getting the ferry to MK?

[Sundancer UK]

It's been recommended to me to get the ferry to the Magic Kingdom for the first time we go, I was wondering if anyone could tell me how we'd do this from the All Stars Music resort?

We're going to be getting in late anyway, so I figured it wont matter too much if it's not the fastest way in - I just want to make that first impression truly magical

 

[Robo]

It's been recommended to me to get the ferry to the Magic Kingdom for the first time we go, I was wondering if anyone could tell me how we'd do this from the All Stars Music resort?

We're going to be getting in late anyway, so I figured it wont matter too much if it's not the fastest way in - I just want to make that first impression truly magical

You can't easily do that.
There are a couple of ways, but you will be wasting a lot of time doing them.

Likely the best method-

From All Star, take the bus to Epcot.
Walk from the Epcot bus (#3 on top map below) lot to the Epcot monorail station (#1 on top map.)
Board the monorail at Epcot.
That train will take you to TTC (MK's parking lot and non-resort guest entrance.)
Exit the monorail and walk down to the ferry boat loading dock.
Wait for the next ferry, board it and ride to the MK.

 

[OandA]

It will probably add about an hour to your transportation time because you would have to take the bus to probably Downtown Disney, then find a bus there to take you to the Polynesian or Grand Floridian Resorts then take the ferry from there to Magic Kingdom..

Or you could just take the bus from your resort to Magic Kingdom.

That being said I really don't think it's worth the time or really that magical at all.

 

[laughinplace199]

I wouldn't bother with the ferry to get to the MK. There's nothing all that special about it. If you're relying on Disney transportation, I'd just take the bus from your resort to MK. If you have a car, you can drive to the TTC and then either take the ferry or the monorail to MK.

 

[Robo]

...the Polynesian or Grand Floridian Resorts then take the ferry from there to Magic Kingdom.

The little boats that shuttle between GF the Poly and MK are not likely the "Ferry" that the OP has been told to take.
(Although they are very nice and a lot of fun, in their own right.)


The little Shuttle Boat from MK to Grand Floridian and then the Poly.
MK>GF>Poly>MK Shuttle Boat-(Photo: Brian Bennett)

A Ferry Boat - MK / TTC "MK Ferry"

 

[LisaTC]

EDIT: I see while I was posting this you got the same answer as below!

You could take the bus from ASM to Epcot, then Monorail to Transportation & Ticket Center, then transfer to Boat to Magic Kingdom® Park, but you could only do this if you have park hoppers and it would take over an hour and the bus directly to MK from ASM would take around 30 minutes give or take. However, this does give you what you want, albeit more time consuming and not as easy.

Somebody else may be a better/more expedient way to get to the ferry. This is just what I found.

 

[plutolovr]

EDIT: I see while I was posting this you got the same answer as below!

You could take the bus from ASM to Epcot, then Monorail to Transportation & Ticket Center, then transfer to Boat to Magic Kingdom® Park, but you could only do this if you have park hoppers and it would take over an hour and the bus directly to MK from ASM would take around 30 minutes give or take. However, this does give you what you want, albeit more time consuming and not as easy.

Somebody else may be a better/more expedient way to get to the ferry. This is just what I found.

You DON'T need hoppers to do this. The monorail station at Epcot is outside of the gates.

 

[princessjodiebo]

i want to do the same as i saw the castle from the ferry the first time i went and it was amazing !

seeing as its going to be a one off i am just going to jump in a cab

we have 3 other days to do rope drop so i will use buses then

 

[wings91]

It is a lot of work to get to the TTC from ASM, but in my opinion, seeing Cinderella Castle come into view as your crossing Seven Seas Lagoon is priceless for the first timer.

 

[buffettgirl]

why not take the bus to MK directly, take the monorail to TTC and then hop back on the ferry to get back to MK. Just so you can see the MK from the Ferry. Sure it's wasted travel but if it's something you want to do, then go ahead and do it. I personally find the ferry ride run and we always take great pictures on the ferry, and we try to do it at least once.

Vacations are supposed to be about what you want to do, not what everyone else thinks you should do.

 

[chartle]

Vacations are supposed to be about what you want to do, not what everyone else thinks you should do.

This has been brought up before, and its going to a major hassle.

