Grand Floridian Transportation

[haleymiles]

My family is going to WDW next November and were thinking of staying at the GF. We've been doing some research on the transportation and have learned that you frequently have to stand on the bus going to AK and HS because GF is the last resort to be picked up. We've also read that the monorail does not always work for EMH's and you would have to take a couple different modes of transportation to get some places, or go to the transportation center and then hop on a bus or another monorail. We also saw that it can take up to 30 minutes to get to Epcot and some of the other parks. We were wondering if anyone who has stayed at this resort can give us some info on if the transportation is actually this way or if it is being exaggerated online! We have stayed at AKL before in Kidani Village and absolutely loved it. The transportation seemed to be quick (never taking 30 minutes to get anywhere) and almost never caused us to stand on the bus rides. If anyone has any info we would really appreciate it!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Epcot can be slow to get to, yes. You have to monorail to the TTC, which means going MK-CR-TTC and switching for Epcot.

AK and HS buses are shared with the Poly, and they start at Poly, then GF.

Monorail schedules vary, because of ongoing refurbishment. Usually they start 1/2 hour before MK open, but the Epcot monorail can vary. There are usually buses before 9AM when the TTC monorail to Epcot does not start until 9, but those buses, like the AK/HS buses, are usually shared with Poly.

GF is mostly convenient to MK. Other parks, less so. If your top priority is transport, I think Poly beats GF for overall transportation quality -- better average distance to/from MK via monorail, shared buses stop there first, and you can walk to the TTC.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I think I only used the busses twice from GF. That was to AK once and to HS a second time. I never had to stand. The busses were pretty light heading there. On the way back is another story depending if you stay until after the nighttime shows. I found the monorail very convenient from EPCOT. We were there on July 4th, and we barely had to wait for a monorail at EPCOT and transfer at TTC. The busses have taken me an hour+ to get on after EPCOT or any other park closes depending on where I stayed. The monorail to TTC on average took us 10 minutes then we would transfer to EPCOT which that monorail takes about 10 minutes as well I think. I would base your decision around which park you plan to be in the most. If you plan to be in the Magic Kingdom a lot, the monorail loop is great. If you plan to be in EPCOT a lot, nothing beats staying in the boardwalk area. Hollywood Studios is said to be a 15 minute walk from the Boardwalk area resorts, but I haven't done that to know for sure. The boardwalk resorts also have boats that travel from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios with stops at the resorts on the way. The best resort for Animal Kingdom would be the Animal Kingdom Lodge, All-Stars, or Coronado Springs.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

If I remember correctly, we stopped at one of the waterparks on the way from the GF over to AK. The bus wasn't even close to full, room to sit for everyone. When going to Epcot, we will usually walk to our favorite breakfast spot - Kona's Café (coincidently, our dog's name is Kona) and then we walk from there to the TTC and take the monorail over to Epcot -- we usually do Epcot and Hollywood same days so we've never taken the bus to DHS.

Tom

 

[loves to dive]

Another idea is you can take the boat or monorail to MK and catch a bus to any park from there and reverse it for coming back.

 

[happiest place]

We stayed at the GF last December and the monorail seemed to be down most mornings on the early morning hours. However we did not have an issue with having to stand on the bus. We were able to get a seat. We did not have any problems with the bus. They seemed to be running often.

 

[buzznina]

Our family loves GF but hates taking the monrail to and from Epcot Our trip in November we went to Epcot on 2 separate days and each trip to or from took at least 1-1/2 hrs If you get very lucky it is quick, but for us, each time we had to first wait in line to catch the 1st monorail then follow the herd down the ramp and then up the other ramp at TTC, then wait for that monorail, then stop at CR, POLY then GF. The very last time, we got off at TTC, walked to POLY had a dole whip and then walked to GF.

 

[WEDWDW]

Another idea is you can take the boat or monorail to MK and catch a bus to any park from there and reverse it for coming back.

Except Epcot.

 

[haleymiles]

Thank you all for the info! I appreciate it. Having to take multiple monorails or buses to get to one place is what we were concerned about. Y'all have given us a lot to consider!

 

[Sue M]

We lived with the less than stellar monorail service to Epcot in the mornings, at both Poly & GF. I think the refurbs are over? But the monorail service to Epcot some mornings are still cut back. Cost cutting? It's ridiculous for the price these resorts charge to be on the monorail to have service cuts, IMO. The past 3 yrs we stayed at GF-Poly-GF. The first 2 yrs it was monorail refurbs, and could understand limited service then, but I don't think that was the case last Aug. no reason for limited morning service except cost cutting :-(

It hasn't been a deal breaker, we've stayed at the monorail resorts, because we love being by MK, being able to watch Wishes & Electric Water Parade from resort, and ease of dining at the MK resorts.
You would have to weigh the pros & cons on what's most important to you.
I think our next stay we may go back to an Epcot resort or AK.

 

[WEDWDW]

We lived with the less than stellar monorail service to Epcot in the mornings, at both Poly & GF. I think the refurbs are over?

Still working on the Automation Project.

Courtesy of OTPN

 

[haleymiles]

Still working on the Automation Project.

Courtesy of OTPN

Looking at this times guide it says that the monorail stops working at 12AM on saturday, when MK has extra magic hours until 1AM. Just out of curiosity how does one get back to the GF if they stay until 1AM when the EMH's are over?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the refurbs are over?

The refurbs will never be over.

It's ridiculous for the price these resorts charge to be on the monorail

Pricing isn't just because of the monorail access.

Looking at this times guide it says that the monorail stops working at 12AM on saturday, when MK has extra magic hours until 1AM.

Bus or boat.

 

[Gary M]

Except Epcot.

We stayed at the GF this past Feb.. I do remember seeing on these boards someone saying there isn't a bus from GF to EPCOT before our trip in Feb.. I think we checked this out and found out that wasn't the case. I'm pretty sure we took the GF to EPCOT bus. Maybe it has changed or my memory isn't so good.

 

[WEDWDW]

I'm pretty sure we took the GF to EPCOT bus.

Only when the Epcot Monorail is down.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We love GF but found the monorail really slow. We went in September. One of the best resorts we stayed in for transport was Wilderness Lodge. No matter which park we went to a bus for there and we got there really fast. Plus the boat to MK.

 

[Sue M]

The refurbs will never be over.



Pricing isn't just because of the monorail access.



Bus or boat.

Just what a CM told me, the refurbs are over, not talking about routine maintenance.
No the pricing isn't only because they're monorail resorts, but IMO it is part of it.

 

[Sue M]

Still working on the Automation Project.

Courtesy of OTPN

It's just what one of the GF CMs told me, that automated refurbs were done, or no reason for the 2 mornings closure.
If it's still happening I wonder why it can't be done at night after closing? That part is just my opinion. I know sometimes CMs give incorrect info. Kinda like the bus drivers ;-)

 

[tbholc81]

Looking at this times guide it says that the monorail stops working at 12AM on saturday, when MK has extra magic hours until 1AM. Just out of curiosity how does one get back to the GF if they stay until 1AM when the EMH's are over?

Theres a boat that goes from MK to GF