How long does it take to get "into" the parks?

[HauntedMansionFreak]

Leaving in a few weeks and in it's been about 8 years since I've been. I cannot remember how long it takes to get into the actual Main Street area once you reach the outside parking lot. We have bought our tickets in advance and plan on being there at park opening.

Anyone know a rough estimate on that? Hubby suggested an afternoon break, but if it's gonna take 45 min to get out and to our car and another 45 min once we get back to get back in the park then we don't want to do it.

Also, I can't remember for sure, but you don't ride a ferry, monorail or anything to Epcot, MGM, or AK right? Just a tram from the parking lot? How long will it take to get into these parks?

Thanks!

~HMF~

 

[LoriMistress]

It can take from a couple of minutes to fifteen minutes...depending on if people are not holding up the lines. Personally, I like to show up early so I can be up front and center. So when the parks open I'm the first one in.

 

[donzac27]

To get to Main St. from the parking lot can take some time. I would allow about 30 minutes, give or take a few. Remember that once you park the car and either take a tram or walk to the ticket and transportation center you still need to wait for either a monorail or a ferry boat and then ride on over to the MK. Once you get off the monorail or the ferry you need to go through security to check everyones bags which sometimes has large lines and then through the turnstiles which also could have lines.

The other parks are a bit easier and quicker. After you park the car you just take a tram or walk to the entrance. You still have security checks and going through the turnstiles but it usually isn't as crowded as the MK.

 

[goofyernmost]

I would think that 30 minutes would be a good average estimate. The monorail or the ferry both take about 12 minutes to get to MK. Most of the time the wait time is very short for the tram or the ferry or monorail and if you already have your tickets you can usually breeze right through.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

When I went in Feb, we drove and got there before park opening each day. After parking and walking to the gates it took us about 5-8 minutes.

The one day we took the tram it took about 15 minutes so we prefer to walk. We're just two adults though, so with little ones it might take longer.

MK takes longer because you park at the TTC and take the ferry or the monorail. We usually take the ferry because it's a nicer ride but it is longer, maybe 15 minutes. The monorail takes about 10.


Going through the actual gate & security never took us longer than 5 minutes. Security itself took about 1 minute on average and the longest part was really waiting in line to get through the turnstile that people put their tickets through (there are an awful lot of people who have a problem grasping the concept of sliding their ticket through the machine...)

They have a lot of gates open and for some reason, everyone tends to stick to just a few of them. So look for ones that are off to the side that are not as long lines.