Just back - WARNING ....

[DisTwix]

Hi all!

I am just back today from a stay the the Poly and for the most part, transportation was great. However - I'd like to shell out a warning for anyone staying on the monorail..... and taking a bus to downtown Disney.

We went to Downtown Disney from MGM (the bus runs from there after 3pm) and then tried to leave around 8:00pm. Mind you, we had two tired kiddies, two stollers, purchases AND a backpack/baby bag, so we knew bus travel was a bit tricky. We had even allowed for about an hour's worth of travel. However --- it was 40 minutes before a bus even came. As we were at the Marketplace, of course there was the Pleasure Island/West Side stop, and then the driver proceeded to take us the longest route possible back to the Contemporary, then Poly. Seriously, we were on the bus for more than an hour. Completely ridiculous. Did he get lost? I dunno. But, as far as I could tell, it was the only bus running for those resorts to Downtown, so any trip was going to be a long one.

We should have done our discussed plan while hanging around the bus depot waiting --- take one of the SIX buses we saw headed to the Boardwalk, and walked through Epcot to the monorail. At least then we could have had the kiddies in their strollers the whole time without subjecting them to the stress of a packed bus. But, now we know!!!! And so do you!!!

 

[TrvlLin]

Thanks for the tip...I have never before been to WDW with a child, but on our upcoming family "girl" trip we will have my 5 year old niece. I liked your idea of taking the Boardwalk bus and walking thru to the monorail. You would just have to be sure you made it by 9PM, or you couldn't get back into EPCOT. I have noticed in the past that sometimes you have to be a little creative with the Disney transportation. I still think it's a pretty good system, but there are some gaps! I'll try to be thinking ahead for sure this trip, with the little one.

Last September we waited at EPCOT for 45 minutes at closing for a bus to AKL. That, of course, reinforced my husband's determination that we need a CAR every time!! Thank goodness for National EA! Lin

 

[Chuck S]

Were you checking out the next day? If not, you could have used the free resort delivery for your packages, and save lugging them on the bus. If it weren't for delivery, I wouldn't buy stuff, I hate hauling stuff around.

 

[TrvlLin]

Another cool reminder, Chuck! Good incentive to go shopping EARLY in your trip. ( But in my case, I would probably just go again the last day and have MORE stuff to haul home!)

 

[puffkin]

Getting to and from Downtown Disney was always a transportation nightmare on our last trip. For anyone who is following a guide book that suggests transfering here in the evening, I would ignore that advice. Go to a park that is open and transfer there.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I totally agree with Puffkin. It seems that transportation to/from DTD is difficult at best. My DW and I usually drive ourselves. It can be a pain to drive back to the resort, especially after the last show of Cirque or when PI finally closes, but it beats waiting and waiting for a Disney bus and then riding home on the "scenic" route!

Otherwise, Disney bus transportation is great.

 

[cindala]

Here's another vote for driving yourself if you have a car. Anytime we tried to go or come from DTD by Disney Bus, it was a long ordeal. We finally decided, if we had a car, we'd go, if not, skip it.

When the boats were running from PO, we waited almost an hour for a boat to come pick us up to go back. The buses didn't run as frequently as to other destinations, and if you just missed one, you were out of luck. So, if you can, drive!

 

[dtuleya]

We have a late flight out on our last day (4:35 PM). I was thinking of checking out (putting luggage in rental) of the WL, go to Chef Mickey's for a late breakfast then use WDW transportation to DTD to do some last minute shopping. After reading this thread, it seems like it would be foolish to do anything BUT drive the rental to DTD. Once again this board have given me invaluable information!

 

[DeeP]

Denise,
You definitely want to drive your rental car to DTD the last day! If you wanted to take the buses back to WL not only will it take additional added time but you will be backtracking. Also if your flight leaves at 4:35 Pm you need to be at the airport by at least 2:30 maybe a few minutes before so that you have time to return the rental car. By the time you get up, check out, eat a late breakfast at Chef Mickeys and then go to DTD, you will not have time to take a bus back to WL and get the car.

