Transportation to other parks

[All7OfUs]

Hi All,

Getting excited for our April trip to FW. I have a question about transportation to the parks other than MK. Is there a direct bus to each park, or do you still have to transfer at the TTC? I thought I read somewhere that they started up with direct bus service, but can't seem to find that thread now. Would you all recommend taking your own car or doing the Dis. Transportation thing. Also, I think we'll be in either loop 1500 or 2000 (tent camping). Can you tell me how far/long of a walk it will be to the guest parking lot to get our car if we decide to drive each morning to the parks??

Thanks for any advice!

Mom of 5

 

[BigDaddyRog]

You wouldnt need to goto the TTC for any reason other than visiting other resorts...They have direct buses to all of the parks...including the water parks and DTD. You can park your car at your site so no walking involved, unless you just PREFER to park your car in a guest parking lot...but I wouldnt suggest that because your car is where you should store anything of any value while your not at the site.

 

[All7OfUs]

Oh, I guess I was confused!! I thought you could only bring your car in if you were originally coming into FW, and leaving permanently. Now, that certainly makes things easier! Now, one more question... There are still 2 busses involved to go to MGM, AK, and Epcot, right?? First an internal bus, then the park bus. If so, then it really would be faster to drive your own car, true??

Mom of 5

 

[pooh4me]

Yes you will have to take an internal bus to get a bus to the parks. Is it faster to drive? Yes but if you get a bus right away it might be close because the park bus stops are closer than the parking lots.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

True....from the park exit to your car door could turn out to be quite a hike. Im tent camping sometime between mid-Sept & early Oct. We wont be doing any Disney parks because we havent been to UniStudios/IOAdventure since before there was an Islands Of Adventure...so we'll be driving 3 or 4 days. FtW just doesnt want you cruising around the campground sightseeing in your vehicle. They even have 15 minute parking at the gift shop for quick runs for grocery items....they're just trying to keep internal traffic to a minimum so that it still seems like a woodsy, natural setting versus a huge traffic jam because with as many sites as are available if everyone were running around joyriding to check out all the loops and decorations, etc,etc...it would be gridlock.

 

[LarryJ]

Hi All,

Getting excited for our April trip to FW. I have a question about transportation to the parks other than MK. Is there a direct bus to each park, or do you still have to transfer at the TTC? I thought I read somewhere that they started up with direct bus service, but can't seem to find that thread now. Would you all recommend taking your own car or doing the Dis. Transportation thing. Also, I think we'll be in either loop 1500 or 2000 (tent camping). Can you tell me how far/long of a walk it will be to the guest parking lot to get our car if we decide to drive each morning to the parks??

Thanks for any advice!

Mom of 5

Here is what we do/have done.

1) We always take the watercraft ... only option to MK unless we will be going someplace else directly from the park or if we just want to ride the ferry. TTC is a thing of the past transporation wise, it's now all park/resort based hub type bus transportation.

2) We always drive to AK since that is the longest bus trip and might involve an additional stop at the water parks.

3) For EPCOT/MGM we might drive if on a tight schedule or have like the MK somewhere else non disney related like food shopping.

4) We never drive when we stay to park closing to any park.

The longest walk for buses is at EPCOT with MGM being the closest with IMHO AK and MK a tie, but MK wins since the water craft is comparable to MGM.

Larry

 

[All7OfUs]

Do you not drive if you're staying until closing because the parking lots are a madhouse, and the busses are faster? We did plan on staying until closing most of the time, since we've heard that that's when most of the rides are easier to get on without long lines. Also.... anyone out there have any comments on loops 1500 or 2000? Like, do both have comfort stations? How far from the parking lot, since my parents will will be coming from offsite to see us each day?

Thanks again!

Mom of 5

 

[LarryJ]

Do you not drive if you're staying until closing because the parking lots are a madhouse, and the busses are faster? We did plan on staying until closing most of the time, since we've heard that that's when most of the rides are easier to get on without long lines. Also.... anyone out there have any comments on loops 1500 or 2000? Like, do both have comfort stations? How far from the parking lot, since my parents will will be coming from offsite to see us each day?

