Need help with travel times using car

[littlesuitcase]

THis is our second trip to WDW - last time we used Disney transit but this time we are renting a car. We are bringing my MIL and it is too much walking and standing, we think.

Because we didn't do any driving last time I am not sure how easy it is to get around - how parking works etc... I want to leave ourselves time to get to our destinations. WE have some early breakfasts booked.

So - anyone who can offer some advice - we will really appreciate being organized and giving time for our travel.

Resort we are staying at is Port Orleans Riverside. If you think taking transit would be better some of the time please let me know.

DAY ONE: Arrive and Dinner at Whispering Canyon. Can we drive right there? If yes, how long will it take roughly. If no, can we drive and take transit at some point?

DAY TWO: Kids goign to Pirate Adventure in the morning at Grand FLoridian. Can we drive right into the resort area? How long will it take?

Later on day two we are going from the resort to the Princess and Pirates Party at MK. Do we have to park somewhere and take transit into MK? How much time do we give ourselves or is it better to take transit?

DAY THREE: Going to AK from Grand Floridian. Can we drive?

DAY FOUR: Crystal Palace at 8am. If we have to take transit from a parking lot is it running at that time or is a cab a better option? It is before the park opens, I understand.

Later that day going from Resort to Citricos. I will assume whatever works for Grand FLoridian will work this time too.

DAY FIVE: EPCOT for day and evening. Drive to park or do we have to park somwehere and take transit?

DAY SIX: MGM and staying for Fantasmic. Drive to park or park and transit?

DAY SEVEN: is an open day but we are going to CHef Mickeys at 8am. Can we drive into this resort?

After breakfast we may go to a favourite park and we want to go to Downtown Disney. We may want to go to the SPorts Place as well.

Thanks everyone - I really appreciate learning from those who have been to WDW so many times.

Helen

 

[littlesuitcase]

Hello again - I did some more looking and found a tool to help me with some of the directions but I don't seem to be able to go from one resort to another. The directions have a letter z and not directions. Does this mean you can't drive to a resort. that doesn't make sense?

The directions I did get all say follow signs to parking lot (the parks) can we walk into the park from the parking lot or is there still a transfer to some kind of transit?

ANy suggestions - or even a good link to a map so I can figure it out?

Thanks!
Helen

 

[paults]

we use Disney trans all the time, no car. I believe if you drive to some parks you then need to get on a tram in the parking lot to get to the entrance of the park. So you will still be standing around waiting for the tram. I could be wrong because we don't drive to the parks.

 

[littlesuitcase]

Thanks - hopefully someone who drives will offer some advice - maybe it will be easier to take transit soome of the time especially to the parks? Thanks for posting!

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We only have used rental cars. We love the flexibility of it. We come and go as we please, with no waiting for a bus, and no sharing a bus with a ton of people. (Of course we go in summer when it is VERY busy). If I were going from resort to resort, I think it would be worth it to drive your vehicle. I think that if it isn't your resort, you will get a pass to park at that resort for 2-3 hours. After that, your car could be towed.

We are planning on visiting several resorts just for the fun of it. (Poly and AKL). We are also staying at POR. Nice resort! Especially if you are good with directions, I think that driving would be the best option. However, their are other opinions on this subject throughout the boards.

Hope this helps. I am sure you will get more knowledgeable responses other than mine! Good luck!

 

[littlesuitcase]

Thanks - I think the max stay at a resort we visit will be 3 hours - the pirate cruise day. We will mention it when we are parking to make sure it is ok.

 

[pixiepower1971]

You can also valet park at all of the deluxe resorts. That will ease some of the walking for you. There is a charge plus the tip but it may be worth it. The parking lots can be a hike from the resort itself.

You can walk into all the parks from the parking lot except for MK. You will have to ride the monorail or ferry over from the parking area(TTC).

It depends on where you are in the lot if you need to take the tram or not. Even with the tram, I find driving to be faster then disney transportation!

 

[littlesuitcase]

Thank you sooo much! Is there a place to find directions from the resorts to the resorts? I think I have the resorts to the parks figured out. Or will we get a map when we arrive that will be easy to follow?

Thanks,
Helen

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, you won't get a road map - but there's PLENTY of highly-visible signage; plus, if you miss a turn or a ramp, there's most likely another way to get where you're going further down the road.

DAY ONE: Arrive and Dinner at Whispering Canyon. Can we drive right there? If yes, how long will it take roughly. If no, can we drive and take transit at some point?

