Hmm how do I get to the Poly for 7:35AM?

[LovesHerTaurus]

Well!

Booked a character breakie without thinking this through...

How in the world do I get from All Star Music to the Poly for a character breakfast for 7:35am?

Hop a bus to MK and hope they drop me off at the Poly?
Walk?
Hitchhike?
Grab a taxi (EXPRESSLY avoiding taxis if possible - my fiancee is SO happy to be quitting driving a taxi a week before we get to WDW!)?

Advice from people who know much please!! And how early am I going to have to drag my sorry butt out of bed?

 

[dudspizza]

buses will be running. Take the MK bus and walk OR if you are the only ones on the bus, mention to the driver that you are going to Poly for a character breakfast and maybe they will drop you off there...

Duds

 

[Lewisc]

buses will be running. Take the MK bus and walk OR if you are the only ones on the bus, mention to the driver that you are going to Poly for a character breakfast and maybe they will drop you off there...

Duds

You can't walk from the MK to the POLY.

 

[n2mm]

Taxi if you want to be on time. Or rent a car.

 

[goofy4tink]

Be out at the MK bus stop by 6:30. Hop on the bus. Ask the driver if the boats are running at this time or if you're better off on the monorail to the Polynesian. He may offer to drop you off at the Polynesian. If he doesn't, just take the monorail. It is up and running by 7am.

 

[Lewisc]

Be out at the MK bus stop by 6:30. Hop on the bus. Ask the driver if the boats are running at this time or if you're better off on the monorail to the Polynesian. He may offer to drop you off at the Polynesian. If he doesn't, just take the monorail. It is up and running by 7am.

6:30a for a bus or 7:25a for a taxi. OP wants to avoid taxis and avoid getting up earlier then necessary. She gets to pick one.

 

[Alexander]

The MK busses don't drive near the Poly--they drop off directly at MK and the Poly is near the TTC. The busses drive straight past the road for the Poly, and turn near the Contemporary.

I know you want to avoid taxis, but this is really the best option for that time in the morning.

If you take the bus, you then have to get from MK to the Poly via boat, or monorai, walking is not an option. I try to avoid multi modes of transportation when going from point a to point b--too many possible problems.

 

[goofy4tink]

6:30a for a bus or 7:25a for a taxi. OP wants to avoid taxis and avoid getting up earlier then necessary. She gets to pick one.

True. There isn't going to one solution that meets all the parameters here. Either get out of bed early and onto the 6:30 bus or sleep later and take a cab at 7:20ish.

 

[seashoreCM]

Booked a character breakie without thinking this through...

You can rethink the issue and cancel the breakfast. Then reschedule for a later time (if possible? at a park? lunch?) or just grab a bite at your ownr esort.

Going from resort to resort is always cumbersome and early in the morning does not help.

At the bus stop at 6:30 is the best for this ADR. To allow time in case the bus driver doesn't want to detour to the Poly'. To allow time in case the first bus that comes gets too full to take you.

Somehow, I would pass up the boat dock and continue on to the monorail station unless the boat was there or I could see it coming.

 

[CleveRocks]

The MK busses don't drive near the Poly--they drop off directly at MK and the Poly is near the TTC. The busses drive straight past the road for the Poly, and turn near the Contemporary.

Disney Transport drivers "bid" for their shifts by seniority. The most coveted shift, for the most part, is the first-thing-in-the-morning shift (my term, not Disney's). As a result, the early morning drivers tend to be the most experienced. The people who stay on that job the longest (who choose to stay and who are permitted to stay) tend to be your more guest-oriented folks, people who enjoy helping guests have a magical day.

The early morning buses, the buses that run well before park opening, have some leeway. The MK bus driver IS permitted, at his/her sole discretion, to drop off guests at Poly or Contemporary. Naturally, this is never going to happen during normal park hours when doing so would inconvenience scores of guests. But during those early morning hours, it CAN and DOES happen.

As a guest, you can mention to the driver that you have an ADR at Polynesian. Personally, I'd just leave it at that, and let the driver decide if he/she wants to do you an extra favor.

Regardless, there is NO REASON that you'd "have to" take a taxi to Poly for a 7:35 a.m. ADR. Buses start running from the resorts to the parks around 6:30 a.m. or so. Even if you got off the bus at the MK bus area at, say, 7:20 a.m. (you'd get there earlier than that, however), you walk to the MK monorail platform for the resort monorail and ride around to Poly. From the Poly monorail platform, you walk directly into the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Both Kona Cafe and 'Ohana are conveniently located on the second floor of the GCH.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Disney Transport drivers "bid" for their shifts by seniority. The most coveted shift, for the most part, is the first-thing-in-the-morning shift (my term, not Disney's). As a result, the early morning drivers tend to be the most experienced. The people who stay on that job the longest (who choose to stay and who are permitted to stay) tend to be your more guest-oriented folks, people who enjoy helping guests have a magical day.

