Should I rely on Disney transportation?

[wdw2125]

My family and I have 3 8am ADR's. They are for Tusker House in AK, Crystal Palace in MK, and Hollywood & Vine in HWS. My question is, Should we take the bus to these places or would it be better to drive our car. We are driving to the world, so we won't have to rent one. My concern is that I have read that some of the parking lots do not open until close to 8am and I worry that we would not make it to our ADRs on time. Is this true? Does anyone know what time the parking lots open? Also, we will be staying at POFQ, what time should we leave in order to make it to our ADRs on time? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! THANKS

 

[skiingfast]

I don't know why you shouldn't use the Disney Transport. The Character Dining buses come often and start early. I think 6:30. I wouldn't even consider the hassle of taking your car.

I would leave about an hour before your ADR. Just so you can take some pictures in the nearly empty park. I might even try for the first bus for your MK meal. You can spend a lot of time walking slowly down main street taking photos.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Driving shouldn't be a problem, although the buses will be faster for Crystal Palace.

If you're concerned about when the parking lots open, call Disney Dining and ask specifically about this issue. While the cast member on the call might not know the answer, they will take steps to find someone who does.

 

[mb168]

You should have no problems getting in to a parking lot at a reasonable time before your adr. They wouldn't do that.

 

[twokids0204]

My family and I have 3 8am ADR's. They are for Tusker House in AK, Crystal Palace in MK, and Hollywood & Vine in HWS. My question is, Should we take the bus to these places or would it be better to drive our car. We are driving to the world, so we won't have to rent one. My concern is that I have read that some of the parking lots do not open until close to 8am and I worry that we would not make it to our ADRs on time. Is this true? Does anyone know what time the parking lots open? Also, we will be staying at POFQ, what time should we leave in order to make it to our ADRs on time? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! THANKS

First of all to the DISboards.

I don't think there's any reason not to take the Disney Transportation.

As for what time to leave, plan on being at the Bus Stop an hour before (7:00 am), But it doesn't hurt to let the concierge desk know that you have the early ADR's, and they can possibly get your better information on timing.

 

[mb168]

Just my point of view, but there isn't a lot of traffic out at that time of the morning. You could leave POFQ at 7:20-7:30ish and get to the front parking lot of any park in your car without problems. There isn't a soul here that could tell you with any certainty that you will have a bus come at any time. The transportation maps they give you when you check in say to allow 2 hrs for Disney transportation to get to where you want to go. So unless you are certain, I'd drive.

My only exception to this would be MK where I would still likely drive but just allow time to get there via monorail or boat.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our transportation board.

 

[skiingfast]

There isn't a soul here that could tell you with any certainty that you will have a bus come at any time. The transportation maps they give you when you check in say to allow 2 hrs for Disney transportation to get to where you want to go. So unless you are certain, I'd drive.

My only exception to this would be MK where I would still likely drive but just allow time to get there via monorail or boat.

The 2 hours they quote is for a worst case senario. Such as too many people loading to fit on the next bus. It also is allocatiing times for transfers.

None of this applies to a breakfast ADR before the parks open.

I can tell you with certainty that the Breakfast buses come often to POFQ as I have used them and seen them while staying there. They were running faster than the 20 minutes, longest wait between buses, that WDW quotes.

 

[clkelley]

I would use the buses. The early buses DO start around 6:30 am.

Especially use the bus for Tusker House at AK. AK is unique in that CMs and the buses do not use the toll booth to get to their parking. The tollbooth entrance for guests actually closes at AK and doesn't open till shortly before park opening. So if the park opens at 9am and your breakfast is at 8am, you may find yourself stuck at the tollbooth till as late as 8:30am and not let into the parking lot.

(All of the other parking lot toll booths are open 24/7 because Cast Members, buses, and hotel guests have to drive through there even if the actual park is closed.)

 

[dacky041208]

We always have a few 8:00 am adrs and have never had a problem catching a bus. AK is the one parking lot that was notorious for not opening early, sometimes as late as 8:45 or so for a 9:00 park opening, but I haven't seen any reports of this for about a year, so you should be fine if you want to drive, but we've never had an issue with the busses.

 

[goofy4tink]

My only concern with driving would be to AK. I haven't experienced it myself, but many have reported issues with being able to get into the parking lot. Seems it doesn't open as early as one would think..which can leave you sitting out there, waiting.

The buses do start running by 6:30am...every morning, to every park. They do not run as frequently as during the rest of the day though..so if the bus is just pulling away as you get to the bus stop, you may have a longish wait (20-25 mins) before the next one comes. I would be out at the park bus stop no later than 6:45 for 8:00 adrs.