Quickest way to get to the parks from Fort Wilderness?

[momto4girlz]

So I know about the boats to Magic Kingdom. That sounds great. But I've been reading my 2015 copy of The Unofficial Guide and now I'm a little bummed out about getting to the other parks via bus. It kind of sounds like a nightmare. Complicated. Our most recent trips to Disney we've stayed at Windsor Hills. We could be in the Animal Kingdom parking lot in 6 minutes, I think. It was a breeze to get to the parks.

We are going in November 2018--just made the reservations this week. This will be our first time ever staying on Disney property, and I'm really excited. But not so excited about buses.

Please enlighten me on any tricks or tips you might have!

 

[PaHunter]

When we have gone, never had any problems with the buses. Some mornings it was just the DW and I. You can always drive. I am still waiting for that Star Trek teleporter to be invented.
Animal kingdom is the longest ride, but still only about 15/20 mins from the Fort. You can take the boats from the Fort to MK. You can take a boat to the Contemporary grab the monorail, go to TTC, switch monorails and go to EPCOT, or you can simply take a bus. The most crowded time with the buses is right at park close, heading back. We never leave right at close, I like to stay as long as I can and take pictures, then catch one of the last buses back.

 

[momto4girlz]

Thanks for your input.

 

[peg110]

We also drive to the parks other than MK. That said, however, this last trip (June 2017) my DD12 and I took the Bus to AK (only to do one fastpass for The new Pandora FOP). The bus going to AK came in short order and the Updated times on the sign at the Bus stop at the Outpost was pretty spot on. I wish, however, that they had one at the parks showing times for going BACK.

We waited about 20 minutes for our return bus to the fort. I guess it's not unreasonable, but when it's hot and there was not a lot of air moving, it just made for a LONG wait.

Still, your choices are very limited. Drive, Buses, monorail (for the few parks), boats/ferries (where available), Walk (where feasible), or taxi/uber. I always figure on an "HOUR" of travel time to and/or from any park destination. Doesn't really matter which one you chose... an hour is a "Safe" plan.

 

[G719]

Are you RV/tent camping or cabin camping? You can request a camping loop that is close to the boat dock or request a cabin loop that is close to the bus stop. We've stayed our last 2 trips in a cabin. We were in loop 2500 which is close to the quiet pool. We walked to the outpost bus stop on our first morning. Not a bad walk but there are loops closer that would be a quicker walk. We get a golf cart for part of our stay which makes getting to the bus stop and boat dock even more convenient.
We've also stayed at all star music and aoa. The fort was a better experience with busses than the all stars. It always felt like forever to get anywhere from there and always crowded.

 

[Cosmic]

Is it frowned upon to drive to the Outpost parking area, leave your car there, and take the buses to the parks? Waiting for the internal bus and then waiting for the park bus sounds like one step too many most times.

 

[2goofycampers]

Is it frowned upon to drive to the Outpost parking area, leave your car there, and take the buses to the parks? Waiting for the internal bus and then waiting for the park bus sounds like one step too many most times.

That can be done. If it's a holiday it stays pretty full at the parking lot.

 

[Shanti]

If you have a car, I recommend just driving to the other 3 parks.

 

[Cosmic]

If you have a car, I recommend just driving to the other 3 parks.

That's the plan, but the kids think the buses are *magical*. It's 20 hours in the car to get to the Fort, so sometimes we oblige.

 

[Shanti]

Is it frowned upon to drive to the Outpost parking area, leave your car there, and take the buses to the parks? Waiting for the internal bus and then waiting for the park bus sounds like one step too many most times.

I don't think you're supposed to do that, but unless the lot was packed, it likely wouldn't be a problem.

 

[tiggerdad]

Is it frowned upon to drive to the Outpost parking area, leave your car there, and take the buses to the parks? Waiting for the internal bus and then waiting for the park bus sounds like one step too many most times.

Nope. I've done it lots of times. Though typically I park my truck there and leave it to free up space on the site and make it less crowded for other campers trying to back in.

 

[Southernmiss]

We drive 11 hours down. Dh has an hour commute daily.

Once at the fort, we leave the driving to Disney and take the bus or boat. Just part of the experience and we're on vacation. No hurry, no worry. Hakuna Matt's!

