Getting to Hoop De Doo?

[4407mark]

I've searched this forum and I think I understand - just looking for confirmation. We have PS for HDDDR at 5 pm on June 9. As I see it, we have a few options for getting there depending on where we are:

1) drive to Ft. Wilderness and take bus to Pioneer Hall (allow travel time to PH and we're supposed to be there 30 mins prior to show)

2) Get to the MK and take boat from MK to Ft. Wilderness. Understand the same boat runs MK-FW-WL and we could take the same boat back to MK after HDD

I'm sure there may be others (bus, etc) but I think we'll either be leaving from the Boardwalk or from the MK. My question is if we take the boat from MK, how much time do we need to allow in order to get to PH 30 mins prior to show time? How far is the walk from the dock to PH at FW? We've got a party of 9 and I'm not sure it we'll all be coming from the same place or not.

Thanks for your help!!!

Mark

 

[01Sweetpea]

From Boardwalk, get to either MGM or Epcot, and take the bus to Ft. Wilderness, then transfer to the Settlement Depot buses which will take you to Pioneer Hall.

From MK, take the boat to Ft. Wilderness, the walk from the pier to Pioneer Hall is 10 minutes at best. I've never stayed at Ft. Wilderness, but when we went to HDDR the boat drivers were saying the last boat run to MK is around 7pm when the park closes at 7pm.

We were staying at POR when we went to HDDR, and we finsihed dinner there were a ton of busses each going to the different resorts, and had no problem getting back to POR!

HDDR was wonderful, have a great time.

 

[SB in KY]

the boat ride from MK won't take more than 15 minutes (for the ride itself), and the walk from the dock is short...2 to 3 minutes. If you are lined up at the MK boat dock by a few minutes before 4 you should be at Pioneer by 4:30. (even if you have to wait on the boat)

I would allow at least an hour to drive... the drive to Ft Wilderness would be a good 10 to 12 minutes...assuming you don't miss the turn ...which is easy to do... then parking can be a problem (although it might not be too bad for the first show), then it is wait for a Settlement bus going in the right direction (bus ride is another 10 minutes or so) and then a slightly longer walk from the drop off to Pioneer (still not a bad walk though)

You might not need the full hour for driving...but I would leave it to be safe (there are LOTS of ways to get messed up when driving over there I think!). They have made improvements in the unwieldy Ft Wilderness bus system, but it is still kind of cumbersome.

You might be better off taking the bus from your hotel to the MK and then everyone could meet up there and hop on the boat.

 

[SB in KY]

the boat ride from MK won't take more than 15 minutes (for the ride itself), and the walk from the dock is short...2 to 3 minutes. If you are lined up at the MK boat dock by a few minutes before 4 you should be at Pioneer by 4:30. (even if you have to wait on the boat)

I would allow at least an hour to drive... the drive to Ft Wilderness would be a good 10 to 12 minutes...assuming you don't miss the turn ...which is easy to do... then parking can be a problem (although it might not be too bad for the first show), then it is wait for a Settlement bus going in the right direction (bus ride is another 10 minutes or so) and then a slightly longer walk from the drop off to Pioneer (still not a bad walk though)

You might not need the full hour for driving...but I would leave it to be safe (there are LOTS of ways to get messed up when driving over there I think!). They have made improvements in the unwieldy Ft Wilderness bus system, but it is still kind of cumbersome.

You might be better off taking the bus from your hotel to the MK and then everyone could meet up there and hop on the boat.

 

[4407mark]

Thanks Sweetpea and SB! That's what I needed to know!

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by 01Sweetpea
From Boardwalk, get to either MGM or Epcot, and take the bus to Ft. Wilderness, then transfer to the Settlement Depot buses which will take you to Pioneer Hall....

The MGM bus to FW stops right at the Settlement Depot. No transfer is required. The Epcot bus stops at the Outpost Depot requiring a transfer to an internal bus.

 

[BCV23]

If you will be in the MK another option is to drive to the MK parking lot (TTC) when you start your day. From the MK, take the boat. After the show, catch a bus to the TTC from Pioneer Hall and pick up your car.

If you're driving from the BW, don't be afraid. It is really pretty simple. Drive as if you're going to the MK. Right after the parking tollbooths, you'll want to take a right turn so be sure to go to a tollbooth on the right side. Take that right and perhaps 3/4 to a mile down the road you'll come to the entrance for FW(on the left). You can park and take the bus for Pioneer Hall.

Have fun!

 

[4407mark]

More great ideas and options! Thanks GoldenOldie and BCV23 - I know I've driven to FW before and I don't remember it being a real long drive from BW. I think we'll probably wind up taking the boat from MK but there's plenty of time for those plans to change!
Thank you!

 

[dorisdvu]

Originally posted by GoldenOldie
The MGM bus to FW stops right at the Settlement Depot. No transfer is required. The Epcot bus stops at the Outpost Depot requiring a transfer to an internal bus.

How long does it take to get from the Dolphin to MGM and MGM bus to FW and FW to HDDR? Also, I have PS for 7:15 show on Sunday, will I have any problems getting back to the Dolphin? How late do the buses run? Is is better to use WDW transportation or drive?