Timing: Leaving hotel - Arriving at Magic Kingdom

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

Hi everyone,
I just joined this board. I am so excited for my upcoming Disney World trip. I have been wanting to go for the past 15 YEARS and have FINALLY convinced my husband that we should take a Disney World vacation. I went a few times as a kid, but this will be my first time as an adult. We can only afford a short trip, so I'm trying to maximize our time as best as possible.

We will be at Magic Kingdom on 11/3/15. We will be staying at All Star Music and will have a rental car. What time should we leave the hotel in order to arrive at the park for rope drop? We don't want to be waiting around the park entrance too long as we have a baby, and she will probably get bored. We just want to get in the park when it opens so that we can ride as many rides as possible before the lines get long. So what time do you think we should leave the hotel? I have no idea how long it will take to drive there, park, and take the various modes of transport to get to the park entrance. Thanks!

 

[WEDWDW]

Magic Kingdom is the one Park where it is advantageous to take the Disney bus from Music instead of driving.

If you drive,you will have to park at the TTC and then take the Ferry or Monorail from there to Magic Kingdom-the bus goes directly to Magic Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom Welcome is currently at 8:40-it is about a 7 minute show,so Guests are let in MK about 8:47.

It is a fifteen minute trip by bus from Music to MK.

I would be at the Music Bus Stop by 8:00 if you definitely want to make Rope Drop.


Here is some info from my most recent stay at Sports you may find helpful about how often the All-Star buses "share".

It is about 2 minutes travel time from Sports to Music and 2 minutes from Music to Movies.

I listed when the Sports bus shared with Music and Movies and the bus travel times.

I also did some Park Hopping:
Monorail from TTC to Epcot----9 minutes.
Monorail from Epcot to TTC----7 minutes.
Express Monorail----4 minutes
Friendship between Epcot and DHD----20-30 minutes(We actually did make it in 20 minutes one day!)



Saturday April 18----Sports to Epcot----8:23AM to 8:33AM----10 minutes----Direct
Epcot to Sports----4:46PM to 4:58PM----12 minutes----Share

Sunday April 19----Sports to DAK(EMH)----7:44AM to 7:52AM----8 minutes----Direct
DAK to Sports----12:51PM to 12:57PM----6 minutes----Share
Sports to DHS----5:37PM to 5:57PM----20 minutes----Share
MK to Music----10:31PM to 10:52PM----21 minutes----Direct
(Hopped on a waiting Music Bus and then walked back to Sports.)

Monday April 20----Sports to MK----6:49AM to 7:04AM----15 minutes----Direct
(BOG Breakfast!)
Epcot to Sports----12:31PM to 12:42PM----11 minutes----Share
Sports to Epcot----2:44PM to 3:04PM----20 minutes----Share
Epcot to Sports----7:00PM to 7:12PM----12 minutes----Share


Tuesday April 21----Sports to DHS----7:58AM to 8:10AM----12 minutes----Direct
DHS to Sports----11:01AM to 11:15AM----14 minutes----Direct
Sports to DTD----2:23PM to 2:50PM----27 minutes----Share
DHS to Sports----9:57PM to 10:09PM----12 minutes----Share

Wednesday April 22----Sports to DAK----7:33AM to 7:44AM(EMH)----11 minutes----Direct
DAK to Sports----12:29PM to 12:37PM----8 minutes----Share
Sports to DHS----1:30PM to 1:49PM----19 minutes----Share
MK to Music----9:25PM to 9:40PM----15 minutes----Direct

Thursday April 23----Sports to Epcot----11:10AM to 11:19AM----9 minutes----Share
DTD to Sports----5:18PM to 5:37PM-----19 minutes----Share

Friday April 24----Sports to Epcot----8:06AM to 8:17AM-----11 minutes----Direct
Epcot to Sports----10:27AM to 10:43AM----16 minutes----Share
Sports to Epcot----12:23PM to 12:43PM----20 minutes----Share
Epcot to Sports----9:14PM to 9:30PM----16 minutes----Direct

Saturday April 25----Sports to DHS(EMH)----7:20AM to 7:30AM-----10 minutes----Direct
Epcot to Sports-----4:16PM to 4:30PM----14 minutes----Share

Sunday April 26----Sports to MK----9:15AM to 9:30AM----15 minutes----Direct
Epcot to Sports----12:20PM to 12:32PM-----12 minutes-----Share
Time to board THE SAD BUS!!!!BOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

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[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

Thank you for your quick responses. I understand what you are saying about the bus being faster. However, I do not feel comfortable taking my baby on the bus. I want her in her car seat in the car. So what time do you think I should leave if I'm traveling by car? Maybe leave at 8 (I think the park opens at 9)?

 

[mesaboy2]

Thank you for your quick responses. I understand what you are saying about the bus being faster. However, I do not feel comfortable taking my baby on the bus. I want her in her car seat in the car. So what time do you think I should leave if I'm traveling by car? Maybe leave at 8 (I think the park opens at 9)?

Closer to 7:45a.

 

[Alesia]

Thank you for your quick responses. I understand what you are saying about the bus being faster. However, I do not feel comfortable taking my baby on the bus. I want her in her car seat in the car. So what time do you think I should leave if I'm traveling by car? Maybe leave at 8 (I think the park opens at 9)?

Something to keep in mind: she is safer on the bus without a car seat than she is in a car with one.

 

[WEDWDW]

So what time do you think I should leave if I'm traveling by car? Maybe leave at 8 (I think the park opens at 9)?

Actually,"usually" Magic Kingdom opens "around" 8:47 AM with Magic Kingdom Welcome(opening show-not to be missed) at 8:40 AM.

I agree with Mesa-leave Music by 7:45.

It's around 15 minutes from Music to TTC(where you'll have to Park);then you'll have to walk or tram from your parking spot to either the Monorail or ferry for the trip over to Magic Kingdom.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

Thanks for all the info, everyone! Alesia, that is interesting to hear. Do you have data/trustworthy articles to support that buses are safer? I was able to find a post on the car seat lady's blog saying they can be safer, but I'd still feel more comfortable with the bus if I had more info proving it is so safe. Anyway, we will probably just take our car and leave around 7:45/8.

 

[Alesia]

Thanks for all the info, everyone! Alesia, that is interesting to hear. Do you have data/trustworthy articles to support that buses are safer? I was able to find a post on the car seat lady's blog saying they can be safer, but I'd still feel more comfortable with the bus if I had more info proving it is so safe. Anyway, we will probably just take our car and leave around 7:45/8.

According to the National Safety Council, riding the bus is 170 times safer than riding in a car. There is plenty of data available - just google.

Bus accidents at WDW are extremely rare, and I'm pretty sure there has never been a passenger death. Car accidents are a different story. It's not like people are dying along the highways everyday, but accidents aren't uncommon - and some of them do result in serious injury or death. Anytime you have the combination of heavy traffic and tourists who aren't familiar with the roads, you're asking for trouble.

Do whatever makes you most comfortable, but based on statistics and physics, I would feel much more comfortable having my baby on a bus than in a car.

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

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[kaybird]

Keep in mind even if you are driving to the TTC, you will still be taking either the monorail or the Ferry to the MK without a car seat.

 

[ghtx]

I second the point that buses are safer than cars, if you are worried about that.

Also, the bus will probably get you there faster, at least for MK. For the other theme parks, and especially for the water parks, driving will probably be quicker (but more dangerous!).