Hows the transportation from the 3 hotels?

[vatmark]

I was wondering if anyone had experience with transportation to the parks from the 3 different resorts during the busy season-June? Is there usually a long wait?

What are the modes of transporation from each resort? Do they all offer a boat/bus?

Annie

 

[Fan2CSkr]

You can walk to the parks from all 3 resorts. HRH is closest. RPR is second closest and PBH is doable for most but is farthest. Water taxis and shuttle buses are available from each resort. Transportation and accessibility is a pleasure at Universal.

 

[t-and-a]

First thing in the morning, it's hard to catch the boat without a wait. The only time when we went to the boat dock and there was no waiting in line was right after we checked in the hotel, and that's when park admission lines are the shortest. We found it quicker to walk from the RPR than to ride the boat. We didn't try the bus.

 

[vatmark]

How long does it usually take by bus or boat from PBH?

I'm trying to get an idea at what time we would need to be at either the bus or boat to get to the parks before opening. I'm still trying to decide which resort would be best. Right now my sites are on HRH because then we wouldn't have to rely on transportation and could just walk but I won't rule out the other resorts if the transportation is quick. My main concern is getting to the parks in the morning.

We would like to try and get there at least 30 mins. before the parks open. With Disney I know if we got to the bus 1 hour before the park opening time it worked out good. Would I need to do the same for Universal? Or is the time to get to the parks shorter? Is it still a good thing to get to the parks 30 mins. before they open even with the FOTL access? This would be in June.

What time does transportation start running?

Thanks for the info. I'm sure I will be asking a lot of questions so bear with me. I like to try and get as much info. as possible when making plans.

Annie

 

[damo]

How long does it usually take by bus or boat from PBH?

I'm trying to get an idea at what time we would need to be at either the bus or boat to get to the parks before opening. I'm still trying to decide which resort would be best. Right now my sites are on HRH because then we wouldn't have to rely on transportation and could just walk but I won't rule out the other resorts if the transportation is quick. My main concern is getting to the parks in the morning.

We would like to try and get there at least 30 mins. before the parks open. With Disney I know if we got to the bus 1 hour before the park opening time it worked out good. Would I need to do the same for Universal? Or is the time to get to the parks shorter? Is it still a good thing to get to the parks 30 mins. before they open even with the FOTL access? This would be in June.

What time does transportation start running?

Thanks for the info. I'm sure I will be asking a lot of questions so bear with me. I like to try and get as much info. as possible when making plans.

Annie

If you are staying on site you don't need to get there early.

 

[cheesehead7]

If you are really concerned about the timing of transportation then stay at HRH. Very short walk to the parks and CityWalk. With the express privilages of staying on site getting to the parks early is really not that big of a deal.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I'm a rope drop person and getting to the gates from an on-site hotel is kind of tough. The boat from PBH used to run earlier and we could get there.
One stay the guy at the turnstiles said we could "open" the park if we got there early enough and we had to walk to make it.
We have split up and raced and the bus won over the boat by a long shot.

 

[Cinderella822]

We stayed at PBH, and while the walk was a bit longer, it wasn't too bad at all. I'd say about 15 minutes to US and a little longer to IOA. We never had to wait long for the boat, except returning in the evening when the park closed. There were long lines waiting to leave the parks, so we walked. We went in the beginning of August and with FOTL, we found no need to get there early. I was always at the Disney parks before then opened and running to the rides at the rope drop. This is one of the perks of FOTL - no need to do that. We got to US the first day at 9:30 - half an hour after it opened - and it was virtually empty when we walked in.

 

[robvia]

Any of the onsites are great, and each have unique qualities.
HRH - Closest to the parks, 5 minute walk.
RPR - Lowest priced, 7 minute walk, huge pool.
PBH - 13 minute walk, biggest rooms, beautiful resort.

If you go super early like you're thinking, there is an advantage, even if you are staying onsite. That would be getting into the park before everyone else, because there is no rope drop. The gates open, and that's when people are let in. The advantage is getting front seat rides on Hulk and Dueling Dragons with no wait. I'd say the boats start running around 8am and there won't be a line that early. If they haven't started then walk.

Going back has no wait for the boats if you leave before the park closes. If it rains, the boats will stop running and everyone crowds the shuttle van. If that happens you'll have to walk.

 

[Robinrs]

It's a crap shoot, like the subway. If you happen to go when there's a waiting boat, you don't have a wait. But if you see one leaving as you approach, you wait.

I just got back from a day at IOA. We walked the entire park so decided to take the water boat back to the Hard Rock. Portofino boat leaves as we approach. Then RPR boat rolls in. Another Portofino boats comes... ... THEN HRH rolls around. I guess my timing was off.

We usually walk back to HRH, the walk is the only thing you can control. Believe me, I will be doing it from now on!

 

[ReallyFunMom]

Is there a "no food or drinks" rule on the boat? I thought it would be nice to boat over to PBH for dinner from HRH with one of the drinks from the poolside bar (plastic cup). Is the ride sort of scenic? How does it compare lengthwise to POFQ to DTD by boat? Thanks.