Illuminations/Happily Ever After One Night - Minnie Van

[TheJRock300]

9pm Illuminations. 10 pm Happily Ever After.

Planning on watching Illuminations in UK pavilion, once done Ordering a Minnie Van-quick walk to Beach Club.

Being dropped off right at the bus stop at MK - I understand we would not be getting a great spot for Happily Ever After

But can it be done?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Since HEA is at 10pm, I'm assuming you're talking about Thanksgiving week, correct? If so, that makes the show Epcot Forever (not Illuminations), and we don't really know how long that show will last.

But let's just say it's similar to Illuminations for the sake of discussion... I'd say your plan is possible but everything has to be timed to perfection and you need to move with a purpose. A minute here, a few minutes there can add up and derail your plan.

You're also not the only person there who will be hailing a Minnie Van at that time - that's probably your biggest wildcard.

 

[BrianL]

I agree with GADisneyDad that while possible, it may prove difficult. I don't think I'd recommend it unless you are more just trying to see if you can pull it off, and success isn't necessarily required.

 

[MomOTwins]

I'm gonna say highly unlikely. Minnie vans have limited availability and when a park closes they are not only hard to get, they take FOREVER since they typically are not waiting for rides but dropping off someone else. We once tried to get a Minnie van at AK when the park closed and watched on the app as our driver spent 45 minutes picking up a guest at EP, dropping them off at the Poly, and the driving all the way down to us at AK. Not cool when you are paying a premium--should have just taken the bus.

 

[cindyfan]

How about the other way around??
Just curious what others think.
HEA at 9p and Illuminations at 10p..... (during Food and Wine)

We've done it before when it was still Wishes.... and at a slower time... but, sadly, there are no "slower times" anymore.
We are going to try it this Sept.

Oh... and we were going to use the monorail... like I said.... we've done it before!

 

[mrp4352]

I think you'll have better luck going the monorail route than the Minnie van route. Make sure you're standing on the Future World side of the lagoon and be ready to book it as soon as the show is over. you'll also have the benefit of being able to see the fireworks (not the projections) from the monorail if you don't make it.

 

[cindyfan]

Question......
I can't remember.....
Using the monorail from MK to Epcot, do you still go through security?
What about from Epcot to MK?

 

[snoopy5386]

This past week we watched Illuminations from the FP area, walked with a purpose out of the park (but still stopped for a quick stroll through mousegears) and took the monorail to the TTC and walked to the Poly to see the MNSSHP from the beach at 10:15. We had PLENTY of time and could have totally taken the monorail to MK.

Over Easter I again watched Illuminations from the FP area, walked with a purpose to the monorail and took the monorail to TTC, transferred and took the monorail to MK. Walked under the train station just as HEA was starting at 10, it was maybe 10:03. You will be fine!

 

[flyersfan444]

If Minnie Vans are in short supply, you could try to Uber from the Beach Club to CR.

 

[PanamaMike]

13 nights out of my 17 night trip at the beginning of March, I watched the 8pm HEA at MK, walked to the bus stop, got on either a Boardwalk or Yacht/Beach bus (whichever came first) and walked in the International gateway at Epcot to see Illuminations at 9pm. Most nights I made it with enough time to walk past Canada before the show began and only one night was the show starting just as I walked through the gate.
The 4 nights I didn't do that was because the MK was open until 11pm or midnight and I chose to take advantage of the longer hours.