Staying at the Contemporary and clueless

[mom_to_2]

Ok...so I have no idea as far as transportation goes...the disney website keeps crashing on me so I hope some of you experienced travelers can help me! How long does it take to get to the parks??? What time do the monorail/busses/boats start??? Are they effected by EMH?? The monorail goes to Epcot, right? But nowhere else?? Where does the boat go? Do you have to take busses to AK?? What about downtown disney and boardwalk??? And how long do these trips take?? Aaahhhh!!! As you can see I have no idea about how to get around...help, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

Ok...so I have no idea as far as transportation goes...the disney website keeps crashing on me so I hope some of you experienced travelers can help me! How long does it take to get to the parks??? What time do the monorail/busses/boats start??? Are they effected by EMH?? The monorail goes to Epcot, right? But nowhere else?? Where does the boat go? Do you have to take busses to AK?? What about downtown disney and boardwalk??? And how long do these trips take?? Aaahhhh!!! As you can see I have no idea about how to get around...help, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can walk to Magic Kingdom in about 8 minutes. You can also take the monorail, but you will also sit through stops at the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC), Polynesian and Grand Floridian before coming around to Magic Kingdom. You could wait up to 10 minutes for a monorail to come to Contemporary, and then easily another 20 minutes or more for it to get to Magic Kingdom from there. If you take the monorail FROM Magic Kingdom to Contemporary, Contemporary is the very first stop.

The resort monorail starts running around 7:00 a.m. I'm not sure how late it runs ... at least an hour or 2 after Magic Kingdom closes, but don't quote me on that one.

When at Contemporary, you can get to Epcot by monorail, but it is not a direct trip. You will need to exit your train at the first stop, the TTC, and then walk around to another platform and wait for another monorail that will go to Epcot.

From Contemporary, there is a bus that goes to Animal Kingdom, a bus that goes to Disney's Hollywood Studios, and a bus that goes to Downtown Disney. Contemporary shares buses with one or more other resorts in the area (depending on the destination), so on your way to one of those destinations you may stop at another hotel first, and the same on the way home. I'm not certain about which resorts it shares with for which destinations. The on-the-road driving time from Contemporary to AK or DHS might be 15 minutes, but then you have to factor in the wait time for the bus to come, plus whether or not you will be stopping at any other resorts for pick-ups first.

You CAN'T get directly from Contemporary to the BoardWalk area. You'd have to get to a theme park or Downtown Disney and then get from there to BoardWalk. For example, if MK is still open, you could walk to MK and then take a bus from there to the BoardWalk area resorts. Yes, you could take the monorail to Epcot, but then you'd have to use your ticket to enter Epcot and then walk through Future World and part of World Showcase to get to Epcot's back entrance, which is called International Gateway. You can walk from the International Gateway to the BoardWalk area. If you are at BoardWalk until late (such as after Epcot closes, and more importantly, after Magic Kingdom closes) and you want to use Disney Transport to get back to Contemporary, your only alternative would be to take a bus from there to Downtown Disney and then a bus from there to Contemporary. A taxi would be A LOT faster than that. Any time you need to take two different buses, or one bus + a monorail, you should allow one hour (this includes average waiting time for each bus/train).

Boats from Contemporary go to Wilderness Lodge and to Fort Wilderness Campground. There is no boat service from Contemporary to any theme park or to Downtown Disney.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Adding to what CleveRocks said when taking a bus to and from Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon the Contemporary shares with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. However the Contemporary is the 1st stop when being picked up and dropped off, so I would consider that a major plus because when going to one of locations it's easier to get a seat on the bus. Finally when returning from one of those locations if your tired at least you know you don't need to stop anywhere else before arriving back.

 

[MICKEEP]

Adding to what CleveRocks said when taking a bus to and from Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beach and Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon the Contemporary shares with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. However the Contemporary is the 1st stop when being picked up and dropped off, so I would consider that a major plus because when going to one of locations it's easier to get a seat on the bus. Finally when returning from one of those locations if your tired at least you know you don't need to stop anywhere else before arriving back.

That is a really good point about being first to be picked up and first to be dropped off.

