Really need an hour to hop DHS H&V from MK?

[biolabetty]

Last month I went from DHS to an ADR we had at the GF at the same time of day you are looking at. We took the boat from DHS to Epcot, and then the monorail from Epcot to the TTC, where we got the next monorail to the GF. By the time we reached the TTC, we had already been on an hour and half trip. I had allowed myself 2 hours because I'd heard how slow the Disney transportation could be, and it was pretty right on. We had missed the monorail at the Epcot station by about 30 seconds. Another time I was going to take a bus from AK to AKL, got to the bus stop, bus was there, closed its doors in front of me and left. I had to wait another 20 minutes before the next one came. A taxi is a great idea if you don't want to worry about making it to someplace on time.

 

[twinspluscade]

NO BUSES BETWEEN PARKS!!

There are no buses that run between the parks. In order to get from one park to another - you have to return to your hotel (if staying on Disney property) and then catch a bus from your hotel to the next park.

The only exception to this is Magic Kingdom and Epcot that have the monorail that runs between the two parks.

There are a few other alternatives:
You can either take a taxi or get a rental car to use during your stay.
Or you can find the closet Disney hotel to the park you want to go to and take a bus from the 1st park to that Disney hotel and then take a bus from the hotel to the 2nd park. EXAMPLE: You are at Magic Kingdom and want to go to Disney Studios. Take a bus to the Swan. Then from the Swan take a bus to the Disney Studios.

You do need to allow extra time to get to the bus stop, wait for a bus to come, take the bus to the hotel, then get into the line at the bus stop for Disney Studios, wait for the bus, get to the Studios, go thru security, go thru the park entrance and then make your way to your restaurant.

When my daughter and I were there in December 07 - we allow at least an hour to make any type of bus transfers.
And I have found that sometimes it is easier to spend the money on taxi fare because it is easier, faster, and a direct route to where I want to go. And it saves me the time and aggravation in changing buses so many times.

Good luck and I am sure you will work it out.

Isn't it just MK that doesn't have direct busses to the other parks? Because in Sept, we park hopped directly from AK to Epcot, without going to a resort in between.

 

[sweetp267]

I must correct the poster who said that there are no busses between parks. That is not true. We have frequently taken busses from one park to another. For example we were at the AK and took a bus from there to EPCOT. We also saw signs for the other parks as well. WE also took a bus from EPCOT to DHS. I thought that you couldn't do that because of the boat from the International Gateway takes you there via the resorts at that entrance. The only way I found out about that bus route is that I actually walked by the numbered stop and saw that it read Disney's Hollywood Studios. So there is bus service from park to park. The only difference is that to get from MK to EPCOT you have to take the monorail to the TTC and then the monorail from TTC to EPCOT. To get from MK to DHS you have to get to the TTC and then get the bus there to DHS. You can also take the resort monorail to the Contemporary and get a DHS bus there but they usually share with another monorail resort.

Hope this helps!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

I would highly recommend CP for lunch if you still want a character meal (OR if you can get it, a 8:05 am CP breakfast will have you finish breakfast just at MK is getting ready to open at 9am. Then do a snack or light CS lunch at MK or whatever other park you are going to before your late CM dinner)

I didn't realize you could do a APS for breakfast before the park opened. I called, sure enough it was open. Most people don't get up that early I guess - not a problem for us!!!!! YAY!

Will the buses run early enough to get us there? I should have asked the CM that.... DUH!
CM I called said buses start running 2 hours before park openings

PS - I dropped H&V after reading about the two hours to get! You are so right, not a day to be hurried and stressed. Meals allow for a nice nap/pool time. Well on its way to the perfect day!

 

[foxfire]

I would highly recommend CP for lunch if you still want a character meal (OR if you can get it, a 8:05 am CP breakfast will have you finish breakfast just at MK is getting ready to open at 9am. Then do a snack or light CS lunch at MK or whatever other park you are going to before your late CM dinner)

I think this is a very good suggestion. In fact, I was going to post this idea but Cinderumbrella was a step ahead of me...so I will just ditto her comments!

This plan will make for a much less hectic day and will allow you to enjoy the attractions at MK at a more leisurely pace....and you are already nearby to enjoy dinner at CM's that night.

ETA: I see you have made an ADR for a CP breakfast....that will work out great! The buses do run early enough to get you to breakfast before park opening. At least, we've never had a problem getting there that way. Have fun!

