first time staying at SOG, how early to leave resort for parks?

[Lisa_Loves_Disney]

my boyfriend (in the military) and I are staying at SOG in 2 weeks for our first time. I'm a little worried about the transportation. I found a chart with average and maximum times to the parks using the SOG bus system and it's 2x or 3x the time I'm used to (staying at the Swan/Dolphin).
should I just walk over to the Poly and use the monorail when possible? how far of a walk is that?
just looking for any and all suggestions on getting to the parks. I'm planning on being there for rope drop almost every morning, just wondering how early I'd have to leave the resort.

 

[bdcp]

my boyfriend (in the military) and I are staying at SOG in 2 weeks for our first time. I'm a little worried about the transportation. I found a chart with average and maximum times to the parks using the SOG bus system and it's 2x or 3x the time I'm used to (staying at the Swan/Dolphin).
should I just walk over to the Poly and use the monorail when possible? how far of a walk is that?
just looking for any and all suggestions on getting to the parks. I'm planning on being there for rope drop almost every morning, just wondering how early I'd have to leave the resort.

We almost always walk to the Poly. We've used the SOG transportation to Hollywood Studios and AK a couple of times, but find it just as fast to walk to the Poly and use theirs, plus the WDW buses start running earlier than the SOG ones. For MK and Epcot, we walk to the TTC. The walk isn't that far, maybe 3/4 mile. We'll be at SOG in a couple of weeks also, but we're not going to the parks. We will, however, be eating dinner at the Grand Floridian and will be walking over to grab the monorail at the Poly.

SOG is great and we love staying there, but if you want to be at the parks prior to rope drop, then you might not want to use SOG transportation.

 

[CapeCod95]

As someone who has stayed at the the Shades of Green over 20 times, I'd like to offer a tip. The bellhops outside the front of the Shades of Green have a golf cart. If they are slow, they are always willing (if you ask) to give guests a golf cart ride down to the main road where you cross the street to get to the Poly. If you are tired and/or want to shave 15 minutes off your walk this is a nice perk. PS - Don't forget to tip them.

 

[Lisa_Loves_Disney]

As someone who has stayed at the the Shades of Green over 20 times, I'd like to offer a tip. The bellhops outside the front of the Shades of Green have a golf cart. If they are slow, they are always willing (if you ask) to give guests a golf cart ride down to the main road where you cross the street to get to the Poly. If you are tired and/or want to shave 15 minutes off your walk this is a nice perk. PS - Don't forget to tip them.

thanks so much, I had heard that about the golf carts before, so glad you could confirm. that service is definitely worth a tip.

 

[Lisa_Loves_Disney]

We almost always walk to the Poly. We've used the SOG transportation to Hollywood Studios and AK a couple of times, but find it just as fast to walk to the Poly and use theirs, plus the WDW buses start running earlier than the SOG ones. For MK and Epcot, we walk to the TTC. The walk isn't that far, maybe 3/4 mile. We'll be at SOG in a couple of weeks also, but we're not going to the parks. We will, however, be eating dinner at the Grand Floridian and will be walking over to grab the monorail at the Poly.

SOG is great and we love staying there, but if you want to be at the parks prior to rope drop, then you might not want to use SOG transportation.

awesome, thanks so much. so how early would you recommend we leave the SOD if we wanted to get to MK (early) for an 8am RD? and DHS? I'm just nervous because I've never stayed there or used the Poly's transportation.

 

[wdwrich]

Other that the fact that Disney transportation starts up earlier in the mornings, one thing that is nice about SOG transportation is that it runs on a set schedule. You can plan around bus arrival/departure times rather than hoping a Disney bus comes before too long after you get to the bus stop.

 

[Lisa_Loves_Disney]

my question about walking to the Poly was answered, but I'm still unsure how early I should leave the SOG to walk over to the Poly to be at DHS for a 7 am RD for example? not worried about getting to my 2nd parks in the afternoon. just unsure of how early to leave for rope drop parks in the morning. I've only stayed at the Swan before. not used to any other transportation. also doing MK one morning RD at 8am. how early to leave to walk to TTC?

 

[Disneycouple99]

my question about walking to the Poly was answered, but I'm still unsure how early I should leave the SOG to walk over to the Poly to be at DHS for a 7 am RD for example? not worried about getting to my 2nd parks in the afternoon. just unsure of how early to leave for rope drop parks in the morning. I've only stayed at the Swan before. not used to any other transportation. also doing MK one morning RD at 8am. how early to leave to walk to TTC?

For HS, I would figure to be at the bus stop no later than 40 mins. before RD. First bus should arrive about an hour befor RD.
It should take about 15 mins. to get to poly. To get to MK I would walk to poly and take the resort monorail line to MK.

 

[joelkfla]

For HS, I would figure to be at the bus stop no later than 40 mins. before RD. First bus should arrive about an hour befor RD.
It should take about 15 mins. to get to poly. To get to MK I would walk to poly and take the resort monorail line to MK.

Actually, bus service from Disney resorts to the theme parks starts between 6:30-7:00. You might want to arrive at the stop 1 hour before RD to beat some of the crowds.

I agree about getting the Resort Monorail at Poly. At the TTC, the Express Monorail or Ferryboat may not be running early enough to get you to the MK in time for the Welcome Show, which starts about 20 minutes before RD. On Tuesdays and Fridays, the Resort Monorail may be opening at 8:30; if that's the case, buses will taking it's place starting at 7am.