How can we visit other resorts?

[COscrapper]

We are taking our first trip to WDW Oct. 29-Nov. 5 and staying at AKL. We would really love to squeeze in some resort-hopping just to see some of the amazing hotels, but is that possible with the parking restrictions, etc? I really want to see the boardwalk area at night (entertainment performers are only out at night, right?), and also some of the monorail resorts. We will have a car...

Would it be possible to head over to the boardwalk one night after another park closes early? For example, if we are at MK on a party day, we will have to be out by 7. Could we potentially take the monorail over to Epcot and walk to the boardwalk area after leaving MK? Would we be able to get back to MK after that and still catch a bus back to AKL? Or is that too much trouble? I guess we could catch a bus back to AKL directly from Epcot, correct?

Or could we drive over to the boardwalk area on say, arrival day when we have nothing going on? Would we be allowed to park there? If parking is allowed, we also thought maybe we could visit some resorts after we check out at the end of our trip? Possible???

We are trying to squeeze this in without taking away from our park time, since we only have 5-day hoppers...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

but is that possible with the parking restrictions, etc?

The best bet, depending on which resorts, is to park somewhere other than the resort. If you want to hop the MK-area resorts, just bus from AKL to Magic Kingdom and use the monorail and boats (or park at the TTC). For the Boardwalk-area resorts, park at HS or Epcot then bus/walk to the Boardwalk area.

To monorail to Epcot then walk to the Boardwalk, you would need Epcot admission, since the walking path is from International Gateway, and monorail stops out at the other gate. If you have hoppers, this would work because you could walk through Epcot from the monorail. All the inter park transport runs until after the last park shuts down.

I wouldn't recommend trying to park in the Boardwalk area without an ADR and/or being willing to pay valet.

 

[COscrapper]

Thanks Aurora - so would it be quicker to take the monorail to Epcot and then walk through to the boardwalk area, or take a bus to the boardwalk resorts directly from MK? If MK is closing when we leave, I imagine both modes will have long lines...?

So we can use valet without having an ADR? We might be willing to spring for it. Would that work on check-out day, for us to drive around to some of the resorts?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks Aurora - so would it be quicker to take the monorail to Epcot and then walk through to the boardwalk area, or take a bus to the boardwalk resorts directly from MK? If MK is closing when we leave, I imagine both modes will have long lines...?

So we can use valet without having an ADR? We might be willing to spring for it. Would that work on check-out day, for us to drive around to some of the resorts?

Anyone can use valet. The big issue in the Boardwalk area are the people trying to avoid valet parking.

I'd flip a coin on if the buses or the monorail would be worse. Keep in mind that the monorail to Epcot from MK requires you to monorail to the TTC, then switch for the Epcot monorail.

 

[COscrapper]

Hmmm, ok. What if we do that and end up at the boardwalk past closing time of Epcot? Would we be stuck calling a cab to get back to AKL?

 

[richmo]

For Boardwalk in particular, walking access is good from either Epcot or the Studios. One advantage of the Studios is that you dont have to go in the park first. Just tram from the parking lot, then walk it.

In general, it would probably be easiest to park at Disney Springs or a park and bus to the various resorts. A fun way to resort hop is to go to the resort that has the first bus show up.

 

[dcpkiddo]

Unless you're totally against using the bus system, mom and I typically go with busses when resort hopping. From your home resort, bus to the park closest to the resort you want to visit. (In your case, Epcot.) then bus to your desired resort. The biggest thing to look out for is time. One time mom and I were so caught up in the fun we were having at WL, we didn't realize all the park busses were done for the night. We wound up having to route through Disney Springs in order to get back to our resort that night!

Boardwalk is such a blast, hope you guys have fun!!

