How do we get to Hoop Dee Doo?

[Cmbar]

We are planning at being at Animal Kingdom the day we have reservations for the Hoop Dee Doo. We have ressies for the 5pm show. What time should we leave AK and how should we go to get to the show? Should we take a bus directily to Fort Wilderness? and if so what then?

Thanks for any help!

Also after the show how do we get back to our resort CBR?

 

[mommystieg]

This is one you really have to allow travel time for because once you get to Fort Wilderness you have to take another bus to Pioneer Hall. I am overly cautious so if I was taking a bus from AK to FW I would make my family leave AK at 3:30 in order to make the 5:00 show

 

[Robo]

This is one you really have to allow travel time for because once you get to Fort Wilderness you have to take another bus to Pioneer Hall. I am overly cautious so if I was taking a bus from AK to FW I would make my family leave AK at 3:30 in order to make the 5:00 show

I second all of this.
If this was your second or third trip to the Hoop and knew your way around, you could make it in an hour, but I like the extra "pad" for travel.

An alternate way to get there is to take a bus to Wilderness Lodge (or the Contemporary), and catch a BOAT over to FtW.
The boat (unlike the bus) lets you out right at the Pioneer Hall area.

If you get there early, relax and enjoy the Pioneer Hall area of FtW.

There's a log cabin-style gift shop, a sandy beach area, rocking chairs on the front porch, (and some annoying 25-cent BUZZY FEET-VIBRATORS people like to try).

The very nice HORSE BARN for all of WDW is located a few steps away and, depending on the time of day, you can walk in and say "Hey" to some of WDW's finest "hay-burners".

 

[Ana~n~Joseph]

I agree. We went two weeks ago for the 5p.m. show as well and left Animal Kingdom at 4:30!! Waaay too late. As we walked to the bus stop the bus was pulling out so we had to wait for the next bus. It finally got there, took us to FW and then we had to get off and get on another bus to take us to Pioneer Hall. Thankfully the driver was nice and decided to speed down the roads to get us there fast. We got there at 5:15p.m., we missed the pictures they take outside but as soon as we got there and sat down the show started. I would recommend you leave no later than 4p.m. To get back to CBR, we took the MGM bus, got off at MGM and got on the CBR bus. The closest park to the resort though is Magic Kingdom so you can take a quick bus trip to MK and then grab a CBR bus.

 

[Cmbar]

So let me see if I got this straight:

Leave AK no LATER than 4pm and we might want to leave more like 3:30 since we are first timers!

We can take bus from AK to WL, Cont Or Fort Wilderness. If we take FW bus we will have to hop a bus to pioneer hall. If we take a bus to CR or WL we can hop the boat directly to the Pioneer hall area. RIGHT???

Also on the way home can we take the boat back to MK from the Pioneer hall? We might want to go back for the fireworks at MK that night. I should expect the show to get out around 7pm right?

Thanks again for all your responses.

 

[jonimce]

If you don't have a car and must take the bus the fastest way is to take a bus to the MK. From there you are let off right near the boat ramp. The boat lets you off right where you want to be. Busses travel more direct from park to park. If you take a bus to FW you will need to take another bus to the other end of the campground. This is about a 15 to 20 minute walk without kids. Then to go back to your resort, simply take the boat back to the MK to catch a bus back to your resort. Depending on your dinner time you may be able to catch the water pagent at the marina. The Hoop dee doo is terrific. We have done it twice on our WA. Last time was with 12 people.

 

[dixiedizfan]

We left MK around 3:50 on the boat to Ft. Wilderness. We stopped at Wilderness Lodge first, then got to FW a couple minutes later. We were around 45 minutes early for the show, so browsed the general store, petting zoo and horse stables. The show was over around 7:00, and our plan was to take the boat back to MK, but since it was so cold out (January 5th) we took the bus instead.

 

[puffkin]

I would leave AK at 3:30. Hop on whichever bus comes first- Contemporary, WL or MK. Then take the boat from that location to FW. The marina is right near Pioneer Hall.

I would avoid taking the FW bus because they have a very confusing internal bus system.

 

[Cmbar]

So can I get a bus from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom? Never done that before but it makes sense!

