*The Official VILLAS AT DISNEY'S GRAND FLORIDIAN RESORT & SPA Owners & Lovers Group*

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

There is no bus from VGF to EPCOT or HS?

There’s no bus from VGF to EPCOT but there is one to HS.

 

[cbailey1616]

Staying at VFG right now. Everything is busy but not unbearable. Actually better than I expected in regards to the public transportation. Monorail does have lines but it’s only certain parts of the day. I think mid day is probably the worst time for it.

 

[Sandisw]

Staying at VFG right now. Everything is busy but not unbearable. Actually better than I expected in regards to the public transportation. Monorail does have lines but it’s only certain parts of the day. I think mid day is probably the worst time for it.

I just left and found it the same….the line was filled on the platform, but the three times I rode, I got on the first train….and it may have had to do with people getting off to visit so everyone waiting got on.

Restaurants were very busy, but stores were fine. And I love the express set up to buy some of the gingerbread items without having to wait in that long line!

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

I just left and found it the same….the line was filled on the platform, but the three times I rode, I got on the first train….and it may have had to do with people getting off to visit so everyone waiting got on.

Restaurants were very busy, but stores were fine. And I love the express set up to buy some of the gingerbread items without having to wait in that long line!

This gives me hope! Does anyone have experience rope dropping HS while at VGF during December? Is it a lost cause?

 

[cbailey1616]

This gives me hope! Does anyone have experience rope dropping HS while at VGF during December? Is it a lost cause?

I tried rope dropping MK and it was a lost cause . But it highly depends on how close you are to the rope. So show up early 30-45 before early entry and you should be good.

 

[Flash_Sloth]

This gives me hope! Does anyone have experience rope dropping HS while at VGF during December? Is it a lost cause?

Not December, but in early November, I just barely caught the first bus to DHS approx. 75 minutes before ETPE. I was walking from the original VGF building to the bus stop, and saw the "Hello Hollywood" sign on a bus that was rolling in. I changed my casual walk to super power walk to get to the bus stop. It was just me and one other family that was slightly ahead of me, and they were quickly walking to the bus stop & collapsing their stroller. I'm not sure if they stopped at Poly first, but there was nobody else on the bus.

After getting to DHS, it was so early that the Skyliner wasn't running, and there was a security CM that was holding us well before the security screening area while we waited for them to get ready at security screening.

I was lucky enough to be first at a tapstile. And after they let us tap in, I was also lucky enough to be first into Galaxy's Edge and first onto RotR - without any running, but I do walk quickly. I checked off a bucket list item that I never knew I had. (And BTW, RotR didn't wait for the official ETPE time to begin; I was off the ride at approx. the official ETPE time.)

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Not December, but in early November, I just barely caught the first bus to DHS approx. 75 minutes before ETPE. I was walking from the original VGF building to the bus stop, and saw the "Hello Hollywood" sign on a bus that was rolling in. I changed my casual walk to super power walk to get to the bus stop. It was just me and one other family that was slightly ahead of me, and they were quickly walking to the bus stop & collapsing their stroller. I'm not sure if they stopped at Poly first, but there was nobody else on the bus.

After getting to DHS, it was so early that the Skyliner wasn't running, and there was a security CM that was holding us well before the security screening area while we waited for them to get ready at security screening.

I was lucky enough to be first at a tapstile. And after they let us tap in, I was also lucky enough to be first into Galaxy's Edge and first onto RotR - without any running, but I do walk quickly. I checked off a bucket list item that I never knew I had. (And BTW, RotR didn't wait for the official ETPE time to begin; I was off the ride at approx. the official ETPE time.)

This is helpful intel! As of now we’re slated to go to HS on 1/1 so I’m hoping a lot of folks decide to sleep in

 

[Flash_Sloth]

This is helpful intel! As of now we’re slated to go to HS on 1/1 so I’m hoping a lot of folks decide to sleep in

Good luck! I'm sure many who stay up past midnight on NYE will sleep in. And choose wisely for your first ride. Multiple times in the past, I've headed towards RotR only to find out it has a delayed opening. On my 2nd DHS day last month, I tried rope dropping Slinky Dog Dash, but it had a delayed opening.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

Good luck! I'm sure many who stay up past midnight on NYE will sleep in. And choose wisely for your first ride. Multiple times in the past, I've headed towards RotR only to find out it has a delayed opening. On my 2nd DHS day last month, I tried rope dropping Slinky Dog Dash, but it had a delayed opening.

Ugh - we had the same thing happen with Slinky Dog…and that’s how my little one convinced her petrified mama to go on ToT .

 

[mamaofsix]

We must have been lucky while there over spring break. Never more than a dozen or so people waiting on the GF platform for the monorail. We also loved the boats - always got on the first one that came. Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus and they were only ever half full. We were very happy with the experience.