 

[raddisneyfan]

I always resort hop when at Disney. The easiest are the MK area resorts. The day you go to the Magic Kingdom, if by bus, you can walk to the CR and then take a boat to WL. Then, back at the CR, you can get on the monorail and go to GF and then walk or monorail to the Polynesian. If you drive instead of busing it, you can walk from the TTC to the Polynesian and then walk to the GF, then monorail to CR and then again boat to WL. If you are at the TTC, you can also take the monorail to EPCOT, but this is not the most efficient way to get to the EPCOT resorts. As previous posters have mentioned, parking at the Boardwalk area is not that easy either and can often be closed for EPCOT resort guests only during busy times--I've run into this a number of times staying at another non-EPCOT Disney resort. In my opinion though, the EPCOT resorts don't match up to AKL and the monorail resorts in terms of theming. I love staying at the Boardwalk Inn; the rooms are very nice and the convenience is really great, but I would say the theme doesn't compare to when I've stayed at AKL or the Polynesian. Just my 2 cents...take them for what they're worth....and enjoy seeing the great Disney style.

 

[buzznina]

We have driven and parked at most of the deluxes when just sight seeing, without a problem. For the monorail resorts, we park at GF, walk to POLY and then take monorail to CR or park at WL, boat to MK and walk to CR and then ride the monorail to GF/POLY. We also never had any issue parking at BW to visit BW/BC/YC.

 

[loves to dive]

If you want to park at the resorts, please use the valet parking, as someone who stays at those resorts, I can tell you there is nothing more frustrating then paying what you are paying to stay there and then not be able to park your car. I personally, use the WDW transportation and have no problems doing so, but if you want to visit the Epcot resorts, the best bet would be to drive to HS and park then boat over, all three resorts are on the boat line. If the boats stop running, the walk back to HS is easy and not that far. To visit the MK resorts, I'd park at TTC and monorail around them and take the boat to WL. Remember, the WDW transportation stops running a hour after the park closes. There is self parking at the Swan, it's $18 but again, as someone who has stayed there and not been able to find a spot, I'd recommend valet parking.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

OP is going in October. BW definitely enforce parking in October, and sometimes have to make guests use the valet.

 

[buzznina]

OP is going in October. BW definitely enforce parking in October, and sometimes have to make guests use the valet.

Is this a fact? because we have not had this issue and we use to go every October for my conference. I know right around Halloween they tend to do this. OP, If you do valet, then you can drive to other resorts during that day and use valet with no additional charges, just tips.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Is this a fact? because we have not had this issue and we use to go every October for my conference. I know right around Halloween they tend to do this. OP, If you do valet, then you can drive to other resorts during that day and use valet with no additional charges, just tips.

Yes, fact. With recent work near the BW, it's been messy for parking at BWV and BCV.

 

[COscrapper]

That's good to know about valet. We won't be trying to bend any rules or anything - I honestly don't know what the protocol is. How much is valet these days? Considering we will prob do this after we check out to go home, using valet would prob be the most convenient. Would we even be able to still park at the parks for free? Or does that end the second we check out of AKL? If we could still park for free at TTC, we could do that and hop the monorail.

The boardwalk area is kind of a seperate thing, since we want to go one evening. The easiest thing would be to do it on our Epcot day, I'm sure - I just don't know if we will be able to fit it in then, along with illuminations and F&W, etc....the one evening we have free right now would be when we have to leave MK at 7, so that's why I was asking about that.

If Epcot does close while we are at the boardwalk, we're stuck though - right? I don't think we'll be driving that day if it's a MK day for us...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If Epcot does close while we are at the boardwalk, we're stuck though - right?

You will be able to get a bus to a park from any of the resorts.

 

[busymommy2pink]

What I would do....

On the evening you want to explore the boardwalk area, park that morning in the valet at Boardwalk and use their transport to the park you plan on going to (better if you can tie this to an Epcot day). If you are at MK I would personally take the bus to beach club and walk directly through the lobby to the boardwalk outside. The picture of the boardwalk all lit up at dusk or dark is breath taking and definitely the best way to see it from afar and get some great pics from the super soft white sand, swing on the big swing just taking it all in. Then take the walk to the boardwalk. It's not long or far. My hubby does it every morning when we stay at BC.

Our resort tour for the MK area is boat to GF from MK. Listening to the orchestra, enjoy basin shopping, sit and people watch. Then you can walk the beach to the Polynesian this gives you a nice feel for the grounds. We then go in and check out the resort inside, we've always been given a lei. Then we hop the monorail and pass
Gf and MK on our way to contemp. Here we check out all the many pressed penny machines and the gift shop. Then it's off to the boats and we choose wilderness lodge or fort wilderness. Both are very neat, but kids prfer the latter.

