How long on the bus to parks from OKW?

[sajilunni]

Hi everyone, I'm a plan-o-holic.

We're coming to Disney for the first time in June. We're already owners at two DVC resorts. Disney is so overwhelming that I'm trying to conceptualize it in my head. From the maps everything looks like it's close together. But then I hear that the parks are a 20 minute car ride from the on-site hotels, and I think , 'This place has got to be HUGE!'.

So I hear that it's important to get there first thing in the morning when the ropes drop. I'm trying to figure out when we should be waking up and when I need to rally the troops to get out the door.

So would anyone know how long it takes to get to each of the parks from the bus stop near the Hospitality House at OKW?

Thanks!
Jil

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Hi everyone, I'm a plan-o-holic. We're coming to Disney for the first time in June.

Congrats on your first visit! You will have a blast!

We're already owners at two DVC resorts. Disney is so overwhelming that I'm trying to conceptualize it in my head. From the maps everything looks like it's close together. But then I hear that the parks are a 20 minute car ride from the on-site hotels, and I think , 'This place has got to be HUGE!'.

Just looked it up. WDW is 47 square miles, so it's not little, but I was surprised to find out it was 47 square miles. Things do seem closer than that.

So I hear that it's important to get there first thing in the morning when the ropes drop. I'm trying to figure out when we should be waking up and when I need to rally the troops to get out the door. So would anyone know how long it takes to get to each of the parks from the bus stop near the Hospitality House at OKW?

I would say from bus stop to drop off takes no more than 15 - 20 minutes. I know that may sound like a long time, but honestly, I don't ever remember thinking to myself, "Are we EVER going to get there???" Plus, the bus will drop you off at the main gate, so you don't have to park and walk. That will definitely save you time.

Some other things that may help with your planning:
* One of the best investments we made (and others may have cheaper/better resources, but we liked this one so much we've bought it several years in a row) is Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2008 Guide. You can buy it off of Amazon for about $12 bucks. It provides tips on everything related to WDW. It's a planner's dream!
* Check out this link: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/index?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage
It will tell you which parks open early on what days. Only people staying on WDW property can get in the parks during "Extra Magic Hours." We'll get up and grab a bus about 30 mintues before the park opens. We get there close to when the gates open and go grab "fast passes" for a main ride we want to hit (can only get 1 fast pass per ticket until that fast pass expires. Then you can get another one.). Birnbaum's book explains fast passes and how to use them.
* After reading up, if you haven't yet, call MS and have them make any reservations for you for breakfast/lunch/dinner, golf, special events, etc. For example, we have eaten several times in Magic Kingdom at the Plaza Restaurant. Without reservations, you just can't get in. We generally wait 15 - 30 minutes to be seated with reservations, but still know we can count on eating there around a general time.

Enjoy your planning, as to me, it's fun researching. With good information, you'll have a wonderful vacation. I will say, however, when you've been at parks all day, you watch the fireworks, close the park down and come home, that 15 minute bus ride can seem like an eternity!!! That's when you'll notice the trek!!! Have a GREAT trip!

 

[flechette]

Hello Jil!

I second most of what Buckeye just said - except I recommend Passporter over Birnbaums Guide .

Hit your local bookstore, head for the travel section and check out what Disney guides there are. Brace yourself - Disney as a destination has more guides than several cities....

Don't forget you probably need to plan to wait at the bustop for about 10 minutes or so for the right bus to come around ~

 

[dianeschlicht]

Since HH is the last bus stop before the bus leaves for the parks, MK will take about 12-15 minutes, Epcot about 7-10, and Studios about 10. AK is the long one with time from that last bus stop being anywhere from 20-30 minutes, depending on if it stops at Blizzard Beach or not.

 

[Caskbill]

.....Just looked it up. WDW is 47 square miles, so it's not little, but I was surprised to find out it was 47 square miles. Things do seem closer than that.

True, but only 1/3rd of that is actually currently developed as what we call "Disney World".

Another 1/3rd is available for future developement.

The last 1/3rd, by design, will never be developed and will remain in it's natural condition.

The expressways at Disney are quite good, with speed limits of 55mph. So even something like OKW being about 3 miles to MK, it's still a fairly short ride.

I would guess that the time it takes the OKW bus to make the rounds of the 5 internal bus stops is probably longer than what it takes, once it leaves OKW, to get to the MK.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would guess that the time it takes the OKW bus to make the rounds of the 5 internal bus stops is probably longer than what it takes, once it leaves OKW, to get to the MK.

I agree, Bill. I think the one that always surprises me is Epcot. I always think I could walk it in the time it takes to drive there on the bus. OKW is actually just across the parking lot and the roadway from OKW, but the bus has to wind around the roads to get there.

