Getting from Buena Vista Palace to ESPN WWofS

[Bryanhoop]

Hi, we are staying at the Buena Vista Palace and will be travelling to the ESPN WWofS complex on three separate nights on our vacation. We would prefer not to drive since we will likely be partying and we just dislike driving in general. From what I can tell the fastest way to get there would be to walk across the street to downtown Disney and then catch a shuttle to either the All-star, Pop Century, or Caribbean beach resorts. Then we would take a shuttle from one of those resorts to ESPN and reverse the process on the way back.

Could anyone tell me which would be the fastest route (fewest stops) to take on this trek and approximately how long it could take? Of the resorts that shuttle to ESPN, which would be the best to transfer at? Also, it might be faster to walk to Saratoga and take the ferry to the far end downtown Disney, depending on the location of the shuttle depot at downtown Disney. Does anyone know on which side of the downtown Disney (east or west) the shuttles are located? We are active people and don't mind walking a mile or two if it would save us some time.

Any other hints you can share?

 

[vicki_c]

This is one situation when I would just spring for a cab. The other choices are too time consuming and complicated.

 

[joelkfla]

First of all, be aware that the buses to EWWS run only at times when events are scheduled. If you have reason to be there those nights, then I assume something's going on, and the buses will probably be running, but check to make sure. You can call 407-WDW-RIDE, or ask any Disney Transport bus driver, but not until the week you're interested in (Sun. thru Sat.)

Easiest transfer would be at Pop. When they're running, buses leave Pop every half hour at about :10 & :40, and arrive at EWWS about 15 minutes later. Buses depart EWWS on the hour & half-hour.

Travel time from DTD MarketPlace (the stop closer to BVP) to Pop should be about 25 minutes, but if you're traveling while Typhoon Lagoon is open it could be about 35 minutes. Buses run approximately every 20 minutes. Walk time from BVP to DTD MP (if you walk down the street to the crosswalks rather than jaywalking) is probably about 10 minutes.

So adding it all together, if you wanted to be at EWWS at 7 p.m., for example, you would want to be at Pop by 6:35, minus 55 minutes means you want to leave the hotel by 5:40. I would add another 10 minutes just in case there's a delay.

A taxi would be about $15 each way.

If you want to cut some time off but not pay the full taxi fare, you could take the bus from DTD to the Art of Animation resort, and get a cab from there. That taxi fare should be around $5.

 

[Bryanhoop]

Thanks for the info! The first game is at 9pm on the first night so we might try our hand at the buses the first time around. Any reason you would recommend going from DTD to Pop rather than the Art of Animation? Longer bus rides, less frequent service, etc.? Should we just grab the first bus that is departing to any of those locations (is it the same bus?) from DTD? If it's not real smooth the first night we'll start grabbing a taxi from the Art of Animation resort, at least on the way there.

 

[joelkfla]

Thanks for the info! The first game is at 9pm on the first night so we might try our hand at the buses the first time around. Any reason you would recommend going from DTD to Pop rather than the Art of Animation? Longer bus rides, less frequent service, etc.? Should we just grab the first bus that is departing to any of those locations (is it the same bus?) from DTD? If it's not real smooth the first night we'll start grabbing a taxi from the Art of Animation resort, at least on the way there.

The bus to EWWS does not pick up at Animation, just Pop & CBR Custom House. (A separate bus picks up at the All-Stars.)

OTOH, while Pop is close to EWWS, Animation is closer, so the taxi fare would be less. Difference in travel time to either resort is negligible.