 

[DKx3]

We did this from AK to HDDR in November. Take bus to MK and boat to Ft. Wilderness which will drop you off at Pioneer Hall. Leave AK by 3:30. It's a great show!

 

[Robo]

So can I get a bus from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom? Never done that before but it makes sense!

Whoa there guys, I did not suggest the AK-to-MK bus BECAUSE...
It puts you out at TTC, NOT at the MK resort Bus area.

You'd then need to take a monorail or ferry over to MK before you could get on a boat to FtW.

That's why I suggested the Contemp. or Wilderness Lodge.
Its a small bit of walking to get to the boat docks, but not nearly as much time as the extra TTC-to-MK trip.

(I HAVE been on a Park-to-Park bus where I managed to get driver to take us directly to the Resort Bus area in MK, and not TTC, but that's another story.)

Going back to a resort directly from MK after the early Hoop is a good plan, however.

The park-to-park buses are about the only bus routes left at TTC.
If I'm wrong about this, its news to me.

 

[keddy]

1

 

[byoung]

Yes you can take boat over to MK after.

 

[momshark]

I was also told that you could take an internal Disney? Taxi from any park to wherever else you want to go. I think you can ask at guest relations for them to call a taxi. It costs around $10 and takes about 15 minutes to get where you want. Now, remember, I was told this, did not actually do it. Also be careful not to use an outside taxi service as it will be big $$$. Also told this.
When we went we took the boat from MK over to the show and back then took the monorail to the TTC then went to our resort from there.
Good Luck! It was a lot of fun!

 

[Robo]

When we went we took the boat from MK over to the show and back then took the monorail to the TTC then went to our resort from there.

WHEN did you do that?
None of the resort buses depart from TTC (and haven't for years).

They leave from their own lot right in front of MK.
If you stayed at the Poly (I see from your signature) you didn't need to go to TTC as the Resort monorail stops directly AT the Poly.

(If you meant you got off at TTC and walked to one of the Poly buildings near TTC, that's fine. But that is a VERY unique situation.)

I want to make SURE we're not sending the OP on a "wild goose chase" by giving the wrong info.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Robo,

It sounds like you are trying to earn your purple pants . (Tranportation CMs wear purple pants)

Anyway, I wanted to second everything that Robo is right on with all the information.

Ed

 

[Robo]

Robo,

It sounds like you are trying to earn your purple pants . (Tranportation CMs wear purple pants)

Anyway, I wanted to second everything that Robo is right on with all the information.

Ed

I respect the "purple pants" team at WDW.

They always get me where I'm going.

Thanks!

 

[momshark]

Robo - That is exactly what we did. We walked to our building, Tokelau, at the Poly. My misunderstanding about the busses departing from the TTC center. The OP could still take the boat to the Wilderness Campground and back from right in front of MK then catch the resort bus at MK. (I had to look back at my notes and my '05 PassPorter)
I alos checked the '06 PassPorter for info on taxis and this is what it says
"While taxis are available, we don't recommend them for travel due to cost. Large parties may be able to ride in a taxi mini-van economically, however." p.20. I don't know how you would find out about a taxi mini-van. And I don't remeber where I heard about the whole taxi thing in the first place.
Sorry if I have confused anyone - only trying to offer different options.

 

[Robo]

The OP could still take the boat to the Wilderness Campground and back from right in front of MK then catch the resort bus at MK.

Yes, that might a very good plan after the 5pm Hoop...
but only if MK is NOT at or near Closing time.
If it IS, the CROWDS can be pretty bad trying to get on the buses.


The "go to MK" option may not always available following the later Hoop shows:
MK may already be closed so the boats are not running.

I always carry a list of opening and closing times, just for this reason.

A good transportation tip to remember, if in doubt, after the parks are closed:

If you are at ANY RESORT (FtW is a resort) and you want to go to any other resort...
Take a bus TO Downtown Disney, get OFF that bus, then get ON the bus going to the resort of your choice.

 

[Paul in TX]

I would take the bus to the Contemporary Hotel and walk out back to catch the launch over to Fort Wilderness---

JMHO

Paul in TX