how long from MGM to MK?

[punkin413]

how long does it normally take to get from MGM after fantasia (yes, when everyone else is trying to get out of the park at the same time) to MK? MK has EMH the night we'll be at MGM, which will also be the first night of our vacation, and if we're up for it we're going to head over to MK for as many late-night rides as we can manage (depending on the EMH crowds!).

also, i'm assuming the fastest (and only???) way from MGM to MK is by bus?

 

[OKW Lover]

Driving would be the fastest. If you have to depend on Disney transportation, then you're stuck waiting for the bus along with everybody else. Expect it to take an hour (including the wait) and be happy if its less.

 

[diseyore]

Best suggestion is to sit in the back (NOT THE DISABLED SECTION) at Fantasmic and walk really fast. Then you will beat most to the crowds and be a MK in about 1/2 hour. When we are ready to leave right away we usually beat most of the crowds, but you need to drive, otherwise you will need to wait for the bus to fill and get crammed before they will leave.

 

[CleveRocks]

I agree with OKW Lover. Allow one hour if you use Disney Transport, including waiting times, regardless of crowds. You will catch a bus from MGM to the TTC. AT the TTC, you'll have to walk around to the monorail platform or the ferry dock, and take one of those modes of transport across Seven Seas Lagoon to the MK.

 

[punkin413]

blah. now i'm thinking we may not do this. we're using disney transportation from the time we check into the hotel until the day we leave.

is there anywhere that we can walk to from MGM to catch maybe a less-crowded bus?

 

[tjmw2727]

You could walk to the Boardwalk, about 15-20 minute walk depending on the party or take the friendship boat. If the boat is at the dock and you make it on that is just a few minutes faster.

Honestly though, we usually budget a few extra $$ for a cab here and there. Park closings esp in cases like you describe and resort to resort transporation are when we find grabbing a cab sometimes is "priceless".

So in your situation my first choice would be to grab a cab (if finances permit) and I would probably take it to the Contemporary and walk rather than via the TTC.

My 2nd choice would be to walk or boat to BW and take an MK bus from the BW

3rd choice would be the bus from MGM to MK.

TJ

 

[punkin413]

one more question: what's the *best* way to get from the contemporary resort to the boardwalk? we're having dinner one night at cali grill and i think we're gonna go check out the boardwalk afterwards. can i take the monorail to epcot and then either walk or take some sort of boat to BW? is there another way?

thanks! you guys are so helpful!

 

[CleveRocks]

If you have park hopper tickets that you've already used that day (or non-hoppers but you've already been inside Epcot that day), you can take the monorail to TTC, transfer to another monorail and go to Epcot, then walk all the way through to the International Gateway, and get to the Boardwalk that way. This, unfortunately, is still going to be a slow-ish process: waiting for a monorail at your resort, then waiting for another monorail at TTC, then riding to Epcot that way, then walking through much of Epcot, then getting to where you want to go after exiting through the International Gateway.

Of course, all bets are off doing it this way if you can't go through Epcot (like if you weren't otherwise going to a theme park that day, it'd be an awful waste to use a day on your ticket just to take a 10-15 minute walk).

This is still a pretty slow process. Again, taxi is your most efficient way. I love Disney Transport, I love not driving on vacation, but in my 2 trips in the past 20 months I've only gone resort-to-resort ONCE. It's possible to go resort-to-resort, but it's rarely quick or efficient.

 

[punkin413]

If you have park hopper tickets that you've already used that day (or non-hoppers but you've already been inside Epcot that day), you can take the monorail to TTC, transfer to another monorail and go to Epcot, then walk all the way through to the International Gateway, and get to the Boardwalk that way. This, unfortunately, is still going to be a slow-ish process: waiting for a monorail at your resort, then waiting for another monorail at TTC, then riding to Epcot that way, then walking through much of Epcot, then getting to where you want to go after exiting through the International Gateway.

Of course, all bets are off doing it this way if you can't go through Epcot (like if you weren't otherwise going to a theme park that day, it'd be an awful waste to use a day on your ticket just to take a 10-15 minute walk).

This is still a pretty slow process. Again, taxi is your most efficient way. I love Disney Transport, I love not driving on vacation, but in my 2 trips in the past 20 months I've only gone resort-to-resort ONCE. It's possible to go resort-to-resort, but it's rarely quick or efficient.

we have park hoppers, but i don't think i'm gonna go into epcot and walk to the international gateway. that seems like it would be a really long walk! i guess i underestimated it. i think we may just take the monorail from contemporary to the TTC, then a bus to the boardwalk. i'm not worried about it being a slow process. we've got all night!

thanks again!

 

[ncbyrne]

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp?action=rts
This site will tell you all the possibilities for using WDW transportation between any two onsite locations. I've found it to be very useful.

 

[punkin413]

that's for that site, ncbyrne. it's very helpful.

and i lied....i have one more question. i think i can deal with disney transportation for our entire trip EXCEPT for our cali grill night. if we do disney transportation from POP to cali grill, it's at least 40 minutes. then if we go to the boardwalk afterwards, it's at least 50 (!!!) minutes. i'd hate to waste that much time on a bus! anyway, i think the taxi option will definitely be what we'll use on that night. 2 questions:

1. are taxis commonly available at POP? i know they would be around at the contemporary resort for our ride to the BW, but i wasn't sure about our ride from POP to cali grill.

2. about how much would cab fare be from POP to the contemporary? and then from contemporary to the BW?

thanks......again!!!

 

[brianm27]

that's for that site, ncbyrne. it's very helpful.

and i lied....i have one more question. i think i can deal with disney transportation for our entire trip EXCEPT for our cali grill night. if we do disney transportation from POP to cali grill, it's at least 40 minutes. then if we go to the boardwalk afterwards, it's at least 50 (!!!) minutes. i'd hate to waste that much time on a bus! anyway, i think the taxi option will definitely be what we'll use on that night. 2 questions:

1. are taxis commonly available at POP? i know they would be around at the contemporary resort for our ride to the BW, but i wasn't sure about our ride from POP to cali grill.

2. about how much would cab fare be from POP to the contemporary? and then from contemporary to the BW?

thanks......again!!!

I would take the bus from POP to MK and the resort monorail or walk to Contemporary. It's only a 5 minute walk.

Another way we have gone to BW is bus from Contemporary to MGM then walk to the Boardwalk. For us the walk is only 10-15 minutes and is very relaxing along the river - especially at night.

 

[BCV23]

There is no bus from the TTC to the BW so don't try that. Park buses go to the TTC, resort buses go to the MK directly.

After California Grill, I would walk back to the MK and catch a BW bus. I agree about the Pop to MK bus to get to CG in the first place.

But you might want to think about planning a Boardwalk visit on a night that you will already be at Epcot or MGM. It will save you time and aggravation. Ditto with California Grill and MK EMH if you can rearrange that

 

[tjmw2727]

From PoP to California Grill I would take the bus to the MK and then just walk or take the monroail (1st stop) to the Contemporary. Just plan extra time and if you are early there is plenty to do, ie shopping or drinks at the bar etc.

From the Contemporary I would take the MGM bus and then walk or take the boat to the Boardwalk area.

As far as cabs they are plentiful at the Contemporary and Boardwalk but you may have to call for one at Pop.

TJ