I'm going June 9-15. First question, Would you use the buses to get from POR to the parks or drive? We will have our car there as we are driving down. Second, I have priority seating at Liberty Tree on our 2nd day at MK. Someone at my work just told me about how we could take a boat to WL and eat at Whispering Canyon. Would anyone recommend that? We already are eating at O'Hana and Boma on this trip. I have 3 kids 11 & two 8 year olds. We have the DDP so the cost is not an issue.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
2 Questions
- Thread starter Momx3
- Start date
RockStarBaby
Member
I never ate at O'Hana or Boma, but I loved Whispering Canyon. It can get a little crazy at times, but your kids should like it if they enjoy joking around.
I havnt been to the world in a few years, but last time we stayed at POR we would drive to Epcot when we would head back in the afternoon/evening and there was no traffic and we got a close parking spot. We would do the same thing for Magic Kingdom, but we would park at the Contemporary and walk to MK
I havnt been to the world in a few years, but last time we stayed at POR we would drive to Epcot when we would head back in the afternoon/evening and there was no traffic and we got a close parking spot. We would do the same thing for Magic Kingdom, but we would park at the Contemporary and walk to MK
Upvote
0
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
For convenience I'd use the buses - let someone else do the driving
Upvote
0
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
1) Busses especially for the Magic Kingdom as you would have to transfer at the TTC to a boat or monorail anyhow.
2) Depends do you want to stay in the park or not?? I like LTT But Whispering Canyon is great fun as well.
Belle
2) Depends do you want to stay in the park or not?? I like LTT But Whispering Canyon is great fun as well.
Belle
Upvote
0
goofy0101
New Member
I also agree - take the bus. I've stayed at PO and the service worked very well for us.
You mentioned Boma; I recommend it highly. There is a huge variety of food that will appeal to a huge variety of people.
Oh, I just reread and saw you already have plans to eat at Boma. Also easily accessible in that same area, I would recommend Kona Kafe. I think it's overlooked a lot for some reason but I think it's a great place to eat - as do all my friends who have eaten there.
You mentioned Boma; I recommend it highly. There is a huge variety of food that will appeal to a huge variety of people.
Oh, I just reread and saw you already have plans to eat at Boma. Also easily accessible in that same area, I would recommend Kona Kafe. I think it's overlooked a lot for some reason but I think it's a great place to eat - as do all my friends who have eaten there.
Upvote
0
Since it is our 2nd day at MK we don't mind leaving the park and my kids are very active and would enjoy the fun at Whispering Canyon. How long does it take to get to WL from MK? Is it too late to make a priority seating at Whispering Canyon?
Upvote
0
SallyShine
New Member
Do you mean Whispering Canyon instead of Liberty Tree or in addition to? If you are going to be at the park all day and all night, you might like to take a break and head over to WL (especially if you've never seen it before). If your time at the park is limited, I would stay at Liberty Tree. Maybe you could do both on different days. Have fun!
Upvote
0
BSikor
Active Member
I would say do Whipering Canyon. It gives you a reason to see something different than the parks or the resort your in.
As for bus or car, I would say bus. It's free and after a long day in the park you hop on a bus and go. You don't have to walk to the car, move it, hastle with directions (if you don't know the area that well). Plus parking is expensive an devery dollar helps on vacation!
As for bus or car, I would say bus. It's free and after a long day in the park you hop on a bus and go. You don't have to walk to the car, move it, hastle with directions (if you don't know the area that well). Plus parking is expensive an devery dollar helps on vacation!
Upvote
0
Instead of. It is our 2nd day there so a break may be in order.
Upvote
0
wannabeBelle
Well-Known Member
Whispering Canyon is really pretty cool and great fun for a lot of people. Dont forget to ask for ketchup!!!!
It is probably about a 20 minute boat ride and it pulls right up to the resort. Not a bad little ride and the scenery is beautiful.
As far as ADR's, Call dining at 1-407-WDW-Dine and ask!!! Dont cancel LTT until you have your desired time for WCC. Belle
It is probably about a 20 minute boat ride and it pulls right up to the resort. Not a bad little ride and the scenery is beautiful.
