Looking for advice

[mike28j]

I will be in Disney next week, and am very excited, even if it is only for 2 nights. There will be 5 of us in total, and our plan for Monday is to go to AK in the am (Expedition Everest, Safari, Bugs Life, Dinosaur) then head to HS (I have Fast passes for Toy Story, Star Tours, and one other, as well as the Osbourne Spectacle of lights. And lastly head over to Epcot to check out the World Showcase. We will be staying at All Star Sports, but I will also have a rental car.

My question is how do I get around that day if I want to minimize travel time?
A) All rental car
B) All Disney Transportation
C) Hybrid A - Drive to AK in the morning, drive back to the resort when finished. Take the shuttle to HS. Take water taxi to the international gateway.
D) Hybrid B - Drive to AK in the morning, drive back to HS. Take water taxi to the international gateway.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[IrishNYC]

With the amount of traffic that has been reported lately, especially around Epcot and HS, I would do B, or C if you had a good reason to go back to the resort for anything.

 

[ParrotBill]

I think the answer is hybrid, and partly depends on what hotel and the transportation options that exist for that hotel. it might be fastest by car early in the morning if you can arrive in the first/closest lot and don't need to wait for a tram in or out... but that depends on how many trams are running and a really luck. I use disney transportation almost always - long delays are rare and I prefer not to worry about where I parked and hot cars. The boat from HS to EPCOT is not speedy but is better if heading to World Showcase and it's a nice rest.

I think that driving may give you a 5 minute saving to/from AK... but only a "may" depending on luck and timing.

 

[subtchr]

I'd do all Disney transportation. Bus to AK in the morning, direct bus to DHS, then walk to Epcot. At the end of the night, bus to resort from Epcot.

The reason I say walk is that the boats between DHS and Epcot have been overwhelmed in the evenings with the Osborne Lights crowd. If you see as you leave DHS that the line for the boat isn't too long, then go for it, but be prepared either way. The walk is actually not too far (15-25 minutes, depending on your pace), and quite lovely. If you do ride the boat, be prepared for it to be packed to the gills, and to have it take longer than if you walked it.

 

[siskaren]

From what I've been reading about the traffic around DHS, I would use Disney transportation, but instead of taking the bus from AK to DHS, I would take the bus from AK to one of the Epcot resorts and walk to DHS from there, and I might also walk to Epcot from DHS.

 

[loves to dive]

Agree with PP. The walk from HS to the IG is only about a mile or so and isn't bad.

 

[okilydokily]

I would drive. It is always easier to drive. Sounds like you would be at HS before dark, you will be fine to park there. You can also park at Epcot and walk or boat to HS and back, so the car is there when you are done for the night.

I drive 90% of the time but I just spent a weekend at the mercy of Disney Transportation. While it is nice it is there and the CM's are great, I for the life of me can't see how anyone can think it is faster than driving.

 

[subtchr]

I would drive. It is always easier to drive. Sounds like you would be at HS before dark, you will be fine to park there.

The DHS parking lot has been closing by early- to mid-afternoon lately, and the traffic has been backed up horrendously near the park. I'd advise NOT driving, for sure.