 

[AstroBlasters]

There’s no bus from VGF to EPCOT but there is one to HS.

How long is the HS to VGF bus ride? We have a HS hard ticket event at our next trip.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

How long is the HS to VGF bus ride? We have a HS hard ticket event at our next trip.

About 20 min once you actually get a spot! If I had a hard ticket event, I would probably take a car service.

 

[AstroBlasters]

About 20 min once you actually get a spot! If I had a hard ticket event, I would probably take a car service.

It’s 20 minutes from John Wayne airport to the Grand Californian when we take the night flight in…. that’s crazy..

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

It’s 20 minutes from John Wayne airport to the Grand Californian when we take the night flight in…. that’s crazy..

I know!! But this is the problem with VGF - it’s only close to one park and very far (relatively speaking) to all the others even when transportation isn’t an issue. Some folks spend a ton of time at the MK, so it makes sense but it’s hard to make it work if you lean towards the other parks - or even split your time evenly.

 

[walt34]

I know!! But this is the problem with VGF - it’s only close to one park and very far (relatively speaking) to all the others even when transportation isn’t an issue. Some folks spend a ton of time at the MK, so it makes sense but it’s hard to make it work if you lean towards the other parks - or even split your time evenly.

There are so many factors to consider. In my experience, if you take wait times for transportation into account and the time waiting for scooters to get off buses, transportation times even out quite a bit. Of course BCV and BWV are hard to beat for Epcot. But for the rest it is a mixed picture.

If you don't go to MK at all I agree with you. If you visit only once or twice (maybe for the fireworks in the evening) I see it differently.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I know!! But this is the problem with VGF - it’s only close to one park and very far (relatively speaking) to all the others even when transportation isn’t an issue. Some folks spend a ton of time at the MK, so it makes sense but it’s hard to make it work if you lean towards the other parks - or even split your time evenly.

This is why we settled on a BWV/VGF split stay. At least our legs can get us to 3 of the 4 parks.

Of course, Disney comes out later and puts the MK hard ticket while we are at BWV and the HS hard ticket when we are at VGF….

But, we are getting to stay in a room with a Boardwalk view and a Grand Floridian room with a lake view… that’s pretty darn fantastic.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

There are so many factors to consider. In my experience, if you take wait times for transportation into account and the time waiting for scooters to get off buses, transportation times even out quite a bit. Of course BCV and BWV are hard to beat for Epcot. But for the rest it is a mixed picture.

If you don't go to MK at all I agree with you. If you visit only once or twice (maybe for the fireworks in the evening) I see it differently.

Interesting. Yes, we usually stay at BWV and walk to both EPCOT and HS. In all my years of visiting, I’ve only had to wait for a bus from BWV to MK twice (both times during last week of December) and never to AK. Though I will admit we’ve never tried to rope drop MK from BWV.

On the flip side, I’ve never not had to wait for a monorail/bus from VGF to any other park other than MK (and that’s only bc we walk).

We also usually travel for longer chunks of time (say 2 weeks) and have grown accustomed to popping over to the World Showcase almost nightly for dinner - something we almost certainly would not do on a regular basis if we were at VGF.

We love VGF - as I mentioned above we’re staying there later this month and it will be our first time not doing a split stay with a Crescent Lake resort. But I just can’t rationalize staying there for long stretches of time for park-heavy trips.

 

[Sprinkles&Sprints]

This is why we settled on a BWV/VGF split stay. At least our legs can get us to 3 of the 4 parks.

Of course, Disney comes out later and puts the MK hard ticket while we are at BWV and the HS hard ticket when we are at VGF….

But, we are getting to stay in a room with a Boardwalk view and a Grand Floridian room with a lake view… that’s pretty darn fantastic.

Yep, the split BWV/VGF stay is pretty magical - you will have a great time!!

 

[walt34]

We also usually travel for longer chunks of time (say 2 weeks) and have grown accustomed to popping over to the World Showcase almost nightly for dinner - something we almost certainly would not do on a regular basis if we were at VGF.

We do the same when staying at BCV. When staying at VGF, the monorail loop provides our dinner options.

We are quite happy to go to all of the parks from either location and apart from the park next door, it doesn‘t make much of a difference to us.

 

[mrsap]

New Walkway Now Open Between Polynesian Village Resort and Grand Floridian

New Walkway From Polynesian to Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom​

The walkway goes from between the Aotearoa and Fiji buildings, around the new Cove Pool, along the Seven Seas Lagoon waterfront, and toward the Wedding Pavilion. Here’s a look at the updated running map showcasing the route, followed by a walk from Polynesian toward the Wedding Pavilion.



*click link for pics