Leaving AK to visit GF holiday decor: bus or car?

[MinnieDaisy]

We are spending Christmas Eve at AK and leaving around 1:00 p.m. We wanted to immediately head to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations. Which would be the quickest/least stressful (I realize some amount of stress will be involved Christmas Eve and with Disney transportation/traffic):

1) Taking the Disney bus to AK and then getting on the one to the GF and then taking the monorail to Travel and Transportation and getting a bus for POFQ (our resort)

or

2) Driving our car to AK and then upon leaving AK, parking at TT and taking the monorail to GF and then backtracking? Would parking at TT at 1:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve be horrendous?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Robo]

We are spending Christmas Eve at AK and leaving around 1:00 p.m. We wanted to immediately head to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations. Which would be the quickest/least stressful (I realize some amount of stress will be involved Christmas Eve and with Disney transportation/traffic):

1) Taking the Disney bus to AK and then getting on the one to the GF and then taking the monorail to Travel and Transportation and getting a bus for POFQ (our resort)

or

2) Driving our car to AK and then upon leaving AK, parking at TT and taking the monorail to GF and then backtracking? Would parking at TT at 1:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve be horrendous?

Thanks for any help!

1) No resort buses at TTC. Your resort connection in that area would be the MK front gate bus terminal.

2) Parking at TTC on Christmas Eve may be impossible.

 

[sportybears]

We just got back this weekend from Disney and looked at 7 different resorts decorations & must say we got some great photos at them, so it'd def. worth going. We drove to each of the resorts and was able to park in their lots (we were staying at the Bay Lake so I'm not sure if you are staying on Disney property) for free & that made it so much easier! Just told the security atthe entrance booth of each hotel that we were coming to look at the decorations and check out the gift shops & they just asked for photo ID and let us in! In the Beach Club, they gave us a 3 hour pass & at the Boardwalk we parked in their overflow lot behind Hess. The GF, we just took monorail from the Bay Lake, but I believe ALL the resorts would let you park like we did & that would be your easiest & least stressful way to get there.

 

[rwdavis2]

Drive to AK then just drive straight to the Grand Floridian. It's the quickest way.

 

[MinnieDaisy]

1) No resort buses at TTC. Your resort connection in that area would be the MK front gate bus terminal.

2) Parking at TTC on Christmas Eve may be impossible.

Thanks, Robo!

 

[MinnieDaisy]

Thanks so much for the info & suggestions!

 

[Itinkso]

If you drive, be aware there may be parking restrictions at GF. On New Year's Day this year, parking at GF was restricted to those who were staying at GF or had a confirmed ADR. Valet parking was available.

Last Saturday, Dec 7, the above parking restrictions applied but we were allowed to park in the Villas lot because we had a confirmed reservation for Citricos. The driver in the car in front of us was told his only option was valet parking because he didn't have an ADR and was not a GF registered guest.

It may be easier for you to use the bus. Contemporary also has a gingerbread display on the 4th floor near the shops. After visiting Contemp, you can walk to the MK bus loading area.

 

[Robo]

If you drive, be aware there may be parking restrictions at GF. On New Year's Day this year, parking at GF was restricted to those who were staying at GF or had a confirmed ADR. Valet parking was available.

Last Saturday, Dec 7, the above parking restrictions applied but we were allowed to park in the Villas lot because we had a confirmed reservation for Citricos. The driver in the car in front of us was told his only option was valet parking because he didn't have an ADR and was not a GF registered guest.

It may be easier for you to use the bus. Contemporary also has a gingerbread display on the 4th floor near the shops. After visiting Contemp, you can walk to the MK bus loading area.

Agree all the way on the above.

Christmas Week makes "the usual" not so "usual."

 

[robinb]

I would either pay for valet parking or I would take the bus to the MK and walk to the CR and take the monorail around.

 

[BrerNashville]

I would vote for your option #1, with the clarification above that the buses will drop you at the MK depot.

In case your were considering it, self parking at the GF is pretty inconvenient -- it's a pretty long hike from the lot to the lobby.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We just got back this weekend from Disney and looked at 7 different resorts decorations & must say we got some great photos at them, so it'd def. worth going. We drove to each of the resorts and was able to park in their lots (we were staying at the Bay Lake so I'm not sure if you are staying on Disney property) for free & that made it so much easier! Just told the security atthe entrance booth of each hotel that we were coming to look at the decorations and check out the gift shops & they just asked for photo ID and let us in! In the Beach Club, they gave us a 3 hour pass & at the Boardwalk we parked in their overflow lot behind Hess. The GF, we just took monorail from the Bay Lake, but I believe ALL the resorts would let you park like we did & that would be your easiest & least stressful way to get there.

Have you ever seen where self parking is for the GF???? Basically at Epcot LOL!

I would take Disney transport!

 

[mom2rtk]

Have you ever seen where self parking is for the GF???? Basically at Epcot LOL!

I would take Disney transport!

There was no room in GF self-parking when we were there on a nothing weekday in June for a breakfast ADR.

OP, I'd plan to park valet. Or take the GF from AK, then spring for a taxi back to your resort when you are done.

 

[joelkfla]

From either AKL or AK, take the bus to MK, and then the boat to GF. (Buses from AK now go directly to MK, no longer TTC.)

Then you can take the monorail or boat back to MK for the bus to your resort.

Or, from GF take the monorail to CR to check out their gingerbread house, then take the boat to WL to see their enormous tree. The decorations at WL are my favorites; they have a Western & native American feel.

From WL, you can take either the boat or bus back to MK for your resort bus. You could also take the bus to DTD and then ride the boat to POFQ.

Caveats: both the boat to GF and the one to POFQ, and possibly the one to WL as well, are open-sided, so dress warmly if the weather is chilly. And the boat to GF requires a step down, so it does not accommodate scooters or roll-on wheelchairs or strollers.

 

[OKSTATE99]

We are spending Christmas Eve at AK and leaving around 1:00 p.m. We wanted to immediately head to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations. Which would be the quickest/least stressful (I realize some amount of stress will be involved Christmas Eve and with Disney transportation/traffic):

1) Taking the Disney bus to AK and then getting on the one to the GF and then taking the monorail to Travel and Transportation and getting a bus for POFQ (our resort)

or

2) Driving our car to AK and then upon leaving AK, parking at TT and taking the monorail to GF and then backtracking? Would parking at TT at 1:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve be horrendous?

Thanks for any help!

Your best option would be to take the GF bus from AK, It stops at WL then proceeds to GF. After that you can hop on Resort Monorail to grab your resort bus back home. And im even working that day. SO you might see me lol.

Or you can ride the Monorail to Epcot, if you want, via TTC.

 

[happymommy]

I'm surprised no one has suggested this. Would you consider just taking a taxi? It would definitely be the quickest and most pain free option. No worries about parking, and they're available pretty much everywhere.