As far as ADR's, Call dining at 1-407-WDW-Dine and ask!!! Dont cancel LTT until you have your desired time for WCC. Belle
Upvote
0
slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
Answer/opinion 1: I'd at least use buses to get to/from the MK. Unless you have your heart set on getting there via monorail/ferry (it's not so ridonkulous a concept, lots of people feel they are "truly" at Disney World when they arrive at the Magic Kingdom that way). As far as the other parks, go with your mood. Handy tip: I know that the Port Orleans buses can be pretty good but they can also get overwhelmed, especially when the parks close and crowds en masse try to get on one. If you think you'd often want to be in the parks until closing, then either consider using your car, OR take your sweet time leaving. You probably were thinking about hauling butt to beat the crowds, right? Yeah, just like everyone else is thinking. Shops usually stay open at least a half-hour/45 minutes past official park closing. This way you won't have to "waste" valuable touring time shopping during the park's opening hours, AND you'll avoid all the crazy "I was here first" "No, I was here first" "Come on, my kid has a lazy eye and a bad foot blister, give us cutsies" crapola.
(Alternate tip: If you're at the Magic Kingdom, and if you have the energy, AND if you don't stink too much from fermenting in the Florida sun all day, instead of taking a bus back to your resort, walk to the Contemporary take a bus to Downtown Disney, shop there or go to Adventurer's Club, and THEN go back to your room. You might want to consider taking long ways home from any of the other parks, as well. If you're at Epcot or MGM, take a launch over to the Boardwalk, visit there for a while, and you can still catch a bus back to DTD and then bus or ferry back to PO-R. You could also monorail over to the TTC/MK as if you had parked your car in the MK lot, then bus home from there. It rquires you have some time to kill, granted, but again, you possibly won't get as swept up in all the nonsense usually involved in getting on the buses at park closings)
Answer/opinion 2: I like both restaurants a lot. As far as leaving the park goes, bear in mind, WCC is fun, but not a character meal. If meeting characters is a big deal at all for any of the kids (or you, for that matter), you'll want to stick w/LTT. What I'd probably do, because I'm evil, is make ADRs at both resturants, try to make the one for WCC at least a half-hour later than the one for LTT, and see how you feel. If you're sick of the parks and know you won't want to stick around after eating, go to WCC. From there, you can always ferry back to the MK and get a bus back to PO-R, OR take a bus to DTD and then bus or ferry back to PO-R. If you're all hopped up on Disney magic and want to ride that dragon, nix the ADRs for WCC instead. It might seem callous, making two ADRs so close together, but on the flip side, you'll probably be making SOMEBODY'S day when they can fit someone in at one restaurant or ther other because of your cancellation. Hakuna mutata, spinning wheel turning round, yin and yang and all that.
(Alternate tip: If you're at the Magic Kingdom, and if you have the energy, AND if you don't stink too much from fermenting in the Florida sun all day, instead of taking a bus back to your resort, walk to the Contemporary take a bus to Downtown Disney, shop there or go to Adventurer's Club, and THEN go back to your room. You might want to consider taking long ways home from any of the other parks, as well. If you're at Epcot or MGM, take a launch over to the Boardwalk, visit there for a while, and you can still catch a bus back to DTD and then bus or ferry back to PO-R. You could also monorail over to the TTC/MK as if you had parked your car in the MK lot, then bus home from there. It rquires you have some time to kill, granted, but again, you possibly won't get as swept up in all the nonsense usually involved in getting on the buses at park closings)
Answer/opinion 2: I like both restaurants a lot. As far as leaving the park goes, bear in mind, WCC is fun, but not a character meal. If meeting characters is a big deal at all for any of the kids (or you, for that matter), you'll want to stick w/LTT. What I'd probably do, because I'm evil, is make ADRs at both resturants, try to make the one for WCC at least a half-hour later than the one for LTT, and see how you feel. If you're sick of the parks and know you won't want to stick around after eating, go to WCC. From there, you can always ferry back to the MK and get a bus back to PO-R, OR take a bus to DTD and then bus or ferry back to PO-R. If you're all hopped up on Disney magic and want to ride that dragon, nix the ADRs for WCC instead. It might seem callous, making two ADRs so close together, but on the flip side, you'll probably be making SOMEBODY'S day when they can fit someone in at one restaurant or ther other because of your cancellation. Hakuna mutata, spinning wheel turning round, yin and yang and all that.
