Official 'how to get from point A to point B while at WDW' thread.

[goofy4tink]

Orlando and WDW is actually going to be the 2nd leg of an international trip I'm taking next month. My first leg will be from from NYC to Central America, but I will be arriving Orlando from Central America, then back to NYC. (I'm a US citizen.)

When I use ME, I guess I'll have to clear customs and possibly immigration with my bag. Where does this happen? On the 2nd Floor? Do I need to go back up to three and cross over to B side if necessary? I'll be arriving on Copa Airlines. So I guess I'll not put my ME tag on my bag and take it on the ME bus myself. When I check-in at the hotel, will there be porters to assist me with my bag (though it is on wheels, I may not know where I'm going to locate my room).

My flight is scheduled to arrive at about 3:00 p.m. and I'm staying at Pop Century. I've scheduled an ADR for the 8:30 Hoop-Dee-Doo show over at Fort Wilderness. Is that going to be a problem? At least there shouldn't be snow delays coming from Central America.

When I return back to NYC, and check my bag for the flight at my resort, do I understand it that my checking in at my hotel I will lose the seat I have already chosen on my Continental flight back? Maybe I misread something on these boards? I'd like to check my bag, weigh it so I don't go over 50 lbs, and I know Continental will charge me $25 for it. But my flight back is around 6:30 p.m. and I'd like to stay in the park that day. I'd probably like to check my carry-on bag with bell services and retrieve it before getting on the bus. Would I probably depart Pop Century around 3:30 p.m.?

Anyway, would appreciate your advice for my situation -- I guess it's the arriving from the international location which makes it a bit complicated. Thanks in advance.

Arriving internationally does make things a bit more complicated. I can't help a ton with that info...never flown in as an international passenger. I 'believe' you'll have to clear customs first, then head to Side B of the terminal and down to DME. You may want to ask that particular question on the main transportation board...we have many international travelers there who should be able to give you some insights.
I think you can hand your bags off and have DME deliver them to Pop for you...but that's a question for experienced international travelers. And yes, there will be someone there to help with your bag, but it won't be quick since you'll be at Pop. Their luggage assistence CMs aren't the speediest.
For your checkout, you can check your bag in the morning...it shouldn't make any difference to your seat selection. It's basically the same thing as curbside checkin at the airport, but the curb is a lot further away!!! You will get your bag checked, your boarding pass issued and you're done. You can do that at any time prior to 1pm...that's when the RAC counter closes. I would recommend heading there about 7:30ish...not too many others in line then. If you wait until 8ish, you'll have a longer wait. I like to get there by 7, check my bags and then head to the food court and get a bite to eat before heading to the park on my last day.
You can then head to the parks, returning to Pop no later than 2:45. Your pickup time will be about 3:30, give or take 15 mins either way. You need to be at the DME stop no less than 15 mins prior to the pickup time you are given, so you need to leave plenty of time to get back to the resort, get any carryon bags you may have left with luggage assistence, use the rest room and such and get to the stop. The time you are given is the time the bus will leave the resort, not the time you should get to the stop.

So, head over to the main transportation board and ask about that international arrival proceedure.

 

[CrossOverGuy]

Thanks very much for your reply. I appreciate it, and I very much look forward to my Disney trip!

 

[donnishobson]

We have an 8:40 pm reservation at Artist Point on Jan 26 and we are staying at the Grand Floridian. Is there a boat to get there, or only from the Contemporary? We will have a rental car but we may have more than one drink each;however, not if we have to drive. Perhaps we could monorail to the Contemporary, catch the boat and take a cab home. Suggestions for getting there and back will be greatly appreciated. We are two adults with many years of snow camping experience - the cold and rainy weather is not an issue.

Thanks!

 

[adoptnky]

I think I have this figured out, but thought I would check with the experts on a few of our transportation issues.

My parents will be staying at FW and my DS and I will be staying at POR for the Princess Half Marathon weekend (I'm running!!).

On Friday, we are going to all go to AK in the morning. I then need to get to the WWoS for packet pickup. Shuttles go between WWoS and the Event Host Hotels. I plan on taking the bus from AK to AKL (Event Host Hotel) and then the shuttle to WWoS. I then will meet up with my parents and DS at Epcot in the late afternoon. I can take a shuttle back to the CBR, YC or BC. Suggestions on which one would be easier to then get to Epcot?

