Need help with a driving tour!

[ArieBella]

Okay so as a first timer, there is so much I want to see and even though I won't even try to get it all in on the first trip, I won't be able to completely contain myself!

We're driving to Disney, we only live 3 hours away. We won't be hitting the parks on our first day though, I want to see some "sites" and ride the monorail, that kind of thing. I'm wondering if someone can help me plan a cohesive driving tour?

We're staying at AoA and will be there long before check-in I'm sure. I'd like to drive around, see the other resorts, have a ride on the monorail, maybe each leg of it? Hopefully check in and go to DTD for the afternoon. Any advice? Anything else I should try to see or do? What is the best order for seeing resorts, and can I get a road map before I get there?

 

[grimley1968]

I'd check in to AoA first. Your room will probably not be ready, but you'll get your parking pass, KTTW cards (park tickets on there if that is in your package). But the most important reason for doing this right away is to get your parking pass. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes or so.

Once you've checked in with the parking pass in your windshield, drive over to the TTC (as though you're going to MK). Parking is free with that pass, so they'll most likely just wave you right through at the MK gate. Once parked at the TTC, walk or tram up to the front of the TTC, and board the Resort Monorail. That will take you to Poly, GF, MK and Contemporary before getting back to the TTC. You can get off at each resort, stay on the monorail, whatever you like.

After this, or before if you like, you can drive over to the DHS parking lot (again, free), park there, and then ride the boat or walk to the EPCOT area deluxe resorts, the boardwalk, etc.

I would definitely drive to DtD, rather than try to catch a bus. Bus service to DtD isn't nearly as good as bus service to the parks.

For most of the moderate resorts, you should be able to drive to pretty easily. There's plenty of signage, but it helps to know which park the moderate resorts are closest to, so you can follow signs to that park, and then you'll see more signs directing you to specific resorts.

HTH.

 

[tobikaye]

The PP gave you a pretty good listing, but I would include that you can take a boat from Contemporary to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. Also, from DTD, you can take boats to Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans, and ,I think, Old Key West. I would suggest driving to Animal Kingom Lodge. Basically, I would suggest making a list of places you really want to go and then make a plan.

... have a ride on the monorail, maybe each leg of it?

From the TTC, either before or after the monorail loop, you can transfer and then get on the TTC-Epcot loop for a round trip ride.

...What is the best order for seeing resorts, and can I get a road map before I get there?

Any of the online maps you pull up (Google, Mapquest, etc) can help you out, but here is a link to a map from the WDW website: WDW Map. It might not be the best though as I am not sure if all the road names are on it. There are lots of signs that you can follow. Basically, I would suggest making a list of places you really want to go and then make a plan. Other than grouping places you want to see so you do not go out of your way too much, I think the order would be up to each person's tastes.

 

[grimley1968]

Any of the online maps you pull up (Google, Mapquest, etc) can help you out, but here is a link to a map from the WDW website: WDW Map. It might not be the best though as I am not sure if all the road names are on it. There are lots of signs that you can follow.

I think that's the best overall WDW map I've seen, at least by Disney. So many of their other maps are flash-driven, grossly out-of-scale, or don't show most Disney landmarks, or all the above.

 

[ArieBella]

Thank you both so much! I completely forgot about the boats, will definitely have to factor them in. And the map is just what I was looking for. Somehow google never occurred to me I guess the DIS has made it obsolete for all things Disney in my eyes.

 

[chartle]

I would park at the TTC and then leave it there until maybe your trip to DTD.

In fact I would maybe just leave the car at AoA and get on the first bus that goes to any park besides AK (no alternate link up to a resort). From there see how many resorts or parks you can get to using all the different kinds of travel. It may actually take longer if you drive depending on how long you have to wait for a bus. But again at a park get on the first bus that takes to one of the resorts you would like to check out.

If you end up at I think POR you can take a boat to DTD. I really wouldn't worry too much about how terrible the bus service is to DTD. Its not like you have to be anywhere.

As others have posted as long as you get to AoA after around 7:00 AM you can check in. You just your room will probably not be ready. Leave your stuff with Bell Services and go. They will call or text you with your room number.