ML / Boardwalk Villas / California Grill ... the best plan of attack?

[Moms]

We have early dinner reservations at California Grill on the 29th of September. We will be a MK for the day and originally planned to simply go to the restaurant from the park. After reading about the dress code, etc. we have decided to "bite the bullet" and go back to our room at BWV and "freshen up" before dinner. Even if we "hurry" the "freshening up" process (we're pretty low maintenance gals) this will be a time consuming venture. Here are our options:

1. Be at MK at Rope Drop (never done that before) and enjoy the park until about 1:30. (Is there a CS option in the park for breakfast?). We can travel by bus both ways between MK and Boardwalk and walk from the entrance to the Contemporary for our dinner reservation. Is this a fairly short walk? Is the walkway well marked enough that we will find it easily? We have 5:35 reservations so I am thinking that this would be ample time to get back and forth and maybe even enjoy a cocktail in the liounge before dinner.

2. Take the monorail to TTC then to Epcot. Walk to the International Gateway and out to BWV and back again the same way ... this is a lot of walking but we are in shape and have heard that the busses can be a problem at BW/BC/YC (never stayed there before).

3. A combination of 1 and 2.

We will have a car but will be parking it on arrival day and don't plan to look at it again until we depart. I drive more than 400 miles a week to and from work and we are driving down from Chicago ... so no driving at the world!

 

[goofy4tink]

If you have a car, I would use it that day. At least to get back to the CR for dinner. That way you don't have to worry so much about leaving enough time. It's about a 10 min drive from BWV to CR.
But, if you decide to take the buses.....if you need to be back at the CR for dinner at 5:30, you will need to leave BWV by 4:30...latest. If you want to be early for drinks, then leave by 3:30.
The walkway is very easy to find. When you get off the bus, stay to the right as everyone heads to the park. When you get to the end of the bus area, with MK over to the left, just go right, with the monorail line overhead. There will be a sign to the CR, as you get to the sidewalk. The walk takes about 8 mins..very easy walk. You do have to cross a street, but it does have pedestrian crossing, so no problem.
I wouldn't use the Epcot route...takes too much time. The buses at BW are not an issue. This is my home resort...I have not encountered buses that were any worse than other deluxe resorts. Just be sure to leave enough time to get to MK and you'll be fine.

Leaving at 1:30 should give you plenty of time to freshen up. If you want, you can always just bring a bag with a change of clothes in it, and store it in a locker at the MK. Then you can change in a ladies room at the CR.....but that's if you're in a big rush and don't want to head back to BWV.

 

[crisi]

We do this all the time.

We take the bus to the MK in the morning. We try and be there at rope drop (although we seldom actually make it - we usually are about 15 minutes late). We eat in the room, but there are breakfast options in the MK. I'd make it a poptart sort of day (we actually do energy bars) if you aren't an "eat in the room" sort, then have lunch right at 11:00 when they start serving.

We spend about half a day in MK. We are usually DONE by 3:00.

We have hoppers and we take the monorail to Epcot. If we have time, we get in one "fast" Epcot attraction on the walk back (Imagination or Spaceship Earth, something without a huge line) - or maybe a snack at the pastry shop in France. The walk is longish, but nice.

We change, maybe take some pool time, then grab a cab (about $15+tip) to the CR for dinner. (or whatever resort we are eating at).

 

[Moms]

Hey, I never thought about a cab! How does one
grab a cab"? at WDW. I am guessing they don't just hang out at the resorts ... or maybe they do. At any rate, what is the best way to get a cab from resort to resort?

 

[goofy4tink]

Yep, most of the resorts have cabs waiting. I know BW does..they are always there, just waiting for passengers.
Depending on the resort you are heading to, and the need for speed, a cab is a great way to go.

 

[figment_jii]

I would also vote for a cab for your situation. I would allot about $20 per cab ride (it was about that, with tip to get from Epcot to the Contemporary).

 

[crisi]

If there isn't a cab hanging out in front of the resort, bell services will call you one from the valet desk. They usually pull up in less than two or three minutes.