getting from DHS to Boardwalk to AK

[KyGirl]

For our trip in January, I have a morning planned at DHS followed by an evening at AK.

I was thinking about stopping at the Boardwalk for a casual lunch, either at Big River Grille or the Boardwalk Bakery. In all honesty, what I'm angling for here is a stop at Ample Hills Creamery... But as I'm planning for my five year old DD and "older" parents, I suppose I should play the responsible card and actually provide a lunch plan other than ice cream.

Anyway, we will be driving to the parks (from Fort Wilderness) because my husband abhors the Disney buses. So for an actual question, what do you think is the best plan as far as transportation? Should we leave the truck in the DHS lot and take a boat to Boardwalk and back and then drive to AK? Or just drive from DHS to BW then on to AK? Could we park for free for a few hours at the Boardwalk anyway? Or I think we could leave the car and walk. I'm trying to decide what would be easiest and quickest.

Also, I know none of the options are a must do but if you were looking for a quiet simple lunch outside of the parks, which restaurant would you choose on the Boardwalk?

On a related note, I also considered Beaches and Cream but I just hatched this plan like a month ago and haven't been able to get a lunch ADR at any time. Which is fine. I know it's a small place.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[rwdavis2]

Boardwalk parking can be hit or miss. There is not a lot of it and the last time we stayed there they were checking to see if you were staying there before they let you in the self-park lots. You can always valet. For lunch I'd do Big River. The walk from DHS is about 15 minutes one way. If the boats at DHS take that instead of walking.

 

[piglet1979]

We have only used Disney transportation but if you are driving I think the fastest would to drive to all the places. The easiest would be to take the boat to Boardwalk and then a bus to AK. It will take up a lot of time to take a boat to Boardwalk then back to DHS and then drive to AK.

We ate at Trattoria al Forno on our last trip and really liked it. My kids also really liked it.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Or just drive from DHS to BW then on to AK?

I would choose this option because the boat can take some time to/from the Boardwalk. Just tell Security you’re having lunch and then ice cream at Ample Hills - great decision!

We’ve always enjoyed Captain’s Grille which is now Ale and Compass. If you do book an ADR, just show that to Security.

If you decide to park at BWI, there is overflow parking, if necessary, across the street where you may be directed to park. For Yacht Club/Beach Club, we sometimes have been directed to park in the YC Convention area lot - we’ve never been told we had to Valet Park.

 

[chris benton]

Here's what I'd do:
If you're planning on using the DP, then take the boat to the BW, or one of the restaurants at BWI or Beach/Yacht.
After your meal, DEFINITELY get Ample Hills, and then wait for the boat while you are enjoying your ice cream.
Take the boat back to DHS, drive to AK.

If you are not planning on using the DP,
Take the boat to Swan/Dolphin, (It's the first stop) eat there. (Quiet, good, well priced. Picabu, The Fountain)
Walk over to Ample HIlls - (it'll be 5 minutes) Yes, The Fountain at Dolphin is kind of an "Ice Cream Joint" of sorts, but Ample Hills ice cream is THE TRUTH.
Wait for the boat while you are enjoying your ice cream.
Take the boat back to DHS, drive to AK.

I would try to save my steps for AK by using the boat between DHS and the Epcot Area Resorts/BW. You can walk faster or just as fast as the boat, but I think saving those steps might make a difference.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Hmm. This is a tough call, partly because the parking at BWI is a long, long way from the boardwalk. I think you will spend almost as much time driving from DHS to BWI as you would walking from DHS to BWI and back to get your car at DHS. I would lean toward only moving the car once. But either way, ice cream will help

As far as using Disney translation, I really do understand your husband's issue. But to us, a mulitiple park day with a resort visit is the ideal day to use Disney transportation. Especially if you are not ending with the mad rush of fireworks park closing (and the long bus waits they cause). Leaving AK at night is MUCH less stressful than leaving MK.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Hmm. This is a tough call, partly because the parking at BWI is a long, long way from the boardwalk. I think you will spend almost as much time driving from DHS to BWI as you would walking from DHS to BWI and back to get your car at DHS. I would lean toward only moving the car once. But either way, ice cream will help

As far as using Disney translation, I really do understand your husband's issue. But to us, a mulitiple park day with a resort visit is the ideal day to use Disney transportation. Especially if you are not ending with the mad rush of fireworks park closing (and the long bus waits they cause). Leaving AK at night is MUCH less stressful than leaving MK.

