(transportation related) Tell me what this would look like:

[Swtonscrappn]

I spend the morning in AK. I have a 2:15 pm ADR at the Grand Floridian. Afterwards, I want to head to Epcot for the evening.

How would I get to each place and how long would it take me (better yet, what time should I leave to make my ADR).

This is my first trip to WDW, and I feel pretty well prepared. However, I am having a hard time figuring out the on-site transportation. Could anyone direct me to something that explains how well I should prepare to get from place to place?

 

[eyehartdisney]

A minimum of 1 hour before your reservation for any travel. More if you are staying off site. You can take the GF bus from AK, and the monorail from GF to Epcot. I don't have a specific place that will show you, but memorizing it is fairly easy. There are monorail resorts: GF, poly, and contemporary. These connect directly or indirectly to epcot and MK. Everything else uses buses, (or boats.) I hardly use the boats, they tend to be just as quick as the buses IMO. YMMV on that. The monorails run all day, but are just shy of closing time, so you'll need a different transportation back. Are you staying onsite or off? If it's off, it gets a bit more tricky, as you have to park at TTC if you are going to MK, and use disney transportation from there. The only other thing that can get confusing is that downtown disney will never connect directly to a park. You'll have to take something back to a hotel to connect to DTD. If you ever get confused, just ask a cast member. Just about every one can direct you how to get where you are going.

 

[Robo]

I spend the morning in AK. I have a 2:15 pm ADR at the Grand Floridian. Afterwards, I want to head to Epcot for the evening.

How would I get to each place and how long would it take me (better yet, what time should I leave to make my ADR).

This is my first trip to WDW, and I feel pretty well prepared. However, I am having a hard time figuring out the on-site transportation. Could anyone direct me to something that explains how well I should prepare to get from place to place?

At about 1:00PM exit AK and walk to the bus terminal, to the gate marked for Grand Floridian.
(Prominent signage at the terminals, and buses will have signs.)
Board the bus to GF (it likely will also make a stop at the Polynesian on the way.)

After your GF meal, walk to the GF monorail station (it's on the second floor of GF.)
Board the monorail (any monorail that that stops there will be one you want to board.)
Ride monorail to the third stop from GF. (Transportation and Ticket Center.)
(Announcements will be made on-board throughout the trip.)
Exit monorail and follow the signs to the Epcot monorail.
Board the Epcot monorail.
Ride to Epcot and exit with the crowd.

If you are staying on-site:
To go back to your resort that night, go to Epcot's bus terminal and look at the
signage to locate your resort's bus.

And, concerning asking Cast Members about transpiration...
Only ask CMs actually working at the buses, the monorails, or the boat shuttles about transportation.
Most park and resort CMs know less than nothing about transportation at WDW,
but unfortunately some of them will still "make up" answers for you.
Not good.

 

[ghtx]

One hour is a good buffer - you may get there in about 20-30 minutes (depending on how long you have to wait for the bus/monorails) but it could take longer.

 

[rwdavis2]

Here's WDW transportation map in London Underground form:

http://www.disneybymark.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/wdw-transport-map-full.png

 

[Mikie]

Many people here criticize it, but I find the transportation wizard at OurLaughingPlace.com a decent tool. My first trip, I used it a lot, all with success (getting where I wanted with a minimum of fuss and in the time predicted by the tool). After posting it a couple times here, many people said it may give inefficient or outdated directions. So, I'd now advise to give it a look and post any follow-up questions here or post your plans and ask folks to double-check it for accuracy.

(Of course, in OPs specific case, Robo has already done the route plan and double-checking)

 

[goofy4tink]

Our Laughing Place trans. wizard still has some really bad info. Many have asked them to update it, but not much has changed.
To get to the GF for a 2:15 adr, plan on leaving AK around 1. You might get right on a bus, but you may just miss one and have to wait 20+ mins for the next one! So you need to plan an hour.
When you're ready to leave the GF and head to Epcot, take the monorail to the TTC and transfer to the Epcot line.

Getting around WDW is truly easy. There is very good signage, everywhere. Head over to the Transportation board for really great info about getting around WDW.

 

[Swtonscrappn]

Thank you for the clearer picture of how the transportation works. I am staying one site at POR.