Getting to Epcot early?

[kataEbi]

Taking the Future World tour. It starts at 8:30 and everyone so far has been pretty adamant about being there before 8:15.

Best way to make sure we're there before then?

We're on property, but if busses aren't running til 8:15.. that doesn't seem like a safe bet.

What to expect if we drive over and park at Epcot?

 

[Capang]

You could drive but buses start running pretty early, usually well before park opening. I would check with your resort when you check in. You might be surprised how early buses start.

 

[Number Six]

First buses start about 6:30

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Don't bother asking at the resort when the buses start. They will repeat the false "one hour before park opening" line. It's much earlier. How do you think all those folks with 8 a.m. breakfast reservations get there?

 

[CAS239]

You can take a bus from your resort and be there well before 8:15

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We drive just to be sure but the resort bus does start running about 1.5 hours before park opening and sometimes earlier but also depending on your resort it could be crowded and that's why we started driving ourselves.

 

[Robo]

- the resort bus does start running about 1.5 hours before park opening and sometimes earlier...

Sorry, but that is incorrect information.
Misinformation about buses starting an hour (or 90 min.) before "the park opens"
is listed and repeated so often that it has become a "Disney Legend."
(Its even listed incorrectly on the WDW website.)

The bus' starting time, in general, is not dependent on what time "the park opens."
The buses generally start their runs between 6:00-6:30 AM every day of the year.

 

[bffdisney]

One thing to keep in mind is they run less frequently that early, so you may have to wait. But in my experience they don't wait for it to fill up either, so its get on and go to the park.

 

[Alesia]

We drive just to be sure but the resort bus does start running about 1.5 hours before park opening and sometimes earlier but also depending on your resort it could be crowded and that's why we started driving ourselves.

Buses are always running by about 6:30. I have been on plenty of early buses - none of them have been crowded.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Like I said all depends on your resort. Pop Century was a nightmare with crowded buses before park opening and that is the resort that got us to start driving. 2.5 weeks ago the Fort was better but I assumed it was because they had more people with cars and we were also not in a hurry. 3 weeks ago Contemporary was not crowded but we did have to wait for the second bus. 2 weeks ago Coronado was so bad we went straight to our car.

 

[VACamm]

If you're worried, you can always catch a cab! This past September, we took cabs 2 times to get to dinner reservations. Each ride was about $12 or so.

 

[Number Six]

Like I said all depends on your resort. Pop Century was a nightmare with crowded buses before park opening and that is the resort that got us to start driving. 2.5 weeks ago the Fort was better but I assumed it was because they had more people with cars and we were also not in a hurry. 3 weeks ago Contemporary was not crowded but we did have to wait for the second bus. 2 weeks ago Coronado was so bad we went straight to our car.

Buses to all resorts start about 6:30, nothing to do with park open or resort.

 

[Angry Duck]

Check to see if the busses have started up when your leaving. If not take a cab to get there. I would much rather pay $10 to a taxi then drive myself on vacation!

 

[Robo]

Check to see if the busses have started up when your leaving. If not take a cab to get there. I would much rather pay $10 to a taxi then drive myself on vacation!

How would a guest know if the buses have started up?

Regardless, as has been stated here by many experienced posters, the buses DO "start up" between 6:00 and 6:30AM...
every day of the year.

 

[abarriger]

We had an 8 am reservation at Epcot a few months ago. Like you, I was nervous about whether the bus would realy come-- so I got at the stop a little past 7. I figured if there was no bus by 7:35 or so, I would Uber, and had the app ready. A bus came within 10 minutes. I was plenty early.

 

[WEDWDW]

Buses start running "AROUND" 6:30 AM.

First Bus for Magic Kingdom "usually" starts before 6:30 AM and First Bus for the other 3 Parks "usually" starts sometime after 6:30 AM.

Here are First Bus Times for one Morning during my Pop Century Holiday last week.


First Bus Time for Magic Kingdom.

Second Bus Time for MK and First Bus Time for DHS.

Third Bus Time for MK;Second Bus Time for DHS;First Bus Time for DAK and Epcot.

 

[kataEbi]

Thanks everyone for your input. We took the "bus but Uber as backup" approach.

Got to the bus stop around 7am.
Watched a couple HS busses go by, but the first Epcot showed at 7:25. Got us there in plenty of time.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Angry Duck]

How would a guest know if the buses have started up?

Go the bus stop and see if there is a arrival time on the board.

 

[mountdew1]

Go the bus stop and see if there is a arrival time on the board.

Except the arrival boards are still inaccurate at best, and useless at worst. Last trip, sat at the stop waiting for a bus. When we got there board said the bus would arrive in 5 mins. Kept watching the board, and each minute when the display clock changed, the arrival time added a minute as well. So after waiting 15 mins, it still said the bus would be there in 5 mins. Another day all the bus arrival times were about 12 hours off. They kept updating periodcally, but to what, and for what I have no idea as they didn't reflect anything real. Even the transportation CM waiting around to monitor buses was joking about it.

Having spent many mornings doing pre-park day runs at resorts, yes, the buses are most definitely out and running by about 6:30. They may not be as frequent, but they definitely are running. Usually have plenty of seats on them til about 7:15-7:30 or so too.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Except the arrival boards are still inaccurate at best, and useless at worst. Last trip, sat at the stop waiting for a bus. When we got there board said the bus would arrive in 5 mins. Kept watching the board, and each minute when the display clock changed, the arrival time added a minute as well. So after waiting 15 mins, it still said the bus would be there in 5 mins. Another day all the bus arrival times were about 12 hours off. They kept updating periodcally, but to what, and for what I have no idea as they didn't reflect anything real. Even the transportation CM waiting around to monitor buses was joking about it.

Having spent many mornings doing pre-park day runs at resorts, yes, the buses are most definitely out and running by about 6:30. They may not be as frequent, but they definitely are running. Usually have plenty of seats on them til about 7:15-7:30 or so too.

Yes, the times change. I think they can change based on various factors. Like if the bus is at a stop and there are people in wheelchairs. That can change the timing.