But also note that the CO only goes to POLY and GF when traveling to HS. When going to DTD and AK it will only stop at POLY

 

[mom_to_2]

Thanks so much for all the tips, you guys! I am going to be printing this stuff out and taking it with me!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

You will be surprised at how fast you figure it out, once you get there. Transportation at WDW is really pretty easy. Everything is well marked.
For the Contemporary..you can walk to MK along the sidewalk..takes about 8 mins. You take the resort monorail line (goes right through the CR) to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line..again, well marked. You will take a bus to DHS, AK, and the water parks, as well as to DTD.
Want to got to the Boardwalk? If MK is open, just walk over there and hop on the BW bus. If it isn't open, take the bus to DTD and transfer there.

When trying to get from resort to resort (if you aren't able to walk or take a boat between them) you really need to go to a park or DTD to make a transfer. You will be able to access the Polynesian and GF via the monorail. FtW and WL are accessed by boat from the CR. All other resorts involve a transfer, with MK being the most convenient from the CR.

The buses start running, to the parks, about 6:30 am. The monorail starts around 7, the boats start about an hour before park opening. If there are EMHs in force, there will be transportation to and from the parks from the resorts...not an issue.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

That is a really good point about being first to be picked up and first to be dropped off.

But also note that the CO only goes to POLY and GF when traveling to HS. When going to DTD and AK it will only stop at POLY

Actually in the past when going to and from the Animal Kingdom the bus also stoped at the bus also stopped at the Grand Floridian since I remember it going there and on the way back the Grand Floridian was listed on the electronic sign.

Also the last time we took the bus back from Downtown Disney which was in August 2008, the Resorts listed on the electronic sign was the Contemporary, Polynesian, & Grand Floridian.

 

[clkelley]

The small boat to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness starts about 6:45am.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

The blue flag boat to the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness goes from 6:45 AM - 11:30 PM.

 

[MICKEEP]

Actually in the past when going to and from the Animal Kingdom the bus also stoped at the bus also stopped at the Grand Floridian since I remember it going there and on the way back the Grand Floridian was listed on the electronic sign.

Also the last time we took the bus back from Downtown Disney which was in August 2008, the Resorts listed on the electronic sign was the Contemporary, Polynesian, & Grand Floridian.

Don't know how long ago you are talking about but today at AK - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#1 and CO/PO leaves from #2

At DTD - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#4 and CO/PO leaves from #3

 

[Endeavour105]

Ok...so I have no idea as far as transportation goes...the disney website keeps crashing on me so I hope some of you experienced travelers can help me! How long does it take to get to the parks??? What time do the monorail/busses/boats start??? Are they effected by EMH?? The monorail goes to Epcot, right? But nowhere else?? Where does the boat go? Do you have to take busses to AK?? What about downtown disney and boardwalk??? And how long do these trips take?? Aaahhhh!!! As you can see I have no idea about how to get around...help, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For up-to-date info on the WDW Watercraft operations on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, see the following:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1646456

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Don't know how long ago you are talking about but today at AK - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#1 and CO/PO leaves from #2

At DTD - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#4 and CO/PO leaves from #3

Well in my experiences like this past August for example, the Contemporary and Polynesian also shared bus service with the Grand Floridian.

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't know how long ago you are talking about but today at AK - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#1 and CO/PO leaves from #2

At DTD - WL/GF leaves from Bus Stop#4 and CO/PO leaves from #3

Well in my experiences like this past August for example, the Contemporary and Polynesian also shared bus service with the Grand Floridian.

Hey....break it up you two!!!
Bus routes can, and do, change. It's always best to double check the bus stop board at the parks, just to be sure your resort stop is the same as it was the last time you were there....especially with the WL, CR, Polynesian, GF resorts and the S/D, BW, YC/BC resorts.

 

[cranbiz]

Well in my experiences like this past August for example, the Contemporary and Polynesian also shared bus service with the Grand Floridian.

What time was it? Early morning or late into a park closing would possible change the normal routes.

The bus to the Contemporary only goes to all 3 (GF, CR, Poly) from STUDIOS on a regular basis. The normal routes are DTD - CR, POLY DAK- CR, POLY, BB, AK DHS - CR, POLY, GF. Now at closing time at DAK, you may do all MK resorts, but that will be very late in the day. Rainforest cafe at DAK works the same way, grouping by resort.

