** Saturday Spotlight On Disney Transportation**

[jockey]

** SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT ON DISNEY TRANSPORTATION**
It’s my turn again for the Saturday Spotlight this week so here goes!!!


Saturday Spotlight is aimed at helping you get a little bit extra from your trips to Orlando. The tips mentioned here may already be known to you, but perhaps you can contribute a tip of your own which others might not know.

We’re not trying to rewrite the guide books and web pages dedicated to the nuts and bolts information, but hope we can add a little bit of our own icing on the cake.

Check out the Saturday Spotlight 'sticky' thread at the top of the board where we're collecting all the tips from each week's threads covering the different topics.

Here are this week's starter tips for Disney Transport, so please join in and add your own favourite(s)!

The Disney Transportation system is large diverse and can be overwhelming but generally quite efficient, it consists of buses, ferry boats and a monorail!! It operates a hub and spoke system – hubs being the TTC and DTD and the spokes being the theme parks


BUSES

• There is a direct bus service from Disney resorts to the theme parks and DTD although some resorts do share buses at certain times of the day!!

•Buses run every 15 to 20 minutes! Those traveling with strollers will have to fold them down on the buses!!

•To travel from resort to resort you will have to transfer at one of the hubs

•If travelling by bus it’s a good idea to leave the parks approximately 30 minutes before closing so that you don’t get caught in the stampede




MONORAIL

• Disney’s Monorail system comprises of 3 loops, Loop A is an express route that runs counterclockwise connecting the Magic Kingdom with the TTC,

• Loop B runs clockwise alongside loop A, and stops at TTC, Poly, GF, MK and the Contemporary

• Loop C is the longest and it connects TTC with Epcot. The hub for all loops is the TTC (where you park when visiting the MK)

• Monorails usually run for two hours after the parks close - if you need transportation after the monorails have stopped catch a bus!!

• Why not ride up front on the monorail with the conductor – it’s great fun and not just for the kids!! You may have to wait for a few trains to go by before you get on but it’s worth it!!!

• Strollers do not have to be folded on the monorail!!



FOR THOSES DRIVING

• Parking at the 4 major parks is easy; just remember to write down where you parked!!! It’s always a good idea to bring some coloured ribbon to tie your car antenna so you can easily identify your car!!!

• Car parking at DTD is free!!

• If you drive to the Magic Kingdom you will park at TTC and be required to take the monorail or the ferry boat to the park entrance!!

• If you arrive at the park in the afternoon head towards the park entrance there will be empty car park spaces vacated by earlier guests!



Here is a link to the DIS Transport information – Disney Transport


Don’t forget to join us in Chat on Sunday at 7pm we can share more information on Disney Transport then!!

 

[Hilary]

Boat transportation is a great way to travel around WDW too!

These are some of the WDW boat routes:

• MK to grand Floridian, Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resorts

• MGM to the Boardwalk area and Epcot

• Epcot to the Boardwalk area and MGM

• Downtown Disney to Westside, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and Port Orleans Resorts

• Epcot Future World to World Showcase

The boat (and bus) drivers are often very chatty and entertaining, as well as giving out useful information.

 

[Miffy2003]

One of my favourite things to do is to catch the boat from MGM to Epcot (or vice versa). It's a lovely ride and you get to see all the Boardwalk & Epcot resort area too

 

[Dimplenose]

The best way to get back to All Star Resorts after the MK fireworks is by bus. Even if you never use Disney Transport at any other time you will save lots of time here. You queue for the bus once get on it and get to your hotel, but if you are driving you queue for the monorail/ferry, then you may have to queue for a tram and then you sit in the car queuing to get out of the car park. Believe me I've done both! But I'm a little worried as we're staying in a villa this year so will have to drive!

Libby

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Please do try the bus system.

There is often a lot of adverse comment on the wait times asscociated with the buses (especially on the US boards) but I have always found the buses to be an exceptionally efficient way of getting around.
You may need to wait for 10 to 15 minutes from time to time, but just relax and enjoy. You're on holiday!

The only exception to this is park closing time, especially after Wishes in the MK. You may have to wait for a few buses to come and go before you get on and even then you may have to stand.
If you get a seat on the bus back to your resort after a long day in the parks it is almost impossible not to nod off, especially after the driver turns out the lights.

Kev