Transportation To/From GF

[hollygolitely93]

I used OLP and was shocked at the transportation times. I am seriously second guessing staying at GF...can someone tell me if these seem accurate.

GF to MK 10 mins (that is fine!)
GF to Epcot 42 mins (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
GF to HS 24 mins
GF to AK 32 mins

We are staying at GF for monorail and yet it takes longer to get to EPCOT than when we stayed at WL. Please tell me this is grossly inaccurate!

 

[goofy4tink]

Not off by too much.
You just hop on the monorail to get to MK...if you include any possible wait times, it might take you 15 mins total.

The issue with Epcot is that there is no bus to Epcot. You have to take the monorail to the TTC and then transfer to the Epcot line...including any wait times for either monorail to arrive, it could possibly take 42 mins. The ride itself to Epcot, once on the Epcot monorail, is about 15 mins. So, add another 15 mins to get from GF to the TTC, and then an average of about 15 mins wait times at both GF and TTC, well...there you have it.

The other times are pretty accurate as well. I'm assuming that they are adding in wait times..which is a good idea. The ride to AK is a longish one since it's so far out there.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Disney transportation is a free convenience (well technically its built into room rates and cost of the parks), it's not meant to be the fastest option.

 

[joelkfla]

The other times are pretty accurate as well. I'm assuming that they are adding in wait times..which is a good idea. The ride to AK is a longish one since it's so far out there.

In fact, it looks like they are assuming about 10 minutes wait time, which is a reasonable average. But you should allow 20 minutes or more if you absolutely want to be someplace by a certain time, so add 10-15 minutes to the given times for DHS & DAK.

Virtually all buses from GF stop at 1 or 2 resorts before going in to GF, so there will also be times when the bus will fill up and bypass GF, or not be able to load all guests waiting at GF. So if you have a hard reservation, like a tour, you should probably allow an extra 20 minutes. If its an ADR, the restaurant will generally accommodate you if you tell them you were delayed by Disney transportation.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I used OLP and was shocked at the transportation times. I am seriously second guessing staying at GF...can someone tell me if these seem accurate.

GF to MK 10 mins (that is fine!)
GF to Epcot 42 mins (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
GF to HS 24 mins
GF to AK 32 mins

We are staying at GF for monorail and yet it takes longer to get to EPCOT than when we stayed at WL. Please tell me this is grossly inaccurate!

Nope, Probably very true.

Remember it's not a direct monorail.

Disney Deluxe Resorts have some of the worst "transportation" at Disney. Makes no sense, but it's Disney's idea of "service"

If you want better Disney transport, stay at a Value!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Disney Deluxe Resorts have some of the worst "transportation" at Disney. Makes no sense, but it's Disney's idea of "service"

If you want better Disney transport, stay at a Value!

I agree the Value resorts have better bus transportation than the Deluxe Resorts. The estimated times that the OP suggested are probably fairly close, depending on actual wait times for a specific trip.

 

[sotoalf]

It's an accident of construction that makes the GF the farthest MK resort from Epcot. At least from the Contemporary the TTC is the first stop, and from the Polynesian only a walk.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It's an accident of construction that makes the GF the farthest MK resort from Epcot. At least from the Contemporary the TTC is the first stop, and from the Polynesian only a walk.

And that's why Disney doesn't provide better options?

The constructed it, it's not an "accident" They pretty much knew where it was going!

 

[sotoalf]

And that's why Disney doesn't provide better options?

The constructed it, it's not an "accident" They pretty much knew where it was going!

The only "better" option is a direct bus that services the MK resorts and Epcot.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The only "better" option is a direct bus that services the MK resorts and Epcot.

And.... for what you pay to stay there I think that having "direct" bus service to the resorts without being the "last stop" after we pick up and drop off everyone else is not unreasonable.

At a "deluxe" you should get BETTER service then at a value. That's suppose to be the whole point of "deluxe" isn't it?

 

[sotoalf]

I've supported a direct bus connecting the monorail resorts to Epcot for years (long ago Disney used to offer a bus connecting the three resorts at the same time as the monorail; pretty sure nobody rode it unless the monorail malfunctioned).

All I was pointing out in my original post was that geography dictates the travel time between the GF monorail station and Epcot's. However, because the GF is the furthest monorail resort from Epcot and it is supposedly the flagship property, it should offer a transportation option the others lack.

 

[goofy4tink]

To the best of my knowledge, each resort has it's own transportation budget. They pretty much decide what they want.
As far as deluxes getting the 'best' transportation service....do you have any idea how much higher your room rates would be if that were the case?? Deluxes are deluxes based on their theming, their pools, immediate park access (without using a bus), dining options, room size and other amenities.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

GF to MK 10 mins (that is fine!)

