What are the best routes BETWEEN the parks?

[Mandalou]

I'm planning our itinerary for our late Nov/early Dec trip with the in-laws and if we're going to see "everything" with them, I know we'll have to do some park hopping. (We all either have AP's or 5 day hoppers, but the in-laws leave a few days before we do, so every minute counts while they are with us at WDW.)

Does anyone know the best ways to get from park to park? I know that sounds like a dumb question. . . just take a bus or monorail, right? But I remember reading messages that said if you're at Epcot you should go out the back exit and walk to the boats by BWV's, and then take that to MK or whatever. THAT'S what I'm talking about!

So, if anyone's got a good "secret" strategy (the "backdoor" so to speak) for getting from park to park (and I mean ALL the parks), I'd appreciate it. We gotta cram as much Disney Magic into one trip as possible!!

 

[Viki]

I'm not real hip on all the secret travel strategies, but I'm fairly sure you can't hop a boat at BW and make your way to the MK. Those boats are good for transportation between Epcot, MGM and the Epcot resorts (BW, BC, Yacht club, S/D) and that's about it.

Good luck!

 

[behappy]

I'm not sure I understand who will be there how many days, but, it sounds like you would be better off figuring out what you really want to do with your in-laws, and taking the time to do it, rather than trying to cram 10 days worth of activities into a short time period.

That being said, if you are going to try to get it all done, there are some 'shortcuts' you can take. As you noted, there is a 'back door' (International Gateway) at EPCOT and you can either do MGM early, then take the boat to EPCOT or vice-versa (remember World Showcase doesn't open early, so MGM may be a better 'early' activity.

Also, remember you can take the monorail between the Transportation and Ticket Center (aka Magic Kingdom parking) and EPCOT....another good way to get two parks visited in one day.

Back to the original advice....don't hurry, save the rest for a future visit with the in-laws.

 

[Chuck S]

I agree, don't send your inlaws into Disney Overload. Save some for another trip, allow time to relax and enjoy. With the bags checks and all, park hopping takes more time than it used to.

 

[Mandalou]

Thanks for the good input! While I know we'd all LIKE to see "everything" at WDW, I know we won't be able to. (Actually, my DH and two DS's are staying 5 extra days, so we CAN see "everything." ) My plan is to take the in-laws to just our favorites at the parks, not everything at all of the parks. So, if we do two parks on one day, we'd only do some of the attractions -- I don't want to wear them out.

 

[LindaD]

One of the few tips we have on transportation between parks is you need to know there is a bus between MGM Studios and the main entrance of Epcot. So, if you're at the front part of Epcot and you need to go to the Studios, or you're at the Studios and you need to visit the front part of Epcot, you should go out and take the bus versus the boats. As far as the MK is concerned, there are buses between the other parks and the T&TC, but not directly to the entrance of the MK. So, when you get to the T&TC you still have to catch the monorail or ferryboat. It's better to go to the MK directly from your resort, or a resort.
Good luck and have fun!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I'm pretty sure there is a direct bus between AK and MGM and Epcot. It makes sense because AK close much earlier than the other two parks.

 

[Viki]

Ooo...ooo... ooo! I found it!

On one of our trips I picked up the WDW Transportation Guide/Map (DVC). It is super. It's laid out so that you say where you, judge where you want to go, and then it gives you all the options for getting there!

Let me know if you want anything specific and I'll read the map!

Peace,
Viki

 

[swilphil]

You can exit Epcot's International Gateway and take a short walk or boat ride to the Boardwalk or Swan and then catch the bus to MK or AK. You can also take the boat all the way to MGM. The busses pick up first at the Swan and last at the Boardwalk. Sometimes if the bus is full it leaves before it gets to the Boardwalk.

If you are in the Front of Epcot and don't want to take a bus, you can take the monorail over to MK.

 

[Mandalou]

Hi, Viki! If you don't mind looking up the info on your DVC map, I'd really appreciate it! I'm looking for the quickest routes between AK and EPCOT, AK and MGM, and MGM and EPCOT. (Whew!) Thanks so much!!!

 

[Viki]

<<Hi, Viki! If you don't mind looking up the info on your DVC map, I'd really appreciate it! I'm looking for the quickest routes between AK and EPCOT, AK and MGM, and MGM and EPCOT. (Whew!) Thanks so much!!!>>

OK, it's much as others have posted, but let's put it all in one place!

1. From AK to Epcot: Board a bus marked Epcot. You'll be headed from W to E (a bit NE) and it's a farily direct route.

2. From AK to MGM: Board a bus marked Disney-MGM studios. MGM is directly E of AK and sits right next to the Epcot Resort Area.

3. MGM and Epcot: The quickest way is to Board a but marked Epcot. As noted above, these areas are very close. From West to East it runs: MGM - Epcot Resort Areas (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, Swan/Dolphin)-Epcot.

They are also linked by pathways which you could walk (a moderate walk between MGM and the Resort Area, a nice long walk between MGM and Epcot -coming in at the International Gate near the WS).

You can also catch a ferry between MGM and Epcot (bringing you into the International Gate), which will give you a nice view of the resort area. If you want to slow your pace and increase your pleasure I would recommend this option, but it's probably the slowest of the three depending on how fast your group might walk (I walk pretty fast).

Really this stuff only gets tricky when you come out of the MK at night after a big event and you are confronted by loads of people wanting to take buses back to their resorts. In those cases it sometimes pays off to take the monorail to the T&T center, catch a bus to Downtown Disney, and then catch a bus back to your resort.

I'd be glad to hear of any other "back door" possibilities.

Peace,
Viki

 

[Mandalou]

Thanks for the great info, Viki!!!!

 

[pumpkinfish]

Viki,

On that walk between Epcot and MGM, how far is it?
I just told my DH and we thought it would be nice to do, and if we are too tired to walk back, we could always take the bus from MGM to Epcot.

Great info!

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by pumpkinfish
Viki,

On that walk between Epcot and MGM, how far is it?
I just told my DH and we thought it would be nice to do, and if we are too tired to walk back, we could always take the bus from MGM to Epcot.

The full walk is probably about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace. It takes a solid 20 minutes to walk from the MGM gates, past the Boardwalk resort, and then to arrive at the Boardwalk. Then I'd say another 10 to walk down the boardwalk and to the International Gateway at Epcot.

 

[Viki]

On that walk between Epcot and MGM, how far is it?

I don't think of it as very far, but then again because we are usuallly staying at BWV or BCV we take it in stages, hardly ever in one fell swoop.

When you leave Epcot at the International Gate you are deposited right into the Epcot Resort Area, so that walk is not very far at all. If you're on your way to MGM you can either stroll around the bay to your left and pass by the BW or you can stroll to your right and pass by the BC, Yacht club, and Swan/Dolphin. In either case you will end up on the other side of the resort area right on your path to MGM. If you're walking at a nice pace (not too slow, not too fast), it will probably take you ten minutes from that point on until you reach the MGM gates. This walk too is along a canal.

And, of course, there are boats all along the way that you can hop. You can pick them up at Epcot, BW, Yacht club, Swan/Dolphin, and MGM. They're a bit slower because they stop along all of those points to pick up and deposit guests but they are a very nice ride.

Now I only hope I get to do all of this next week, what with Francis baring down on us!

Peace,
Viki