Fort Wilderness to MK for an early breakfast ADR

[cindy81]

So this sort of question has been asked a lot but not exactly this question (at least I didn't find it) so sorry if it's been answered.

We are checking into FW the same day we are going to MK. We have an 8:10am pre park opening ADR at CP that we need to get to. I'm planning on checking in around 7am over at FW but need to decide if we should drive or take the boat or bus over to MK.

I would love to take the boat over but do they run that early or would it be cutting it too close? I can't get consistent answers out of the CMs when I call so I'm not sure what to do. I would love to hear from someone who has done this before.

 

[RubySue]

I'm not certain (we never went to MK that early when staying at FW), but the info that I can find says the boats begin running 30 minutes before park opening.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/transportation/water.htm

 

[goofy4tink]

To the best of my knowledge, the boats start running up to an hour prior to park opening. BUT....in your case, you are probably going to be better off driving. It's just not worth the stress of worrying about getting there in time. There is also a bus, that probably starts running by 6:30...but again, much safer to just drive the car.

 

[cindy81]

Thanks for the info! We're so excited for our first trip.

 

[joelkfla]

Even driving, I think you are cutting it close. It could easily take an hour to get to the restaurant.

First, you cannot get into the MK parking lot from the road that passes FtW. There are 2 options:

1. Turn right out of FtW and drive a complete circle around the perimeter of the MK parking lot to get to it's entrance. After you leave FtW, the road will turn right along the east edge of the parking lot. At the traffic signal, turn left towards the Poly on 7 Seas Dr. After passing the Poly, keep left. When you reach the Hess gas station, look for a left turn marked with a handicapped sign and something like "Return to MK Parking"; it's just before you pass the toll booth. If you miss it, there is a U-turn a mile or so past the toll booth, before the Epcot bridge. *** OR ***
2. Turn left out of FtW. Turn right at the first traffic signal; this will take you past the Pet Care Center and the Port Orleans Resorts. Turn right again at the next traffic signal onto Epcot Center Dr.; I think the sign says just "Theme Parks." Get into the left lane on Epcot Center Dr., as the 2 right lanes go directly to Epcot. After the Epcot entrance separates, another lane will come in from the right; move right into this lane and exit towards the MK parking lot.

I think either option will take at least 15 minutes. Then allow another 10 to park the car and walk to the Monorail. The only thing running at that hour likely will be the Resort Monorail, which will be stopping at Poly & GF before getting to MK, so about 15 minutes wait-and-travel time, and finally the walk thru the gate and up Main Street to the CP.

FYI, boats to MK start running 30 minutes before park opening. There is a boat to CR that starts at 6:45, but you would first need to take a bus from the check-in area (or your campsite/cabin) to the Settlement where the boat dock is located. You could walk from the CR boat dock to MK main gate in about 15 minutes. We're probably talking an hour or so total, here, just to MK gate.