Yes; allow about a half hour to forty-five minutes

DAY TWO: Kids goign to Pirate Adventure in the morning at Grand FLoridian. Can we drive right into the resort area? How long will it take?

Ditto

Later on day two we are going from the resort to the Princess and Pirates Party at MK. Do we have to park somewhere and take transit into MK? How much time do we give ourselves or is it better to take transit?

Use the bus. It'll drop you off close to the MK gates. Driving, you'd need to park, then make your way to the TTC, then take the monorail or ferry to the park. Apparently, with Party tickets, you can get into Magic Kingdom as early as 4 PM (according to a post elsewhere)

DAY THREE: Going to AK from Grand Floridian. Can we drive?

Yes. You may as well, since the most efficient way to get to the GF will be by driving directly there.

DAY FOUR: Crystal Palace at 8am. If we have to take transit from a parking lot is it running at that time or is a cab a better option? It is before the park opens, I understand.

Probably, but again, since you're going to the Magic Kingdom (and just in case they're not letting cars through the entrance plaza at 7:15 or so, you're MUCH better off using the bus.

Later that day going from Resort to Citricos. I will assume whatever works for Grand FLoridian will work this time too.

Yep.

DAY FIVE: EPCOT for day and evening. Drive to park or do we have to park somwehere and take transit?

Go ahead and drive. Depending how early you arrive, you might have to take a tram or you may get to park close enough to the entrance to walk.

DAY SIX: MGM and staying for Fantasmic. Drive to park or park and transit?

Ditto

DAY SEVEN: is an open day but we are going to CHef Mickeys at 8am. Can we drive into this resort?

Yes

After breakfast we may go to a favourite park and we want to go to Downtown Disney. We may want to go to the SPorts Place as well.

Drive from the Contemporary to your destination park, then to Downtown Disney, then to WWoS.

 

[pixiepower1971]

I have to disagree with the drive times given in the last post. It takes no more then 15 minutes to get anywhere on Disney property! If you allow 30 mins you will have some cushion time in case you get lost but you don't need more then that.

To us, there is nothing better then arriving at the MK by ferry or monorail. I HATE to take the bus there. It takes some of the magic away from the experiance.

They do let cars through the entrance gates for early ADRs...I would drive. All transportation is running in time to make it to your ADR at Crystal Palace.

 

[NCRedding]

Littlesuitcase: getting around the World in a car is fairly easy. Your resort map will have a map of the world on the back of it which will help a great deal with directions. You may also want to ask at the guardhouse if they have written driving instructions. I know OKW did.

POR to Whispering Canyon is easy: turn right on Bonnet Creek Parkway as you leave the resort. This road deadends at Vista Blvd (less than 1 mile from POR)., turn left onto Vista. Vista goes past Fort Wilderness. Vista will end at World Drive. Turn right, then right at the next stoplight onto Timberlane Drive. You'll them turn left into Wilderness Lodge. You can either valet park here, or self-park. You'll probably want to drop MIL off at the front entrance if you self-park. Driving will take you about 20 minutes.

POR to GF: Follow the above directions to World Drive. Turn right onto World Drive. At the first stoplight, turn left onto Seven Seas Drive. You'll go past the Polynesian. After you pass the Poly, you'll turn right onto Floridian Way. GF will be on the right. Definitely drop MIL off if you self-park. Self parking is across the street from the GF and is a LONG walk to the resort.

I recommend driving to every park, except MK. You will probably have to take a tram from the parking lot to the parks, but they run very frequently. I was at WDW last week, staying at the OKW which is very near your resort. It took me less that 10 minutes to leave the entrance gate of Epcot until I arrived back at the parking place in front of my villa.

 

[littlesuitcase]

Thanks everyone - I will report back when we return so other drivers can benefit from our experience and mistakes

Helen

 

[Cee]

Our family usually uses the bus transportation and ME from the airport. My DH
and I went on an impromptu trip a few weeks ago and rented a car. We had
a ressie at the Concourse Steakhouse at CR one evening. We left a half an
hour before we were supposed to be there and it only took us 5 MINUTES to
drive there from OKW. I never realized how much longer it takes to get places
on the busses. It was so fast and convenient, I think we'll always rent a car
now. The Disney Transportation is great, don't get me wrong. But it was so
much faster with the rental car. On the other hand, we're supposed to be on
vacation and not in a hurry, right? It all comes down to personal preference
and, of course, $$$! Enjoy!