What is the latest to catch bus to start of Princess 1/2

[chernabogfamily]

I know Disney says you have to be on a bus by 4 AM for the start of the Princess 1/2 (it starts at 6 AM), but what are the latest times people have boarded buses from host hotels and walked to their corrals before the start?

My normal routine for races is to get up and have 1 cup of coffee and eat breakfast 2 hours prior to start time (I would be eating at 4 am). I also take a little time after that to get my thoughts together and mentally prepare. So, what is the latest I could REALLY catch a bus and still have time for the 20 minute walk to the corral? I believe that I am in Corral A by the way.

 

[FFigawi]

You seem to have a normal routine that works for you and is fairly calm and unhurried. Why would you want to change that by worrying about cutting it as close as you can with the bus? Why not just get up earlier, go through your routine, and have a relaxing trip over to the start? I'm sure you'll hear stories of people who got on a bus at 430 and still made the start, but there are also stories of people who got on at 430 and either missed their start or were so rushed to get there, they couldn't relax at all.

 

[cewait]

I say ignore the race instructions and catch the very last spectator bus @ 4:55....



Seriously, just modify your schedule a bit so that you are at the bus stop no later than 4AM and eat on the bus to the race. That way you are not stressing about why so few busses are running or worse, getting out to the bus stop and never seeing a bus..... You will have plenty of time to get your thoughts together before the gate opens to get you down to the start.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I'm pretty sure that I saw a post on here that someone had to sprint to get the start of the race because their 4 am bus got stuck in traffic.

 

[stampingoddess]

This past January my sister was on a 3:45 bus that got caught in traffic she didn't get to Epcot until 5:15!

 

[FFigawi]

This past January my sister was on a 3:45 bus that got caught in traffic she didn't get to Epcot until 5:15!

That sounds like my experience this year. The bus left CBR at 4 and arrived at Epcot at 5. As it turns out, the timing was perfect. I got to spend an hour sitting on a warm, comfortable bus instead of standing around or sitting on the curb. There was no line at bag check, no lines at the porta-pottys, and no crowd to deal with while walking to the start. I got to my corral 10 minutes before my start, chatted with friends, and off we went. Sure beats waiting around in a corral all that time.

 

[cewait]

That sounds like my experience this year. The bus left CBR at 4 and arrived at Epcot at 5. As it turns out, the timing was perfect. I got to spend an hour sitting on a warm, comfortable bus instead of standing around or sitting on the curb. There was no line at bag check, no lines at the porta-pottys, and no crowd to deal with while walking to the start. I got to my corral 10 minutes before my start, chatted with friends, and off we went. Sure beats waiting around in a corral all that time.

In the mid-decade I too was stuck in traffic and was dumped in the parking lot around 5:30 (same as 5:10 today). While I was a bunch of nerves I did appreciate the short line (read no) lines at the check bags tent and at the porta potties. It was a cold and blustery morning so I kind of appreciated the short dwell in the corral.

Not to hijack the tread - well ok I am just a little.....

Anyone else think the path from out to the start line was overly crowded this year? I showed up Saturday and the staging area felt empty so I took off through the tents and dang it seemed t take an hour to get to the start. Part of the issue was a set of rogue porta potties on the path that disappeared on Sunday but I do not recall the slow moving crowd before. I may take to my old habits and head out for the start early.