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

[goofy4tink]

Will the resort monorail that starts at 7am stop at the MK? We are staying at WL and have 8am ADR at the CP. can we take the boat the the CR and then take the monorail to the MK?

That is not a great idea. It takes too long. You can take a boat directly to MK. Or take the smaller boat over to CR and then walk to MK. There is a dandy sidewalk that runs all the way there. Go through the CR, out the front doors, turn right, towards the bus stops. Keep going, basically following beneath the monorail line overhead. Cross the street, with the signal, and on to MK. It takes less than 10 mins.
If you boat to the CR, then take the monorail, it will take you much longer. It takes about 20 mins to get from the CR to the MK via the monorail..it runs in the opposite direction!! MK is the stop before you get to the CR..so you have to do the entire loop.

 

[winthropf]

Will the resort monorail that starts at 7am stop at the MK? We are staying at WL and have 8am ADR at the CP. can we take the boat the the CR and then take the monorail to the MK?

When I stayed at WL two years ago, the boats were not running until a half hour prior to MK opening.

 

[jackmd]

New to the forum and new to DW. We will be making our first trip in April after Easter. 2 adults and 3 children ages 10, 8, and 5. We are staying CL at the Yacht club.

I have a couple of questions regarding arrival. I have many friends who have gone, some say the DME is a great way to get from the airport to DW while others have suggested I avoid it and find private transportation. Concerns center primarily around delays in arriving at the resort in a timely fashion as well as having to depart much earlier than necessary. Are these legitimate concerns? Enough so to justify paying for private transportation?

Next, I've booked a breakfast at the Contemporary with intentions to travel onto AK following. I assume that involves taking the bus. If time is valued over cost is it advisable to use a cab or will the bus suffice? Thanks for listening and for any helpful tips. Enjoying the info available on the forum.

 

[skelooch]

Can't help much with regard to DME or an alternate private transportation company from MCO to WDW as I prefer renting a car for our entire trip, it provides us with the flexibility of going where we want, when we want and the cost is a small percentage of our total trip.

As far as getting from CR to AK, IMHO a cab will be by far the fastest, the cost should be approx $22-$24 plus tip. Bell service at the CR entrance will hail you one in minutes, even a van if needed, travel time should be no more than 20 minutes.

 

[lifesgr8]

Can I walk from bcv to dhs? I thought I read somewhere it was possible ?

 

[skelooch]

Yes you can, the distance is approx 1.2 miles, so figure about a 30 minutes at a leisurely pace.
There is also the Friendship boats, won't save you much time if any, could even take longer depending on waiting time for the boat, but IMHO it's better than walking.
Here's a map of walking around and about the epcot resort area which should give you a little help visualizing distances.

[/IMG]

 

[goofy4tink]

New to the forum and new to DW. We will be making our first trip in April after Easter. 2 adults and 3 children ages 10, 8, and 5. We are staying CL at the Yacht club.

I have a couple of questions regarding arrival. I have many friends who have gone, some say the DME is a great way to get from the airport to DW while others have suggested I avoid it and find private transportation. Concerns center primarily around delays in arriving at the resort in a timely fashion as well as having to depart much earlier than necessary. Are these legitimate concerns? Enough so to justify paying for private transportation?

Next, I've booked a breakfast at the Contemporary with intentions to travel onto AK following. I assume that involves taking the bus. If time is valued over cost is it advisable to use a cab or will the bus suffice? Thanks for listening and for any helpful tips. Enjoying the info available on the forum.

Welcome to the DIS!!
I almost always use DME. Let me give you my 'average' times when arriving at MCO, using various types of transportation to WDW....
1. DME.....between 55 and 85 mins. The vast majority of the time it takes me about 70 mins, from gate to resort.

2. Private car service..checked luggage....usually about 60 mins, again, gate to resort.

3. Private car service....carryon bag only....usually 45 mins.

4. Mears shuttle bus/van.....carryon only...90 mins.

5. Car rental....checked bags....about 60 mins.

It all depends on how you want to go....I just can't see spending the money to save about 20-30 mins. But, others disagree.