I drive these routes every weekend and have done so for over 2 years, I certainly hope I know where I'm going.

 

[cranbiz]

Well in my experiences like this past August for example, the Contemporary and Polynesian also shared bus service with the Grand Floridian.

Sorry, No. You must have mistaken the bus from Studios.

DTD Bus stop 3 Shared with Saratoga Springs and CO/PO
Bus stop 4 Shared with WL/GF and FW. Late at night all three are combined into the triple, FW, WL, GF

The only way a CO/PO/GF route would have originated from DTD would have been a special, and the marque would not have been set for this, it would have been blank or said REMY or VIP CAST MEMBER or A WALK IN THE PARK or something else not related to an actual route.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This past August during the evening around 9:30 PM when coming back from Downtown Disney the bus said Contemporary, Polynesian, & Grand Floridian.

 

[MICKEEP]

The only way a CO/PO/GF route would have originated from DTD would have been a special, and the marque would not have been set for this, it would have been blank or said REMY or VIP CAST MEMBER or A WALK IN THE PARK or something else not related to an actual route.

Also, If the bus had "no box", the driver could have manually or possibly mistakenly put in the overhead code for CO/PO/GF.

The information I was originally trying to provide, in order to assist the original poster, was in regards to what are the established routes, not what could be a one-timer or a special or quite possibly a mistake and I thank you for backing me up.

 

[mom_to_2]

What time was it? Early morning or late into a park closing would possible change the normal routes.

The bus to the Contemporary only goes to all 3 (GF, CR, Poly) from STUDIOS on a regular basis. The normal routes are DTD - CR, POLY DAK- CR, POLY, BB, AK DHS - CR, POLY, GF. Now at closing time at DAK, you may do all MK resorts, but that will be very late in the day. Rainforest cafe at DAK works the same way, grouping by resort.

I drive these routes every weekend and have done so for over 2 years, I certainly hope I know where I'm going.

Ok...so I'm not sure I understand what you're saying (I'm pretty new so I'm not sure of all the acronyms...so normally busses are:

downtown disney to contemporary resort & polynesian

animal kingdom to contemporary, polynesian, BB?????, and animal kingdom??

hollywood studios to contemporary, polynesian, and grand floridian

Is this right???

I really appreciate everyone's help here!!!!!!

 

[MICKEEP]

Ok...so I'm not sure I understand what you're saying (I'm pretty new so I'm not sure of all the acronyms...so normally busses are:

downtown disney to contemporary resort & polynesian
animal kingdom to contemporary, polynesian, BB?????, and animal kingdom??
hollywood studios to contemporary, polynesian, and grand floridian
Is this right???
I really appreciate everyone's help here!!!!!!

Yes you have everything right.

BB is Blizzard Beach.

When BB is open you can reach it from the Contemporary by taking the Animal Kingdom bus, which will stop at the Polynesian first before heading off to BB.

When returning from the Animal Kingdom, the bus will stop in this order: Blizzard Beach(only if it is open) then the Contemporary, then the Polynesian.

It is really not as complicated as it seems and you can always ask questions of the drivers, who will be happy to help you.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Yes you have everything right.

BB is Blizzard Beach.

When BB is open you can reach it from the Contemporary by taking the Animal Kingdom bus, which will stop at the Polynesian first before heading off to BB.

When returning from the Animal Kingdom, the bus will stop in this order: Blizzard Beach(only if it is open) then the Contemporary, then the Polynesian.

It is really not as complicated as it seems and you can always ask questions of the drivers, who will be happy to help you.

Have things changed when it comes to the bus going to Blizzard Beach? In our experience the bus stopped there after we were dropped of at the Animal Kingdom and it went to Blizzard Beach after we were picked up, so we stopped there before arriving back at the Contemporary.

It's also been a while since we went to the Animal Kingdom which is why I have not seen the bus go to Blizzard Beach then Animal Kingdom in the mornings.

I also know there are times when Blizzard Beach is closed for renovation during the winter months which means the bus does not go there, so obviously I am referring to the times we would stop there when it was open.