lines at night...

[hkkatie]

So a recommendation I read a lot on these boards is to take a break after lunch and then return to the park in the evening. I have a couple questions about this. I understand it may take an hour or more to get from your resort to the park in the busy mornings, but in the afternoon does it also take an hour to return to your hotel, and then another hour to return to the park? Or are the bus rides shorter in the afternoons/evenings?

Also, would you say the ride lines (attractions, not for the bus) are a lot shorter in the evenings, or are they just as long as they would be in the afternoon? Do you find the parks less crowded in the evenings? (Mainly thinking about summer time, but also in general.)

 

[lllGurulll]

Why would it take an hour to get from your resort to the park or vice versa? I've never had that experience.

As far as evening lines. Most rides are still going to have long lines in the evening. The lines start to get smaller within a couple hours of closing. At least that has been for us and we always go in summer.

 

[DisneyLandMan]

typically crowds are lower as the night goes on. not like rope drop levels, but not nearly as bad as mid day unless there are EMH or an event or something of the sort going on. i cant help with resort travel times, i always drive. Lowest crowd levels are during night time shows. Ie...Wishes, Illuminations, Fantasmic, parades, yadda yadda yada

 

[hkkatie]

Why would it take an hour to get from your resort to the park or vice versa? I've never had that experience.

As far as evening lines. Most rides are still going to have long lines in the evening. The lines start to get smaller within a couple hours of closing. At least that has been for us and we always go in summer.

So many times I've seen people say to budget for 60 to 90 minutes to get to the parks in the morning. Maybe that includes waiting in line for the bus? If it doesn't take that long, how long would it take? I've never been to WDW, so really have no idea other than what I've seen other people post.

 

[preemiemama]

For us, I typically budget half of that time for a bus. Typically, there are more buses at park open and close. If you are on a boat (Yacht/Beach Club, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin to HS for example), I would budget at least 45 mins.

We always go in summer, and the afternoon break not only helps us recharge and cool down, but also helps thin out the crowds. Rope drop is your best bet- you can get a lot done in those first few hours. We usually leave at or after lunch- depending on if we want to eat in a park or not- and then nap/get some pool time/change clothes. We head back out for dinner and then finish out in a park. It is still busy, but most people watch the nighttime shows so it draws a lot of people away from the rides and the lines go down. (My favorite place to watch Wishes is on Splash or Thunder Mt!) Many of the MK rides that have long lines in the afternoon see those go away after dinner (POTC, HM, IASW, etc…). You will not get as much done in terms of the headliners as during rope drop, but once Wishes is finished a lot of people leave MK. With closing times of at least midnight most of the summer, there is a lot you can do in those last few hours! Plus, it is easier to get a bus and not have to stand if you leave after the shows!

 

[Dano13]

I always rent a car. A friend of mine stayed at the Beach Club last year and I stayed at the Boardwalk. We did a little experiment by charting how much time he spent waiting for buses and then commuting v mine in a car.

We arrived the same day and left the same day and these are neighbouring resorts essentially so it is a pretty accurate picture.

 

[mombrontrent]

I always rent a car. A friend of mine stayed at the Beach Club last year and I stayed at the Boardwalk. We did a little experiment by charting how much time he spent waiting for buses and then commuting v mine in a car.

We arrived the same day and left the same day and these are neighbouring resorts essentially so it is a pretty accurate picture.

So what was the result of your experiment? I'm curious

 

[Hootch]

Every once in awhile, we have to wait on a second or third bus in the afternoon. We go back to our resort everyday and this happens less than once per visit.

The mornings and and park closing are the times you will most likely see issues. People are moving in the same direction generally. It will also vary somewhat by resort as bus schedules vary with season. We tend to get up a little earlier which helps with the morning buses. We may have begniets, granola bars or some other snacks while we wait for rope drop. In the evening, we usually shop and/or get a snack to kill some time before heading to the buses.

I think the 60-90 minute number is typically too high. Most times we 30-45 minutes. I'm sure it is longer for resorts with multiple bus stops.

 

[lauradis]

I always plan for 45 min to get out of park, get on bus, arrive at hotel.

I would say is closer to 20/30 mins, but then its easier to have the 45 min planned less stressful.

WE normally go when the total crowd levels are 4/5 levels.

Hubby and dd 11 aren't Rope drop people. we do more night touring now and I would say the pp is right on the crowd levels are lower about 2 hr before closing unless its a extra magic hour night at that park.

So really it all depends on what days you are going, who your going with.

 

[grecorj]

Aside from going to DTD we've always found Disney bus transportation wonderful. Of course it all depends on which resort and which park.

 

[Dano13]

So what was the result of your experiment? I'm curious

He spent nearly 8 hours more standing on bus stands and riding them than it took us in cars. The biggest one was when he just missed his bus to AK then waiting over 20 minutes then rode over. We were there in under 10 minutes.

I was always somewhat skeptical in how much time would be saved. It was a lot.