As far as the return trip to MCO. Yes, a lot of guests think the 3 hrs prior to departure is an excessive amount of time. BUT...MCO recommends that you arrive at the airport 2 hrs prior to departure...and with good reason. Security can be a beast. It has taken me anywhere from 15 mins to almost an hour to get through security there. Drives me nutty.
Even when using a car service, I have them pick me up 2.5 hrs prior to departure. So much better than worrying about being late.

As for your CR breakfast...the buses start running to the parks at 6:30am. When I stay at BW (which is about 90% of the time), I take the bus to MK about 70 mins prior to my CR ADR. Then, I just walk over to the CR from MK..takes less than 10 mins. Then, when you're done eating, just head out to the bus stops at the CR, and get on the AK bus. Very easy.
If you don't want to head out from the YC so early, then take a cab directly to the CR. But, the buses work very well for this particular area.

 

[goofy4tink]

Can I walk from bcv to dhs? I thought I read somewhere it was possible ?

Easy peasy. I have left the International Gateway, with a friend, at the exact same time the Friendship boat left, heading to DHS. The boat got to BW about a min or so before we did. The last we saw of the boat was as it putt putted over to YC/BC. The next time we saw it, we were headed to bag check and the boat was just coming around the bend in the canal. The boat takes 25 mins to make the loop from Epcot to DHS, stopping at the resorts along the way.
So, you can figure on it taking about 20 mins to walk it. Walking from BC would take a few mins off that time. This is your best route...walk to your right as you leave BC. Pass YC. Go up and onto the bridge going to S/D. Take a left into BW..you will see the walkway to DHS right there in front of you, over to the right a bit beside the canal. Just keep walking.

 

[jackmd]

Welcome to the DIS!!
I almost always use DME. Let me give you my 'average' times when arriving at MCO, using various types of transportation to WDW....
1. DME.....between 55 and 85 mins. The vast majority of the time it takes me about 70 mins, from gate to resort.

2. Private car service..checked luggage....usually about 60 mins, again, gate to resort.

3. Private car service....carryon bag only....usually 45 mins.

4. Mears shuttle bus/van.....carryon only...90 mins.

5. Car rental....checked bags....about 60 mins.

It all depends on how you want to go....I just can't see spending the money to save about 20-30 mins. But, others disagree.

As far as the return trip to MCO. Yes, a lot of guests think the 3 hrs prior to departure is an excessive amount of time. BUT...MCO recommends that you arrive at the airport 2 hrs prior to departure...and with good reason. Security can be a beast. It has taken me anywhere from 15 mins to almost an hour to get through security there. Drives me nutty.
Even when using a car service, I have them pick me up 2.5 hrs prior to departure. So much better than worrying about being late.

As for your CR breakfast...the buses start running to the parks at 6:30am. When I stay at BW (which is about 90% of the time), I take the bus to MK about 70 mins prior to my CR ADR. Then, I just walk over to the CR from MK..takes less than 10 mins. Then, when you're done eating, just head out to the bus stops at the CR, and get on the AK bus. Very easy.
If you don't want to head out from the YC so early, then take a cab directly to the CR. But, the buses work very well for this particular area.

Very helpful and exactly what I was interested in knowing. I intend to use DME and the buses, just needed a little assurance that we would be satisfied.

 

[FlyingBelle]

A friend of mine is standing up in a wedding at Disney. She needs to get from Beach Club to Coranado Springs at 4am. Then her husband has to get there around 8am. I think her only option is a cab (they're not renting a car). Any idea how much this would cost? Any chance Disney would comp it (as they do for getting to the golf courses)?

 

[skelooch]

About $7-$9 plus tip, should only take 5-6 minutes it's only a couple mile trip to the lobby at CSR.
Contact bell services before you leave your room so they can make sure there is one there especially at that time or morning, at 7:30-8:00am there will most likely be cabs there waiting for fares.

I doubt Disney would comp it.