 

[sajilunni]

So if the park opens at 9AM, getting to the bus stop by 8:30AM will leave plenty of time to make our way to the rope drop? Do the buses come every 10 minutes in the morning? How often do you end up having to let a bus go because it's overfull and have to catch the next one? Is it especially rough in the morning?

I'm LOL at the guide book suggestions, because I have bought a PassPorter and laminated the maps (to stick on my stroller canopy- as per a allears.net tip). I borrowed Unofficial Guide from the library, and made a FOURTEEN PAGE outline from it. I have paid subscriptions to both TourGuide Mike and Touring Plans. And I'm addicted to DisBoards! And because you have suggested Birnbaum's I MUST check that out as well. My husband thinks wistfully about all the people who just spontaneously go to Disney World, but I say "An organized wife makes for a very happy life!"

Jil

 

[flechette]

I'm LOL at the guide book suggestions, because I have bought a PassPorter and laminated the maps (to stick on my stroller canopy- as per a allears.net tip). I borrowed Unofficial Guide from the library, and made a FOURTEEN PAGE outline from it. I have paid subscriptions to both TourGuide Mike and Touring Plans. And I'm addicted to DisBoards! And because you have suggested Birnbaum's I MUST check that out as well. My husband thinks wistfully about all the people who just spontaneously go to Disney World, but I say "An organized wife makes for a very happy life!"

Jil

Just curious, hwo do you like the Tourguide and Touring Plans? That's about the only thing I haven't tried out yet online~

Do you like one more than the other, or both about the same?


Not planning out a Disney trip for your first few visits could mean never returning. I fully believe a Disney vet can do a visit w/ little planning but you want your first visits to be magical and that takes some elbow grease!

When we went in May 2006 with another couple, there was some grumbling about me pushing for dates and dining preferences etc - the trip went off beautifully - we even managed to get on Pirates the last night it was open before returning to rehab, which was our first night of the trip. We heard people muttering about that all week... anyway at the end they were firmly convinced that it was worth the effort. Here's hoping your hubby does too~

Michelle

 

[DoOverDreams]

I found (from this board, thanks!) a great site that you can use to plan transportation times. It tells you the best way to get from resorts to parks. Just plug in where you are and it tells you how to get there and approx. how much time it takes. Very cool.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

 

[ldo]

realize you might have to wait for 5-10 minutes for a bus. Plus, once you get to MK, you have to go thru the entrance--there will be a line, then, you can walk a bit down mainstreet before 9 AM.
IMHO, however, it is not really important to get there at rope drop,--we have never done it (and we go EAster week, Christmas, etc.---peak times). But, getting there by 9:30 is very important--you can do more rides from 9-12 than most of the rest of the day--we do commando for those 3 hours, then lunch, then go at a more relaxing pace (and only on rides with fast passes) the rest of the day.

 

[anabelle]

realize you might have to wait for 5-10 minutes for a bus. Plus, once you get to MK, you have to go thru the entrance--there will be a line, then, you can walk a bit down mainstreet before 9 AM.
.

I totally agree with 8:15 AM at the latest

 

[Princess Roo]

We aim for 8:00. The problem is the uncertainty of when the bus will arrive. Last week at SSR we were running late, just missed a bus that passed the stop at 8:15, next bus came at 8:35 (followed immediately by a 3rd bus - grrr), took 20 minutes to arrive at MK (2 more internal stops) and then with bag search, we missed rope drop. So I would say it depends how important making rope drop is to you. Sometimes when we go down at 8 we are at the park "twiddling our thumbs" for 20-30 minutes. If that "missed sleep" would annoy you more than missing rope drop by 5 minutes, then 8:15-8:20 is a better choice.

Also, at MK there is a little show 5 minutes before the park opens that is fun (a little earlier on days when the crowds are heavier supposedly). And we usually drive to AK (and sometimes MGM and Epcot). If you're there for rope drop you can park a VERY short walk from the entrance.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

True, but only 1/3rd of that is actually currently developed as what we call "Disney World".

Another 1/3rd is available for future developement.

The last 1/3rd, by design, will never be developed and will remain in it's natural condition.

The expressways at Disney are quite good, with speed limits of 55mph. So even something like OKW being about 3 miles to MK, it's still a fairly short ride.

I would guess that the time it takes the OKW bus to make the rounds of the 5 internal bus stops is probably longer than what it takes, once it leaves OKW, to get to the MK.

Thanks for clarifying. When I looked this up, I thought that it seemed way bigger than what it actually is. However, when you're in a car or on a bus, time does fly when you're having fun!!!

Just a curious question. For the 1/3 that can still be developed, is it all over the place or located in a certain area? You can't tell it from the big map.