PHM Transportation to/from Hilton DTD?

[daisies5]

Hello, my friends and I are running the PHM this year. This is our first Disney race, but not our first Half. We are staying at Hilton Lake Buena Vista in Downtown Disney and have a bunch of questions on transportation that I'm hoping you can help with:

1. What is the best way to get to the race on Sunday morning? We are thinking taxi, but want to confirm with the experts
2. If taxi is best, are there recommended companies that we should book with in advance?
3. What is a reasonable time for us to leave our hotel in the morning?
4. After the race, should we also taxi back to our hotel or will we be able to catch a bus to DTD?
5. I am starting in corral I and am assuming the race will take 3 hours. What is a reasonable time to expect to be back at the Hilton DTD? If possible, I'd like to be back around 10AM

Thanks so much for all of your help!
Michele

 

[jmasgat]

Taxi is probably your best choice. I would leave your hotel no later than 4 am. Don't know about companies, but if you ask bell services/concierge, I'm sure they can help.

The other alternative for transport--depending on how many of you there are--would be to rent a car. Avis has a desk at Hilton and you could get the car the night before and have it ready to go. You'd then have an easier deal for the return. Dollar and Budget also have cars at some of the other hotels on Hotel Plaza Blvd. $45 will get you a compact at Dollar.

Another alternative, but more time consuming.....walk to Saratoga SPrings and take the race buses.

Don't think there is a direct bus to DTD from Epcot (although they play with the routes)

It will be tight to get back by 10. Assuming Corral I starts around 6:10 or so, then you would be done 9-ish. Then getting medal, food, stuff, walking to whatever transportation you have and getting back.......tight (unless you drive yourself)

 

[cewait]

I would leave not later than 0330 just to be safe. Taxis have to follow the same route as an auto driver this year and drop in the Epcot Parking Lot. No more dropping near the start line as many did in years past.

With finishing up at about 9:10, I think hitting the hotel by 10 will be tight. I plan on taking 20 minutes to get out of the finish line area, another 10 to walk back to the bas/stop taxi cab area then 30 to get back to the hotel.

With regard to assuring a cab in the morning, best to reserve one the night before. Yeallow and Checker (the two most common on property) are Mears Owned. Expect a fare of $30 each way.

 

[daisies5]

Thank you both so much for the info, this is very helpful! I'm seriously considering renting a car. I actually have to be at Parc Soleil at 1130 for a timeshare presentation (not sure what I was thinking). We were going to taxi over there and taxi to the race, but the rental car is looking a lot easier as long as I can navigate the road closures at 3am

 

[cewait]

From the Hilton... Head west past DtD and keep going past Epcot Dr. You will pass the CBR, BW and Swan. Turn right on World Dr and follow the signs into Epcot from there. The normal thought would be turn right onto Epcot but there will be a trooper there blocking the road.

 

[daisies5]

Thank you so much, this is great!