Staying off-site and park hopping?

[emer95]

Hello,
I am a brand new newbie to this site, and to WDW as well. We plan to take our two dd's this summer, and we're staying at the Staybridge Suites LBV.

1) We bought park hopper passes, and I'm wondering about the transportation. We'll probably drive our rental car to the parks, but do we have to drive to each park that we hop to, or are we entitled to use Disney transportation? How many times are we allowed to hop in one day? Doubtful that we'd have the energy to do it more than once anyway, but say we started off in MK, hopped over to AK for a while and then wanted to go back to MK for the parade- is that a possibility?

2) I would love to see/look around at the Disney properties, in case we decide to stay on Disney sometime in the future. Is that allowed?

Sorry if I sound clueless- thanks in advance!

 

[powellrj]

we have used transportation before to park hop. I know we usually park where we want to end our day so we don't have a long trip back at the end of the day.

 

[Local_Girl]

Yes, if you have park hopper passes you are allowed to use Disney transportation. You mentioned that it's your first trip...sometimes 1st timers aren't aware of the immensity of the property and don't realize that park hopping can be pretty time consuming. Although you can hop as many times as you'd like, it may take up to 1/2-1 hour to get from the gate of one park to another. If your DDs are very young and you've got strollers and lots of paraphernalia to juggle, it can also be a lot of work, LOL! So...you may want to consider limiting your hopping to once a day, like say, at the end of the day in AK (which closes early) to another park that's open later.

Yes you can check out the onsite resorts...maybe plan to have a meal at one of them! I'm also hoping we can check out some of the Disney resorts this trip (we're staying offsite as well). So far the only ones we've had a chance to see are the monorail resorts. If you plan carefully, you should be able to see different resorts without wasting too much time. Remember, the Epcot resorts are within walking distance to each other; you can see 3 deluxe resorts in the MK area by just taking the monorail loop; and you can take a boat from the MK over to the Wilderness Lodge and the Fort Wilderness area (2 separate stops). Good luck with your planning, hope you have a great trip!

 

[spiceycat]

disney is happy for you to come visit their resort (and maybe drop some cash at one of their restuarants or gift shops)

if the resort is at capacity - you can't park there. However if you have ps (prior seating) at one of the hotel restuarants and have your PS number the guard will let you in to use the restuarant. Depending upon how full the resort is you will be given anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours pass.

Sometimes the resort is so empty the guard will let your in - not a problem.

However sometimes it is.

If you are going to a MK hotel restuarant - tell the security guard at the guard and he will waive you in - then you have tell the security guard at the hotel - probably show you ps numbers. but there is no parking fee if dinning onsite at one of the MK hotel restuarant.

It is fairly easy to see the monrail resorts - just get on the Resort monrail (however if you parked in a resort parking lot - remember to get back to it before you parking pass expirates)

there are 3 monrail - one express to the MK, one goes to TTC (ticket/transportation center), Polyn, GF, MK, Cont then back to TTC.
the another one goes directly to the EPcot. we generally run across one person each time that got lost on these things - so be careful.

Park hopping is fun and we do it alot. however remember
powellrj and local_girl tips - park where you want to end up.

it is quite easy to park hop from MK to Epcot - just get on the monrail.

there is a boat at International Gateway at Epcot that will take you to the Studios (mgm).

you must ride the bus to get to AK.

DD is hard to park hop too - first you need to go to a WDW resort - then get on the bus to DD. It is far easier to just drive to it.