So how do you get to the parks?

[Dallas_Lady]

When staying at the Fort, how do you get to the parks? Bus? Boat? Your own vehicle? Does your strategy vary depending on which park you go to, time of day, year, etc.?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

MK - boat
Epcot - boat to Contemporary, then monorail to TTC and monorail to Epcot
AK - car
Studios - car

 

[njcamper95]

we drive from NJ to the fort so unless we have to we don't take our truck anywhere so we take the boat to the MK if we are going to the other parks we take a bus maybe not the fastest way but we are on vaction so we aren't in a hurry

 

[LONE-STAR]

MK-boat

Everywhere else we take the truck.

 

[TheFlame]

On our trip this past Nov. we took everyone's advice from the Dis and drove after waiting on and riding busses for hours the first few days...

Some people say they are on vacation and aren't in a hurry, but I don't like to waste my valuable time at Disney & FW waiting on 2 different busses and riding for 45 min. to get to a park that is 15 min. away. The golf cart will cut out the bus at your loop, but you are still looking at approx. 45 min. riding time(30min if you are LUCKY) It took us an avg. one hour to one hour & 15 min. to ride to AK, Epcot, and HS using the bus system. It is a little hit or miss but overall a very time consuming way to get to a park. Jan. 08 was when we really saw the changes in the bus system and they were really in full force by Nov.!!!

MK-boat
Epcot-I like Jim's idea but that would take too long for me!
Epcot-drive
AK-drive
HS-drive: They have the worst parking lot! The tram only runs down the middle so you will walk for miles if you don't park near the middle tram road!

With that said, I don't like the amount of walking you have to do to get to the tram at the parks but you will save TONS of time if you drive so I still think it is better to drive....I can't believe I said that!!!

 

[Brer Bear]

MK - boat
Epcot - boat to Contemporary, then monorail to TTC and monorail to Epcot
AK - car
Studios - car

Ditto for us...

A little hint, if you are visiting a park later in the day, go to the FRONT lot of AK and Studios as there will be spaces from folks departing earlier. If a CM is trying to direct you to park in a lot farther out, just ask them if you can "drop off" folks in your party up front first...then snag the front spots. Works every time!

 

[Skyw]

Before Kids....we used to take the buses....so we could have a few beers and not drive...

Now with a young kid: MK-boat, everywhere else we drive. We finally did this the last time we were there and it was so much easier. Plus DS could fall asleep easily in the car.

 

[daddyphat808]

Before Kids....we used to take the buses....so we could have a few beers and not drive...

Now with a young kid: MK-boat, everywhere else we drive. We finally did this the last time we were there and it was so much easier. Plus DS could fall asleep easily in the car.

Same with us. With a 7 and 2 year old waiting on the bus takes way to long. The last time we tried we saw the bus to DTD 6 times and never a bus to the Studios. We went back and too the truck. The boat to MK is a great way to go though!

 

[clkelley]

Bicycle inside the campground.

Boat to MK (If the Contemporary launch gets there first, boat to Contemporary, walk to MK)

Bus to everywhere else.

 

[sapdaddy]

we drive from NJ to the fort so unless we have to we don't take our truck anywhere so we take the boat to the MK if we are going to the other parks we take a bus maybe not the fastest way but we are on vaction so we aren't in a hurry

I am with njcamper. I drive from NH and the only time I start my truck is to go out to get grocerys. I always use the WDW transportation system. The longest I ever had to wait/ride was about 1/2 hour. My DS 9 & DS 6 thought 1/2 the fun was riding the bus.

 

[WDWFromTheirEyes]

MK - boat
Epcot - boat to Contemporary, then monorail to TTC and monorail to Epcot
AK - car
Studios - car

How long does it take on average to go to Epcot this way?

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Bicycle inside the campground.

I like this idea! Is the Fort hilly or relatively flat?

Now with a young kid: MK-boat, everywhere else we drive. We finally did this the last time we were there and it was so much easier. Plus DS could fall asleep easily in the car.

We will have 2 little ones (2 and 4) plus their double stroller this next trip, so I am thinking I don't want to deal with the buses and would prefer to drive.

For those who take the boat to MK, what's the best way to get to the boat? We will be staying at the cabins so I am guessing walking to the boat will be a little too far. I really don't want the added cost of renting a golf cart for the whole trip.

Also, have anyone ever driven to the TTC and rode the monorail to Epcot? I know it's not the most direct way, but I love the monorail and have never ridden it into Epcot.

 

[clkelley]

I like this idea! Is the Fort hilly or relatively flat?



.

There are a couple of small hills, but for the most part it's pretty flat.

 

[pooh4me]

Dalles Lady there are internal buses in the camp ground that will take you to the Settlement where you catch the boat or to the Outpost and the bus stop for the other parks. The cabins have three bus stops for the internal buses.These are located at the end of loop 2700 & 2800,loop 2400,2500,2600,and loop 2100,2200,2300. so it will only be a short walk from your cabin to a bus stop. You will be given a map when you check in that shows the internal bus routes. Be careful, you will love the Fort and will find you don't want to stay anywhere else. Have a great trip.

 

[BradyBz12]

MK - boat
GF/Poly and sometimes Epcot (if we have extra time) - boat to Contemporary, then monorail
EP (more often than not)/AK/HS - drive

We used to do buses to AK/HS/EP but found we spent a TON of time waiting in line for them, riding them standing up more often than not, and generally just not having a good time on them.

With gas prices lower when we were at FW last month, we generally drove everywhere but MK/MK resorts.

 

[Shan-man]

How long does it take on average to go to Epcot this way?

It takes a while, much longer than the bus, but it is also much more scenic. I love the arrival loop through FutureWorld when taking the monorail... especially at night. Though I don't like to do the boat to Contemporary and rather do the boat to MK. The walk from the Contemporary dock to the monorail is a HIKE. The MK dock is much closer to the monorail station. And the boats are more frequent to and from MK, though admittedly, the boat ride is a bit longer. I would guess either way you are looking at an hour to go from the FW dock to the Epcot monorail station... but it is an hour well spent IMHO.

 

[DisneyBishops]

I agree Shan, when we go to the fort we are in no hurry to get anywhere. So we just take the transportation and enjoy ourselves. I guess because i am older now i am just not in as big of a hurry.

We just enjoy all that Disney has to offer ( or really to sell LOL)

I live in hustle and bustle world so when i go to the fort it is relaxation and kicking back and drinking a few beers.

 

[Shaun and Amy]

When we arrive at the Fort and get the camper parked I turn the truck off and don't start it again till we leave. We take the boat and the buses and the momorail. Try to mix it up and keep journey to get there part of all the excitment. Plus, we're never in a hurry......why should we, we're on vacation!

 

[BradyBz12]

While we aren't keen on the buses, we very much enjoy all the other forms of Disney transport (incl. the parking lot trams!)

We've had plenty of days that look like this...
Bus to HS, walk to EP, monorail to MK, boat to FW
or
Drive to EP, tram to entrance, monorail to TTC, Ferry to MK... reverse!

We joke that it's the WDW version of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"

 

[Shan-man]

I once was asked at the Settlement bus stop if this was the way to MGM (a few years ago). I replied that the quick way was to take this bus. The more scenic way was to boat to the MK, monorail to the TTC, transfer to the Epcot monorail, walk through Epcot to the International Gateway, catch the boat to MGM. LOL. As I recall they got on the bus... but the other way would be much more interesting!