Getting around at the parks

[1of6]

Quick question... well maybe not that quick. We will be there next week for our first visit. Staying at Pop and have 2 different breakfast ressies during our stay. One at Ohana's and ond one at AK (Donald's Resturantasourus) both are around 8:30. My mom will be with us and has a van. Does it make more sence to drive for these 2 things (and also a ressie in DTD) or just hop the bus? When I made the ressie in DTD they said to leave 1 hour for travel time. Really?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

It might make more sense to drive to Ohana. To get to the Poly from Pop will require a transfer at one of the parks (no resort-to-resort bus service), and they will give you a 3 hour pass to park at the Poly while you eat.

For Donald's, you should be able to make it there using the AK bus. There's also a character meal shuttle, but I've never taken that. Someone else here should have more info on that, or you could try searching the Transportation Board for "character shuttle".

Travel time for DTD depends on time of day and where you're travelling from. If you're leaving one of the parks at a busy dinner time, there may be a wait for the buses, allowing an hour might be a good idea. If you're at Epcot, you could always go out the International Gateway to one of the Epcot resorts and take their bus to DTD. That might be faster and a little less crowded.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

Definitely do NOT drive to Donald's for breakfast. The parking lot normally does not allow cars to enter until shortly before park opening. There have been many horror stories posted about people trying to drive to Donald's and having to wait at the gates. Only Disney buses are allowed in early. As noted, Disney does run early breakfast buses which start at 6:30am for the Magic Kingdom and 7:00am for the rest of the WDW areas. Please do not listen to any transportation advice from any Cast Members. For some reasons only the Disney bus drivers understand how WDW transportation works.
You cannot get a bus to Downtown Disney from any of the theme parks. The buses to DTD run only from the Disney resorts. The previous poster had a good idea about using the International Gateway of Epcot. This is near the United Kingdom and if you exit from there the walk to the Beach Club is about five minutes (the resort will be on your right). You just walk through the lobby and out the main entrance to the bus station.
You can also use any of the Magic Kingdom resorts to get a bus to DTD. You can walk to the Contemporary in about seven minutes. The bus station is right outside as you approach the resort. You can also monorail over to any of the MK resorts and get a bus to DTD from there.

 

[1of6]

Thanks. I'm hoping that it will all make sence once we are there.