Monorail question so we're not late for the tea party!

[whogirl'smom]

I posted this on another thread, then found the transportation board!!
We have booked the Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare on 10/13, Friday. If we are already in MK that morning, how early should we catch the monorail to get to the Grand Floridian by 1:00 (check-in time)?

Or, if we just wait to go to the Tea Party from our hotel (we're offsite), how early should we get to TTC to park and get the monorail at midday? This is our first trip to WDW and I don't know how crowded it will be by noon on a Friday (that is a MNSSHP evening).

Thanks for your help!

 

[CleveRocks]

To be safe, I'd be at the MK monorail station at least 20 minutes before you want to exit the monorail at the GF station. This allows for some waiting time at the MK station. Also, the monorail needs to go around the entire circuit before getting to GF. It will stop at Contemporary, TTC and Polynesian before arriving at GF.

Another option is to take the boat from MK to GF, but I have no idea how long that takes or how often they run. Hopefully someone else can help you with that, so you can decide which might be better for you.

 

[goofy4tink]

We love taking the boat from MK to GF. The GF is the first stop after leaving MK. If you time it right, the boat is much faster than the monorail. The boat launch is just to the left of the walkway to the monorail platform. It serves the GF and the Polynesian. If you have to be at the GF at 1:00, I would be at the boat dock at around 12:15ish....just in case you just missed the last boat, and have to wait for another. It takes about 8-10 minutes to get to the GF, but then it has to go to the Polynesian, and then it heads back to MK. The monorail could take about 20 minutes, with the stops at the CR, TTC and then the Polynesian before getting to the GF.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Personally, I like the boat. But the Monorail works too. Either way, allow 30 minutes from MK to GF. Chances are you'll arrive early. But, if Murphy and his law is there, it could take the full 30 minutes.

(ie: just missed the boat, next one in 20 minutes... 10 minute ride... or, just missed the monorail, 10 minute wait, 20 minute ride.)

 

[whogirl'smom]

Thanks, everyone! I think we'll do the boat! goofy4tink, I printed off your timing information to put in my planning notebook--what will I do when this vacation is over?

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks, everyone! I think we'll do the boat! goofy4tink, I printed off your timing information to put in my planning notebook--what will I do when this vacation is over?

Start planning the next WDW trip??? That's what I do.