From Dolphin to parks with small kids?

[casper_jj11]

We'll be staying at the Dolphin for the first time in August. We'll be with DS5, DD2 and DS11months. We'll have a rental car and always took the car to the parks when staying at ASMo. I'd like to use the boats and monorail this time if we can (buses are definitely out with 3 kids so small)
How long is the boatride to Epcot and MGM? How long to get back at night?
Where do the boats let you off in each park?
Are strollers allowed on the boats to MGM and Epcot? If so, can they stay open or do they need to be folded?
Is the walk to Epcot or MGM too far for the kiddos? We'll have a stroller for the baby but planned on renting a Disney stroller for DS5 and DD2.... should we get a double jogging stroller instead and take two strollers of our own to all parks?
How would you travel to MK? Taking the boat to Epcot then monorail to MK seems like a huge hassle with the kids.... and how do we get back at night if we decide to stay for fireworks on our last day (is it even possible?)

Thanks!
Joanne

 

[Colinsmom]

Staying at the Dolphin, the boat is a great transportation option, and so is the bus. Forget using the monorail as one of your major modes of transportation - it's worth a ride for the novelty, but it's not at all practical as one of your primary modes of transportation.

The boat ride is pretty short (10mins?) to MGM and Epcot. At MGM, you are let off at the main entrance, just opposite the bus stops. At Epcot, you are let off at the International Gateway. You can take strollers on the boats. When we did it a few years ago, they allowed the strollers to stay open, but not sure if that is the rule.

It is doable to walk to MGM and Epcot, but I wouldn't expect a 2yo to do it. A 5yo can probably swing it, though would probably prefer to hitch a piggyback ride in the evening when tired.

If you try to go to MK through Epcot, you'll wish you had just folded the stroller and taken the bus (which, FWIW, was my 22mo DS's favorite part of our Dec 2007 trip, far more so than the monorail, so don't discount it until you've tried it). You'd have to walk to Epcot or take the boat (entering at the International Gateway), go through security at Epcot, walk all the way to the front of Epcot, exit the park, board the monorail to the Ticket & Transportation Center, get off at the T&TC and change monorails (or board a boat) to go to MK, and then are let off outside the MK gate. Trust me, the bus will be MUCH faster, more direct and less exhausting. If you drive instead, you would park at the T&TC and take either the monorail or boat over to the MK.

Back to the bus, I don't see why it would be so difficult with three young kids. Your 5yo will be pretty self-sufficient, so just have one adult take each of the younger ones (the person with the 2yo can also take the stroller). Travel light (diaper bags and such), take a stroller that is easy to fold and carry, and you'll find it pretty manageable given the ages of your kids (where nothing is 100% easy).

 

[casper_jj11]

Thanks Colinsmom

We actually did the bus from ASMo on our first trip when DS was 4 and DD was 7months. We take breaks during the day and head back to the park in late afternoon and found it was a really long haul to take the bus 4x a day. Going there was fine but coming back in the evening was a nightmare. I'd love to take a lighter stroller but becuase DD was so young, like DS will be this trip, I wanted her to have a comfy padded stroller where she could nap in the morning if she wanted to. The second trip, we took the car and it worked great so I think we'll do that again. Great advice on avoiding the monorail.

Joanne

 

[tjmw2727]

Dolphin is our favorite resort - great location. Like pp's said you can just take the boat to MGM and Epcot - very easy. You can leave the stroller open but the child must come out and sit with you. There is stroller parking in the front and rear of the boat.

We loved the buses but if we have a rental car we would probably drive to AK and still take the bus to MK. When you drive to MK you still have to park at the TTC and then still take the boat or monorial to the MK. By taking the bus its a straight shot to MK with a drop off at the gates.

Have fun
TJ

 

[Safari Queen]

The boatride to Hollywood Studios will be very short -- about 5 minutes --as the Swan/Dolphin dock is the last stop before the park. For Epcot, you'll stop at BC/YC and BW first, so it's about 15-20 minutes.

 

[Colinsmom]

Thanks Colinsmom

We actually did the bus from ASMo on our first trip when DS was 4 and DD was 7months. We take breaks during the day and head back to the park in late afternoon and found it was a really long haul to take the bus 4x a day. Going there was fine but coming back in the evening was a nightmare. I'd love to take a lighter stroller but becuase DD was so young, like DS will be this trip, I wanted her to have a comfy padded stroller where she could nap in the morning if she wanted to. The second trip, we took the car and it worked great so I think we'll do that again. Great advice on avoiding the monorail.

Joanne

Here's how to get around taking the bus 4x a day: get park hopper passes. Go to MK in the morning via bus, and after you afternoon break, walk (or boat) over to MGM (DHS) or Epcot. On the day when you want to spend the evening in MK, go to Epcot or MGM/DHS in the morning. We loved the convenience of the Epcot resort area for this reason!