Help with Pop Century to Dolphin and back

[SarahD]

We are flying in and out of Tampa because I could stretch our Southwest miles to cover all four tickets vs. MCO. So we have rented a car for the day we arrive and the day we leave, using two free days on our National account. We're staying at Pop, so I chose the return location for when we arrive and the pick up for when we head back to the airport as the Dolphin, because it's closer than the Car Care Center. My question (finally!) is this: We come in late Friday. If my husband wants to return the car that night so we don't have to mess with it on Saturday, how does he get back to Pop? It'll be after hours for the National desk, so no shuttle, if there even is one from the Dolphin location. Epcot is open until 12:30am with EMH, so I guess he could hop a bus to Epcot, then hop a bus to Pop. Would a taxi be the much simpler option? Next question: At the end of the week when we need to pick up the car for the return...is there a shuttle we can call for to take us from Pop to the Dolphin? Do we need to call and schedule in advance?

 

[RodJohnson]

A taxi would be very simple and not real expensive. However, you will need to call a cab at Dolphin since they are contracted with Mears sedan service. It should take no more than 5 minutes for cab to arrive since they will be dispatched from Boardwalk or Yachtclub.

 

[joelkfla]

Epcot is open until 12:30am with EMH, so I guess he could hop a bus to Epcot, then hop a bus to Pop. Would a taxi be the much simpler option?

There is no bus from the Dolphin (or any of the Epcot resorts) to Epcot. To travel by Disney Transport, he would need to take a bus or boat to another park that is still open, or to DTD.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

He could take a taxi.

If he has a park hopper ticket (he'd need that if you were in any other park but Epcot that day), or he'd need a park ticket of some sort if you weren't in any parks that day, he could walk to the international gateway entrance to Epcot (maybe a 10 minute walk tops) and then walk to the front of Epcot and catch a bus to POP. But that's only if he gets to Epcot before they are closed for the evening. And I wouldn't recommend this because it's kind of a waste of a park ticket day if you weren't planning on any parks that day.

Or once he's at the Dolphin, he could take a bus to whatever park is open and then go to a Pop bus. But that would take awhile too.

My vote is to take a taxi to Pop. Much more efficient. And if it's really late, he might appreciate that!

 

[SarahD]

Wait...there's no bus from Dolphin to Epcot? Now I'm confused. Epcot will still be open (open til 12:30 in the morning) and Dolphin has Disney buses, right? So couldn't he get a bus to Epcot and then, without entering the park, switch to a bus headed to Pop?

 

[tjmw2727]

Wait...there's no bus from Dolphin to Epcot? Now I'm confused. Epcot will still be open (open til 12:30 in the morning) and Dolphin has Disney buses, right? So couldn't he get a bus to Epcot and then, without entering the park, switch to a bus headed to Pop?

Dolphin does use Disney transportation but Disney doesn't use buses from the Epcot resorts to Epcot or the Studios. Instead they run a boat between the Studios and Epcot (International Gateway entrance) stopping at the Swan/Dolphin Boardwalk and the BC/YC. (not in that order)

Unfortunately as a PP said there is no transportation to the front of Epcot so he would need to enter Epcot and walk to the front of the park to get to the bus transportation. Alternately he can take the bus to DTD and then a bus to PoP or call a cab - FWIW I have never had an issue getting a cab at the Dolphin.

I would also suggest you check to make sure you can do a car return to the Dolphin location after hours.

 

[goofy4tink]

Wait...there's no bus from Dolphin to Epcot? Now I'm confused. Epcot will still be open (open til 12:30 in the morning) and Dolphin has Disney buses, right? So couldn't he get a bus to Epcot and then, without entering the park, switch to a bus headed to Pop?

No buses to either Epcot or DHS from the S/D (or YC/BC, BW for that matter). You can either take the boat over to Epcot, or walk. It takes about 12 mins to walk to Epcot from the S/D. Then, another 15/20 mins to walk to the front of the park to get a bus to Pop.

You would be better off just getting a cab from the Dolphin....takes about 8 mins to get to Pop from there, and the cost would be under $10.

 

[Huff]

We always take the bus to Studios and then boat to Dolphin.

 

[SarahD]

OK...I see. If he does return Friday night (and I did double check he can drop then it's closed - thanks!) he will cab back to Pop. If we don't drop until Saturday, which seems to be easier since we're headed to Epcot, we'll just drive to Dolphin, return the car and catch a boat or walk. Thanks for your help everybody!

 

[NancyIL]

OK...I see. If he does return Friday night (and I did double check he can drop then it's closed - thanks!) he will cab back to Pop. If we don't drop until Saturday, which seems to be easier since we're headed to Epcot, we'll just drive to Dolphin, return the car and catch a boat or walk. Thanks for your help everybody!

I'd definitely hang onto the car until Saturday morning. I'd much rather walk or take the boat from the Dolphin to Epcot than take the bus from Pop.

 

[tjmw2727]

I'd definitely hang onto the car until Saturday morning. I'd much rather walk or take the boat from the Dolphin to Epcot than take the bus from Pop.

Agreed -100%

The car return is done via the valet so its easy and quick and the Dolphin is usually decorated beautifully for Christmas with the giant tree and the train in the lobby!

My other secret reason though would be a nice cup of Starbucks coffee found at the kiosk in the Dolphin lobby vs that "lovely" Nescafe offered at Pop

 

[OKW Lover]

A taxi would be very simple and not real expensive. However, you will need to call a cab at Dolphin since they are contracted with Mears sedan service. It should take no more than 5 minutes for cab to arrive since they will be dispatched from Boardwalk or Yachtclub.

Good tip about taxi's at the Swolphin. One of my pet peeves about this place is that if you ask for a cab they will put you into a town car service instead. One that costs significantly more. You need to be firm with the doorman that you want a taxi, not a town car. Then they will summon one for you from just out of sight (not BW/YC).