Unless this includes taking the boat to the Magic Kingdom which also stops at the Polynesian I can see how it says 10 minutes, however I don't think that time is accurate for the Resort Monorail. When taking that it goes directly from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom and doesn't stop anywhere else. Here is a link to a YouTube of the Resort Monorail going from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom and it doesn't take 10 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBE7BQ7QwI4&feature=related

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

To the best of my knowledge, each resort has it's own transportation budget. They pretty much decide what they want.
As far as deluxes getting the 'best' transportation service....do you have any idea how much higher your room rates would be if that were the case?? Deluxes are deluxes based on their theming, their pools, immediate park access (without using a bus), dining options, room size and other amenities.

REALLY?? It costs that much more to provide rooms that are not any cleaner, don't provide dramatically better service, don't have "immediate park access" in SEVERAL cases (AKA, as Poly, GF, AK, WL) and make them pretty? Really? Then why is a Deluxe OFF Property with better transport cheaper?

Sorry, but I travel a lot and Disney is making a KILLING on these hotels. They can afford to do better, they just don't because people are willing to pay those prices for the sub par service they provide. They have pretty 3 star hotels, are charging 5 star prices and get away with it....
(Note: To me "immediate" park access does not mean "wait on a boat, bus or monorail")

 

[sotoalf]

(Note: To me "immediate" park access does not mean "wait on a boat, bus or monorail")

It means Disney should invest its considerable venture capital in teleporters so that guests wouldn't have to wait a moment.

 

[goofy4tink]

Unless this includes taking the boat to the Magic Kingdom which also stops at the Polynesian I can see how it says 10 minutes, however I don't think that time is accurate for the Resort Monorail. When taking that it goes directly from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom and doesn't stop anywhere else. Here is a link to a YouTube of the Resort Monorail going from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom and it doesn't take 10 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBE7BQ7QwI4&feature=related

Using the resort monorail, and having it take 10 mins, is very doable. Now, if you get there just as the monorail is leaving, then it will take you about 15 mins, but not much longer. Once on the monorail, it takes about 3-4 mins to ride to the MK platform. But if you include a small wait time, it will take about 10 mins total.

REALLY?? It costs that much more to provide rooms that are not any cleaner, don't provide dramatically better service, don't have "immediate park access" in SEVERAL cases (AKA, as Poly, GF, AK, WL) and make them pretty? Really? Then why is a Deluxe OFF Property with better transport cheaper?

Sorry, but I travel a lot and Disney is making a KILLING on these hotels. They can afford to do better, they just don't because people are willing to pay those prices for the sub par service they provide. They have pretty 3 star hotels, are charging 5 star prices and get away with it....
(Note: To me "immediate" park access does not mean "wait on a boat, bus or monorail")

Please....WDW is not the 'real' world. We all know it. Their 'deluxe' resorts don't come close to real world deluxes...and no one will argue that with you.

They just give those labels to differentiate between the three levels...easy enough to understand. Off site 'deluxe' resorts do not have better transporation...at least in Orlando. If a resort wishes to have 'better' bus service, they can request it and then will be charged for it.....in their transportation budget. At least that is what I have been told on several occasions. Obviously, Disney does not feel that they need to run a direct bus from each of the MK resorts to Epcot. Do I feel it is 'direct access' to Epcot when you have to take the monorail to TTC and then transfer to the Epcot monorail?? Nope, not even close. For me, I prefer being able to walk to both Epcot and DHS from the Epcot resorts. That's more direct in my opinion.
I guess being able to take the monorail to MK from the Polynesian and GF is a huge plus...and many pay those resort rates to be able to do that. I stay at BLT so I can just walk over...much easier IMO.

But, we really need to stop comparing WDW deluxe resorts with 'real' deluxe resorts. For crying out loud...the US/IoA resorts are much more upscale and deluxe than any WDW deluxe resort...and they cost less. And you can either walk or boat to the parks. No buses there.

You can only compare WDW deluxe resorts against the other WDW resorts.....then, and only then, are they considered 'deluxe'.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Using the resort monorail, and having it take 10 mins, is very doable. Now, if you get there just as the monorail is leaving, then it will take you about 15 mins, but not much longer. Once on the monorail, it takes about 3-4 mins to ride to the MK platform. But if you include a small wait time, it will take about 10 mins total.

Personally I wouldn't include waiting for the Resort Monorail because if one has a problem then it effects the whole thing, so in situations like that the waits for them become a lot longer then usual. Now even if it's running normal during the busy times the line just to get on can be longer then usual, so that means waiting for 2 or 3 Monorails until you finally get on.