Transportation between Parks

[KathVA]

If we are at AK and want to get to MK is there a bus that goes directly there or do we have to go back to our hotel (POP) and then transfer to MK?

Thanks!!!!

Kath

 

[Jestocost]

From AK to the MK you have a couple of choices. You can take a bus to the TTC, then monorail or take the ferry to the MK. Alternatively, you could take a bus to one of the monorail resorts and then travel by boat or monorail to the MK. GF is the shortest monorail trip. From the CR, you can even walk to the MK in just a few minutes.

 

[disnut8]

Another alternative would be to take the bus to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Then you can visit that resort for awhle and then take their bus to the Magic Kingdom. Or you can just get off the bus from Animal Kingdom and move right over to wait for the bus to Magic Kingdom.

We like to do something simliar to give me the excuse to visit the Lodge.

 

[Robo]

There is "direct" transportation between all theme-parks.

Most routes are via Disney Buses.

Here are the "park-to-park" direct connections:

>Note: The MK buses connections arrive and depart only at TTC.<

MK/TTC> Epcot = Monorail
MK/TTC> MGM = Bus
MK/TTC> AK= Bus

AK> MGM= Direct Bus
AK> Epcot= Direct Bus
AK> TTC/MK= Bus

MGM> AK= Direct Bus
MGM> Epcot= Direct Bus (Epcot Front Gate) or Boat (Epcot Intl. Gateway)
MGM> TTC/MK= Bus

Epcot> MGM= Direct Bus (Epcot Front Gate) or Boat (Epcot Intl. Gateway)
Epcot > TTC/MK= Monorail
Epcot > AK= Direct Bus

The buses have their destinations shown on them on a illuminated signs.
The bus stops are also marked with signage.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.asp

The above link will give you approximate travel times.
And I have found that these times are a bit over-stated.
On many days, you can make the trip much faster than stated.

 

[WDW Peak Seasons]

We have taken the bus back to AKL and then a bus to MK. It seemed faster, but that was just us.

 

[Robo]

We have taken the bus back to AKL and then a bus to MK. It seemed faster, but that was just us.

Yes.

Its all in the "luck of the timing."

Some trips might be faster to go one route, the next trip might have been quicker to choose another.

Just pick one route, and allow plenty of time for the trip.

45-60 minutes is a good rule-of-thumb for trips between parks, although I have done it many times in 20-30 minutes, or so.

 

[OKW Lover]

Another route would be to take the Contemporary bus from AK and then walk over to the MK from there.

 

[Robo]

Another route would be to take the Contemporary bus from AK and then walk over to the MK from there.

Its important to note that at many times of the day the buses heading to the Contemporary, the Poly and the Grand Floridian... are all the SAME bus. (One bus that goes to all three resorts.)

Its likely that that bus will stop first at the Contemporary, then the Poly, and then the Grand Floridian.

But this is not always true.
So that's why I say to just PICK a route (the bus waiting lines will be separate queues, so you need to "commit" to standing in one or the other) and just go with whichever route you choose.

Sometimes you make the perfect choice and the trip takes under a half-hour.
Sometimes you can choose the slowest route (just the luck of how it goes) and it'll take upwards of an hour, all told.

--------------------------------------------------

And we have had a LOT of direct experience in riding the buses.

A DAK to MK story as a case-in-point.

April 2005.
It was not quite 10am at DAK bus stops.
After "doing" a few attractions early at the DAK EMH, we decided, on the spur, we wanted to go to MK for some fun and then head to FtW for lunch at Trails End.
We decided we'd take "any bus" going to:

Grand Floridian
Poly
CR
TTC
just to get us near MK so we could monorail there.

We wait.
5 min.
10 min.
15 min.

NO buses to anyplace near the MK area.
(That time of day, it is always a bit "iffy" to get to another park. But I figured we could get someplace CLOSE.)
But all the incoming buses where just letting folks out at DAK at "random" queues, then changing their signs to some OTHER destination nowhere near MK. (sigh)
So DW walks over to the bus dispatcher/supervisor who, clipboard-in-hand,
is talking with a few drivers as they come by and then depart.

Supvsr. says, "How long have you been waiting?"
DW says, "15 min."
Supvsr. says, "Oh, one should be along shortly."

We wait for 5-6 more min.

Supvsr. looks at us (we are the only folks waiting in that stall) and says, "NEXT bus!"

So, next bus pulls in and it changes it's sign to say. "Coronado Springs" or some such.
Supvsr. motions to us as he walks to that bus.
He tells the driver something and motions us into that empty bus.

We sit down and the driver says, "Now WHERE exactly do you want to go?"

I say, "MK."

And the driver says, "Private bus service... Next stop, Magic Kingdom!"

And that's where we went!

I've got to say it was another great "Disney Experience!"

 

[cranbiz]

Its important to note that at many times of the day the buses heading to the Contemporary, the Poly and the Grand Floridian... are all the SAME bus. (One bus that goes to all three resorts.)

Its likely that that bus will stop first at the Contemporary, then the Poly, and then the Grand Floridian.

While this is true for Studios, it is NOT true for DAK and DTD.

DAK and DTD have a bus that does the Contemporary and Poly route and a bus that does WL and GF.

If you are on a last bus out of DAK, you may be combined with extra resorts but then unless you have other guests going to all the resorts, you will be taken to your resort.

 

[Robo]

While this is true for Studios, it is NOT true for DAK and DTD.

See how simple the bus system is?




Now, let's talk about the bus route to Pioneer Hall.



(And there IS one great easy route, and maybe, 10-20 complex/convoluted ones.)