Family of the Day

[mastrolang]

So, lemme see if I've got this right: In order to possibly be selected as Family of the Day we need to arrive at the park an hour before it opens. However, bus service to the parks doesn't even start until 45 minutes before the parks open. So... the only families who are ever chosen as Family of the Day either drive themselves or walk?

 

[Robo]

So, lemme see if I've got this right: In order to possibly be selected as Family of the Day

1. we need to arrive at the park an hour before it opens. However,

2. bus service to the parks doesn't even start until 45 minutes before the parks open.

3. So... the only families who are ever chosen as Family of the Day either drive themselves or walk?

1. An hour before is not generally early enough.

2. Bus service to the parks starts at about 6:30AM every day. On rare days when MK opens at 7AM for EMH, the buses will be rolling even earlier.

3. Your information about this is incorrect, all the way around. Sorry.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So, lemme see if I've got this right: In order to possibly be selected as Family of the Day we need to arrive at the park an hour before it opens. However, bus service to the parks doesn't even start until 45 minutes before the parks open. So... the only families who are ever chosen as Family of the Day either drive themselves or walk?

It has been posted many times that busses actually begin at 6:30ish.

So all hope is not lost.

I think the greater challenge is winning this lottery-type selection.

 

[mom2rtk]

You could arrive 2 hours before and not be chosen. Sometimes they it has been pre-arranged for a specific family.

And bus service has to start more than an hour before park open. Lots of people enter the park about 75 minutes before it opens (on a 9 AM open day) for their 8 AM dining reservations.

 

[mastrolang]

I got this information from a post on thedis.com's Facebook page...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-resorts/wilderness-lodge/

"Magic Kingdom: Bus (available 45 minutes before park opening until 2 hours after park closing); Boat (available 30 minutes before park opening on standard days and 1 hour before park opening on Extra Magic Hour mornings until 45 minutes after park closing)"

As for my chances, I know they're slim. But thanks for the beat down.

 

[mom2rtk]

I got this information from a post on thedis.com's Facebook page...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-resorts/wilderness-lodge/

"Magic Kingdom: Bus (available 45 minutes before park opening until 2 hours after park closing); Boat (available 30 minutes before park opening on standard days and 1 hour before park opening on Extra Magic Hour mornings until 45 minutes after park closing)"

As for my chances, I know they're slim. But thanks for the beat down.

Not sure which post you were referring to, but my post was not meant to discourage you, just to give you the information you need. If you show up and see nobody selected you'll be able to say "Oh..... that's right. Someone said that occasionally they have chosen somebody ahead of time."

As for the bus information, it's just plain wrong. The buses have to run much earlier than that so people can arrive in time for breakfast.

 

[mastrolang]

I posted the link above that states the times. It was posted in an overview of the WL on the Dis' fb page this morning I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying the way some people responded to my misinformation was a bit harsh. I only checked in here because I thought the information seemed off. I'm planning my 6th trip back to WDW. I've been to DL just as many times. I'm very knowledgeable on WDW and the Family of the Day scenario. But a little encouragement would have more helpful than what I got. I'm still gonna try.

 

[mom2rtk]

I posted the link above that states the times. It was posted in an overview of the WL on the Dis' fb page this morning I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying the way some people responded to my misinformation was a bit harsh. I only checked in here because I thought the information seemed off. I'm planning my 6th trip back to WDW. I've been to DL just as many times. I'm very knowledgeable on WDW and the Family of the Day scenario. But a little encouragement would have more helpful than what I got. I'm still gonna try.

I never said you shouldn't try.

Why don't you ask at your hotel what time you can expect the first bus? If you really want to be certain, take a cab over to the Contemporary and walk from there.

Maybe the "45 minutes before park open" was meant to refer to early entry days, when breakfasts start at the same time as the early open? The other days of the week though, the
first bus will definitely run sooner than 45 minutes prior to park open.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I got this information from a post on thedis.com's Facebook page...

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-resorts/wilderness-lodge/

"Magic Kingdom: Bus (available 45 minutes before park opening until 2 hours after park closing); Boat (available 30 minutes before park opening on standard days and 1 hour before park opening on Extra Magic Hour mornings until 45 minutes after park closing)"

As for my chances, I know they're slim. But thanks for the beat down.

Outdated at best. Outright incorrect regardless.

 

[mesaboy2]

Your original post asked if the unsourced information you posted was correct. The most helpful poster here IMO answered that it was not, gave correct info, and threw in a "sorry" for good measure. I don't see the "beat down", sorry.

 

[lillygator]

I think when people "try" to get chosen in these types of things it makes for a letdown.

 

[Writer325]

So, lemme see if I've got this right: In order to possibly be selected as Family of the Day we need to arrive at the park an hour before it opens. However, bus service to the parks doesn't even start until 45 minutes before the parks open. So... the only families who are ever chosen as Family of the Day either drive themselves or walk?

I can understand your position. While of course everyone knows that there are no guarantees for getting picked for this sort of thing, there are definitely things that help your chances. I see no harm in doing everything you can to get picked! I think from what I have gathered our best chances are catching the first bus out of our hotels to the Magic Kingdom. Perhaps, that was the best information I gathered from all of the responses. Are you guys wearing matching shirts? In case you can't tell, I am trying to get my family selected as well. I see no harm in trying; I recognize that we may not get picked and either way it will be cool to try.