Staying at Swan--Dinner @ GF and AKL

[beachgirl1011]

Hi, do the shuttles run between resorts as well as to the parks?
We aren't renting a car this year and are staying at the Swan/Dolphin...
Will we be able to catch a shuttle to the Grand Floridian (Narcosse's) and the Animal Kindgom Lodge (Jiko)?

And if so, do you know how often they operate?

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

Buses do not run between resorts (unless the resorts are on the same loop). You will have to transfer at a park or Downtown Disney to travel between resorts.

To go from the Swan to GF, take a bus from Swan to the Magic Kingdom. from there, you can either take the monorail or a boat launch to GF. If the weather is good, take the boat. It will drop you off at the dock which is right next to Narcoosees.

To go from the Swan to AKL, take a bus to Animal Kingdom and switch to the bus to AKL.

The above will work only if the parks are open and transportation is running to/from those parks. If it is late and the parks are closed, you can use Downtown Disney as a transfer spot until about midnight. It will take time. If you don't have time to spare, consider a taxi. You should allow at least 45 minutes to an hour to get from one resort to another using Disney transportation.

 

[beachgirl1011]

thanks!
our Jiko reservations are at 8pm and the Narcosse's are at like 7:45.
I believe the parks are open at 8pm when we're going (June 20th week)
Would we have to have admission if we use the monorail or boat launch to the GF from MK?
I like the whole taxi idea....are they easy to get (or rather arrange) from the resorts?

 

[goofy4tink]

thanks!
our Jiko reservations are at 8pm and the Narcosse's are at like 7:45.
I believe the parks are open at 8pm when we're going (June 20th week)
Would we have to have admission if we use the monorail or boat launch to the GF from MK?
I like the whole taxi idea....are they easy to get (or rather arrange) from the resorts?

Nope, the monorail and boats do not go inside the parks. No park admission is needed. You could take the MK bus around 6:30 and then either monorail or boat over to the GF...then take a cab back to the S/D....probably about $15.
For Jiko, head to DHS and then hop on the AKL bus there. When you're done eating, you can take a cab back to S/D.

Of course, if there is a park open when you are done eating, that is going to be the cheapest way to get back to the S/D. Check, before you head out, to see which park is either open late that night, or that has EMHs for guests. Then head to that park after eating and then transfer to the S/D bus.

The MK is open until at least 11pm each night that week...some nights until 2am due to EMHs. That would be a decent place to transfer.

 

[joelkfla]

The official recommendation is to allow at least 90 minutes traveling between resorts.

Most of the time it will take less than an hour, but you have to allow for possibly waiting past a full bus, multiple stops, wheelchair delays, etc.

GF is probably safe, since the bus makes only one stop and the second half is by monorail or a very short boat ride. But the bus to AK will make 4 stops on the way, and the bus to AKL makes another and is also close enough to park closing to filll up.

The good thing about AKL is that if you do arrive too early, you can pick up a pager at the restaurant check-in, and spend the time viewing the animals on the savana, the artwork around the lobby, and the little museum in the Sunset Lounge.