Transportation from GF to BWV after Wishes @8pm?

[SleepyatDVC]

We orginally had reservations at Narcoossee's at 5:30pm one night during our October trip. We were going to the MK early that morning by bus from BWV, then hopping on the monorail to the GF for dinner. Since we would be finished pretty early, we would hop back on the monorail after dinner to Epcot, where we would walk through the park to the BW.

After the October schedule came out, we decided to move the dinner later to 6:30pm so that we could catch the MK fireworks that night at 8pm either at the restaurant or outside on the deck.

After the fireworks at 8pm and after the dinner, what's the best way to get back to BWV? I thought about catching a bus to MGM and walking or taking the ferry back but MGM closes at 8pm. When do the buses stop running back TO the park? And how long do the ferries run for?

Or the monorail to Epcot but we would have to walk AGAINST traffic to the International Gateway after Illuminations or in the dark during Illuminations! Assuming I will be allowed to enter the main gates in order to walk to the IG. When do they stop allowing entry if WS closes at 9pm? 8:59pm? What if we get there a few minutes late?

Or monorail/ferry/bus back to MK and wait with the masses exiting MK for a bus back to BWV? Is there a bus or boat from GF to MK or just the monorail? Until what would the monorail/bus/boat run? The monorail is on the other side of the bus depot so I think the other 2 options, if available, are better? (closer to bus depot - so easier transfer)

How have others done this? We usually drive to resorts for dinner, but since we are going directly from the MK, we won't have our rental.

 

[betterlatethannever]

...After the fireworks at 8pm and after the dinner, what's the best way to get back to BWV? I thought about catching a bus to MGM and walking or taking the ferry back but MGM closes at 8pm. When do the buses stop running back TO the park? And how long do the ferries run for?

Or the monorail to Epcot but we would have to walk AGAINST traffic to the International Gateway after Illuminations or in the dark during Illuminations! Assuming I will be allowed to enter the main gates in order to walk to the IG. When do they stop allowing entry if WS closes at 9pm? 8:59pm? What if we get there a few minutes late?

Or monorail/ferry/bus back to MK and wait with the masses exiting MK for a bus back to BWV? Is there a bus or boat from GF to MK or just the monorail? Until what would the monorail/bus/boat run? The monorail is on the other side of the bus depot so I think the other 2 options, if available, are better? (closer to bus depot - so easier transfer)...

You mor than likely will still be eating after Wishes. Which is good because taking the monorail back to MK and then the BW bus is the best option. And by that time, the crowd should be small.

You can still get into Epcot after Illuminations. But it is going to be a long trip. Figuring about an hour to get to BWV when you leave GF.

Whatever you do, do not take the bus to MGM (even if there is one). The boats will stop going to MGM one hour after closing whether or not there are people at the MGM dock.

Ed

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

You could always walk from the Studios to the BWV. It would take about 15 minutes.
Your best option would be to take a taxi from the GF to the Boardwalk. There are taxis available outside all WDW resorts. They are normally waiting, but if one is not there a CM can get one for you right away. Very easy and reasonable way to get from one resort to another.

 

[helenk]

Since Wishes run at 8:00 the buses from MK to the resorts will run for about 2 hours after the park closing.
You'd be better off after dinner, taking the monorail back to the MK, and then walking over to the bus stop and take the bus to the BWV.
By the way, it may be faster to get to the GF from MK by taking the boat, the first stop is the GF, whereas if you take the monorail, the GF is the last stop and takes more time.

 

[CarolMN]

I'd probably opt for a taxi. The $15 (or less) would be worth it to me to get "home" quickly and easily.

Best wishes -

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Thanks for all the replies!

Good to know that the boat to the GF is faster. If we have plenty of time and the girls want to ride the monorail, we might do that but otherwise the boat sounds more convenient and faster.

I guess we will play it by ear after dinner depending on the time and how tired we or the kids are.

I actually would prefer the bus to MGM (assuming they are running) and then walking back to BWV. Are there buses from GF to either Epcot or MK at all? If so, maybe we'll swing by the bus stop and see which bus comes by first.

Is the boat dock at GF close to the bus stop? Figure the boat dock at MK is closer to the bus stops at MK, so the boat to MK and then a bus back to BWV would be the easiest.

And I guess if all else fails, we could catch a cab back. Anyone know how much it would cost from GF to the BW?

Hmmm... we've never driven to the MK before, but anyone recommend driving to the TTC and parking there? Decisions, decisions...

We've never lasted that long (all day) at the parks before. But since the girls are older (4 & 6), we will try this time to stay until dinner. But if we all start getting tired and cranky, we might just wind up going back to the BW midafternoon and then just driving over the the GF for dinner. We do usually wind up valet parking at the GF just because the parking lot at that place seems miles away.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Thanks for all the replies!

Good to know that the boat to the GF is faster. If we have plenty of time and the girls want to ride the monorail, we might do that but otherwise the boat sounds more convenient and faster. The boat is faster to GF (and is closer to Narcossis). The monorail is faster to MK

I guess we will play it by ear after dinner depending on the time and how tired we or the kids are.

I actually would prefer the bus to MGM (assuming they are running) and then walking back to BWV. Are there buses from GF to either Epcot or MK at all? If so, maybe we'll swing by the bus stop and see which bus comes by first.

There is no bus to Epcot anytime from GF. There may be a bus to MGM depending on how late it is

Is the boat dock at GF close to the bus stop? Figure the boat dock at MK is closer to the bus stops at MK, so the boat to MK and then a bus back to BWV would be the easiest.

The bus depot is at the main building which is ALMOST as far away from the boat dock as you can get.

And I guess if all else fails, we could catch a cab back. Anyone know how much it would cost from GF to the BW? About $15

Hmmm... we've never driven to the MK before, but anyone recommend driving to the TTC and parking there? Decisions, decisions...

We've never lasted that long (all day) at the parks before. But since the girls are older (4 & 6), we will try this time to stay until dinner. But if we all start getting tired and cranky, we might just wind up going back to the BW midafternoon and then just driving over the the GF for dinner. We do usually wind up valet parking at the GF just because the parking lot at that place seems miles away.

See the above comments

 

[SleepyatDVC]

See the above comments

Thanks. This really helps. Last thing we want to do is to stand around after dinner and try to figure it all out then.

 

[grimley1968]

Hmmm... we've never driven to the MK before, but anyone recommend driving to the TTC and parking there? Decisions, decisions...

I think others have answered your other questions very well, but I'll take a stab at this one. If you're staying on property, parking at the TTC would unnecessarily waste your time. Remember, the walk from your parking spot at the TTC to the monorail or ferry to MK can be very long, so you'd more than likely have to ride one of those trams to your parking aisle, and they can take quite a while to get to you. This, to me, would be the absolute longest way to get to anywhere from anywhere else on Disney property. The suggestions above all will save you at least 15-20 minutes over this option, I bet.

If you take a bus from MK, the bus will pick you up right in front of MK, so there'd be no need to deal with going to the TTC.