We love the resorts as much as the parks!!

Don't forget you can use both pools at akl

 

[BenandMorgsMom]

Is this a fact? because we have not had this issue and we use to go every October for my conference. I know right around Halloween they tend to do this. OP, If you do valet, then you can drive to other resorts during that day and use valet with no additional charges, just tips.

We go every F & W during OCT....parking is a nightmare now not only at BWV but at BC and Yacht. We own at BWV and BC and alternate stays during F & W and parking is limited for guests. They will not let you in that gate after I would say 2ish without a dining reservation. Things are very strict now. We understand, but now if it's not even F & W and say you want to visit Yacht or BC they won't let you park. We like the Crew Cup lounge and they don't take reservations. They won't let you in to dine. We used to go every trip, now we don't and it's not a cheap place to eat either.

 

[COscrapper]

We go every F & W during OCT....parking is a nightmare now not only at BWV but at BC and Yacht. We own at BWV and BC and alternate stays during F & W and parking is limited for guests. They will not let you in that gate after I would say 2ish without a dining reservation. Things are very strict now. We understand, but now if it's not even F & W and say you want to visit Yacht or BC they won't let you park. We like the Crew Cup lounge and they don't take reservations. They won't let you in to dine. We used to go every trip, now we don't and it's not a cheap place to eat either.

Do you mean not even for valet? So we should not try to drive to the boardwalk area at all?

 

[Lynne M]

It's really tough at the Epcot area resorts (BWV, BWI, BC, BCV, YC) during the Food and Wine Festival. They wouldn't let me in the BC parking lot at all one evening. Lots of locals attend F&W, and I'm sure loads of people try to park at the nearby resorts.

Since you want to see the BW entertainment anyway, I'd do those resorts on a night when you're visiting Epcot or DHS. You can easily walk or boat to any of those resorts from either park. If you want to stay out later than the theme parks are open, you can take a cab back to AKL, or take the bus from any resort to Disney Springs, and transfer to an AKL bus there.

You mentioned taking the monorail to Epcot and walking to the resorts. In case no one has mentioned it, you'd actually need to enter Epcot to do that. There's no way to get to those resorts from the Epcot monorail or bus depot without entering the park, so you'd need to have a park hopper or an annual pass to get into Epcot if you'd been to another resort that day, and then walk the entire length of Epcot to get to the International Gateway, where you could exit to the resort area.

 

[Ensusieasm]

We are taking our first trip to WDW Oct. 29-Nov. 5 and staying at AKL. We would really love to squeeze in some resort-hopping just to see some of the amazing hotels, but is that possible with the parking restrictions, etc? I really want to see the boardwalk area at night (entertainment performers are only out at night, right?), and also some of the monorail resorts. We will have a car...

Would it be possible to head over to the boardwalk one night after another park closes early? For example, if we are at MK on a party day, we will have to be out by 7. Could we potentially take the monorail over to Epcot and walk to the boardwalk area after leaving MK? Would we be able to get back to MK after that and still catch a bus back to AKL? Or is that too much trouble? I guess we could catch a bus back to AKL directly from Epcot, correct?

Or could we drive over to the boardwalk area on say, arrival day when we have nothing going on? Would we be allowed to park there? If parking is allowed, we also thought maybe we could visit some resorts after we check out at the end of our trip? Possible???

We are trying to squeeze this in without taking away from our park time, since we only have 5-day hoppers...

If you want to use Disney transportation from AKL to the Boardwalk without using
a park ticket to walk through Epcot to the resort side, catch a bus from AKL to HS and walk to the right down the sidewalk to the water taxi. This water taxi will stop at the Epcot resorts and the boardwalk. When you are ready to return to AKL catch a bus to Disney Springs from any Epcot resort and browse around the DS Marketplace if you want, then catch a bus to AKL from there. Disney Springs buses always run late so you don't have to worry about a park closing too soon. Also, buses run at least an hour, usually more after Park closings.