Saturday night we have an early reservation for the HDDR (5:00) and then I plan on heading back to POR (hoping to get to bed early!). MK is open until 11:00, so I was thinking that the best would be to take the boat or bus to MK and then the bus to POR.

Sunday I'll meet up with my family at the MK after I'm done with my run and get cleaned up. I have a feeling we will stay there the whole day and will want to watch Wishes at 8:00 and then head back. I will need to go back to FW to pick up my DS's stuff (he is spending the night with my parents on Saturday night). Because it will be later, and MK will be closed, I think our best bet would be to take a cab back to POR. Our other option would be to bus it to DHS and then back to POR. (DHS is open until 10:00 that night)

Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advanced for any help!

 

[princesswart]

I do not know if I am doing this right. This is my first post on this forum and my first trip ever to WDW. I have spent so much time trying to figure this trip out I could cry. The transportation issues have me so confused. My biggest fear is getting stranded somewhere and being eaten by an alligator trying to get back to my resort.

We are going to be at WDW in late January. My husband and I will not have a car and budget issues have us wanting to use the Disney Transportation System the entire time.

We have a dinner reservation at Ohana at 9:25pm. We plan on getting there by monorail from the MK where we will have spent the day. But I am worried about how we will get back to our resort: Port Orleans-Riverside after such a late dinner. What are our options? Remember I am totally clueless so don't assume I know anything. I don't.

 

[DannysMom]

We have an 8:40 pm reservation at Artist Point on Jan 26 and we are staying at the Grand Floridian. Is there a boat to get there, or only from the Contemporary? We will have a rental car but we may have more than one drink each;however, not if we have to drive. Perhaps we could monorail to the Contemporary, catch the boat and take a cab home. Suggestions for getting there and back will be greatly appreciated. We are two adults with many years of snow camping experience - the cold and rainy weather is not an issue.

Thanks!

You'll want to monorail around to either MK or CR, from either location you will be a le to catch a boat to WL. After dinner, you are correct the easiest way back is a cab, especially if you have had a few drinks with dinner.

 

[DannysMom]

I think I have this figured out, but thought I would check with the experts on a few of our transportation issues.

My parents will be staying at FW and my DS and I will be staying at POR for the Princess Half Marathon weekend (I'm running!!).

On Friday, we are going to all go to AK in the morning. I then need to get to the WWoS for packet pickup. Shuttles go between WWoS and the Event Host Hotels. I plan on taking the bus from AK to AKL (Event Host Hotel) and then the shuttle to WWoS. I then will meet up with my parents and DS at Epcot in the late afternoon. I can take a shuttle back to the CBR, YC or BC. Suggestions on which one would be easier to then get to Epcot?

Saturday night we have an early reservation for the HDDR (5:00) and then I plan on heading back to POR (hoping to get to bed early!). MK is open until 11:00, so I was thinking that the best would be to take the boat or bus to MK and then the bus to POR.

Sunday I'll meet up with my family at the MK after I'm done with my run and get cleaned up. I have a feeling we will stay there the whole day and will want to watch Wishes at 8:00 and then head back. I will need to go back to FW to pick up my DS's stuff (he is spending the night with my parents on Saturday night). Because it will be later, and MK will be closed, I think our best bet would be to take a cab back to POR. Our other option would be to bus it to DHS and then back to POR. (DHS is open until 10:00 that night)

Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advanced for any help!

It looks like you have most of your transportation thought out pretty well. When meeting your family at Epcot I'd go with the shuttle to either Yacht or Beach Club (they are right next to each other and share a pool area.) From there you can walk to to back entrance to Epcot, it will put you in World showcase, between UK and France.

 

[DannysMom]

I do not know if I am doing this right. This is my first post on this forum and my first trip ever to WDW. I have spent so much time trying to figure this trip out I could cry. The transportation issues have me so confused. My biggest fear is getting stranded somewhere and being eaten by an alligator trying to get back to my resort.

We are going to be at WDW in late January. My husband and I will not have a car and budget issues have us wanting to use the Disney Transportation System the entire time.