 

[dtuleya]

DeeP

Thanks for the reply. Since we've never been to WDW before, I'm going to need some help with timing. What time would you suggest making a PS for Chef Mickeys so that we have time to stop at DTD, do a little shopping and make it to MCO by 2 or 2:30 PM? I'm not sure how long it will take to eat and add in travel from WL to CR (Chef Mickey's) to DTD to MCO. TIA!

 

[DisTwix]

Hey there -

Definitely make a PS of Chef Mickey's. You can't depend on them having openings - especially since you have such a definitive schedule for your last day.

It will take you in the neighborhood of 40 minutes to get to the airport. It isn't a hard trip - either from the airport to WDW or back. However - if you plan on taking 417 out of the airport, prepare to pay some tolls. It's the most mindless way to get there - and the most clearly marked.

I'd definitely get to the airport nice and early - I have encountered both no lines at rental return and it taking 20 minutes AND have had no line at the airline counter and have waited in some very long lines. Ya gotta prepare for the worst. PLUS - of course, getting through security can take some serious time. Are you flying on the weekend?

 

[corvair]

Hi, we are staying at PO-FQ, and are planning to go to DTD by the boat. Can anybody tell me how the boat is?? Does it take along time? We will have a car but thought we would try the boat to and from the resort, any helpful info? corvair

 

[dtuleya]

We'll be flying home on Black Friday (November 29), so who knows what the crowds will be like.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I know what you mean about the busses!!! There USED to be a bus to DTD from TTC.

We took our neighbors on the WDW Monorail tour when they first got to WDW and met up with us at the end of our week there in APril. We went to the TTC and tried to get a bus. We were told to get BACK on the monorail and get a bus to DTD from one of the resorts. We got off at the Poly and waited for over a half hour. NOT ONE BUS CAME THE ENTIRE TIME!!

Finally, we just flagged down a cab and went to DTD that way. It ended up being $16.50 from the Poly to DTD!!!! Well worth it at that point!!!!

Holly

 

[matthewsdad]

dtuleya - Just a note on your luggage. We checked out of AKL at 8:30 last Wednesday and the hotel held our luggage for us until Tiffany TC picked us up at 12:30. No charge.

 

[DisTwix]

Corvair -

I am not sure if the water taxi is still running. I know that it was one of the things originally cut in the "cutbacks", and am not sure if it has been reinstated. Maybe someone else knows??? Anyone, anyone.... Bueller....

I do know that when we stayed at DL in Mar 2000 (now POR), there was always a huge wait to get the water taxi to DTD - usually about an hour. We always opted to take the alternate methods of transport, as we had little ones who would rather be moving than waiting.

Hopefully someone has some current info on the water taxis....

 

[DisTwix]

dtuleya -

SHNIKIES!!!!! Flying out on black Friday puts a whole new spin on things. You'll probably wanna give yourselves more than 2 - 2 1/2 hours at the airport. It will take much longer to do EVERYTHING - there may even be back-ups getting into the airport, so be prepared.

I know that MCO's security lines to get to the gates can be VERY long, judging by the amount of "corral" lines they had set up. I can imagine you might have an hour wait just to get through security. I am sure you've thought of all this! I have only flown once on Black Friday -and it was out of a small, local airport and the lines there were just silly. AND, it was pre-9-11, and it still took forever getting through security.

BUT - you are going to have a great time at WDW - it'll be crowded, for sure, but you'll be prepared from reading the DIS!!!! YAY!

 

[dtuleya]

Distwix - Since it is Black Friday, we have to have our rental car back at MCO by 2:00 PM (flight leaves at 4:30). I'd like to turn it in by 1:00 or 1:30 so we have plenty of time to get a snack for the plane, wait in lines, etc.

matthewsdad - We are renting a full sized through National since we plan to go off site to eat once or twice and might make a side trip to WDW. Thought we'd just throw the bags in the truck and head to DTD.

Thanks for the advice everyone!