How do you figure out how much time to get to each restaurant, if your a newbie

[shorty2313]

Hello. As previously mentioned in other posts, we have gone to Disney, but many years ago, as kids. I have the job of planning everything, yippeeee but I am just trying to figure out how to find out how much time it is from where we are staying (at Pop) to restaurants in differnt parks. I see the helpful hints says to "allow plenty of time" but is there somewhere or someone that can guide me with any helpful info. Thanks

 

[ronirp]

most travel guides have "estimated times" from park to hotel (I know that the unofficial guide has them). That helps for many of the resturants, excpet if you are traveling from one hotel to another.

 

[wdwishes1990]

We plan an hour if it is in another park, from our resort or in another hotel.

Of course if it is within the park we are visiting that day we head over about 20 minutes prior to our ressie.

 

[Lewanc]

Hello. As previously mentioned in other posts, we have gone to Disney, but many years ago, as kids. I have the job of planning everything, yippeeee but I am just trying to figure out how to find out how much time it is from where we are staying (at Pop) to restaurants in differnt parks. I see the helpful hints says to "allow plenty of time" but is there somewhere or someone that can guide me with any helpful info. Thanks

Hi There Shorty -- Congratulations on being chosen the family official Disney vacation planner . Whether a seasoned Disney Vet, or a Newbie, the helpful hint to "allow plenty of time" is very good advice, but I realize not too specific. When traveling to any of the parks, by bus, to meet a specific reservation time, I would suggest you give yourself at minimum a 30-45 minute time frame (from hotel to park), as once you get to the park, you will have to walk to the restaurant, which may not be near the park entrance. If you are in the park and have to meet a reservation time, plan rides so you are near the restaurant, and don't have to rush from one end of the park to the other. If you call Central Reservations, you may be able to get park maps to plan beforehand, which route to take to each restaurant. I believe somewhere on-line you can find maps to each of the WDW parks, just do a Yahoo and/or Google search, and you can start your plan of action.

I would talk with the front desk and get the bus schedule for each park, and then you can get a better idea of travel and walk time, due to the size of your party, and any small children involved.

Hope I have helped -- Happy Disney Planning.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You should allow about twenty minutes AT the hotel, in case you just missed a bus (they run about 20 minutes apart).
Then allow another 20 minutes to get to the park, within reason - MK probably takes that long, MGM may only take five minutes...
Then allow enough time to get off the bus (2 - 3 minutes),
through any security check (2 - 3 minutes, lines look worse than they probably are),
into the park (1 - 5 minutes depending on how fast or slow the lines are moving),
from the turnstiles to the restaurant (5 - 20 minutes, examples Tony's Town Square at MK is about three minutes from the gate; Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot may take you 20 minutes to walk from the front of the park to the back),
and the five to ten minutes in advance recommended/required when you make your reservation.

So, anywhere from 25 to 80 minutes, depending on a variety of factors as indicated above.

 

[Hopefully]

Great advice by kaytieeldr in PP. I personally would then add about 10 - 15 minutes for the "unplanned"
It is a challenge to get from place to place, but so worith it, in my opinion.

 

[fla4fun]

Add an extra 30 minutes for each time you have to change transportation. For example, if you are going from your resort to another resort, you can't catch direct transportation unless you hire a taxi. You will need to allow the 20 minutes to catch transportation at your hotel, an average of 15 minutes for the ride, then another 20 minutes to catch the connecting transportation, and another 15 minues to ride. Sometimes you get lucky and make all the connections without waiting. Sometimes it seems like you just miss every bus/boat/monorail. At least all the resorts have interesting shops and areas to wander around in if you arrive early.

I recommend that you try to arrange your ADR's around the parks you plan to visit, even if the restaurants are in resorts instead of in the parks. It's a lot easier to get to a monorail resort if you're in the MK than if you're in AK.

 

[MissMet]

We always go with an hour & we're usually right on time. IMO, I wouldn't cut it any shorter than an hour. It doesn't hurt to be early, anyway. Depending on how busy it is, sometimes they'll seat you when you arrive, even if you're early. Plus there's always something to do. But I don't think you'll be that early giving yourself an hour.

 

[ccigliano]

Yes - do leave yourself plenty of time. It's hard to say exactly how much without more info but let's say that you are eating in the World Showcase in EPCOT. So if you're not already at EPCOT it's a haul from the the park entrance to get back to the Showcase and if you are eating at Morocco it could take another 15 minutes. There are also some tricks to get from resort to resort and as frequent WLV guest I know all the shortcuts to resorts that I dine at. Maybe another POP guest could give you tips on specific restaurants. The bottom-line is just leave yourself plenty of time to get from point A to point B and if you have time to spare you can always shop .

 

[pavil]

My best advice would be to ask on the DIS for people's estimates getting to specific restaurants. For Example getting to HDDR is the eaisest from MK by hopping a boat. People here will help you with estimates.

Like someone else said, if it is a park to park jump or a park to hotel jump, I give ourselves about an 45min to an hour lead time. 45 mins is cutting it close and an hour is comfortable.

If it is a place next to a park I am at, ie Ohanas at MK, i would give myself about 35 minutes.

As somone said some hikes from the park entrance to a restaurant can take 15 minutes so build that into your times.

From Pop to another resort, you will have to go to DTD or MGM first and hop a bus to the Resort, unless someone has a better idea, again just figure that extra time in.

Good luck with your planning. Plan your dining even if you don't want to.