Resort To Resort Bus???

[LISA STETLER]

We Are Going To Be traveling In Oct. to Disney And Staying In The Park. We Want To Get An Early Start On Our First Full Day There Since We Will Try To Do Magic Kingdom In A Day And A Half Which I Am Hoping Will Be Possible Since We Are Adults So The Kids Rides And Fast Roller Coasters Will Be Out For Us. The Park Opens At 9 That Day But I Have Read That The Gates In Fact Open A Half Hr. Earlier But No Rides Will Be Open, Is This True? We Want To Be At The Park Upon Opening So We Can Try To Get It All In!! We Have To Reserve Breakfast That Day At The Polynesian But We Are Electing Not To Do The Character At The Ohana But Reserve At The Kona Cafe. I Believe They Start Seating At 7:30? We Need To Take A Bus To Get There But Was Told By Email From Disney That We Cannot Get One Until 45 Min Prior To Opening And It Would Take Us To Magic Kingdom, Not The Polynesian. This Does Not Seem Right According To Other Info. I Have Read. I Understand We Are Not Doing A Character Breakfast But Can't We Still Get On That Bus And Just Say We Are Anyway Since They Are Both At The Poly? What Time Do Busses Start In The Am For Resort To Resorts That Time Of Year? We Need To Reserve Soon And I Do Not Want To Do So Until We Are Sure. I Want To Be At The Park Around 8:30 Or Shortly After, Any Suggestions For Time To Leave, How To Travel And How Long We Should Allow To Eat And Travel To Get Back To Magic Kingdom?

 

[kaytieeldr]

There are no resort-to-resort buses, however, despite the e-mail you got there ARE early buses for pre-park-opening breakfasts. These buses go from resort to park, BUT if you ask the MK breakfast bus driver to drop you at the Polynesian [/i]and she/he can[/i], he or she will. Otherwise you might have to take the monorail around to the Polynesian, or for absolute safety, take a cab right from your hotel to that one. No, I don't, but there's a taxi fare calculator in the Popular Transportation Links sticky.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi Lisa, and to the DIS boards. You'll find a lot of info here for your trip. One thing I'm going to say, and please don't be offended, but could you change your font? My old eyes have trouble reading something that small? Okay, on to some answers for you.
Bus transportation, from the resorts to the parks, starts at least one hour before park opening. However, it is a bit tricky to get from one resort to another one for an early breakfast seating. Where will you be staying? That could make a difference in our recommendations for you. You may be better off taking a cab if you have a very early seating. Once at the Polynesian, you can take the monorail to MK, or the little ferry boat. There is no bus to MK from the Polynesian.
You will find that there are very early morning character meal buses that run to the parks, from the resorts...and I mean early. I was waiting for DME for my return to the airport, at 6:15, and there were buses pulling up to the POP bus stop to take guests to MK for their character meals. You could ask a bus driver if you could 'hitch' a ride, then once at MK, take the resort monorail over to the Polynesian. That starts running by 7 if I remember correctly. Or, the bus driver may even take you to the Polynesian after dropping folks off at the MK...you never know.

 

[LISA STETLER]

Thanks so much for your help. I guess when I had read that people took a bus to a resort then it was most likely by luck that the driver took them directly there. I would rather not take a taxi since we do have free disney transporation. If we have to take a bus to MK then to the Poly that is fine, just hope we make it in time. We did not reserve yet since I wanted to get more info yet but looking at 8 am if not sooner since we do want to be at the park prior to 9 am.

 

[goofy4tink]

Lisa...where will you be staying at? Oh, the font is soooo much easier for me. Thanks!!!

 

[LISA STETLER]

Thanks for the advice, I really did not change anything at first just concerned to have something posted, hopefully you can read this better.
Thanks for your advice.

We will be staying at the All Star Sports and have the dining plan so we would like to use 2 table meals for breakfast since we have looked at the menu's and a few look really good! For instance the Tonga Toast.
We have not reserved breakfast yet since I was afraid to make reservations then not be able to get there on time. The park opens at 9 so I wanted to be there before then so I thought about 7:30 breakfast but then later when I discovered that transportation may be difficult I wondered if 8 am may be better and just eat quick

 

[goofy4tink]

Great! Okay.....since it's going to be Oct when you go, I wouldn't stress too much about not getting enough park time to do everything you want to do. You should have no problem doing the things you want in a day and a half in MK. So, I would make ADR's for Kona, if that's your choice (we really enjoyed our breakfast there), for around 7:45ish. Be at the AllStar Sports bus stop at about 7:00 or so. Hop on the bus going to the MK, tell him you'll be going to the Polynesian for breakfast at Kona, and what would be the best way to get there from MK. One of two things will happen. 1. you may get lucky and he will offer to drop you at the Polynesian after he stops at MK or 2. he may tell you to hop on the resort monorail at MK and take it to the Polynesian. Either way, you're all set. The monorail will drop you off on the upper level of the Polynesian. Go through the doors, into the resort, and head left. Kona is right there, on the left. If you get dropped off, by the bus driver, just head to the Great Ceremonial House from the bus stop, and walk up the stairs that are off to the back of the checkin area.
If you get a 7:45 seating, you should be done by 8:45, at the latest, then either hop on the monorail back to the MK or head out to the boat dock area and take the small shuttle boat that serves both the GF and the Polynesian.

