How much time to allow to get between parks

[abelkrista]

We are very comfortable multiple trip DL visitors, we loved Genie ( it worked at DL) and park hopping was a breeze with the gates so close.
We will be staying offsite at WDW. We will use Genie plus and have park hoppers. We only have 3 days the last 3 days of March and we will probably never be back. How much time does it take to get between parks (knowing that if I have to wait for a bus it will take longer)
We will start on MK, AK, and Epcot for those 3 days. Not sure where we will hop each days. But any park in the afternoon is possible at this point.
How long does the bus from AK take to get to each of the 3 other parks?
How long from Epcot to the others? I realize their are 3 option to get to MK which is fastest/ easiest?

Thank you

 

[DaniPoppins]

I found these times for the buses that seem pretty accurate:

• Between Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios – 39 minutes
• Between Epcot and Animal Kingdom – 42 minutes
• Between Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom – 43 minutes
• Between Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom – 46 minutes

I've taken the bus on most of these routes and they usually don't seem that long! Also remember that you may have to wait 20 minutes or more at the bus stop for the bus to arrive. If I was trying to maximize my time, I would take a Lyft! The rates for Lyft/Uber within WDW are usually not very much.

From Epcot, take the monorail to MK. That is definitely the fastest/easiest way. You have to switch to a different monorail line at the TTC, but it is still the best way to go.

If you are going between Epcot-HS, take the Skyliner! It's easy and the most fun mode of transportation in my opinion!

With 3 days and park hoppers, you will be able to see/do a lot! Have a wonderful time! I will be there the same time!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

You have a very open-ended question without much detail, so the answers vary! In short, I'm pretty sure the best way between parks is the buses that start running from park-to-park around 1:30 (I think that's the time, to allow guests to park hop at 2PM). Exceptions: If you are going between HS (which isn't on your list) and EPCOT, I would walk out the International Gateway and either walk or boat to HS (and vice versa). If you are between MK and EP, you might consider taking the 2 legs on the monorail that will get you to either park.

The bus ride itself from AK to MK is probably 20-25 minutes, but it will depend how long you need to wait for a bus. Same thing from MK to AK.

 

[CarolynFH]

I usually estimate roughly an hour to exit one park and travel to and tap into the next park. That allows for time waiting to board the bus/boat/Skyliner, so it may be shorter. However, if I have an ADR or other time-sensitive booking in the next park, I’ll usually try to exit the first park 90 minutes to 2 hours before we need to be checking in for it. We’re usually early in that case, but there have been times when there were snafus with transportation and we were walking through the second park as fast as we could to make it!

And if you do travel from Epcot to DHS, I too recommend the Skyliner! Walking is often quickest, depending on your walking speed, but the Skyliner is much more fun. The Friendship Boat is fun too, but unless you can board one immediately as you exit the Epcot International Gateway (IG), the Skyliner is generally faster unless you’re traveling at busy times (like at 1:30 trying to enter DHS at 2:00 along with the many other park hoppers).

 

[MickeyMice]

If I was trying to maximize my time, I would take a Lyft! The rates for Lyft/Uber within WDW are usually not very much.

From Epcot, take the monorail to MK. That is definitely the fastest/easiest way. You have to switch to a different monorail line at the TTC, but it is still the best way to go.

rideshare/taxi is not a great option for MK because you have to go through TTC. stick to official disney transpo as much as possible for MK. private cares are viable for other transfers though and probably your best option in the morning from offsite.

monorail is definitely the choice between MK-epcot - you won't have to clear security again, and it's iconic.

 

[Mle8308]

If you are driving and parking and AK is your first park, do not go to another park using Disney transportation. You won't be able to get back to the AK lot if you plan on staying at your second park until park close. AK closes earlier and the only way to get back to your car will be by rideshare. If you pay to park at one park, you can use that ticket all day at all the lots. It might be faster to drive between parks, and more convenient.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

rideshare/taxi is not a great option for MK because you have to go through TTC. stick to official disney transpo as much as possible for MK. private cares are viable for other transfers though and probably your best option in the morning from offsite.

The one exception to the MK ride share drop-off location would be the Minnie Vans. More expensive, but they do drop off at the MK entrance - by the bus depots, actually. Just another potential option if you use Lyft to track down a MV ride!

 

[abelkrista]

I usually estimate roughly an hour to exit one park and travel to and tap into the next park. That allows for time waiting to board the bus/boat/Skyliner, so it may be shorter. However, if I have an ADR or other time-sensitive booking in the next park, I’ll usually try to exit the first park 90 minutes to 2 hours before we need to be checking in for it. We’re usually early in that case, but there have been times when there were snafus with transportation and we were walking through the second park as fast as we could to make it!

And if you do travel from Epcot to DHS, I too recommend the Skyliner! Walking is often quickest, depending on your walking speed, but the Skyliner is much more fun. The Friendship Boat is fun too, but unless you can board one immediately as you exit the Epcot International Gateway (IG), the Skyliner is generally faster unless you’re traveling at busy times (like at 1:30 trying to enter DHS at 2:00 along with the many other park hoppers).

Thank you this is what I was kinda looking for. I don’t think we will go to HS as Rockin is the only thing we would be interested in and it’s closed. Although my kids will be so sad to not get the skyliner experience

 

[CarolynFH]

Thank you this is what I was kinda looking for. I don’t think we will go to HS as Rockin is the only thing we would be interested in and it’s closed. Although my kids will be so sad to not get the skyliner experience

Well, we’ve been known to ride the Skyliner just for fun. You could ride to Riviera and have lunch at their QS, for instance, or get off your feet for a longer break by riding all the way to DHS (transfer at CBR) and taking the boat back to Epcot.