 

[IBFW]

He spent nearly 8 hours more standing on bus stands and riding them than it took us in cars. The biggest one was when he just missed his bus to AK then waiting over 20 minutes then rode over. We were there in under 10 minutes.

I was always somewhat skeptical in how much time would be saved. It was a lot.

That's been our experience as well. The MK can take the longest if you don't know all the tricks but driving from resort-resort, park-resort, resort-park, and park-park is SO much faster.

 

[mombrontrent]

He spent nearly 8 hours more standing on bus stands and riding them than it took us in cars. The biggest one was when he just missed his bus to AK then waiting over 20 minutes then rode over. We were there in under 10 minutes.

I was always somewhat skeptical in how much time would be saved. It was a lot.

Thanks for the info. Makes me happy that we will have a rental car when we go in two weeks. We plan on doing quite a bit of park hopping and eating at resort restaurants so it will be nice to have our own car.

 

[hkkatie]

He spent nearly 8 hours more standing on bus stands and riding them than it took us in cars. The biggest one was when he just missed his bus to AK then waiting over 20 minutes then rode over. We were there in under 10 minutes.

I was always somewhat skeptical in how much time would be saved. It was a lot.

8 hours! Wow! Makes me give a second thought to renting a car.

I appreciate all the input!

 

[Xennia]

So a recommendation I read a lot on these boards is to take a break after lunch and then return to the park in the evening. I have a couple questions about this. I understand it may take an hour or more to get from your resort to the park in the busy mornings, but in the afternoon does it also take an hour to return to your hotel, and then another hour to return to the park? Or are the bus rides shorter in the afternoons/evenings?

Also, would you say the ride lines (attractions, not for the bus) are a lot shorter in the evenings, or are they just as long as they would be in the afternoon? Do you find the parks less crowded in the evenings? (Mainly thinking about summer time, but also in general.)

The night time is busy. I use my fast passes for night time. I get up early and I'm able to ride all my favorites then go back to the room to relax, have lunch take a dip in the pool then a little nap. Refreshed and ready for a late night. Bus rides can take anywhere from 10 mins to 30 mins depending on your resort and room location drop off. Also when the bus picks you up from the park to the resort. Sometimes the wait at the park to resort takes a bit. Especially if you just missed the bus. I hate that. Haha.

 

[lauradis]

8 hours! Wow! Makes me give a second thought to renting a car.

I appreciate all the input!

for the price of renting a car every day you could just take taxi for those adrs at resorts.

Disclaimer my husband hates to drive on vacation.

 

[marchingstar]

He spent nearly 8 hours more standing on bus stands and riding them than it took us in cars. The biggest one was when he just missed his bus to AK then waiting over 20 minutes then rode over. We were there in under 10 minutes.

I was always somewhat skeptical in how much time would be saved. It was a lot.

How many days did you conduct the experiment over? 8 hours is definitely a lot of time, but I can't imagine needing to focus on driving after closing out the MK at 2:00AM. It might take longer, but at least on a bus someone else can worry about the driving and I can focus on what ride to hit on the next RD morning.

 

[Dano13]

8 hours! Wow! Makes me give a second thought to renting a car.

I appreciate all the input!

I hope it helps, I understand driving isn't for everyone but to me standing in line for Soarin is one thing standing in line for a bus is something else. I was on the bus when rain came last year leaving DHS when they stopped the boats due to lightning on our last night so we turned the car back in already. What was literally a mile ride took 35 minutes due to multiple stops. That is the other thing to factor in is what resort you will be staying. Some have multiple stops, some only one. The boardwalk was tied to beach and yacht.

I take the magical express when landing in orlando then after getting to my hotel I pick up at the car care center or the swan. I can usually get a week for around 200 bucks. I can then go to other hotels quite easily or run to Target or Publx for cases of water, etc.

 

[Dano13]

How many days did you conduct the experiment over? 8 hours is definitely a lot of time, but I can't imagine needing to focus on driving after closing out the MK at 2:00AM. It might take longer, but at least on a bus someone else can worry about the driving and I can focus on what ride to hit on the next RD morning.

It was over the course of a week. An 8 hours was me lowballing if anything. Any time we were to meet at a park he would text me he was at the bus stop while I was still in my room and we would always beat in by significant time. Those extra hours got me on a lot of other attractions not just giving thought to them.

Again driving isn't for everyone. I can drive in my sleep soa 3 miles trip in the disney bubble is far less burdensome to me then standing on a hot bus for a half hour after walking for 10 hours already.

 

[marchingstar]

Those extra hours got me on a lot of other attractions not just giving thought to them.

Again driving isn't for everyone. I can drive in my sleep soa 3 miles trip in the disney bubble is far less burdensome to me then standing on a hot bus for a half hour after walking for 10 hours already.

Great points. We're RD folks, so our bus rides aren't often cutting into park time, but I still definitely take your points. I'm glad driving works better for you, and for some other folks (and selfishly, the more people who take your advice the better! means my bus rides will be more comfortable! )