The early morning buses, the buses that run well before park opening, have some leeway. The MK bus driver IS permitted, at his/her sole discretion, to drop off guests at Poly or Contemporary. Naturally, this is never going to happen during normal park hours when doing so would inconvenience scores of guests. But during those early morning hours, it CAN and DOES happen.

As a guest, you can mention to the driver that you have an ADR at Polynesian. Personally, I'd just leave it at that, and let the driver decide if he/she wants to do you an extra favor.

Regardless, there is NO REASON that you'd "have to" take a taxi to Poly for a 7:35 a.m. ADR. Buses start running from the resorts to the parks around 6:30 a.m. or so. Even if you got off the bus at the MK bus area at, say, 7:20 a.m. (you'd get there earlier than that, however), you walk to the MK monorail platform for the resort monorail and ride around to Poly. From the Poly monorail platform, you walk directly into the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Both Kona Cafe and 'Ohana are conveniently located on the second floor of the GCH.

I thought with their new bus system the bus drivers are on more of a strict schedule, because that specifc bus which is scheduled to arrive at the Magic Kingdom will then need to drive over to a different resort and not go back to where it came from. One of the Cast Members standing at the Contemporary bus station with a clip board marking down what times the buses arrived and where they were going said they have more of a set schedule and etc.

 

[joelkfla]

I thought with their new bus system the bus drivers are on more of a strict schedule, because that specifc bus which is scheduled to arrive at the Magic Kingdom will then need to drive over to a different resort and not go back to where it came from. One of the Cast Members standing at the Contemporary bus station with a clip board marking down what times the buses arrived and where they were going said they have more of a set schedule and etc.

It's a grey area.

Even though it doesn't really fit with the new system, some drivers will keep doing it to make some magic, unless management tells them not to.

 

[Alexander]

Disney Transport drivers "bid" for their shifts by seniority. The most coveted shift, for the most part, is the first-thing-in-the-morning shift (my term, not Disney's). As a result, the early morning drivers tend to be the most experienced. The people who stay on that job the longest (who choose to stay and who are permitted to stay) tend to be your more guest-oriented folks, people who enjoy helping guests have a magical day.

The early morning buses, the buses that run well before park opening, have some leeway. The MK bus driver IS permitted, at his/her sole discretion, to drop off guests at Poly or Contemporary. Naturally, this is never going to happen during normal park hours when doing so would inconvenience scores of guests. But during those early morning hours, it CAN and DOES happen.

As a guest, you can mention to the driver that you have an ADR at Polynesian. Personally, I'd just leave it at that, and let the driver decide if he/she wants to do you an extra favor.

Regardless, there is NO REASON that you'd "have to" take a taxi to Poly for a 7:35 a.m. ADR. Buses start running from the resorts to the parks around 6:30 a.m. or so. Even if you got off the bus at the MK bus area at, say, 7:20 a.m. (you'd get there earlier than that, however), you walk to the MK monorail platform for the resort monorail and ride around to Poly. From the Poly monorail platform, you walk directly into the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. Both Kona Cafe and 'Ohana are conveniently located on the second floor of the GCH.

This is all well and good, but you are leaving your arriving on time up to the discretion of the bus driver! You have as good if not better chance of him/her just staying on route. Not a chance I'd want to take.

Also arriving at the MK via bus at 7:20 will most likely not get the OP to the Poly by 7:35. The monorail leaves the MK, stops at the Contemporary, stops at the TTC and then arrives at the Poly. The walk from the bus to the MK monorail station will take at least 5 minutes to begin with.

You are VERY optimistic, but honestly, I don't think your 7:20 arrival plan would have any chance of coming to fruition. No, the OP doesn't "have to" take a taxi (my dad always said the only things you "have to" do is pay taxes and die) but it is surely the easiest way by far. Besides OP's husband won't have to DRIVE the taxi!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

You are VERY optimistic, but honestly, I don't think your 7:20 arrival plan would have any chance of coming to fruition

Fair enough. You'll notice, though, that the several people who have recommended using the bus system have told the OP to be at the bus stop BY 6:30 AM, which is when the buses start. This should get them to the park by 6:50 (whereas the likely next bus, at 7:00, would be the one to get them to the park by 7:20), which allows them 45 minutes to get the monorail and get to their breakfast reservation at the Polynesian.

