Getting to the parks before ropedrop?

[ShellieR]

We will be at the fort in Jan. and I was wondering if there is anything I need to know about getting to the parks before rope drop. We will be using the buses/boat. Also we will be staying at the parks until they close. Some of the parks close at 9pm. If I'm not able to catch a bus or boat until 9:45 because of the crowds will that be a problem? Will there always be a bus/boat going to FW even after 10pm?

 

[clkelley]

For Magic Kingdom rope drop, the best thing to do is take the small boat to the Contemporary then walk to the Magic Kingdom. The small boat starts at 6:45 am every day!!

The larger boat starts about 30 minutes before park opening. By that time many folks are ahead of you at rope drop.

To get to the other parks, simply take a bus out to the outpost.

There will be buses going to all of the other parks from the Outpost bus stop starting at around 7am or earlier.

 

[5stljayhawks]

I prefer the Pirates of the Caribbean travel choice. First the entire family dresses in pirate costumes, second you stagger to the marina with guns drawn, then commandeer the vessel of your choice and go when it best suits you!!! ARRWWRRRRRRR

 

[rebelstand]

Another question on transpo... I think I read somewhere that you could take the boat to MK then hope the monorail to EPCOT is this true?

 

[gillenkl]

Another question on transpo... I think I read somewhere that you could take the boat to MK then hope the monorail to EPCOT is this true?

Boat to the Contemporary, Monorail from Contemporary to Ticket/Transportation Center, get off here and get on the Monorail to Epcot

or take a bus to Epcot directly from the Fort (to me the easiest method)

or Boat to MK, Monorail to Ticket/Transportation Center, get off here and get on the Monorail to Epcot

We usually take a bus TO Epcot and ride the Monorail back - in the AM we're in more of a hurry to make ropedrop.

This transportation wizard might help: http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

Just be aware to allow enough travel time - I've seen people hop on a bus at 7:30 and except to make their 7:45character breakfast..... it's a bus, not a jet.

 

[ShellieR]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...Just be aware to allow enough travel time - I've seen people hop on a bus at 7:30 and except to make their 7:45character breakfast..... it's a bus, not a jet.

Some of them may as well be snails!

 

[rebelstand]

Ok.. Monorail to EPCOT...a bit more complicated than I like. The buses don't actually bother me... and I am not going to sweat rope drop. If we are 10 minutes late... we are 10 minutes late. Then again, I have no dining/character breakfasts to worry about either!

 

[mkrober]

You can almost set your watch by the first boat form FW to the Contemp. However, the monorail at the Contemp. doesn't always start at 7am. While they usually park a monorail inside the hotel at night, the escalator and elevator to the monorail platform isn't opened until the castmembers have run through the start-up checks for the monrail. This usually takes about 15 minutes. I was attending a seminar at few weeks back at the Grand Floridian, and while the boat/monorail commute usually worked, one day the monorail was delayed because of isssues with the startup checks.

Incidentally, you can't walk from the Contemp to the GF via MK. Apparently, a canal has been installed sometime in the last 20 years or so. I missed the memo.

 

[ntsammy5]

Incidentally, you can't walk from the Contemp to the GF via MK. Apparently, a canal has been installed sometime in the last 20 years or so. I missed the memo.

It's just a short swim tho

 

[allmydisneydreams]

So there is ALWAYS a 6:45 boat from FW to the Contemporary? Is it easy to find the path @ the Contemporary that leads to the MK?

And what time do the internal FW busses start up? If taking an internal bus is it possible to get to that 6:45 boat?

Thanks

 

[ShellieR]

And what time do the internal FW busses start up? If taking an internal bus is it possible to get to that 6:45 boat?

Good question...I'd like to know that too

 

[Tri-circle-D]

So there is ALWAYS a 6:45 boat from FW to the Contemporary? Is it easy to find the path @ the Contemporary that leads to the MK?

And what time do the internal FW busses start up? If taking an internal bus is it possible to get to that 6:45 boat?

Thanks

1. Yes, the resort launch begins at 6:45 every morning. In the morning, it goes to WL first and then the Contemporary.

2. The "path" from the Contemporary to the MK is a sidewalk. You really can't miss it. You can see the MK from the Contemporary-walk through the parking lot in that direction, and you will come to the sidewalk.

3. The internal buses at the Fort begin to run at 6:30 am. If you want to catch the first bus, be at the bus stop by no later than 6:30- they only stop if someone is at the bus stop, and they buzz through pretty quickly at that hour. If you miss the first bus, you could miss the first boat. But, everything travels in a loop, and it won't be too long before you can try again.

TCD

 

[stpetedisneydad]

THE number 1 thing you need to know about making rope drop is DO NOT take my wife and 2 teenage daughters. I have gotten them up 2 hours before park opening and even with showering the night before so all they have to do is eat breakfast and dress I have NEVER made a rope drop.

 

[Magicbus]

Also make sure that the rope drop, BTW that's not what Disney calls it, will take place before you make plans. According to the MK CM info sheet, the Tell-A-Cast, it doesn't take place every day. This week & next week, it doesn't take place on Mon & Tues.

 

[mkrober]

In the morning, it goes to WL first and then the Contemporary.


TCD

On my most recent trip to the Fort in Sept., the 6:45 boat from FW went to the Contemp. first every morning.

 

[rock_doctor]

I prefer the Pirates of the Caribbean travel choice. First the entire family dresses in pirate costumes, second you stagger to the marina with guns drawn, then commandeer the vessel of your choice and go when it best suits you!!! ARRWWRRRRRRR

Ok after reading all of the responses i think this one is the best. Lets do it!

We always drive to the parks. Just don't think it is worth the saved diesel to spend hours trying to get around on WDW transportation. I would drive in and at the TTC take the resort monorail and get off at the MK. I love rope drop combined with extra morning hours... The best way to go to the parks in my opinion. You literally have the park to yourself for an hour. Just be advised if you do this at EPCOT and want to go for Soarin' first...the group will make a mad sprint from the center fountain to the ride. So be ready to run or you will get run down...

 

[Tri-circle-D]

On my most recent trip to the Fort in Sept., the 6:45 boat from FW went to the Contemp. first every morning.

This was also reported in another recent TR.

So, something might have changed.

It used to always be WL then CR in the AM, and then it would reverse in the PM with CR first then WL.

They are always messing with our boats lately!

TCD

 

[MomofSixinSC]

If we take the first boat to Cont., is there other transpo. to MK? My dh is disabled and would prefer not to walk when not necessary. I, OTOH, want to redeem our GAD vouchers and make rope drop.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...the resort launch begins at 6:45 every morning. In the morning, it goes to WL first and then the Contemporary.
TCD

...On my most recent trip to the Fort in Sept., the 6:45 boat from FW went to the Contemp. first every morning.

I think that you both may be right. When we were there we were waiting at the contemporary one day and TWO boats came at pretty much the same time. The captain that got there first explained that his boat would go to the Fort first and then WL and when the other arrived, it would stop at WL first and then go to the Fort. They may have them going in both directions at least some of the time.