Yes I guess you can take a taxi to the TTC, but the normal procedure to get the MK in a taxi is to go to the Contemporary and walk over so expect some odd looks from the driver.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Hmm, so general consensus is not to bother then?

It's true, I don't want to be spending aaaages traveling - we'll have already done about 11 hours at this point! But at the same time, we're not due to get there until the evening so we wont be touring, but we have park hoppers from that day on so might as well see something!
I was hoping to go to MK for Wishes on our first night. As a first timer I have no idea *at all* of the layout of things - I'm slowly getting my head around some of it thanks to lots of hanging around here and checking out maps, but it's still quite disjointed.

I would love to see the castle from the ferry as our first experience, but if it's really not worth the hassle then the rest of my family wont enjoy it either.

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate your input

 

[Sundancer UK]

I should add that as there's 6 of us, with a baby requiring a car seat we're unlikely to bring, a taxi for this is probably out of the question.

It can be skipped though, I just thought it would be a nice start

 

[mesaboy2]

OP you are welcome to arrive at the MK however you like, of course. However, as PPs have said you may not find it worth your while once you understand the specifics.

If you were to drive to MK and park in the parking lot, you would actually be parking at the Ticket & Transportation Center (TTC), which is across a lake from the MK. You could then take either the ferry or monorail to get to the other side of the lake and the gates of MK.

However, all on-site Disney guests have the option of taking a free bus from their resort to any park. In the case of MK, those buses drop you off almost right by the gates to MK, thereby bypassing the TTC and dealing with the lake via ferry/monorail.

Please exercise your rights to free thought and free will to do as you please.

 

[chartle]

I was hoping to go to MK for Wishes on our first night. As a first timer I have no idea *at all* of the layout of things - I'm slowly getting my head around some of it thanks to lots of hanging around here and checking out maps, but it's still quite disjointed.

If you have never stayed off site or driven to the MK parking lot(or never been at all) you may not realize that the ferry is primarily used by people to transport them from that lot. Also people who are hopping from other parks.

Its not a normal transportation option that everyone uses. Disney wants to get you to the park as quickly and as efficiently as possible so you take a bus to the front of the park.

As to not go out of your way if you are at Epcot and want to hop to MK, thats the time to take the ferry.

 

[Sundancer UK]

Thanks, I guess we'll bus it We're happy enough with that!

 

[chrisw127]

It is a lot of work to get to the TTC from ASM, but in my opinion, seeing Cinderella Castle come into view as your crossing Seven Seas Lagoon is priceless for the first timer.

I agree. If you have the time to spare, take the longer route to the TTC and then take the ferry. And I have to respectfully disagree about the ferry ride not being anything special--the ferry ride from the TTC to the MK actually sets the stage for what's to come and adds to your anticipation. It's one of my best memories of my first visit to the MK.

 

[buffettgirl]

I agree. If you have the time to spare, take the longer route to the TTC and then take the ferry. And I have to respectfully disagree about the ferry ride not being anything special--the ferry ride from the TTC to the MK actually sets the stage for what's to come and adds to your anticipation. It's one of my best memories of my first visit to the MK.

Yep. I completely agree.

We don't use this method to get to MK in a hurry, we use this method to SEE the Castle from a totally different viewpoint.

Again, not every aspect of your vacation has to be planned for maximum efficiency. Some of it can be done just for pure joy.

 

[larryz]

If you have a car, you can drive to the TTC and then either take the ferry or the monorail to MK.

This.

Or take the park bus to Epcot, catch the monorail to the TTC, then take the ferry from there.

Don't let the detractors dissuade you from traveling any way you want. One of our favorite arrivals at Epcot is via Monorail -- we enjoy the circular trip through FutureWorld, and make a point to do it at least once per trip. Staying at WL, we could have taken a bus right to the park... instead, we took the boat to CR, caught the Monorail to the TTC, then transferred to the Epcot monorail for the ride to the park. Was it the quickest? Not by a long shot. But it was fun for us.

 

[POOHsie]

One morning we parked for MK at TTC and headed for the Ferry. It wasn't open yet and we were directed to the monorail. Anyone know when the MK ferry starts service in the am? If OP arrives by some circuitous route to take the ferry, no need for disappointment.