hopping time for drivers

[srwarden1928]

I am planning a WDW trip for the first time since 2010. Since I drive to Disney in the first place I always drive to the parks, except one time I left the car in the MK lot and took the monorail to Epcot. For planning purposes, how long should I allow for hopping. I will be driving to all the parks, and will usually drive from park to park. I will be happy to take the monorail between MK and Epcot again (in either direction). I would also consider taking the boat from Epoct to DHS if that is more efficient than moving the car. I prefer not to take the bus. How long should I estimate for each hop? Should I just stick to the car, or would the monorail and boat be efficient methods for those hops? I really appreciate the advice.

 

[Kaytie]

The boat is actually very inefficient. It's about 30 minutes one way. Walking is just as fast unless there a boat at the dock with room for you as you approach. The EP/DHS bus is only about five minutes if there's one there, but your car is otherwise fastest.

 

[glassslippergirl]

You have to start by figuring how much time it will take you to walk from wherever you are in the park out the gate and either tram or walk to your car. Once you are in the car, it will only take 10-15 minutes to get to a parking space in another park depending on traffic and the line to get into the parking lot. Trams or walking from the parking lot to the park entrance add another 10-20 minutes. It's always longer to get in to or out of MK because you have to add time on the monorail or ferry.

I'm big on using our car rather than taking the bus. To your question about monorail or boat, my advice is to begin with the end in mind. I like to be parked at the park where I will end my day. Monorailing to Epcot mid-day is awesome. Waiting in an epic line after Illuminations so I can get back to TTC and wait for a tram to my car is not awesome. If you're already in WS and want to spend a few hours in DHS before coming back for Illuminations, take the boat (slow) or walk.

 

[Klayfish]

We always use our car too. I agree with glassslippergirl in that always have the end in mind. If you hop without the car, make sure the car is where you plan to end the day. We typically use our car though, unless we're going MK to Epcot. The ferry from Epcot to HS is fun (as long as it's not hot outside), but slow. We only use it if we have time we want to kill.

As for how long it takes, MK takes a little longer because of the monorail or ferry. But for the other parks, from the time we hit the exit gate of park A, we can be at the entrance of park B in roughly 30 minutes, give or take (depends on what park, where our car is parked in Park A, where we park in Park B).

 

[momto2js]

I have had a couple of occasions to test Disney transportation vs car. My kids were young and liked riding the bus or boat or monorail. So one parent went with kids on the transportation adventure, and the other moved the car. The boat from HS to EP was one hour slower than the car and we left the gate at EXACTLY the same time. From the TTC to EP I made it 25 minutes faster in the car. From the contemporary to HS i was there 45 minutes early. In all cases, it is FASTER to move the car!!