 

[deej696]

I think you will be much happier with this decision. It will make for a lot less stress in your day so you can enjoy the park more.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Last month I went from DHS to an ADR we had at the GF at the same time of day you are looking at. We took the boat from DHS to Epcot, and then the monorail from Epcot to the TTC, where we got the next monorail to the GF. By the time we reached the TTC, we had already been on an hour and half trip. I had allowed myself 2 hours because I'd heard how slow the Disney transportation could be, and it was pretty right on. We had missed the monorail at the Epcot station by about 30 seconds. Another time I was going to take a bus from AK to AKL, got to the bus stop, bus was there, closed its doors in front of me and left. I had to wait another 20 minutes before the next one came. A taxi is a great idea if you don't want to worry about making it to someplace on time.

thanks - just what I needed!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I didn't realize you could do a APS for breakfast before the park opened. I called, sure enough it was open. Most people don't get up that early I guess - not a problem for us!!!!! YAY!

Will the buses run early enough to get us there? I should have asked the CM that.... DUH!
CM I called said buses start running 2 hours before park openings

PS - I dropped H&V after reading about the two hours to get! You are so right, not a day to be hurried and stressed. Meals allow for a nice nap/pool time. Well on its way to the perfect day!

Congrats!!! We love the 8:05am at CP- we do it every trip on our first day! As soon as you are done, go to Dumbo (the wait will be 5 min or less), then to Winnie the Pooh, which will be a walk on and then Peter Pan (again, under 5 minutes). If you are game for the Indy cars, head there next for another wonderfully short wait!! It is amazing what you can get done in that first hour!!

Have a terrific birthday celebration with your DS!!

 

[septbaby]

Sorry to hear that you scrapped H&V. It gets rave reviews from many parnts who've taken there little one there. It is definitely a haul from MK to DHS. We actually missed our dinner ADR because it takes so long and I had no idea it would be a problem. We were still seated and had very nice dinner there. DHS rolls up early, especially for the little ones (characters leave by 6pm) so go being there in the afternoon would be nice. I think H&V suits a certain age group perfectly and your little one is right in that sweet spot. Next time you get to WDW he might be too much of a "big boy" to go. Chef Mickey's could suit him forever, but this might be your chance for the Playhouse Disney meal. We did an early AM at MK then Epcot for a 2pm lunch. We were famished and arrived over 30 mins early. You can get a lot of things done for a 3yo at MK before noon and can be ready to head out for lunch by then; we did something like that.

Good luck with your trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

DHS > Epcot Future World = direct bus
Epcot FW > DHS = direct bus
DHS > Epcot World Showcase = Friendship boat, or walk
Epcot WS > DHS = Friendship boat, or walk
DHS > AK = direct bus
AK > DHS = direct bus
Epcot > AK = direct bus
AK > Epcot = direct bus

MK > Epcot = ferry or monorail to TTC, then monorail
Epcot > MK = monorail to TTC, then ferry or monorail
MK > DHS = ferry or monorail to TTC, then bus
DHS > MK = bus to TTC, then ferry or monorail (bold typeface to accentuate that THIS is the route sought by the OP)
MK > AK = ferry or monorail to TTC, then bus
AK > MK = bus to TTC, then ferry or monorail

 

[IHEARTNY]

Isn't it just MK that doesn't have direct busses to the other parks? Because in Sept, we park hopped directly from AK to Epcot, without going to a resort in between.

I agree...

Someone's being nutty because there are absolutely buses between parks, lolololololol.

If not, they must have been making mistakes everytime we travelled park-park...

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Sorry to hear that you scrapped H&V. It gets rave reviews from many parnts who've taken there little one there. It is definitely a haul from MK to DHS. We actually missed our dinner ADR because it takes so long and I had no idea it would be a problem. We were still seated and had very nice dinner there. DHS rolls up early, especially for the little ones (characters leave by 6pm) so go being there in the afternoon would be nice. I think H&V suits a certain age group perfectly and your little one is right in that sweet spot. Next time you get to WDW he might be too much of a "big boy" to go. Chef Mickey's could suit him forever, but this might be your chance for the Playhouse Disney meal. We did an early AM at MK then Epcot for a 2pm lunch. We were famished and arrived over 30 mins early. You can get a lot of things done for a 3yo at MK before noon and can be ready to head out for lunch by then; we did something like that.

Good luck with your trip.

Thanks for your thoughts. I think you are right, and most importantly, we HAVE to go there to try to see Lightening (and thanks for telling me that at 6 the characters fade out - didn't realize that at all, but I guess that makes a lot of sense). I"m still thinking it may be that day that we go, but rushing him on that day just seems so ... well, wrong. I'm actually wondering if I am doing the right thing with the CP res. Since we also have APS for dinner that night before when we arrive. This past week OF COURSE he has started getting up at 8. I think we will have to leave by 7:15 they said, which means getting up at 6, after being up at the crack of dawn to travel the day before. Maybe not such a good plan? I'm still mulling that one over.

One other alternative is going the next day. It is evening EMH at DHS so I expect that day to be very crowded. I'm not sure how it will affect the afternoon but I bet it will. Part of the reason I was trying to go on his Bday was MK is an evening EMH that night.

