POR boat transportation

[OllieDannyandMe]

I know the boat at POR takes you to Downtown Disney. Is there a way to get to the Epcot area resorts (from POR) by boat, too? We have an early morning reservation at Cape May Cafe, and I am wondering if we can ride a boat.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

 

[jctwizzer]

No

 

[CleveRocks]

If you don't want to take a taxi, your best bet is to take a bus from POR to Disney's Hollywood Studios and then walk from there, about a 10-15 minute walk.

 

[joelkfla]

DTD boat tramsportation starts running at 10 a.m., so that won't do you any good.

Boat service from DHS to Beach Club starts at 8 a.m. (7:30 on EMH mornings.) If your ADR is a half hour after that, you can bus to DHS and boat to Beach Club.

If it's earlier, I think you'll have to bus to MK or AK, and catch another bus from there. (Unless you're ready for the 15-20 minute walk from DHS to Beach Club.)

 

[kaytieeldr]

To expand on the above response No, not even close. The two resorts aren't near each other; they're not on or even near the same navigable waterway.

You'll need to take a bus to Disney's Hollywood Studios, then walk to the Beach Club; if you mention to the driver where you're actually going and ask him/her for the best way to get there AND the driver has time, he/she MAY be able to drop you closer to the resort. But no boat; in fact, while there's a boat between DHS and Epcot that stops at the hotels there, it probably doesn't run that early.

Or you could take a taxi right to the Beach Club from POR

 

[kimis]

I would take the first bus going to any park and then exit that bus only to get on a bus going to BC. They tell you to allow at least 90 minutes transportation time.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's VERY difficult to catch a bus from any park to any resort that early in the morning; which is why CleveRocks and I recommend the bus to DHS and then walking to Beach Club. Buses simply don't pick up at the parks that early. As I said, you can also ask your DHS bus driver how to get to the Beach Club; either you'll be told or, if possible, you'll be dropped there.

 

[kimis]

We never have a problem with catching a bus that early in the morning but you do want to be safe and not miss your ADR's so do the other way.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Do you mean you've never had a problem catching a bus from your resort to a park (agreed); or that you've never had a problem then catching a bus from that park to a different location? The latter would truly surprise me, but it would be GREAT to know that it's possible!

 

[kimis]

No we never have a problem catching a bus from our resort to a park and then on to a bus to the resort where we had ADR's. THe buses start at least 90 minutes earlier than the parks open. However if one of the resorts had the monorail than we would take a bus to MK and then catch the monorail. We allow enough time and it is just dh and myself---no kids or grandkids on these trips. I do like to take the boats too but they don't run that early usually (we go in the value season also). It can be done but it might be a little easier since it is two adults and the value season?
But again go with the way you are most comfortable with and enjoy!

 

[goofy4tink]

The buses do, indeed, start running early. They start by 6:30. BUT...they run much less frequently than the regular buses do. So, if you hop on a bus to MK, from POR, and then want to get the bus to YC/BC for an early ADR, you would have to start very early. That bus, arriving at POR, could take up to 20+ mins after you get to the bus stop, to arrive. then the ride to the park, then off that bus, walk to the stop for YC/BC, where you could wait for another 20+ mins, then the ride there.

I would really suggest just hopping on an early bus to DHS and then walking over to YC/BC. The walk is very pleasant, and takes about 20 mins..tops. It can be less than pleasant if it is hot/humid or raining..but otherwise, very nice.

 

[joelkfla]

OK, here's the thing about morning buses from parks to resorts:

Buses go out from the parks to nearby resorts to pick up guests going to other parks. Other than that, buses are only dispatched when there are guests waiting to go to a resort.

If you're trying to go from a park to a resort in the morning, it is important that you stand in the queue for the load zone for that resort. If you're sitting on a nearby bench or standing back behind the load zones, you may not be noticed, and a bus may not be sent.

