Trans. to MK/MGM from YC/BC - Slow?

[tbronk]

Okay - probably a very stupid question - but I'm new and I can't find an answer to it on FAQs - um .... what does it mean when I see a "bump" on a thread?

Now that I got that over with, and any of you that read that are still with me - Here's a few more

I read on some thread (I think it was YC/BC FAQ's - older one) that the transporation time to get to MK (buses) and boats to MGM were very slow - took them over 30 minutes - Has anyone went lately - and was that an issue? I'm trying to figure out what time we need to be getting started to be there for the opening - does 8:00 sound reasonable - or is that too early? We only have 2 nights, so we're trying to get in as much as we can. There's 5 of us - DH, 2 DDs, and DS and me. We have never been to WDW so fill me in (except when I was young)

I have a few more ?s but I'll wait.... Thanks so much!!
Oh yeah, still trying to figure out YC or BC

 

[Tess]

A "bump" is simply a post that brings the topic to the first page of the boards. Sometimes an important item needs to be seen or needs more responses. A poster will type in "bump" to bring it back to the forefront of the boards to give others more opportunity to view it and reply. This is often the case with the AP watches, FAQs, etc.

Your dilemma with YC or BC is easy. YC is more sedate and formal atmosphere and farther from the entrance to the World Showcase. BC is more festive and casual in atmosphere and is nearer the International Gateway to World Showcase. Whichever suits your particular tastes is the one to choose for your family. Both are great hotels.

Bus service/boat service at YC/BC can most definitely be slow. There's no speeding the boat up--it is what it is--a leisurely cruise from the Boardwalk/EPCOT area hotels to MGM and/or EPCOT. We made a bet with our kids one day last year that we could walk faster from MGM to the International Gateway entrance than they could get there by boat. We won that bet big time. We've grabbed buses from YC/BC/Swan/Dolphin/BWI on many occasions while guests at the hotel (YC/BC/BWI) and other times we were in the area and headed elsewhere. Yes, I did find those buses to be slow in coming. At the times we've used the bus system from the area (nonpeak times, e.g., not at park opening or closing times) we would have lengthy waits--but we were in no hurry so it didn't matter.

Your question regarding whether or not 8:00 is too early--if you're planning a 9:00 a.m. park opening time, it is definitely not too early, especially for MK. Once you get on a bus (and at 8:00 a.m. most people will be heading out) you will have a 10-15 minute ride to MK, disembark, head to the security tables, and then wait at the gate until the "holding" area is opened. You may hit a bus just right and get there at 8:15 (unlikely), more likely though is you will make it by 8:45 a.m. if you're waiting at the stop by 8:00 a.m.

When using the bus I typically allow 1 hour before I actually want to be in a specific location. Sometimes we'll luck out and get there early. This means a longer wait standing in a queue for entrance BUT it beats the heck out of waiting in a long security line (or at the back of a huge queue) when others are already in enjoying the parks and making the attraction queues much larger. Even best laid plans sometimes go awry--we've left an hour early before to make a Extra Magic Hour and still not arrived on time. That stuff is beyond your control, take it in stride and move on with your day.

All of this said--transportation issues do depend on your season. We usually go at a busier time (June), you may encounter no problems at all in say, late Jan/early Feb, early March, May, September, late October/early November, early December. Get to the stop early and hope for the best--just don't sweat it, you are in Disney World after all!