Rope drop/Welcome show question?

[stobaugh6]

We decide this afternoon to add another day on to the front end of our trip, so we leave in 10 days!! This is our first time staying at Ft Wilderness and we are super excited!!

I'm trying to get my touring plans finalized and I have a couple questions. What time should we plan on leaving our campsite to make a 9am rope drop? What time if we want to see the welcome show at Magic Kingdom? We have 7 kiddos ages 18 down to 18 months. Should we just drive our van rather than using the disney transportation? Thanks!!

Heather

 

[tigger92662]

Me personally, with that many in tow, I would drive. Its' just a couple minute drive, but boat or monorail to MK. I think out the door at 7:45 would give enough time to be there by 8:30 ish. Better to be waiting at the front of the line then back. Sounds like your gonna have your hands full there. Enjoy your trip.
Happy 20th, Happy 40th, and then 1 off to college?

 

[2goofycampers]

I'd be at the boat dock by 8:15 and not mess with driving, then a mororail or ferry over to the MK with the hoards of people.

 

[KristinU]

I'd be at the boat dock by 8:15 and not mess with driving, then a mororail or ferry over to the MK with the hoards of people.

Yeah, I'd leave my campsite at 7:45 to allow for any doddlers or stops to watch squirrels or tie shoes, etc. and head to the boat. If you drive you still have to take a monorail or ferry, so I'm a fan of the boat

 

[peg110]

Transportation will usually start about an hour before the park opens. Just remember which ever way you go there will be waiting. You will either be waiting at the dock for the Ferry from FW to MK, or you will be waiting at the TTC for the Monorail to MK (if you chose to drive). Of course if you take the bus, you will have to wait for that as well. Lastly, you will have to wait for the "Welcome Show" at MK to start as well. If you get there earlier (to be in the front) then you have that much longer of a wait. If you get in past the Turnstiles, you will be able to see the Welcome show so being "Closer" isn't really a better choice except that when it's over, you can get into the actual park a little quicker, if that's your objective.

Despite the fact that you have 7 kiddos, the issues of driving do not negate that you will still have to get on some other Disney transport to get to MK, so in my mind, you might just as well take the Ferry from FW. The biggest downside to this (with that size of a crew) is the possibility (albeit I think it's small) that your whole crew may not "Fit" on the ferry if you were at the "Right" spot in line, which of course means you would have to wait for the next Ferry (at which point you would be Front of that line). Okay, so another potential downside is that in the early morning, (depending on the time of the year) the Ride across the lake on the ferry can get a bit cool. (Last 2 times we were at FW was during Thanksgiving time of year), but still not completely unbearable.

Enjoy your trip and enjoy FW.

 

[amylevan]

Note that the boats do not start running until 30 minutes before opening. We are always on that first boat, and usually make it in time for the welcome show, although often towards the back of the crowd (which is not a problem in Jan/Feb when we visit).

We always aim to be at the boat dock by 8:20.

 

[amylevan]

And from the info page: Travel time from Magic Kingdom to Ft. Wilderness is approximately 13 minutes once underway. Wait time between boats is typically 10-20 minutes.

 

[PaHunter]

we left our campsite between 715 and 730 the entire week we were there, caught the internal bus and then our outbound travel to whatever park. Was never late to any park, early enough to be up front at the MK opening show, in front of lines at EPCOT to make JTA, etc.

 

[tobikaye]

If you get to the docks and the MK boat is not running yet, take the boat to Contemporary and then just walk to MK.

Another option, bus or walk from Settlement to WL, then bus to MK.

 

[tmoo]

I have always had a horrible time using Disney transportation from the Fort. Never trust them to get you there at a specific time. I tried to get to rope drop at Hollywood Studios once, left my site 1 hour 20 minutes before rope drop...and missed it along with TSMM fast passes. When they finally did show up there were 3 buses nose to tail for Studios. Gee thanks!

For any park other than Magic Kingdom, just drive. It is SO much easier, quicker, and more reliable. It also doesn't take 13 minutes!

For Downtown Disney take the bus to avoid parking and traffic issues.

For Magic Kingdom: If you are not worried about getting there for rope drop then the ferry is great and easily the best option. If you are getting up for rope drop, the ferry is a disappointment. The first ferry of the day will normally get you there just in time to hear the opening show in the distance from the back of a big crowd. Last time I was in line at the ferry by 7:20 and missed my 8:15 reservation at Crystal Palace. If you are going for that early morning experience, take the extra time and one of the suggestions above such as ferry to the contemporary or bus/walk to the wilderness lodge. This is one of my big gripes with the Fort, the direct ferry to Magic Kingdom should start running at least 1/2 hour earlier.