At AK, the coordinator has a view of most of the resort load zones, and I know the a.m. coordinators do try to take care of waiting guests. At MK, they have a more limited view, but they sometimes have a cm standing in the load zones to act as their eyes. So you should have the best luck at AK or MK.

The Epcot coordinator has no view of the load zones, so they rely on bus drivers alerting them when someone is waiting. It can be hit or miss.

Studios may be the worst place to catch a bus to a resort in the morning, but they are in the process of changing how things work there, so it might improve.

All of this applies only to buses from parks to resorts in the morning. At about 11 a.m., the focus shifts from carrying guests from resorts to parks, to carrying guests in both directions, and from then on all buses are dispatched on a regular basis, whether there are guests waiting or not.

 

[minniebeth]

I know the boat at POR takes you to Downtown Disney. Is there a way to get to the Epcot area resorts (from POR) by boat, too? We have an early morning reservation at Cape May Cafe, and I am wondering if we can ride a boat.

Thanks for any info you can provide!

I know this is not in response to your question, but if you do plan on using the POR boats to DTD, plan on extra time. Boats run depending on morning/afternoon and evening times (frequency) but always plan on waiting an additional boat or two depending on crowds, as they leave room for POFQ passengers.

 

[goofy4tink]

OK, here's the thing about morning buses from parks to resorts:

Buses go out from the parks to nearby resorts to pick up guests going to other parks. Other than that, buses are only dispatched when there are guests waiting to go to a resort.

If you're trying to go from a park to a resort in the morning, it is important that you stand in the queue for the load zone for that resort. If you're sitting on a nearby bench or standing back behind the load zones, you may not be noticed, and a bus may not be sent.

At AK, the coordinator has a view of most of the resort load zones, and I know the a.m. coordinators do try to take care of waiting guests. At MK, they have a more limited view, but they sometimes have a cm standing in the load zones to act as their eyes. So you should have the best luck at AK or MK.

The Epcot coordinator has no view of the load zones, so they rely on bus drivers alerting them when someone is waiting. It can be hit or miss.

Studios may be the worst place to catch a bus to a resort in the morning, but they are in the process of changing how things work there, so it might improve.

All of this applies only to buses from parks to resorts in the morning. At about 11 a.m., the focus shifts from carrying guests from resorts to parks, to carrying guests in both directions, and from then on all buses are dispatched on a regular basis, whether there are guests waiting or not.

Who knew!!! Thanks. That's kind of what I thought would happen. I mean, really....how many people are going to be at a park, waiting for a resort bus, that early!
Thanks for the great explanation!!! Man...I love having CMs on this board.

 

[clkelley]

Who knew!!! Thanks. That's kind of what I thought would happen. I mean, really....how many people are going to be at a park, waiting for a resort bus, that early!
Thanks for the great explanation!!! Man...I love having CMs on this board.

Actually, I do it quite often. My DH doesn't like to get up early and doesn't like thrill rides. Sooooo, I get up early and go to the morning EMH. For example Studios. I get there before 8am, I ride Toy Story Mania, then Tower, then RnRC, then am back at the bus stop by 8:45 am. Yes, it does take some time to get a bus back, but they will stop. I usually get back to the camper by 9:45ish and then DH and I head out for our breakfast.

 

[goofy4tink]

Actually, I do it quite often. My DH doesn't like to get up early and doesn't like thrill rides. Sooooo, I get up early and go to the morning EMH. For example Studios. I get there before 8am, I ride Toy Story Mania, then Tower, then RnRC, then am back at the bus stop by 8:45 am. Yes, it does take some time to get a bus back, but they will stop. I usually get back to the camper by 9:45ish and then DH and I head out for our breakfast.

You sound like my kind of person. I had never thought about doing that though...I would just assume dh would meet me inside the park!! Too funny.

 

[clkelley]

You sound like my kind of person. I had never thought about doing that though...I would just assume dh would meet me inside the park!! Too funny.

That would be nice, but DH has some mobility issues, so I go back to help him get ready. He can do it, but it takes him forever, so he wouldn't get to sleep in!!!!