I have to agree with this. I, too, abhor the Disney buses and avoid them at all costs (meaning, we take uber/lyft a lot!), but, in this case, your choice is really taking the bus and simply busing to DHS, walking/boating to BWI, busing to AK and then back to Ft. W OR having to deal with moving a car all day long. If you still decide to drive I would probably park at DHS, walk to BWI or take the boat and get off at Swan/Dolphin and then walk to BWI (otherwise BWI is the last stop and it feels like it takes FOREVER) have your lunch and ice cream (yeah, I get it. Ample Hills has it's own spot on our first night's itinerary!) (BTW, if the weather is nice and you can find a table, I would go to Boardwalk Bakery - they have good sandwiches and salads and you can also get pizza slices right next door). Big River Grille is just ok, IMHO. Then, walk back to BWI (or boat) and drive to AK from there. It's going to take up a chunk of your day, but moving the car may end up being a royal pain.

 

[Alesia]

I would either find a more convenient place to eat lunch or tell DH to suck it up and take the bus.

If you really want to keep your plan as it is, be aware that all of that driving around is going to time consuming and really inconvenient

 

[bizeemom4]

I’d take the bus to Studios, boat or walk to boardwalk and bus to AK. Sorry

 

[Indio]

I'd tell DH to suck it up as PP said and take Disney Transportation. So much easier than driving all those places. Especially with the construction going on around DHS right now. Might be a bigger hassle than the buses...

 

[georgina]

We don't use Disney transportation to the parks either! I second the recommendation to take the boat to Swan/Dolphin dock and eat lunch at the Fountain! You could get ice cream there, or walk across the bridge and along the Boardwalk to Ample Hills after. Then just go back to DHS and drive to AK.

We were there in October, and do not find driving to be a hassle at all.

 

[kniquy]

I think in this scenario it would be best to use the bus service. When traveling between parks and resorts you will likely still spend a good amount of time walking to and from the parking lots. THis way you can just head off to HS, boat to boardwalk unless you feel like walking, the bus to AK. Another option would be to bus to animal kingdom lodge. The Mara is suppose to be a great quick service or you could book Boma or Sanaa and get to watch the animals. This would put you with a quick bus ride to AK park

 

[KyGirl]

Thanks for all the insight. It's definitely given me food for thought and
I appreciate it!

We used buses exclusively before we had our daughter, even though we always had a car with us. Since adding her, a stroller, and a backpack to the mix, we've found driving to be much easier than the buses. Last time we went we even drove to the MK, which we'd previously always bussed to. Driving for us has never been as much of a hassle as the buses. We've had a few pretty rough experiences on those buses so maybe we just don't have good luck there. I blamed my husband as a half joke in my original post. He definitely hates the buses but nobody else in our family is particularly fond of them. He would do whatever I told him we needed to do for our plans. I'm just trying to figure out what would work best for our group. We're in that window of time where I'm obsessing over those tiny details.

Also, we visit during low crowds (end of January) so traffic isn't bad and we can often park close enough to the front of parks that we don't even need to use the trams. If we do, it seems that Disney has pretty much perfected the parking/tram process, unlike the buses. And one more thing, we typically stay at OKW and this time we're taking our camper to FW. At both of these places you can park your car steps away from your villa/site. It is AWESOME after a long day to not have to traipse across a huge resort to get to your bed!

The bus decision really is one of those "to each their own" things!