Don't mind the waits one bit.

 

[2goofycampers]

That's the plan, but the kids think the buses are *magical*. It's 20 hours in the car to get to the Fort, so sometimes we oblige.

We have done both. By the time you get parked walk all the way to the park, at closing walk all the way back and fight the traffic to get out. It's about the same time as waiting for a bus. So we usually bus it. The bus drops you off close to the entrance.

 

[Cosmic]

We have done both. By the time you get parked walk all the way to the park, at closing walk all the way back and fight the traffic to get out. It's about the same time as waiting for a bus. So we usually bus it. The bus drops you off close to the entrance.

I don't think it's a huge time savings; I think there are some benefits to driving to the non-MK parks, but part is also probably perception. Some people make it sound like taking Disney transportation is akin to crossing the Atlantic, but I actually do like the buses. I owe Disney transportation a solid for life for getting me from MK to Pop in 12 minutes after fireworks while standing and holding a h e a v y sleeping child. I think it's more predictable and flexible to drive. I've never run into bad traffic at Disney, but I have seen times where the bus dispatchers were not on their games for whatever reason. If we're at DAK, for example, it's a quick jaunt down to 192 if we want to grab dinner or run to Target.

We're going to have to feel out the Fort transportation picture (first timers). As adults, DW and I have only ever done the values since our Disneymoon in 2006. I'm intrigued by the idea of driving right up to our "room" at the Fort, but I'm also intrigued to not be at the furthest bus shelter from the parks like the values always are. Maybe I'll just flip a coin!

 

[PaHunter]

The only other drawback to driving, is the convoluted way they designed the road system. Sometimes seems you have to go way out of your way just to go around the block. As has been stated, when I am at Disney, I am on vacation, don't want to drive, and I will let them do it.

 

[Cosmic]

Is it as much of a drag as it seems like to go up and around by the Poly if you want to head south on World Dr? I know they're building that flyover, but I don't think it will be ready by our trip in November.

Here's what I surmise for the fastest driving route. I'd be interested in others' opinions.

Epcot: Vista >> Bonnet Creek >> Epcot Center Dr

DHS: Vista >> Bonnet Creek >> Buena Vista
if new entrance road is open, then Buena Vista >> Victory Way >> new entrance

DAK: Vista >> Bonnet Creek >> Epcot Center Dr >> World Dr >> Osceola Parkway

Edit: changed DAK route

 

[momto4girlz]

Good info here--thanks. Knowing my husband, we'll probably end up driving our car--especially since we wouldn't have to pay to park. He gets frustrated with waiting. He's rather be moving--walking, driving rather than waiting on a bus-- even if the time difference is negligible.

 

[TwinkleKS]

We stay at the Fort for Christmas and drive to all of the parks with the exception of MK. Every so often we split up and someone ends up on the bus and isn't that big of a deal, but most of the time we have found it easier to drive.

 

[peg110]

We stay at the Fort for Christmas and drive to all of the parks with the exception of MK. Every so often we split up and someone ends up on the bus and isn't that big of a deal, but most of the time we have found it easier to drive.

Wait for the bus or wait for the tram....

It seems that even when we arrive EARLY (when we drive to a park) that we end up at the END of the row so we still have to walk quite a ways to get to the TRAM.



So above is the parking area. We got parked in the "RED" circle on the lot. (That was the first lot they were filling) and of course the Entrance was where the YELLOW circle (oval) is. So when we got parked, we had to walk to get the tram (GREEN circle). Of course the last tram had JUST left. So we could either just WAIT for the next one (which is the LAST one that just left as they were only running ONE tram at this point, so it had to go, unload and come back) or walk. It was hot and humid (at 7 AM) and DW wanted to wait.

So glad we drove over to make it by RD.

 

[TwinkleKS]

We don't normally go for rope drop So by the time we get there it always seems we walk right on to a tram and don't have to wait for one. I think everyone has their own preferences. If we say its a toss up on wait and walk time between the car and the bus, I'd go with the car because I don't like being crammed on a bus with other people. Not that the buses are always full ... but we go at Christmas ... the busiest week of the year.