We have a dinner reservation at Ohana at 9:25pm. We plan on getting there by monorail from the MK where we will have spent the day. But I am worried about how we will get back to our resort: Port Orleans-Riverside after such a late dinner. What are our options? Remember I am totally clueless so don't assume I know anything. I don't.

Don't worry, I have never yet had a car at WDW, transportation is not that hard to figure out. After such a late dinner you have two choices. My first choice would be a cab, as it would certainly be quicker. The other option is to take a bus to DTD and transfer to the POR bus -- but be warned it could easily take 60 -90 minutes to get back to your resort going this route. But if you have more time than money, and do not mind a loooonnnng trip, it will work.

 

[donnishobson]

You'll want to monorail around to either MK or CR, from either location you will be a le to catch a boat to WL. After dinner, you are correct the easiest way back is a cab, especially if you have had a few drinks with dinner.

Thanks. I had read in Complete WDW that there was a boat from Grand Floridian. I didn't think so. Probably will go from Contemporary to avoid exiting crowds from MK.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have an 8:40 pm reservation at Artist Point on Jan 26 and we are staying at the Grand Floridian. Is there a boat to get there, or only from the Contemporary? We will have a rental car but we may have more than one drink each;however, not if we have to drive. Perhaps we could monorail to the Contemporary, catch the boat and take a cab home. Suggestions for getting there and back will be greatly appreciated. We are two adults with many years of snow camping experience - the cold and rainy weather is not an issue.

Thanks!

Monorail over to the CR and take the boat to WL from there. After eating (love, love, love Artist Point by the way!!!), if MK is still open, take the boat to CR and then monorail to GF. If MK is closed, just take a cab...easy and not very expensive. Should be less than $10.

I think I have this figured out, but thought I would check with the experts on a few of our transportation issues.

My parents will be staying at FW and my DS and I will be staying at POR for the Princess Half Marathon weekend (I'm running!!).

On Friday, we are going to all go to AK in the morning. I then need to get to the WWoS for packet pickup. Shuttles go between WWoS and the Event Host Hotels. I plan on taking the bus from AK to AKL (Event Host Hotel) and then the shuttle to WWoS. I then will meet up with my parents and DS at Epcot in the late afternoon. I can take a shuttle back to the CBR, YC or BC. Suggestions on which one would be easier to then get to Epcot?

Saturday night we have an early reservation for the HDDR (5:00) and then I plan on heading back to POR (hoping to get to bed early!). MK is open until 11:00, so I was thinking that the best would be to take the boat or bus to MK and then the bus to POR.

Sunday I'll meet up with my family at the MK after I'm done with my run and get cleaned up. I have a feeling we will stay there the whole day and will want to watch Wishes at 8:00 and then head back. I will need to go back to FW to pick up my DS's stuff (he is spending the night with my parents on Saturday night). Because it will be later, and MK will be closed, I think our best bet would be to take a cab back to POR. Our other option would be to bus it to DHS and then back to POR. (DHS is open until 10:00 that night)

Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advanced for any help!

You have a good handle on it all....shuttle to BC and then walk over to Epcot via the International Gateway...it takes about 5 mins to walk it.
After HDDR, you are best off taking the boat back to MK and bussing back to your resort.
For the night you head to FtW to get your ds's stuff....you can either head to DHS and then transfer to the POR bus. Or, you can bus to DTD, from FtW, and then take the boat back to POR. I love taking the boat from DTD to POR..if it's running.

I do not know if I am doing this right. This is my first post on this forum and my first trip ever to WDW. I have spent so much time trying to figure this trip out I could cry. The transportation issues have me so confused. My biggest fear is getting stranded somewhere and being eaten by an alligator trying to get back to my resort.

We are going to be at WDW in late January. My husband and I will not have a car and budget issues have us wanting to use the Disney Transportation System the entire time.

We have a dinner reservation at Ohana at 9:25pm. We plan on getting there by monorail from the MK where we will have spent the day. But I am worried about how we will get back to our resort: Port Orleans-Riverside after such a late dinner. What are our options? Remember I am totally clueless so don't assume I know anything. I don't.