I've got to figure out starting in AK or MK that day. Now I'm starting to think I goofed in my planning. Perhaps I should have planned

(Day 1 arrival) MK on arrival afternoon, dinner at CP
(Day 2 Full Day) (drop 8:10 @ CP) AK morning, DHS afternoon (maybe late lunch at H&V?),
rest/pool, late dinner at CM (no to Fantasmic regardless) (This is MK evening EMH day)
(Day 3 Full Day) MK, dinner at Whispering Canyon (This is DHS evening EMH day)
(Day 4 Leaving in evening) MK, late BF at CM, back to resort, to airport.

Maybe that could work better. I tell you, there is really no way we will take advantage of the EMH. Orig. on Day 3, I planned on AK EMH for that morning. The evening ones, well... for my little man reg closing times are just fine. I'm not going to push him on staying up super late and ruin the fun. Getting in at midnight with him is just, well too much.
?????????????????????????

That first full day is his birthday and I want it to be the best day of our trip. Any suggestions?

 

[Tricia1972]

I agree...

Someone's being nutty because there are absolutely buses between parks, lolololololol.

If not, they must have been making mistakes everytime we travelled park-park...

There is no park to park bus for Magic Kingdom to Studios.

According to the online transportation Wizard - Going Park to Park breaks down like this

Magic Kingdom to Epcot
Monorail
Monorail to Bus
Magic Kingdom to Animal Kingdom
Monorail to Resort (Contemporary) Transfer to Bus
Bus to Resort, transfer to Bus to Animal Kingdom
Magic Kingdom to Studios
Monorail to Contemporary, Transfer to Bus to Studios
Bus to Resort, transfer to Bus to Studios

Epcot to Magic Kingdom
Monorail
Bus to Resort, transfer to bus to Magic Kingdom
Epcot to Animal Kingdom
Bus direct to Animal Kingdom
Epcot to Studios
Direct Bus to Studios

Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom
Bus to resort, transfer to bus to Magic Kingdom
Bus to TTC, Monorail or Ferry to MK
Animal Kingdom to Epcot
Bus direct to Epcot
Animal Kingdom to Studios
Bus Direct to Studios

 

[pooch]

from TTC to DHS. I don't know what it says on-line, but IN LINE there is a clearly marked bus stop for DHS.

 

[Tricia1972]

from TTC to DHS. I don't know what it says on-line, but IN LINE there is a clearly marked bus stop for DHS.

Ok, so then you either Monorail or Ferry to TTC, and then transfer to the Studios bus?

My understanding is that there isn't a bus from the Magic Kingdom Bus Stops to Studios. Is this right?

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Ok, so then you either Monorail or Ferry to TTC, and then transfer to the Studios bus?

My understanding is that there isn't a bus from the Magic Kingdom Bus Stops to Studios. Is this right?

When I sat up the res. The CM told me take the monorail to TTC, then the other monorail down to Epcot. I said, and how do you get from there to DHS. She said "Oh, that is right you are going to DHS!" I think you can see where me being new to Disney that troubled me a little.

She said just hop on the bus from MK to DHS... should take 45 minutes tops.

What I'm counting on is being able to go from MK to TTC and then TTC to DHS.

I also don't see why I couldn't monorail over to Contempoary and then Contemp to DHS. In my mind that is probably the easiest anyway.

 

[GoodFairies]

When I sat up the res. The CM told me take the monorail to TTC, then the other monorail down to Epcot. I said, and how do you get from there to DHS. She said "Oh, that is right you are going to DHS!" I think you can see where me being new to Disney that troubled me a little.

She said just hop on the bus from MK to DHS... should take 45 minutes tops.

What I'm counting on is being able to go from MK to TTC and then TTC to DHS.

I also don't see why I couldn't monorail over to Contempoary and then Contemp to DHS. In my mind that is probably the easiest anyway.

Faster is to walk to Contemporary and bus to DHS. However, you will still need to allow at least an hour (as per your original question). A bus won't necessarily be waiting at the Contemporary and can even take a half hour (I have SEEN this happen on multiple occasions).

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Faster is to walk to Contemporary and bus to DHS. However, you will still need to allow at least an hour (as per your original question). A bus won't necessarily be waiting at the Contemporary and can even take a half hour (I have SEEN this happen on multiple occasions).

Not necessarily faster to walk since CR is first after MK... it is usually only faster to walk TO magic kingdom from CR (Of course my advice does not hold true if there is a big line of people waiting for the monorail...)

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Just to make sure I'm understanding, you both think it is faster to get to the Contemp & then bus to the DHS rather than go to the TTC and take a bus from there?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have never stayed at CR before but I would guess there are probably more buses on the CR/DHS loop than the TTC/DHS loop. Just remember that CR will share a bus with someone which may add another stop...