Should we bus or drive to the parks?

[natshaul]

For all of you Fort Wilderness veterans, what would you suggest? Seems it may be nice to pack a cooler and keep it in the car for lunch.....rather than eating at a restaurant or going back to the campground.....but its also nice to just hop on the Magical Express......suggestions?

 

[Disneylitch]

We always take the bus and come back to the campground to eat. It's a nice break and we get to relax, let the dogs out, and then we go back. Sometimes we eat a late breakfast, go to the pool, eat lunch, and then go to the parks. We come back for dinner and then hit a magic hour park.

 

[indimom3]

We pack our lunches in the parks about half the time. It is just too expensive to buy lunch every day, and it takes a lot of time to go back to FW for lunch.
We use the kid's soft sided lunch boxes, make sandwiches, pack some snacks, and most of the time just buy drinks at a counter service place. You will see a lot of people doing this in the parks. They don't give you any grief about using their tables in the CS places - even if you aren't buying a thing.
We don't take our car, but we have a stroller so the lunch boxes just go in the basket.

If you have a car, it would save you time to drive to the parks, other than the MK of course.

 

[Disneylitch]

Yup, you can take anything you want to eat into the parks. Not alot of places alow that.

 

[Gatordad]

The bus is for people short on money, and long on time.

 

[des1954]

.....but its also nice to just hop on the Magical Express......suggestions?

I seriously hope you don't hop on the Magical Express unless you're planning on going to Orlando Airport!!

 

[Magicbus]

The bus is for people short on money, and long on time.

As usual, short and to the point. It also could be describing why I do what I do.
I drive my car to all the parks, except for MK of course.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

We flip flop back & forth. When the bus system is working good & you make the connections, it is great, but other times it is a waste of time.

Usually we settle on driving our vehicle to the park early in the morning (to get that close parking spot) and we drop off our cart at the Outpost. Then we take the bus back to the campground for our afternoon break. When the park closes we take our vehicle back to the campground which allows us to return a lot faster so we have more wind down time before getting into bed.

 

[anolefan]

Being a family of 5 we almost always drive to the parks (except MK). Time is crucial for us during the end of the day and having our vehicle helps out when the kids and adults are tired and cranky

 

[natshaul]

Thanks. I like the idea of the close parking spot......and I will definately pack snacks, lunch, etc. Cant wait although we are not going until November, 2011!!!!!!! Gives me something to plan and look forward too!!!!!! I need to get a life!

 

[Barney Fife]

When we go, the only time the F350 gets moved is to go to Wal-Mart or Winn-Dixie. To us, the busses are just another part of the experience. But when we go in January, they're never full unless you leave when the park closes.

 

[freshlybarked]

I want to maximize my time so we drive to all the parks except MK. It is so much quicker and that is nothing against the bus drivers or the system. I am amazed at how efficient the drivers are. My hat, if I wore one, would be off to Magicbus and all those who drive us around. I just prefer the car for sake of time.

 

[LONE-STAR]

As a kid I loved the bus. The drivers were great they told joke's and acted like Mickey and Donald etc. But they don't do that anymore. We quit using the bus back in 2002 Me and the DW decided it was faster to take the truck and the truck was only 5 to 10 steps from the trailer door.

 

[Magicbus]

As a kid I loved the bus. The drivers were great they told joke's and acted like Mickey and Donald etc. But they don't do that anymore.

The reason for not doing it anymore is that the new automated system knocks out the mic so the driver can't be heard. Every once in while you get a mic that does work, or sometimes the computer box isn't working and the driver has to do the announcements. The very newest buses haven't had the system installed yet, had one the other day. I was on fire, had my best stuff going. Everyone was smiling when they got off the bus.

 

[des1954]

I use to love it when the drivers "entertained" their passengers. It was all part of the experience.

 

[CooperPrincesses]

Okay two newbie questions please....

Why does noone drive to MK? Do you just take the boat? Is the bus super fast becuase MK is right there?

On mornings when there are EMH in the morning at MK what time does the boat start over and how long does a round trip take?

I ask becuase the first morning we go to MK it's my daughter's 4th birthday and she has an 8:05 appt at the BBB in the castle. That day is morning EMH at MK as well, so I didn't know if the boats/buses would be running earlier. When I first made the appt we were staying at the Contemporary and were just going to walk over, so now its a bit different, and I want to make sure I get her to the castle on time.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[indimom3]

Okay two newbie questions please....

Why does noone drive to MK? Do you just take the boat? Is the bus super fast becuase MK is right there?

On mornings when there are EMH in the morning at MK what time does the boat start over and how long does a round trip take?

I ask becuase the first morning we go to MK it's my daughter's 4th birthday and she has an 8:05 appt at the BBB in the castle. That day is morning EMH at MK as well, so I didn't know if the boats/buses would be running earlier. When I first made the appt we were staying at the Contemporary and were just going to walk over, so now its a bit different, and I want to make sure I get her to the castle on time.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

The boat is definitely faster than driving to the MK - because if you drive, you have to park at the TTC, then wait for their boat or monorail. The boat trip from FW to MK takes about 12 minutes dock to dock. There isn't a direct bus from FW to the MK.

The boats usually start about 30 minutes (a lot of times the first boat will be even earlier than that) before the MK opens. On morning EMH, they start 30 minutes before the EMH starts - so you should be fine to catch that boat.
But I would actually recommend, that morning, that you get up early and head to the Contemporary on that boat and walk over. The boats to the WL/Contemporary start at 645, I believe. With a reservation that early, they should let you into the MK before they open the park to the public. There is a turnstile over to the right with "Reservations" above it.

Your DD will have a great time!

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Okay two newbie questions please....

Why does noone drive to MK? Do you just take the boat? Is the bus super fast becuase MK is right there?

On mornings when there are EMH in the morning at MK what time does the boat start over and how long does a round trip take?

I ask becuase the first morning we go to MK it's my daughter's 4th birthday and she has an 8:05 appt at the BBB in the castle. That day is morning EMH at MK as well, so I didn't know if the boats/buses would be running earlier. When I first made the appt we were staying at the Contemporary and were just going to walk over, so now its a bit different, and I want to make sure I get her to the castle on time.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Unless things have changed, the first boat doesn't get to MK until either just before they 'open the gates' or just after.

The problem is that the first boat does not arrive at FW Landing until 30 or 35 minutes before MK opens. Then it takes time to load, putt-putt across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, dock at MK & unload.

If you have an early morning ressie, or just want to get there earlier than the boat will get you there, go to FW Landing about an hour before MK opens, take the small boat to the Contemporary, then walk through the Contemporary, out the other side and look to the right. There is a walkway to MK. This does involve a little morning exercise and is not advisable in inclimate weather.

When you do get to MK and get through the turnstiles, there is usually a sign for early entry breakfast ressies. The cast member there usually has a clip board to verify & mark off your name.

 

[CooperPrincesses]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the information, sounds like we are still going to be walking from the Contemporary. The added bonus is that DD is going to be thrilled to ride a boat there.

Her birthday just gets better and better. Thanks again!!

 

[Magicbus]

I use to love it when the drivers "entertained" their passengers. It was all part of the experience.

Those days are gone. It will be very rare.