What time would you leave Windsor Hills for RD?

[proud_canadian]

Hi there,

As a general rule, to be waiting to go in right around the time the park opens, what time would you leave windsor hills? Leaving time to drive, pay to park, park, get through turnstyles (not sure what this entails - for the first time do we have to do something with our fingerprint??), and get to the rope drop. Doesn't matter to us about actually seeing a whole rope drop ceremony if there is one, nor do we have to be the first to the rope, just want to be able to enter the park, around the time when it opens.

What time do you leave Windsor Hills for a 9 am rope drop??

Also, our first day is epcot, and I want to get the kids a first visit pin. Is guest services inside or outside the gate? Meaning, can I get them their pins before rope drop or do we have to go after. Is there usually a long line up there???

 

[mnrose]

Which park? From WH, it takes about 10 minutes to get from your rental place, to being parked at AK. 15 or less for Epcot, and DHS. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the TTC for MK, however, you then need to take the monorail or the ferry, which will add 10-15 minutes on to the travel time. Once you are parked, add another 5 minutes or so to get to the turnstiles.

Personally, I aim to be at the turnstiles about 45 minutes to an hour before scheduled opening. So, for a 9 am, I would leave my home about 7:50 or so. YMMV.

 

[sympatico]

For MK we allowed 30 min and just got there when the characters came in on the train, next time we gave ourselves 45 min. For the rest it's as mnrose said.

 

[mareed]

We've stayed there many times and also like to arrive prior to rope drop too. For DHS & Epcot, we leave at 8:15. For AK, can leave @ 8:20 or even 8:25. For MK, we leave at 8:00 or slightly before.

 

[disneymoon95]

As far as getting 1st time pins, you will have to go through the turnstiles in order to do this.

We always try to go to Guest Relations in Downtown Disney on our arrival day if we need pins for that trip.

 

[Pembo]

In June we left about 8:15 for Epcot and Studios and 8:00 for the MK. You get a great parking space leaving that early too.