Strategy for Visiting 'Other' WDW Resorts???

[Bill From PA]

We plan on visiting WDW resorts we haven't seen during our Nov. stay at the Dolphin and I was wondering if there is a best time of day to do this. We're likely to hit the parks early and stay there until crowds become an issue then pop into a resort on our way back to the Epcot area, about 1:30- 2:00 pm I would think. My guess is that we wouldn't face a lot of crowding on the bus at that time. We could squeeze in a visit in the early evening, too. Any thoughts on the timing or other considerations would be appreciated.


Bill From PA

 

[kel3420]

I would think any time that would be good for you would be great. I think the resorts are the most crowded in the mornings, when everyone is getting breaskfast and trying to head off to the parks. Other than that, there are people coming and going all day. I can't think of any time that would be any better or any worse than another. Maybe you could time it around dinner time, to check out the different restaraunts at the resorts.

Have a great trip.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I found afternoon to be a very non-busy time. We've even popped over to the Poly for lunch with no ressies without any problem.

 

[jwfla422]

In the past we have usually scheduled lunch or dinner at a specific resort restaurant and then check out that resort or sometimes if we did lunch or dinner at a monorail resort we'd hop on the monorail and check out the next resort and so on.

Probably after breakfast to early evening/dinnertime depending on parks' closing times would be a fine time to visit. Keep in mind that as the parks close you'll have to transfer buses at DD instead of at the parks (which can take a lot longer and try not to time your trip back to the Dolphin when the parks are letting out-go back before or after and you should be fine.

ENJOY your stay at the Dolphin, we'll be checking in there 27 days after you

 

[hoosll]

The MK resorts are fairly easy to visit from MK so plan to go to Cont, Poly, WL, FW or GF by boat or monorail. Plan your visit so that you can get back to MK before the buses stop running (about an hour after MK closes). You can catch a bus to your resort.

Since you are staying at the Dolphin, it is very easy to catch a boat or walk to the Epcot resorts (BW, BC and YC).

To get to AKL, catch a bus from one of the parks, we like to do it on the day we do AK since it is so close. After your visit, catch a bus to an open park, MGM is closest to the Dolphin and get a boat back to Dolphin. Avoid the bus to DD unless you are planning to go there anyway.

Avoid evening visits to other resorts unless you plan for an intermediate stop at Downtown Disney or Pleasure Island.

 

[loveswdw]

Just got back from a week & got the online survey card to fill out for our resort stay. One of my suggestions was to have a bus strictly go from resort to resort for resort hoppers. I don't know if this would go any quicker but I just hate having to go to a park or DD to catch a bus to another resort. Or a van service you could call to get to another resort? Anybody have any suggestions on what would be a better idea?

loveswdw

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

Well, you can always pay for a taxi for particularly tight timeframes, but you're right - it does get really complicated sometimes. I think it adds to the adventure!

 

[Greg K.]

Your time frame sounds very sensible to me. Beware that a lot of people check OUT before noon, and check IN after three. So mid-day may be best.

Evenings can be fun, too. The resorts take on a whole different character with people humming around for character meals (and characters sometimes wandering in and out) and folks sometimes a tad more dressed up for dinner. Also, the lighting and decor change in subtle ways as night falls. No where is that more evident than at the Grand Floridian, where a live band plays upstairs while guests mingle about down below .