Going next week, advice on driving vs. shuttle? DTD?

[ExcitedMama]

We will be staying at the Hyatt OC so we have the choice of driving vs. taking the shuttle. We have 3 day PH so we only have the one day to get in early. It sounds like the shuttle only arrives 45 before opening so it looks like we should drive on the day we want to do early entry. On our regular entry days will 45 min before be early enough? Or should we drive? Do the parking lots open every day an hour before the early entry time? Any issue with Apple or Google maps taking me the right way for parking?

If we take the shuttle for the regular entry days how packed are they at night? My youngest is not a night owl so I’m not sure how she’s going to do at night and I’d hate to be waiting 30 minutes for the next shuttle if it’s full when we are trying to leave. Last trip she napped during night time entertainment but I don’t know if that’s going to work still. If that’s a risk I will probably drive.

This is our first trip so far away that we can’t walk to DTD. We have a reservation our arrival night for Goofy’s. Should I park at DLH and just tell them we are going to Goofy’s? How much time does that give us for parking? Since we are off site it’s probably our only chance to walk around DTD. Usually we hit up that big Disney store for a souvenir each trip. How impacted is the store by the renovations? I like the kids to wait until the end of the trip to choose a souvenir to practice delayed gratification, reduce any whining and make sure they choose what they really want. Is there a store on Main St. (or elsewhere) that’s got the same big selection so they can choose on our last day? Or is that one in DTD still the best option?

 

[CharleneTheDM]

We will be staying at the Hyatt OC so we have the choice of driving vs. taking the shuttle. We have 3 day PH so we only have the one day to get in early. It sounds like the shuttle only arrives 45 before opening so it looks like we should drive on the day we want to do early entry. On our regular entry days will 45 min before be early enough? Or should we drive? Do the parking lots open every day an hour before the early entry time? Any issue with Apple or Google maps taking me the right way for parking?

If we take the shuttle for the regular entry days how packed are they at night? My youngest is not a night owl so I’m not sure how she’s going to do at night and I’d hate to be waiting 30 minutes for the next shuttle if it’s full when we are trying to leave. Last trip she napped during night time entertainment but I don’t know if that’s going to work still. If that’s a risk I will probably drive.

This is our first trip so far away that we can’t walk to DTD. We have a reservation our arrival night for Goofy’s. Should I park at DLH and just tell them we are going to Goofy’s? How much time does that give us for parking? Since we are off site it’s probably our only chance to walk around DTD. Usually we hit up that big Disney store for a souvenir each trip. How impacted is the store by the renovations? I like the kids to wait until the end of the trip to choose a souvenir to practice delayed gratification, reduce any whining and make sure they choose what they really want. Is there a store on Main St. (or elsewhere) that’s got the same big selection so they can choose on our last day? Or is that one in DTD still the best option?

Hey @ExcitedMama, I am staying at the Hyatt Regency OC too, arriving on Aug 10.
I messaged them on Facebook to doublecheck their shuttle schedule. They told me "The shuttle leaves 30 minutes before the park opens."
When I visited in 2016, their shuttles left an hour and 15 mins before park opening (and I was able to do MM with the shuttle)
Since I can't drive, i'm planning to still get the shuttle passes, but take Uber to the Harbour drop-off point each morning to get to security and rope drop earlier.
Mid-day breaks I will use the shuttle pass to get back to the hotel and back to the park.
I think that would be cheaper because I believe the parking at the hotel is like $20 a day or something, yikes.

Also for souviniers, the Hyatt Regency OC is right across from Target, which carries a TON of amazing Disney merch at a fraction of the price, I'd totally recommend you take the kids there to pick out a shirt or gift there before you go to World of Disney in DtD!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Oh gosh, don’t drive. Can you Uber or something?

The only lot that opens before MM is Mickey and Friends, and it only opens 30 minutes early. Last time we had to use it, we got in line 18 minutes before it opened and it still took over 20 minutes AFTER it opened for us to get inside the lot! Then we had to do security, take the tram, etc... so I think you’d have to be in the parking line like an hour early to get in for MM!

 

[CharleneTheDM]

Oh gosh, don’t drive. Can you Uber or something?

The only lot that opens before MM is Mickey and Friends, and it only opens 30 minutes early. Last time we had to use it, we got in line 18 minutes before it opened and it still took over 20 minutes AFTER it opened for us to get inside the lot! Then we had to do security, take the tram, etc... so I think you’d have to be in the parking line like an hour early to get in for MM!

Agreed! I never Ubered to the parks before but it's super convenient, you can reserve the night before and I believe it's about 6 bucks!

 

[ExcitedMama]

Uh-oh. So the lots aren’t open early before the MM hours? Uber is out because my kids need boosters. I feel like the shuttle should be comparable to a school bus and therefore fine for them. I don’t know his conference schedule yet but in theory I could see about having my husband drop us off on our MM. Where should I have him drop us? That night he doesn’t have anything going on with work and is going to meet up with us which means he could park the car or take the shuttle. He could get passes for everyone before he leaves. Which goes back to drive or shuttle? How packed is the shuttle at night? I know it’s a trek to the lot.

On a regular morning would the shuttle get us there at rope drop?

Does Target have more stuff than a regular target? We usually budget for the souvenirs we can’t get at home.

 

[CharleneTheDM]

Uh-oh. So the lots aren’t open early before the MM hours? Uber is out because my kids need boosters. I feel like the shuttle should be comparable to a school bus and therefore fine for them. I don’t know his conference schedule yet but in theory I could see about having my husband drop us off on our MM. Where should I have him drop us? That night he doesn’t have anything going on with work and is going to meet up with us which means he could park the car or take the shuttle. He could get passes for everyone before he leaves. Which goes back to drive or shuttle? How packed is the shuttle at night? I know it’s a trek to the lot.

On a regular morning would the shuttle get us there at rope drop?

Does Target have more stuff than a regular target? We usually budget for the souvenirs we can’t get at home.

If the shuttle does leave 30 minutes before park open like they told me, then you'd probably arrive in 10 minutes? Then it would be approx. 20 minutes for you to line up for security and go through the turnstiles.
I think it would be a bit tight
I don't know why they shortened the time for the shuttles, it's a bummer!

As for Target, yessss! This one has a whole dedicated area to Disney merchandise! It's awesome

 

[mel2014]

Uh-oh. So the lots aren’t open early before the MM hours? Uber is out because my kids need boosters. I feel like the shuttle should be comparable to a school bus and therefore fine for them. I don’t know his conference schedule yet but in theory I could see about having my husband drop us off on our MM. Where should I have him drop us? That night he doesn’t have anything going on with work and is going to meet up with us which means he could park the car or take the shuttle. He could get passes for everyone before he leaves. Which goes back to drive or shuttle? How packed is the shuttle at night? I know it’s a trek to the lot.

On a regular morning would the shuttle get us there at rope drop?

Does Target have more stuff than a regular target? We usually budget for the souvenirs we can’t get at home.

Have you looked at Bubble Bum or MiFold boosters? They would be a upfront investment, but if you plan to travel more while your kids are booster age, you might find them useful. If you don't want to lug them around all day, you could rent a locker for $7. It looks like your other alternatives would cost either $20 per day for parking or $18 for shuttle for two adults and two kids. Two Lyft rides would be around the same price, but you get dropped off much closer than parking and you get to determine your schedule vs. the shuttle.

 

[ExcitedMama]

Where should I have my husband drop us at the park?

Advice on parking for Goofy’s?