My transportation plan – need your feedback

[isabellea]

On Tuesday August 5th, we have an 8:05am ADR for CRT (MK opens at 9am that morning). We’re thinking of driving to MK that morning and park around 7:30am, take the ferry and walk on empty main street before our ADR. We plan on leaving right after the afternoon parade to get a break at the resort. Then come back to MK around 7pm for a few rides and the Terrace Firework Dessert Party (ADR at 9:05pm). The park will close at 10pm after Wishes according to Disney.
What makes more sense…
1) Go back to resort in the afternoon with the car and come back at MK by bus?
2) Go back to resort by bus, come back to MK by bus and leave MK after Wishes by car?
I’m just afraid that since the park closes right after Wishes the bus lines will be crazy long. I’m just not sure what is better, the kids sleeping in our arms (they are 2 and 5) while waiting for the bus and in the bus or being stuck in the parking lot waiting to exit. What do you think?

 

[rustyfla]

On Tuesday August 5th, we have an 8:05am ADR for CRT (MK opens at 9am that morning). We’re thinking of driving to MK that morning and park around 7:30am, take the ferry and walk on empty main street before our ADR. We plan on leaving right after the afternoon parade to get a break at the resort. Then come back to MK around 7pm for a few rides and the Terrace Firework Dessert Party (ADR at 9:05pm). The park will close at 10pm after Wishes according to Disney.
What makes more sense…
1) Go back to resort in the afternoon with the car and come back at MK by bus?
2) Go back to resort by bus, come back to MK by bus and leave MK after Wishes by car?
I’m just afraid that since the park closes right after Wishes the bus lines will be crazy long. I’m just not sure what is better, the kids sleeping in our arms (they are 2 and 5) while waiting for the bus and in the bus or being stuck in the parking lot waiting to exit. What do you think?

Buses are far less crowded during the day, than first thing in the morning or at the end of the night.

 

[kimbe21]

Option 2. The lines to get out of the parking lot at the end of the night are not bad at all. Especially since you will be arriving so early and have a front row parking space you should get out in no time.

Arrive in the morning by car, use the buses in the afternoon to the hotel and back and then take the car back to the resort after Wishes.

Nothing is worse then being standing room only on a bus at the end of the night with two sleeping kids, bags and strollers! Ugh, that's not Disney magic!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Heads up: It took me 40 minutes when I drove to the TTC and then took the ferry to MK. I just missed the ferry so I had to wait. It was a morning EMH and the park opened at 8am. I left the resort at 7:20am and was walking through the turnstyles right at 8am.

This was in May 2013 and it wasn't a busy time at all. I just wanted to let you know so you might want to leave a bit more time to get to your CRT reservation.

I would do Option 2. I remember dealing with sleeping kids on the buses at the end of the night and it wasn't fun. At least that way, you can keep them in their stroller if you use the ferry and then they can sleep in the car on the way back to the resort.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Option 2 for sure. The longest night of my life was leaving Studios after Fantasmic with three sleepy kids. There were so many people going back to the AllStars that I don't think we got on until the third or fourth bus. And that was low-crowd January.

 

[JimmyV]

Why not Option Number 3?
3) Go back to resort by car, come back to MK by car and leave MK after Wishes by car?

You definitely want to drive in the morning, and you want to drive home at night. Taking the bus isn't a bad option for the afternoon break and back, but if you have the car there, why not use it?

 

[KelleyK75]

Option 2. The lines to get out of the parking lot at the end of the night are not bad at all. Especially since you will be arriving so early and have a front row parking space you should get out in no time.

Arrive in the morning by car, use the buses in the afternoon to the hotel and back and then take the car back to the resort after Wishes.

Nothing is worse then being standing room only on a bus at the end of the night with two sleeping kids, bags and strollers! Ugh, that's not Disney magic!

I agree with this option. You will get a great parking spot being there so early, the buses in the afternoon aren't bad, and getting out of the parking lot at night by car is not bad at all. But waiting for buses at the end of the night sometimes take forever, because everyone is leaving. I vote drive car, take bus in the afternoon back and forth and leave at the end of the night by car.

And I can attest that riding a bus that is completely full, with kids and a stroller, is not fun at all. We did that last week, and I luckily got a seat, because I had to hold the stroller, but my sister and her 6&4 year old had to stand. I was a little surprised that grown men were sitting there and let her and the kids stand. I couldn't hold one, because I had the stroller in my lap, and some kid that was also standing was pushing againest the stroller the whole time. We could have done it the opposite way, but I didn't think we could hold the double stroller while standing up.

 

[isabellea]

Heads up: It took me 40 minutes when I drove to the TTC and then took the ferry to MK. I just missed the ferry so I had to wait. It was a morning EMH and the park opened at 8am. I left the resort at 7:20am and was walking through the turnstyles right at 8am.

Thank you for the heads up. I will make sure we are leaving AoA at 6h50-7am then. I really want to take my time walking on an empty main street on our way to CRT.

 

[isabellea]

The more I think about it, the more I like option 2. I don't want to take the car all 4 times because if I leave by car at night, I want it to be parked close. I also like that if our youngest is too tired, one of us can leave with her while the other stays with our oldest for the afternoon parade and then come back later together.