Just be aware, there will be a lot of people there at close to 9:00. The lines will be long. But, it will disburse once you get past Main St. in MK. Oct is traditionally a slower time of year to go, although the free dining has upped the numbers.
The other thing I will mention.....although this isn't transportation related. Be sure to use those table service credits wisely. If you eat breakast and use a TS credit, you may not get your money's worth. Usually, a nice dinner that costs about $25-30 pp is a better usage. You may be hard pressed to spend much more than $17 or so on breakfast there. Just a thought.

 

[LISA STETLER]

Thanks again for your tips and advice. We are leaving on Oct 14th, the FREE dining plan is not avail. at that time, stinks for us. I do understand what you are saying about getting your $ worth. We infact are dining for dinner at more expensive restaurants so I am sure we will make it up. Also we are traveling 2 days o/s of disney to Universal and Sea World so we will not be there those days for dinner so we have the extra table service meals to use other days. Thanks again for everything, I will make our reservations either tonight or first thing tomorrow.

 

[LISA STETLER]

The other morning we are planning to go to Boatwrights for breakfast at Port Orleans. Have you tried it there? Any specific travel suggestions there? Have you ever went to Seaworld or Universal by the Lynx bus transportation or Mears? We have pricing info. and bus route but not sure which way we will go. Quick is always good.

 

[goofy4tink]

Breakfast at Boatwrights...yum. I would head for whatever park has EMH that morning and then hop on the POR bus. So, don't book breakfast too early!!

And yes, I have used Lynx to get to SeaWorld, but not Universal. I wouldn't recommend it to get to Universal...it's very convoluted and you have to make transfers. You would be much better off taking a cab or a towncar service. Now, as for getting to SeaWorld. Go to the TTC. The Lynx bus stops there. It's maybe the second or third bus slot back from the front of the TTC bldg. It's pretty easy to tell what bus it is....paw prints on it, and the sign is right there. Have the correct change...it was $1.25 pp, each way. Tell the driver when you board that you are getting off at SeaWorld. We didn't and we ended up walking back towards SW for quite a distance!!!! You will be dropped off at the entrance to the parking lot for SW...just cross it and the entrance to the park is right there.
When you are ready to return, just go back across the parking lot, cross the main street, it's not all that busy and is crossed easily. Look for that paw print sign, it should be just a bit down from the cross walk area. Have the correct change again, and you're golden.
The Lynx website will have the actual pickup times...I believe it's twice an hour but could be wrong. Since it's so easy and cheap to get to SW from TTC, I wouldn't pay for a cab or a shuttle or a towncar. To Universal..yes though.
Glad I can help...I'll be in WDW on Oct 21!!!! Right behind you!!

 

[LISA STETLER]

Thanks so much for your help! I will definitely do the bus for SeaWorld and take your advice for Universal. I think Mears will be the best way to go for that.
Yes, Boatwrights looks delicious. I would take your advice and go to the park that has EMH, but there is none for that day. We planned on going to Epcot that day as well as another day. It will open at 9 and 11. I still have to see if we are going to do Future World one day and the World Showcase another or just plan on doing both, both days. It seems like there is alot to see.
Have you used magical express and if so did you have any problems? They are offering it free of charge so of course we took them up on it.
Have a fun trip!

 

[paults]

Thanks so much for your help. I guess when I had read that people took a bus to a resort then it was most likely by luck that the driver took them directly there

most likely the bus they took to a resort was most likely from a park or DTD.

I also wouldn't rely on a bus driver leaving his route to dropped of someone at an off route stop.

yes it has happened but don't count on it. when they do this it holds somebody else's pick -up.

GEE, now that I think of it maybe that's why the buses are so far apart.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks so much for your help! I will definitely do the bus for SeaWorld and take your advice for Universal. I think Mears will be the best way to go for that.
Yes, Boatwrights looks delicious. I would take your advice and go to the park that has EMH, but there is none for that day. We planned on going to Epcot that day as well as another day. It will open at 9 and 11. I still have to see if we are going to do Future World one day and the World Showcase another or just plan on doing both, both days. It seems like there is alot to see.
Have you used magical express and if so did you have any problems? They are offering it free of charge so of course we took them up on it.
Have a fun trip!

Lisa, I've used DME 3 or so times now. Have had good experience each time. The buses are nice, the waits aren't long...I have found that the average time is about 70 minutes from deplaning to resort checkin. Your luggage can take awhile to get to you though. So, be sure to pack a change of clothes in your carryon bag...perhaps a swimsuit also. That way you can change when you get to the resort...in a restroom if your room isn't ready yet.