Thanks again!

Mom of 5

It's mainly the hassle of driving. Tonite we went to EPCOT for their Midnight Illuminations/Special Fireworks and I have to say the Finale for the Midnight FW even beat MK. We watched from the Xmas tree which is the closest point to the exit and I would put that at like between 5 and 10 football fields length. We left right after the FW and were back in our trailer just before 1 A.M.

Not sure about the 2000 loop, but we are now in the 1600 loop one site from the walkway to the comfort station. The 1600 loop backs/adjoins the 1500 loop and they share a comfort station which is basically at the entrance to the 1500 loop and about mid way around the 1600 loop. We actually get off at the 1500 stop and walk into the 1500 loop down a couple of sites thru the comfort station to the 1600 loop and we're one CS away from our site.

Not sure about visitor parking, but you should call FW on that, but your parents will probably have to park at the Outpost Lot and take one bus to your campsite so distance isn't and issue.

Larry

 

[All7OfUs]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Just rang in 2008 with my wonderful family, watching Pirates of the Car. 2. Thanks for all the info. I"m sure I'll think of a few more ?? in teh next couple of days.

Meantime, happy camping!!

Mom of 5

 

[mamaloya]

Well, I always take the boat to MK and always drive to AK. I don't find gridlock at park closing, but I like to linger a bit while the crowd dissipates, then I leave.

For Epcot, I make it complicated. I either take a boat to MK and then hop a monorail (actually 2, one to the TTC and then one to epcot). Or you can take a resort boat to Contemporary and then 2 monorails. I just feel like I HAVE to take a monorail to Epcot, or it isn't WDW. My second visit to Epcot, I normally drive. Also, if I explore the resorts and take the monorail, I may drive to Epcot both times. One tip on the monorail, ask to sit up front. You may have to wait a couple of monorails, but the view is out of this world. You can only sit 4 up front, so you will have to take turns. Decide ahead of time who gets to do it first.

This trip, one of our days at MGM/DHS I intend to go to Boardwalk for the morning and then hop the boat there to MGM for fantasmic and EMH.

OH, that is another thing. Do you know about EMH? On certain days of the week the parks stay open 3 hours later just for resort guests. Everyone else has to leave. That is one reason we stay on site. I take the littles back to the camper and the older ones get to stay and do the "big rides" as much as they want. I don't have to worry about them gettting back because they use the disney trans.

Well, as you can see, there are a million routes to any one spot from any one spot. Oh, and always drive to DTD, it can take an hour or longer to get there by bus.

Happy Camping!!

Mom of 6

 

[Sammi2]

For Epcot, I make it complicated. I either take a boat to MK and then hop a monorail (actually 2, one to the TTC and then one to epcot). Or you can take a resort boat to Contemporary and then 2 monorails.
Mom of 6

If you do this, does it require the park hopper pass? Can you take the boat to MK and not actually use your ticket to get into MK, but rather hop the rail to epcot and use your ticket there?

Thanks

 

[sapdaddy]

Disney transportation is the way to go!!

I drive my RV from NH and am on the road for 2-1/2 days. We consider it part of the vacation to use Disney Transportation. The only time I get behind the wheel is to go out and get supplies.

My DS7 on every bus we got on for the 11 days we were at WDW sat in the very rear seat on the drivers side. That was his spot.

 

[All7OfUs]

The way I understand it is that you don't have to use your ticket to enter the MK, just hop the rail, and use your ticket when you enter Epcot. The monorail station is outside the turnstyles, right??

 

[pooh4me]

Yes the monorail station is outside the Magic Kingdom's entrance.

 

[All7OfUs]

So... then can anyone tell us about how long/far of a walk it would be to the campfire program? I'm wondering if a stroller is necessary for the campground, or if we should just rent one at the parks.

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

The camp ground is about 1 mile from end to end, so from the Marina end it's probably about 1/4 to 1/3 mile. From the other end it's about 2/3 to 3/4 mile.