? for "off site" pros - need a "what to expect"

[2BEKs]

Hello!

We are doing our first trip to WDW in August and are staying off site. We will be at the Country Inn & Suites Buena Vista. Apparently this is only 1 mile from DTD and runs shuttles to all 4 parks, etc.

We have early am ADRs at both the MK and AK (08:05) so I have questions:

- how much time should we give ourselves to get from the hotel to each park for the breakfast? is traffic insane that early in the am from DTD area to the parks?

- should I count on the shuttle or plan to take a taxi?


And - one more question if I can.

We have military vouchers that we will redeem at the park for our tickets. since we have reservations the 1st day at Ohana, will we need to:

1 - go to Ohana breakfast
2 - get back to WDW main gate and exchange the vouchers / get tix

or is there somewhere near/around/in Polly where we can get the tix and then go into MK after breakfast?


Thanks!

 

[crazelion]

I would a rent car if I was staying offsite.

 

[Upatnoon]

I would cab it to Saratoga Springs and take the Disney bus from there for MK and AK. DTD does not have service to the Disney parks, only to resorts.

The Disney bus from Saratoga Springs starts running 1 hour before MK and AK open and will drop you off at the Magic Kingdom front gate. The non-Disney busses to MK stop at the Ticket and Transporation Center, where you then have to take a boat or monorail to the Magic Kingdom.

Getting from Ohana to the MK is easy, its on the Monorail line. The simplest solution is just take the cab to Ohana, eat breakfast, then get your tickets. The cab ride to Ohana will be much more than to Saratoga Springs.

If your breakfast at Ohana is later, say 10 a.m., you take the DTD bus there. I think they start running to the resorts around 8:30.

 

[FLDisneyFan]

Enjoy your trip to Disney!

 

[Brian Noble]

should I count on the shuttle or plan to take a taxi?

I would do neither.

You already have to pay to get from the airport, to your hotel, and back. At that point, the modest additional expense of a rental car and theme park parking will be well worth the convenience in return.

I love staying offsite, and save a lot of money vs. comparable onsite lodging. But, I would never, ever do it without a car.

 

[2BEKs]

I would do neither.

You already have to pay to get from the airport, to your hotel, and back. At that point, the modest additional expense of a rental car and theme park parking will be well worth the convenience in return.

I love staying offsite, and save a lot of money vs. comparable onsite lodging. But, I would never, ever do it without a car.

we actually have a car - as we're meeting FL family.

I can look into the parking fees -- but just figured that since the hotel is so close, that we would be able to use the shuttles/etc and not have to worry about the car.

Thanks - - I'll do some more digging.

 

[JoShan1719]

Dh and I always stay off site. On the days you have the early ADR's I'd suggest just paying for parking, then you're in control of how early you get to the park without worrying about shuttle times. On the other days you can save the $$ since you can afford to run behind a bit. GL!

 

[2BEKs]

Thanks!

Can I ask a potentially stupid question? I THOUGHT that the "in Disney" transportation was free to every guest of the PARK and not only the resorll t guests.

can we (as off site stayers) still use the monorail, busses, boats, etc. to get from park to resorts (for ADRs) and from park to park?

Everywhere I look on the WDW site, it says free for GUESTS of the resort - and I just don't want to assume that means PARK guests too.

Thanks!!!

PS - anyone know off hand what it costs to park at the various resorts?

 

[JoShan1719]

A. Can we (as off site stayers) still use the monorail, busses, boats, etc. to get from park to resorts (for ADRs) and from park to park?

B. anyone know off hand what it costs to park at the various resorts?

A. Yes, you can still use all of those methods to travel once you are within the world.

B. As far as I know you can't pay to park at the resorts. You can only park there if you're eating at one of the restaurants or actually staying at the resort.

 

[2BEKs]

awesome awesome!

ok - and it's $14/day to park at the parks - yes?

hmmmmm.... good info indeed!

THANKs everyone!!!

 

[JoShan1719]

Yup, $14