoris]

Thanks, that's good to know! Can you eat on the boat or should we plan on eating before or after we hop over to HS?

A place I would recommend to eat (assuming you are not using the dining plan) that a lot of people probably don't know about is Picabu in the Dolphin. It's a buffeteria style restaurant so it's quick to get your meal. The food is excellent and the portions pretty generous. It also tends not to be very crowded. You could either walk there from Epcot and then take the boat to DHS afterwards, or take the boat for both legs. The hotel is one of the stops for the boats so it's a short walk from the restaurant to the boat dock.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dolphin-hotel/picabu/

 

[AngiTN]

The boat takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Maybe but that was never our experience. If you have stops with ECV at each resort between it can be 45 min. We found it took 20-25 min just from HS to YC. That is the length of time they'll announce when you board the boat also. On our trip I got on a boat and DH and DGD started walking at the same exact moment, HS to YC. They were in our room by the time I got off the boat.

 

[Amusement]

Thanks for all of the input! It sounds like we should be fine if we make it to the boat dock by 2:00 and that would probably even allow us time to try one or two F& W offerings on our way there if we decide we want something to nibble on before heading to HS.

I think we should also be OK doing the reverse trip on another day. Lunch at Mama Melrose at 12:05 and dessert at Beaches and Cream at 3:10 before heading to World Showcase for the afternoon/evening. Although it might be fast to hop a Beach Club bus from HS that day.

 

[Alesia]

Although it might be fast to hop a Beach Club bus from HS that day.

You'll be waiting a long, long time for that bus - it doesn't exist.

FWIW, I recommend asking anything transportation-related on the transportation board.

 

[msb578]

I vote to eat at Sunshine Seasons in FW (GREAT food!), and then take the bus from the front of the park over to HS. Much less walking, and much less time needed.

Yep. The bus between Epcot and DHS is sometimes overlooked.

 

[Amusement]

You'll be waiting a long, long time for that bus - it doesn't exist.

FWIW, I recommend asking anything transportation-related on the transportation board.

Oh, I didn't realize that. We had a car the time we stayed at The Boardwalk so I've never used the busses over there. I assumed there was a bus to each of the parks from the Boardwalk resorts. So boat or walking is the only way to go?

 

[Amusement]

Yep. The bus between Epcot and DHS is sometimes overlooked.

We're planning on eating at Sunshine Seasons on a different day although that's still an option. Mostly, we were thinking the boat would be different and we might be able to try a few F&W booths on the way there from the front of the park. We don't mind it taking a little longer as long as we can get to HS by 3:30 at the latest.

 

[Alesia]

Oh, I didn't realize that. We had a car the time we stayed at The Boardwalk so I've never used the busses over there. I assumed there was a bus to each of the parks from the Boardwalk resorts. So boat or walking is the only way to go?

Yes.

 

[WEDWDW]

So boat or walking is the only way to go?

Unless weather causes the Friendships to shut down-then there will be bus service.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The boat takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Agreed. I almost always stay at S/D. And have used an ECV past several visits. It takes an extra minute to get on and get off with the ECV. Normal full trip from Epcot to HS is about 25 minutes.