How early to make it for opening?

[oxhoward]

We're staying at POR in 21 days (plus about 8 hours) and would like to make opening for some of the parks.

How much time before opening should we leave the hotel?

If MK opens at 9am?

 

[ricktib]

Depends if you're driving or riding the bus. I don't have any experience with the busses, but we always plan on driving from POR:

MGM / Epcot: 25 min. prior
AK: 35 min. prior
MK: 40 min. prior

 

[oxhoward]

Planning on using Disney transportation.

 

[buttons]

I would be at the bus stop around 7:30 or 7:45 personally.

 

[HydroGuy]

I haven't tested this, but it might be useful. It gives you travel time from point to point around WDW.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp?action=rts

 

[TAKitty]

I always leave an hour early. If the park opens at 9:00, I leave at 8:00 for the bus stop. This has always worked for us.

 

[hilltopper72]

In the last 10 years of so the DW and I have been about 10 times to the World. Everytime we got to the parks early { we are early risers} and everytime except one they dropped the ropes 30 minutes early. Now most times were in June with heavy summer crowds, but except for 2002 in January, the parks always opened before published times. Haven't been since 2002, does that still happen?

 

[GarrettJD]

In the last 10 years of so the DW and I have been about 10 times to the World. Everytime we got to the parks early { we are early risers} and everytime except one they dropped the ropes 30 minutes early. Now most times were in June with heavy summer crowds, but except for 2002 in January, the parks always opened before published times. Haven't been since 2002, does that still happen?

Our experience he last couple of years is that with a 9:00 opening, they usually now let most of the crowd into the gates about 15 minutes early, up to a certain point in the park (in MK, it's the central hub, at Epcot, in front of Spaceship Earth, in MGM, partly down Hollywood Blvd, and at the AK, in front of the Tree of Life.) Then, at 9:00, they "drop the ropes" and everyone can enter the main part of the parks.

As far as taking on-propery buses, we do kust like TAKitty does. 9:00 opening, be at the bus stop at 8:00. This will get you to the parks by 8:30-8:40 at the latest.

 

[Karnak]

Staying at Port Orleans - Riverside, I would be at the bus stop by about 7:45 for an opening time of 9:00 at the Magic Kingdom. The early time is to be sure of arriving at the park before opening time. Since the bus normally stops first at the French Quarter, and then to the stops at Riverside, there is a chance that the bus will be full and not stop at your closest bus stop.

Looking at a map of Riverside I see four bus stops; one at the main building (lobby), and three others around the property - "west," "north," and "east." The bus stops at the main building first, so if you are near that location, or want to walk over there, you will be sure to board the first bus that comes along, and probably get a seat as well.

Enjoy.