Need some help with transportation!

[lynzi2004]

We were at the Fort in April and had a great time. Only went to MK (2 days) and had a couple Fort days. The only thing we didn't like was transportation, the fort is huge and I don't really want to have to rent a golf cart. Planning a trip back in February and will be staying longer and doing all the parks. We had excellent weather in April. Couple questions:

1. In the event of rain/storms, do they provide bus service to MK if the boats aren't running or are we just stuck till its over?

2. Can we drive our car to the entrance of the Fort and park there for the day while we hop a bus to Epcot, AK, and HS? Or do we have to walk/take an internal bus first?

3. How reliable is bus service to the other parks? We have never been on a Disney bus so I'm not sure what to expect?

 

[tiggerdad]

You can park at the overflow lot (front of the Fort) and get on the buses to the parks there if you like.

We've always found the buses reliable on times and have never waited more than 10 minutes on an internal bus.

The buses to the parks are reliable as well. There is a screen at the main bus stop that gives the expected arrival time of each park bus and we found this to be very accurate.

 

[peg110]

In the event of a "Problem" (Rain, or otherwise) they will provide a bus to the park (and back), in fact there is one that always runs. The downside though, is that you have to transfer at the Wilderness Lodge. You can also expect your travel time to (or from) the park to be significantly increased. A typical trip from your Site to the Park is as follows:

• Take internal bus to Settlement.
• If you are not on the "Yellow" bus, transfer to the Yellow bus at the Settlement.
• Take Yellow bus to Wilderness lodge.
• Transfer at Wilderness Lodge to MK bus
• Take Bus to MK

Of course the route back is the same but in reverse. The problem is, is that there can be a wait at EACH Stop. So for argument sake, you are already on the Yellow Bus run. You take it to the Settlement. You still have a wait there (even though you don't transfer) because they can't leave before a specified time. Then you go to WL... Get off there and wait (we waited about 15 minutes one time. Another time when there were other issues, we waited almost 30 minutes). Then you get the bus to the MK.

Regardless what path you take (Buses, Boats, Cars to the TTC and Monorail or boat), you should safely plan for about an hour of travel time. That way you don't get disappointed and you don't miss things. If it takes less time (and usually it does) so much the better, but if you are trying to make a reservation or something similar... Plan for the wait just in case.

 

[PaHunter]

One morning while staying during Feb the boats were not running due to fog....we had to take a bus to WL then to MK, like Paul said it added some time, but was not too bad. The other big reason the boats stop is winds in excess of 25 mph, but we have never experienced that.

 

[lynzi2004]

Thank you all! I think that will solve most of our golf cart issues! So excited to see the other parks this trip! The kids were 4 and 3 last April and we just wanted to make a quick trip to meet the princesses...needless, to say we all fell in love and can't wait to go back!

 

[PaHunter]

When we were there this past Feb, there were two mornings we left for parks and DW and I were the only one's on the bus. Was a fun time chatting with the drivers during the ride. One day was DHS and the other was to Epcot. We have found the internal buses to be pretty good and between parks most of the time, seems like getting back from DHS and AK sometimes has a bit of a wait but, hey you are on vacation and at Disney, how bad can it be.

 

[MotherRunner]

So if you DO have a cart the fastest way to get to Epcot and AK are cart to Settlement and bus to Epcot and AK?

 

[G719]

So if you DO have a cart the fastest way to get to Epcot and AK are cart to Settlement and bus to Epcot and AK?

For AK, epcot, and DHS, take your cart to the outpost depot which is near the entrance and check in building of the fort. The settlement is the area by the boat dock which is where you go to get transportation to MK.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Taking a bus to Epcot is certainly the fastest way. But honestly we prefer taking the boat over to the contemporary or MK and hopping on a monorail to the TTC, then taking the monorail to Epcot. Yes it takes longer but there is something magical about arriving at Epcot via the monorail. It's worth it to do it at least once.

 

[PaHunter]

Taking a bus to Epcot is certainly the fastest way. But honestly we prefer taking the boat over to the contemporary or MK and hopping on a monorail to the TTC, then taking the monorail to Epcot. Yes it takes longer but there is something magical about arriving at Epcot via the monorail. It's worth it to do it at least once.

We usually come back from Epcot that way during a trip. Usually have breakfast reservations so can't take that route to get there in the mornings. Monorail not running early enough.

 

[peg110]

Last time we were there, we had early reservations for breakfast at the Garden Grill. The nice thing is that as soon as breakfast is over, we can get right in line for Soarin' with practically No wait. Saves a Fast Pass for us. Plus we can get the other things that we like out of the way while there at "The Land".

Like Chris said, however, we are unable to use those modes of transportation. That's okay though, because we prefer to drive over. Plus, with the "early reservation", we are parked really close too (well, relatively speaking.)

 

[5kidsmommy]

We usually come back from Epcot that way during a trip. Usually have breakfast reservations so can't take that route to get there in the mornings. Monorail not running early enough.

We drive when we need to be there early. That's one thing I love about being at the Fort, our vehicle is right there.

But we aren't breakfast in the park people so we don't drive very often.

 

[PaHunter]

We drive when we need to be there early. That's one thing I love about being at the Fort, our vehicle is right there.

But we aren't breakfast in the park people so we don't drive very often.

We drove to DHS the morning we left, left the trailer in overflow lot, but it confuses the parking staff when you have a Crewcab Dually to park. It messes up their system. Otherwise, we are on vacation and I am glad to let someone else drive.

 

[Teamubr]

it confuses the parking staff when you have a Crewcab Dually to park.

I thought it was just me! We drove to AK one day and the look on their face when you pull up in something that doesn't fit in their spots. I told them I had to back in or I couldn't get out (narrow lanes/long truck) and they finally just pointed me to the far side of the lot and had me park next to a motorhome. I'm big, but not that big.

j

 

[tiggerdad]

SeaWorld did same thing to me and I don't drive a duelly, just a f-250. They put me in the rv parking there.

 

[peg110]

SeaWorld did same thing to me and I don't drive a duelly, just a f-250. They put me in the rv parking there.

Hmmm.... We are going to Seaworld in November when we are down there. I have the 250 as well (SRW). Wonder what they will do with me.

I don't have a problem parking with the RVs (we actually did our FIRST trip to the Fort in 2012) but we did have the TT with us, so it made sense.

Lacking the TT/RV though, we usually pay for the "Preferred" parking, so I wonder how that will work.

 

[PaHunter]

Hmmm.... We are going to Seaworld in November when we are down there. I have the 250 as well (SRW). Wonder what they will do with me.

I don't have a problem parking with the RVs (we actually did our FIRST trip to the Fort in 2012) but we did have the TT with us, so it made sense.

Lacking the TT/RV though, we usually pay for the "Preferred" parking, so I wonder how that will work.

They ended up putting me on the end of the next lane, so I was right on the outside and could just pull out in the travel lane to exit. And this way I was on the end I could use that little extra space that no one was parking in anyway.
Big truck problems.

 

[peg110]

Big truck problems.

I hear you on that...
Going for a bit....
Where I work, we have a huge parking lot where you have to pay for parking ($45.00/month) but the problem is, is that the parking spots are VERY narrow. I'd have a hard enough time parking in between 2 normal spots but these Narrow ones are impossible. Fortunately, at the hour I come to the office, there is still plenty of parking on a side street. So I am close to the building and I don't have to pay. Just hope I don't have to leave during the middle of the day and then come back, because then I am out of luck.

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled topic.

I guess I will find out what happens in November. Time is getting close.