The alternatives are:
1. Change the reservation
2. Take a taxi
3. Arrange for a car service
4. Rent a car

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

6:30a for a bus or 7:25a for a taxi. OP wants to avoid taxis and avoid getting up earlier then necessary. She gets to pick one.

I read that there are special Character Buses that begin to run 1/2 hour before first possible seating that go directly to Character Breakfasts - I saw a picture of it that says "Character Breakfasts" on the bus itself.

Can anyone confirm is this is true from ASMu?

 

[kaytieeldr]

That's actually the 'buses start running at 6:30 AM' to which we've all been referring . It's true from EACH resort to EACH park (as long as that park has a breakfast that day, which, generally, each does).

Be at the bus stop before 6:30.
Board the MK bus.
At the Magic Kingdom, exit the bus.*
Walk with the crowd toward the park.
Where they turn/bear right to go through the security check and the turnstiles, DON'T!
Keep walking straight.
Head up the RESORTS Monorail ramp.
Wait for a monorail.
When one arrives, board and sit.
When it stops at the Polynesian, exit.
Enter the resort, turn left, approach the Kona podium, check in.

*While boarding the bus, discreetly mention to the driver you have reservations at the Polynesian and ask how to get there. You may get directions (similar to these) or you may get a ride as indicated in some posts, above.

 

[CleveRocks]

This is all well and good, but you are leaving your arriving on time up to the discretion of the bus driver! You have as good if not better chance of him/her just staying on route. Not a chance I'd want to take.

Also arriving at the MK via bus at 7:20 will most likely not get the OP to the Poly by 7:35. The monorail leaves the MK, stops at the Contemporary, stops at the TTC and then arrives at the Poly. The walk from the bus to the MK monorail station will take at least 5 minutes to begin with.

You are VERY optimistic, but honestly, I don't think your 7:20 arrival plan would have any chance of coming to fruition. No, the OP doesn't "have to" take a taxi (my dad always said the only things you "have to" do is pay taxes and die) but it is surely the easiest way by far. Besides OP's husband won't have to DRIVE the taxi!!!

I purposely chose 7:20 in order to illustrate a worst-case scenario (and I said that in my post, which apparently went unnoticed ). I was trying to show that EVEN IF if someone arrived at the MK bus area as late as 7:20 they could still make it in the nick of time. In reality, they'd probably arrive at MK closer to about 6:50 or 6:55 a.m.

During my week in a MK-view room at Polynesian, I routinely saw guests being dropped off at the MK bus area starting at 6:45 a.m. I'm an early riser, so I'd always be out on the balcony so as to not wake up my family, and I always had my camera and telephoto lens with me. So I know not only by book knowledge but also as an eyewitness that people arrive at MK by bus that early.

 

[goofy4tink]

I read that there are special Character Buses that begin to run 1/2 hour before first possible seating that go directly to Character Breakfasts - I saw a picture of it that says "Character Breakfasts" on the bus itself.

Can anyone confirm is this is true from ASMu?

They are not 'character buses' per se. They are there for anyone who needs to get someplace early in the morning. The buses start running by 6:30am, from every resort, every morning. The monorail starts running (resort line) by 7am.
For a 7:35 ADR, I would be out at the MK bus stop by 6:30, get on the first MK bus that comes. Then, after asking the driver which is faster..boat or monorail for a 7:35 ADR at the Polynesian, you can decide what to do. You may get dropped off at the Polynesian directly. But...you may also have to get off at the MK and then walk over/up to the monorail station and take the monorail to the Polynesian.
Your other option would be to take a cab.

 

[LovesHerTaurus]

6:30a for a bus or 7:25a for a taxi. OP wants to avoid taxis and avoid getting up earlier then necessary. She gets to pick one.

I love him a lot, and he is finally retired after 8 years of driving. I'll drag my sorry butt out of bed and get to the busstop at 6:30. I will suck up to bus drivers and be charming and hope they will drop me off right at the Poly

 

[Alexander]

I love him a lot, and he is finally retired after 8 years of driving. I'll drag my sorry butt out of bed and get to the busstop at 6:30. I will suck up to bus drivers and be charming and hope they will drop me off right at the Poly

I guess I just don't understand He will be a passenger either on a bus or in a taxi...What does that have to do with driving a taxi? I have been a teacher for 15 years, it doesn't mean I don't go into my son's school...