You are going to be so surprised at how easy the Disney transportation system is to figure out and use. After 6 hrs there, you'll be an expert. To get to 'Ohana, head to MK, then monorail over to the Polynesian. If there are no parks open when you're done eating, and at this time of year chances are good they will in fact all be closed, you can always bus to DTD and then boat to POR from there...if the boats are running. Otherwise, you can just take a cab back to POR from the Polynesian. They are very easy to get...won't be an issue.

 

[CastleDream]

I don't know if someone has already said specifically how to do this or not...but honestly I have to pack and don't have the time to read through the last 69 pages of post =) I'll be staying at the Pop Century starting this Saturday! Whoo hoo! Sunday we will be visiting AK and then in the evening we will be going to Fort Wilderness Lodge to eat at Whisper Canyon Cafe. After that I would like (If it's possible) to head over to the Polynesian Resort and sit on the beach and wait on the MK fireworks from there. Is this possible? I think so...anyway...we will have a car but is there another option for getting to these places in the evening? I read that there is a boat that goes from Fort Wilderness to MK...but we will not have Park Hoppers so I'm not sure how that works...kinda a Disney World newbie (been a few times now) but I'm in love with the place =)

 

[DannysMom]

I don't know if someone has already said specifically how to do this or not...but honestly I have to pack and don't have the time to read through the last 69 pages of post =) I'll be staying at the Pop Century starting this Saturday! Whoo hoo! Sunday we will be visiting AK and then in the evening we will be going to Fort Wilderness Lodge to eat at Whisper Canyon Cafe. After that I would like (If it's possible) to head over to the Polynesian Resort and sit on the beach and wait on the MK fireworks from there. Is this possible? I think so...anyway...we will have a car but is there another option for getting to these places in the evening? I read that there is a boat that goes from Fort Wilderness to MK...but we will not have Park Hoppers so I'm not sure how that works...kinda a Disney World newbie (been a few times now) but I'm in love with the place =)

If you are heading to Whispering Canyon, you are going to Wilderness Lodge. (As opposed to the campground, Fort Wilderness where they have Hoop Dee Doo and Mickey's Backyard BBQ. ) To get from WL to MK there are both buses and a boat launch. The transportation for all parks is outside the gates, so no park entry is needed if you are just using it as a transfer point. To get from MK to the Poly you can take either the monorail or another boat.

 

[DannysMom]

Oh, and yes,anyone can watch Wishes from the Poly beach. They pipe in the music and it's quite nice.

 

[CastleDream]

Thanks a million! I think we shall take the boat and then the monorail. You're right also...it is Wilderness Lodge. Really appreciate it!

 

[CastleDream]

Oh! I should think further ahead...after the fireworks...how long will the boats still be going so that we could in fact go back the same way?

 

[joelkfla]

Just to further clarify, there is no "Fort Wilderness Lodge"; Fort Wilderness is the campground, and Wilderness Lodge is the hotel -- 2 different places.

From AK, they are also on separate bus routes, so make sure you get on the bus for Wilderness Lodge, not the one for Fort Wilderness.

After the fireworks, you can take the boat or monorail back to MK for the bus to Pop.

 

[cview]

Hi I'm looking for advice on the amount of time to budget for travelling between Animal Kingdom & the Contemporary for a Chef Mickey reservation (at 11am) using Disney transportation.

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi I'm looking for advice on the amount of time to budget for travelling between Animal Kingdom & the Contemporary for a Chef Mickey reservation (at 11am) using Disney transportation.

Thanks!

Welcome to the Transportation board!! I'm going to assume you mean AK park, not the lodge...so, to get to an 11am ADR at the CR, you should be out at the CR bus stop no later than 10:20ish. You might be okay with 10:30, but if you just miss the bus, you could be waiting until 10:45ish for the next one and that's cutting it too close. Plan on spending about 40 mins, from park to resort...yes, it could be much less, but it's so much better to be safe than sorry. I hate worrying about arriving late for an ADR.

 

[cview]

Thanks!

 

[AmandaNied]

Hello!

I've enjoyed reading through this thread. I just have one question- we are staying at POP Jan 22-26th and plan on spending a night or two bumming around Downtown Disney. Will be still be able to catch a bus back to POP, as DTD doesn't 'close' till 11p?

Thanks!