Park hopping-which transportation?

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

We are not staying on site and will be driving a rental car. What is the best/faster way to park hop? Our own car or Disney transportation? How long does it take to drive between parks?
Thanks!

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

Example-first day we will be at animal kingdom, it closes at 8:30. If we want to head over to magic kingdom how long will that take? Magic kingdom closes at 11.

 

[CarolynFH]

Once you get in your car and exit the parking lot, it takes 10-20 minutes to get to the entrance of the next parking lot. DH says that’s if you don’t miss a turn in between!

When taking Disney transportation from park to park, always consider how you’ll get back to your car. If the 2nd park closes after the 1st park closes, it’s usually better to drive.

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

Thank you! That is less than I expected. Hopefully we don’t miss a turn haha.

 

[sheilafri]

The 10-20 is only to drive from one lot to the next. I allow about an hour of transfer time. DH and I once ”raced” from MK to EPCOT. I took the monorail and he drove the car. We arrived within a few minutes of each other around 45-50 minutes total travel time from inside park to inside park.

 

[CarolynFH]

The 10-20 is only to drive from one lot to the next. I allow about an hour of transfer time. DH and I once ”raced” from MK to EPCOT. I took the monorail and he drove the car. We arrived within a few minutes of each other around 45-50 minutes total travel time from inside park to inside park.

@Funtimeswithteenagers, this is true too. Getting from exit of one park to your car and then to parking lot exit can easily take 10-15 minutes, driving to next park takes 10-20 minutes, getting through parking lot entry and to your parking space and then from parking space to park entrance can take another 10-15 minutes, so when planning I allow at least an hour for the whole process - more if I have an ADR or other “deadline” in the second park.

 

[SteveMouse]

Please note that you don’t park next to the MK. You park at the TTC and take a ferry or monorail (or walk, but it’s a major hike) to the MK.

You can walk, take a Friendship Boat, or the skyway between DHS and the International Gateway to Epcot, (walking is always an option- it’s less than a mile). The boats and the skyway operate for quite a while after the parks close.

if you left your car at DHS and we’re at the MK or AK, you could take a Disney bus to the.Beach Club, Yscht Club, or Boardwalk and walk back over to DHS.

There is NO FOOTPATH. between the main entrance of Epcot at thee international gateway.

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

Please note that you don’t park next to the MK. You park at the TTC and take a ferry or monorail (or walk, but it’s a major hike) to the MK.

You can walk, take a Friendship Boat, or the skyway between DHS and the International Gateway to Epcot, (walking is always an option- it’s less than a mile). The boats and the skyway operate for quite a while after the parks close.

if you left your car at DHS and we’re at the MK or AK, you could take a Disney bus to the.Beach Club, Yscht Club, or Boardwalk and walk back over to DHS.

There is NO FOOTPATH. between the main entrance of Epcot at thee international gateway.

Oh this is good to know!! I had no idea! What is the TTC? So when we drive to MK we don’t park there? We have to park and then take Disney transportation? Is that the same for all 4 parks?

 

[sheilafri]

Oh this is good to know!! I had no idea! What is the TTC? So when we drive to MK we don’t park there? We have to park and then take Disney transportation? Is that the same for all 4 parks?

Nope. You can park in lots adjacent to Epcot, HS and AK but then you have the joy of walking to the entrance of the park because they have eliminated tram service in all the parking lots except at MK.

We just got back. In three days we logged approximately 19k, 21k and 16k steps. And we were trying to avoid unnecessary steps!

 

[CarolynFH]

Oh this is good to know!! I had no idea! What is the TTC? So when we drive to MK we don’t park there? We have to park and then take Disney transportation? Is that the same for all 4 parks?

The TTC is the Ticket and Transportation Center. MK is the only park where the parking lot is separated from the park entrance like that. The Seven Seas Lagoon is between the two, and you take either the monorail around or the ferry across the lagoon. It adds about 10-15 minutes to the trip that you don’t have with the other parks, where you can walk to the park entrances. Some walks can be 5-10 minutes there too.

Let me say I’m sorry that I probably mislead you with my first response - I thought you were asking about actual driving time, as opposed to total travel time from park to park.

 

[SteveMouse]

No, parking for the Magic Kingdom is a bit different. There is something a little magical about taking the ferry or the monorail to tje different world of the Magic Kingdom.

TTC is an abbreviation for the Ticket and Transportation Center.

Each theme park has its own parking area. You only need to pay on e per day-save your receipt and show it at the “next” park- there is no additional charge.

Note where you parked your car. There are signs associated with Disney characters to help you remember. Consider taking a picture of the sign with your phone.

Each park may offer tram service to help you get to the park entrance. A cast member can tell you if it is available on a particular day.

If you need accessible parking due to the use of a wheelchair or other assistive tool, please ask the cast member directing traffic and they will direct you to alternative parking. You must have a state-issued disabled tag to park in a blue space.

 

[CarolynFH]

You might find some of @Robo’s excellent maps in this thread helpful, along with your favorite mapping program, in planning travel on WDW grounds.

Re parking lot trams: they’re back at MK, and Disney stated they’d be back at the other parks, too, sometime this year - but no specific return dates have been announced.

 

[Funtimeswithteenagers]

This is all good to know! Thank you! My youngest will love taking the monorail. I’ve been watching YouTube videos but haven’t seen a lot about parking. I didn’t even think about it. I’m off to find parking videos now. Haha