POFQ Transportation Questions

[mickeyfanmom]

Hello to all of you seasoned WDW vets. I have a question for you.

We have been to WDW several times and always try to stay at a resort on the monorail, because we hate the bus and especially since MK is our favorite park.

Well, for our upcoming Magic cruise in January we are sneaking in one day at the MK when we get back and are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter because we got a great rate and wanted to prolong the magic just a little longer.

SO- what is the best transportation plan to make the most of the little time that we have in our one little day. Should we:

1) Park at POFQ and ride the Disney bus to MK.

2) Drive our own car and park at MK for the day.

3) Ride the bus (or drive our car) to TTC and monorail in from there. (Yes I do know that it is right next door in the parking lot of the MK.)

4) Do something that we haven't considered using the water launch or other transportation.

Any help is appreciated!

PS- It gets even worse....the day we get back from our cruise and go to the MK is a SATURDAY!!!

PPS- Please help me to make it as seamless as possible because DH isn't exactly thrilled with even going to MK after the cruise- he just wanted to -dare I say it- come home without even stopping there!

 

[eeyore0062]

Hello to all of you seasoned WDW vets. I have a question for you.

We have been to WDW several times and always try to stay at a resort on the monorail, because we hate the bus and especially since MK is our favorite park.

Well, for our upcoming Magic cruise in January we are sneaking in one day at the MK when we get back and are staying at Port Orleans French Quarter because we got a great rate and wanted to prolong the magic just a little longer.

SO- what is the best transportation plan to make the most of the little time that we have in our one little day. Should we:

1) Park at POFQ and ride the Disney bus to MK. Technically, unless you are staying at that resort at the time, you are not supposed to park in their lot and ride the bus. When you go through the gate they will ask for your room key, and if the dates don't correspond, you will not be allowed in. The correct thing to do is park at the MK and take the monorail over.

2) Drive our own car and park at MK for the day. See above. Parking is $8 per day.

3) Ride the bus (or drive our car) to TTC and monorail in from there. (Yes I do know that it is right next door in the parking lot of the MK.) The parking lot at the TTC IS the MK parking lot. There is no parking lot on the other side of Seven Seas Lagoon. So, yes, park in the lot in front of the TTC and take either the monorail or the ferry--- Where would you be riding the bus from? There is no bus transportation to the MK from DTD, so you would have to park in a park lot. The only busses going to the TTC are those from non Disney owned resorts.

4) Do something that we haven't considered using the water launch or other transportation.Water launches are only available to the MK from the monorail resorts, WL or Ft Willderness, but you can't park in those lots and go to the parks. The only water launch available to you would be the ferry from the TTC

Any help is appreciated!

PS- It gets even worse....the day we get back from our cruise and go to the MK is a SATURDAY!!!

PPS- Please help me to make it as seamless as possible because DH isn't exactly thrilled with even going to MK after the cruise- he just wanted to -dare I say it- come home without even stopping there!

Good luck with your DH and have a wonderful cruise.

 

[Schmeck]

According to the OP, they are staying at POFQ for one night. So they can park there. (see question one)

To the OP - if you were planning on going to any of the other parks that day, I'd say drive, but the extra transport situation (monorail/ferry) from MK drives me nuts, so I'd say take the bus. You can check out of your POFQ room, put your luggage in the car or have bell services keep an eye on it for you, and then enjoy your day at MK.

I don't know how quickly MK fills up on a Saturday in Juanuary, but if you do decide to drive, I'd plan to get there early so as not to get stuck at the gates behind off-site guests.

 

[TLinden16]

The bus from the POFQ to the MK will be fine. The buses stop at the POFQ first, so you should get a seat on the bus, then they will swing over to the POR and pick up the guest there (unless the bus is full--in which case it will go directly to the MK). The bus will drop you off just a minute or two walk from the MK gates.

Have a great time!

Karen

 

[goofy4tink]

The other fun thing you can do, if it's running, is take the boat to DownTownDisney. You probably will have to take it from POR. I don't think it still has pick-up at FQ. It's a nice ride and DTD is fun at night.

The buses at FQ are fine. We stayed at POR (DxL) and the folks at FQ never seemed to have a problem with the bus service. I would never drive my car to MK. Just to big a hassle getting from the lots to the actual park.

 

[okapi]

Recommend: Take the bus from POFQ to MK.

We had a rental while there, but it's quicker and less hassle to take bus to MK.
12/04 - From POFQ we were at the park entrance w/in 14 minutes w/out hassles.
We did miss the bus one evening and waited for 20 mins. before the next one arrived, but it still was faster than parking at the MK lot, hopping a ride on the "hot dog" to the TTC, taking monorail over...
Have a great time!

 

[eeyore0062]

Sorry, I must have misread the OPs statement that they are staying at POFQ for that last night. In that case, definitely take the bus from there to MK, it will be the fastest way.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks so much to all of you for the information! Yes, we are staying at the POFQ for the one night, so we are able to park there.

So it sounds like the consensus is to park at the hotel, check in (even though the room wouldn't be ready yet,) keep our luggage in the car or at the bellstand and to catch the bus over to the MK.

I did have a feeling that would work best. I just have to get over being a "monorail snob!"

I am very glad to hear of your experiences with the bus and PO- they definitely make me feel better!

I am curious though, where does the water ferry drop off at DTD? And how far away is that from the actual POFQ resort? And also, can we just be dropped off at POR and walk over to POFQ?

Sorry for all of the questions, we have never stayed in the DTD area before, but enjoy going there to shop and eat.


Thanks AGAIN for all of the help!!!

 

[eeyore0062]

"I am curious though, where does the water ferry drop off at DTD? And how far away is that from the actual POFQ resort? And also, can we just be dropped off at POR and walk over to POFQ?"

The ferry will pick up from both PO-R (first) and PO-FQ. The dock at DTD is located between Rainforest Cafe and Captain Jacks on the Marketplace side. When you get on the ferry from the resorts, it will load at PO-R first and then PO-FQ. When returning from DTD, PO-FQ will be the 1st stop and PO-R, the second.

 

[okapi]

FYI- The boats run from DTD to POFQ - 1st stop and then goes on up to POR, before coming back.
This is where it can get tricky:
Since there is only so many seats per boat, if the boat fills up at POR and no one is getting off at POFQ it will go straight to DTD and will not stop. You will have to wait for the next boat.
Therefore, sometimes it's better to hop on the boat headed to POR stay on and you're assured a seat to DTD. We always ask if there's another boat upriver already. (It may take a little longer this way, but it's nice to see the antebellum south from the boat anyway).
P.S. When arriving to DTD all passengers are required to exit the boat. Then when you're ready to leave DTD you can get in line on the pier to take the next available shuttle back.
Have a great time!

 

[mickeyfanmom]

Thanks again for the replies- and all of the help!

Happy holidays!