 

[lifesgr8]

A friend of mine is standing up in a wedding at Disney. She needs to get from Beach Club to Coranado Springs at 4am. Then her husband has to get there around 8am. I think her only option is a cab (they're not renting a car). Any idea how much this would cost? Any chance Disney would comp it (as they do for getting to the golf courses)?

We got a cab from bcv because we needed to be at the front gate of Epcot by 715am, it was $20 by the time we tipped (& we just had to go around the block!)

 

[skelooch]

We got a cab from bcv because we needed to be at the front gate of Epcot by 715am, it was $20 by the time we tipped (& we just had to go around the block!)

It may seem like it's around the block because it's so close, but it's 3.6 miles (with 2 lights) if the taxi took the shortest route via World Dr, and 5.3 miles (with 8 lights) if he took the longer route via Bonnet Creek pkwy to Epcot Center Dr. Sounds like he took the super scenic tour.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

Best way, or should I say quickest way, from BC to MK for a 8:15 am ADR at CRT??

 

[skelooch]

Hi neighbor,

Quickest way is by cab, at a cost of approx $16-$18 plus tip and about 10-15 minutes.
Tell the driver to take you to the security kiosk at the Contemporary Resort, it's a short walk from there to the MK entrance, that's about as close as you can get by taxi.
By bus be at the bus stop at 6:30-7:00 am and hope a bus comes by at least 7 and you should make it, not sure if the bus will go directly from BC to MK or stop at other resorts like BW, YC or S/D.

 

[mouselike-harrier]

Thank you neighbor! That's what I couldn't figure out. I thought that the taxi would be the quickest way, but where to drop off? You truly are the transportation guru!

BTW We live close to New Haven

 

[snoopy352]

thought i'd put them all in one thread. We are staying at POR. TIA for helping.

1.) dinner at Jiko (AKL). bus it back to a closed AK and then bus it back to POR or take a cab from Jiko back to POR? (or something else)

2.) afternoon at DHS - dinner at Yachtsmen's Steakhouse. Is that walkable? If not, best way to get there? And then back to POR from Yachtsmen.

3.) afternoon at MK - dinner at Narcooses - I assume the monorail to Grand Floridian?

4.) breakfast at Grand Floridian. Need to get to Epcot after that. Best way?

5.) afternoon at Epcot - dinner at Flying fish - walkable?

Thanks again!

 

[Alesia]

thought i'd put them all in one thread. We are staying at POR. TIA for helping.

1.) dinner at Jiko (AKL). bus it back to a closed AK and then bus it back to POR or take a cab from Jiko back to POR? (or something else)

You can't take a bus to a closed park. You can either take a bus to an open park, or take a bus to DTD. Neither of those will be quick, though. If it's late and you're tired and just ready to be back at the resort, spring for a cab

2.) afternoon at DHS - dinner at Yachtsmen's Steakhouse. Is that walkable? If not, best way to get there? And then back to POR from Yachtsmen.

You can walk or take the boat. To get back, walk to DHS if it's still open or hasn't been closed for more than an hour. Otherwise take the bus to an open park or DTD.

3.) afternoon at MK - dinner at Narcooses - I assume the monorail to Grand Floridian?

Yes, or the boat.

4.) breakfast at Grand Floridian. Need to get to Epcot after that. Best way?

Bus to MK, then boat or monorail to GF. To get to Epcot, take the monorail to the TTC and then another monorail to Epcot.

5.) afternoon at Epcot - dinner at Flying fish - walkable?

Yes.

Thanks again!

 

[joelkfla]

thought i'd put them all in one thread. We are staying at POR. TIA for helping.

Just want to add that boats run from DTD MktPlace to POR until 11 p.m.

While DTD is usually a hassle for bus transfers, busing in is not that bad, and the boat ride is a pleasant way to wind down the evening.

 

[babygirlamg]

1. Going from DTD to Epcot...what is the easiest way???

2. Leaving MK to GF for 1900 Park Fare can I walk there or take a boat??