getting to the steam trains tour

[betterlatethannever]

I will be taking the Magic Behind the Steam Trains tour at MK on Friday May 30. It starts at 7:30 AM.

How do I get there for 7:30?

I am staying at the WL and will have a car.

I've done a search of the boards and have found that the Resrot monorail either starts at 7:00 or 7:30.

I don't think the boats run that early from the WL.

From what I think I've read , the Character breakfast busses may not get me there for 7:30 since they get dispatched at 7:00.

I hate getting to places with only a minute to spare.

So I figure I need to

Either drive to MK and take the resort monorail (if it starts running at 7:00).

or if not, take a cab to the CR and walk to the MK.

Am I over analyzing .

Any help would be appreciated.

Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

According to the Conductors I spoke to on the matter, they told me that the Steam Train Tour typically does not begin until 8:00. They say to be there at 7:30 to encourage folks to get there early. Both Monorails and Busses are forbidden from dropping off at the MK prior to 7:30. All buses must drop off at the TTC prior to 7:30. Monorails do not open thier doors prior to 7:30. It's ironic that the same folks that say DO NOT DROP OFF tell folks to be there so early. *sigh* It's a battle we've been fighting for years.


By the way, to answer your question, starting at 7:00am, there will be a bus to the TTC. Take that bus, and when you get to the TTC, board the Resort Monorail. Make sure to tell the Monorail Host/Hostesses that you are going to the Steam Train tour. They may be able to get special permission to drop you off early, or they can tell you what train to board to make sure you get there on time.

 

[Dana49]

My teenaged son and I have done the Steam Train Tour, while we were staying at the Wilderness Lodge. I won't tell you the problems that we had getting there, but we did come away learning something. Take a taxi to the Contemporary Resort and walk over to the MK. One of the train CM's will be waiting in front of the MK for you. Believe me, that's the only way that you'll get there on time and not arrive all stressed out. They are on a fairly strict schedule with the trains, so they start the tour close to 7:30 A.M. Whether you're a train enthusiast or not, you'll have a great time. Enjoy!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Thanks for the replies.

It looks like there finally may be a reason for me to get stressed out LOL.

Tyler - from your response, it sooks like the resort monorail starts at 7:00. So that brings me to option 3) driving to the MK (TCC) and taking the resort monorail to the CR and walking to the MK.

Is that possible?

I am just trying to cover myself having to go through security etc.


Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

If you're staying at the WL, just take the TTC bus over. It's a 3 minute ride. Otherwise, if you drive, you have to go all the way around the MK parking lot, park, walk into the TTC... trams don't run that early.

When boarding the monorail, just talk to them and tell them you need to get to the Steam Train tour. When I worked in Monorails, and we had a guest who needed to get to the Steam Train Tour, we'd call for management approval, and take care of the guest while the manager called Main Street and try and talk sense to them.

 

[CindyKansas]

I know we did the Steam Train Tour (very enjoyable) in January and we were staying at the WL. We took the water taxi to the MK, I know we were a couple of minutes late, like 7:35 but guest services outside of the MK directed us to the tour.

 

[Humphrey Bear]

When we made the reservation for the steam train tour, we were instructed to park at the Contemporary and use the walkway to the Magic Kindom. The guard at the gate of the Contemporary had our name on a list and showed us where to park. We then took the walkway to the Magic Kingdom. Was hassle free!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by Humphrey Bear
When we made the reservation for the steam train tour, we were instructed to park at the Contemporary and use the walkway to the Magic Kindom. The guard at the gate of the Contemporary had our name on a list and showed us where to park. We then took the walkway to the Magic Kingdom. Was hassle free!

I didn't remember them telling me that when I made the ressies, so I called yesterday and the CM said exactly the same theng as above.

Thanks again to everyone for your help.

Ed

 

[kt-scarlett]

My husband and I are staying at the Boardwalk (celebrating our 20th Anniversary!!) and I have just booked this tour as a surprise for him.

Since the MK does not open till 9:00 this day and we are neither a monorail resort nor staying at the WL and <b> we won't have a car </b>(so parking at the Contemporary is out).... Is taking a $20 cab ride our only option for getting to the MK for this tour? Or do the resorts provide transportation for tours taking place outside of park hours?

Thanks for any insight you can offer!!

 

[JudithM]

We took this tour a few years ago & were told to park at the Contemporary & walk over to the MK. Our tour was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. & started on time at 7:30 a.m. We had no problem parking at the Contemporary. Enjoy the tour - it is wonderful! We stilltakl about it & share information with our friends.

 

[kt-scarlett]

Thank you.

As I mentioned, we will not have a vehicle on this trip so parking (at the CR or elsewhere) is not an issue. But thanks for the good wishes, I am looking forward to the tour!!

 

[WDWLVR]

We took the steam train tour a couple of years ago. We were staying at Boardwalk at the time and drove over to the Contemporary. When stopped at the gate we told the guard we were there for the tour and he told us where to park. Worked great and we got there in plenty of time.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Just got back. Did the train tour this past Thursday. Drove over to the Contemporary and walked over to the MK. When we were waiting to cross the street to get to the MK, one of the train engineers we met on the tour mentioned he saw us at the light while he was driving in to work.

It was a full tour. There were about 12 of us waiting at 7:20 when the engineer giving the tour came out to meet us. One couple took a cab. The other 10 drove.

He started the tour. The other 6 or so caught up with the tour before we got on the train. They missed a little bit about the history of each of the WDW steam trains.

Ed

 

[maine_jennifer]

My father and I are planning on doing this tour in January.

We WON'T have a car. Does anyone know about how much a cab would be from the Wilderness Lodge to the Contemporary?

Thanks!

 

[kt-scarlett]

BUMP!

 

[PTpony]

How about thursday morning?
I also would like to take this tour without a car next month. Never thought of this transportation problem until read this thread. getting confused...I believe buses start running one hour early before the park opening, and this means you can catch the fist one at 7:00 if extra magic hour park opens at 8:00, right? Can I get to MK park on time by first extra-magic-hour MK bus from ASMo or OKW?

Thank you for any advices in advance!