Quickest transportation park to park?

[LondensMiMi]

We will have a car and supposedly preferred (and free) parking access through our AAA package for our upcoming trip. My question: What is the fastest way to get from park to park or from Pop Century to and from each park? We don't mind driving...just want to use our time in the most efficient way. Is there some kind of calculator for this somewhere? I've been looking but can't find one. Thanks for helping!

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

If you are staying at Pop Century you will have free parking at any of the parks. AAA parking is closer to the front.

From Pop, the quickest way to Magic Kingdom is taking the bus. Since the Magic Kingdom parking still requires you to grab a tram and then transfer to either the monorail or ferry, driving saves you no time.

When you go to MK in a Disney Bus it drops you at the bus stop which is right outside the gate. Overall time will be quicker to grab the Disney Bus, from our experience.

For every other park, drive. The other parks allow you to park closer and then head directly into the Park.


Coming back from Magic Kingdom right after fireworks in the evening can be a mad house and a long wait for the buses. If we are leaving at a very busy time, we usually just grab a cab and for less than $20 we are back at Pop in a few minutes.

 

[rlovew]

You can check the transportation board. For the MK it is usually much faster to use Disney transportation as you have to park at the TTC and then ferry/monrail to the MK. We always drive but use internal transportation to get to the parks- my DH loves not having to drive. Between parks buses have been the fastest way I have seen between DHS or Epcot and AK. I have taken a bus while someone else drove a couple of times and each time the bus got me their faster- i was always inside and doing something by the time they arrived in the car.

A lot depends on the time of day and year you are moving between the parks as well as what your plans are when you leave the parks.

 

[hvanes]

Here's a transportation wizard we used last year:
http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

The times are definitely a low estimate (I don't think we ever made it as quickly as they say) but you can get a general idea of what your options are and which may be the fastest.

And... it was just kind of fun to play with.

 

[vicki_c]

The AAA preferred parking pass does not get you free parking, just a spot in a different part of the parking lot, closer to the entry. But if you are staying on-site you get free parking.

 

[LondensMiMi]

Thanks folks! Very helpful information.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I think taking the bus to MK is usually quicker, but I still prefer to drive. If you end up having to wait a long time for a bus, any time savings is lost.

 

[LondensMiMi]

That's kind of what I was thinking tndisneyfan, if you are going for your car, you don't have to wait for the bus and you will always have it with you from park to park...though I might be inclined to use Disney transportation traveling solely from Pop to MK and back. Thanks to all for your help.