Upvote
0
Thorphin
Member
I love the idea that you are considering hopping over to the WL from a busy day at MK. As others have said, it really is a nice relaxing, fairly quick trip over to the WL. I'd definitely recommend taking a break and choosing WL over Liberty Tree. Other people might disagree, but I think the ambience and food of WL is better than Liberty Tree.
As for the transportation issue, I'm all for using the available WDW transportation, buses or otherwise. I really always prefer to park the car at the resort and just leave it there for a week. No hot cars, no parking, no navigating disney roads, no stress. It's vacation, I say just hang out and wait for transportation to come to me, or take some time to walk from place to place (around the lake at MK, or from Epcot to MGM). Definitely don't break the rules and park at the Contemporary and walk to MK to avoid parking costs, as has been suggested here and in other threads. But if you just leave your car at your resort, you will save a little money, time, and heartache. It's vacation after all! Don't forget to step back and relax and just stopping running around all the time.
As for the transportation issue, I'm all for using the available WDW transportation, buses or otherwise. I really always prefer to park the car at the resort and just leave it there for a week. No hot cars, no parking, no navigating disney roads, no stress. It's vacation, I say just hang out and wait for transportation to come to me, or take some time to walk from place to place (around the lake at MK, or from Epcot to MGM). Definitely don't break the rules and park at the Contemporary and walk to MK to avoid parking costs, as has been suggested here and in other threads. But if you just leave your car at your resort, you will save a little money, time, and heartache. It's vacation after all! Don't forget to step back and relax and just stopping running around all the time.
Upvote
0
Mr Starky
Active Member
I think this is personal preference. My wife and I like to use the buses. We enjoy watching other people have fun. Most people seem to be in a great mood on the buses. Why not they are at WDW. We have stayed at the POR/DIX-LAN both times we were there. We never used the boating system but have heard good things. Boma is great. We had breakfast there. There is everything you could think of. Trust me you won't be disappointed. Enjoy your time there.
Upvote
0
Only reason to drive on property is if you are going some place where it would require a transfer from your hotel to get there.
For instance, to check out a resort on the other side of property.
The boat you are referring to is from MK, not your resort. The boat from your resort goes to POFQ then Downtown Disney.
For instance, to check out a resort on the other side of property.
The boat you are referring to is from MK, not your resort. The boat from your resort goes to POFQ then Downtown Disney.
Upvote
0
PigletIsMyCat
Well-Known Member
Just wanted to chime in on bus vs. car. When staying on property, we have only used the WDW transportation, usually buses. It is nice to not have to worry about driving and parking while on vacation, and is useful if you (like DH and I) like to enjoy a drink or four while at Epcot, MGM, or AK.
As far as staying at the parks until closing, you're basically screwed either way. EVERYONE is leaving the park at the same time; thousands upon thousands of people are all leaving during the same 1-2 hour period. You will always have a wait for the buses to go back to the resort. One time, we had to wait for the FOURTH bus to come through, and another time we decided to fork out the cash for a cab fare because we didn't feel like standing shoulder to shoulder in a crowd of tired people. (If you drive to the MK, you still must take the Monorail or Ferry to the TTC, like tons of other people. Once you get to the TTC, you'll have to wait on the sometimes interminably long lines for the trams to parking, unless you walk. And, if you are leaving at closing, take the Ferry: it accomodates appx. 600 guests at a time and we have never had to wait for too long; usually we just wait for the boat that is currently loading to leave and the next one comes almost immediately.) Either way, it will probably take you the same amount of time to get back to your resort at MK, AK, and MGM. Epcot's parking lots are far easier to get out of, so you will probably save time driving to Epcot if you are leaving at park close.
As far as the advice to park at Contemporary and walk to MK, you are not permitted to park in any resort's parking lot unless you are a guest of that resort or are eating at that resort. People tend to lie to the security guards and say they are eating there, but I have heard recently of WDW Security taking actions to stop people from parking at the Contemporary, the Poly, and the Grand Floridan just to hop the Monorail and bypass the TTC. This clogs the parking lots for the day and makes it harder for those with real reasons to be at each resort. Security is there for a reason; by lying to them to make our lives easier we are undermining the real reason they are there: for our safety.
As far as staying at the parks until closing, you're basically screwed either way. EVERYONE is leaving the park at the same time; thousands upon thousands of people are all leaving during the same 1-2 hour period. You will always have a wait for the buses to go back to the resort. One time, we had to wait for the FOURTH bus to come through, and another time we decided to fork out the cash for a cab fare because we didn't feel like standing shoulder to shoulder in a crowd of tired people. (If you drive to the MK, you still must take the Monorail or Ferry to the TTC, like tons of other people. Once you get to the TTC, you'll have to wait on the sometimes interminably long lines for the trams to parking, unless you walk. And, if you are leaving at closing, take the Ferry: it accomodates appx. 600 guests at a time and we have never had to wait for too long; usually we just wait for the boat that is currently loading to leave and the next one comes almost immediately.) Either way, it will probably take you the same amount of time to get back to your resort at MK, AK, and MGM. Epcot's parking lots are far easier to get out of, so you will probably save time driving to Epcot if you are leaving at park close.
As far as the advice to park at Contemporary and walk to MK, you are not permitted to park in any resort's parking lot unless you are a guest of that resort or are eating at that resort. People tend to lie to the security guards and say they are eating there, but I have heard recently of WDW Security taking actions to stop people from parking at the Contemporary, the Poly, and the Grand Floridan just to hop the Monorail and bypass the TTC. This clogs the parking lots for the day and makes it harder for those with real reasons to be at each resort. Security is there for a reason; by lying to them to make our lives easier we are undermining the real reason they are there: for our safety.
Upvote
0
Thanks everyone for the great tips. When we eat at Boma we will have been at AK all day. Can we get to Boma from AK or should we drive that day? Also we are staying at Buena Vista Suites the night before we start at the parks. Our first morning will be at MK. I was planning on leaving BVS while my hubby got the kids up and doing the pre registration at POR and going back and hitting the buffet that is free at BVS but doen't open until 7. I want to be at MK for opening. I thought you could park at the Contemporary but now I realize you can't, we are staying on property so parking is free. I know this is long but should we drive that day too? I didn't realize we parked at TTC. This will be the first time we have ever had a car at Disney.
Upvote
0
GenerationX
Well-Known Member
According to the Unofficial Guide to WDW, taking your own car instead of Disney transportation is almost always faster. The MK tends to be the one park that Disney transportation is, on average, faster than driving yourself. If you're going from POR to AK to Boma to POR, your car will be much quicker.
Upvote
0
KYMouseFan
Member
In 2002 we used the buses and for the most part had good expirences. Last year we stayed at POR and drove everywhere. We went with another couple who knew there way around and after a time or two, it was pretty easy. The roads are marked very well how to get back to the resorts and the parks. Driving yourself gives you added flexibility you may want for spur of the moment trip, to DTD for example. You can also plan your own arrival or departure time more specifically to parks/hotel/resis. There can be delays in the bus system. Driving your car may allow you to get an extra few minutes in the parks before you have to leave for dinner.
We are trying Boma for the first time. Going to breakfast. WL is beautiful and WC is really nice. Great food and tremendous atmosphere. Kids should enjoy it. Ask for ketchup as mentioned earlier, crayons, and get ready for the pony rides around the WC. Even the adults get to do things. One evening for dinner at WC, the dads/men got up to do a dance. It was hilarious, so my DW says.
From MK to WL on the boat is about 15 mins. Something different and a nice boat ride.
We went to Ohana last year and it was ok. The atmosphere was fun for the kids but the food was so-so for us. We are not going back this year.
We are at POR the same time you are and we plan on driving everywhere. Even to MK. I don't my the ferry or the Monorail. Brings back memories when I was a kid. Safe travels from OH and see you at the POR. :wave:
We are trying Boma for the first time. Going to breakfast. WL is beautiful and WC is really nice. Great food and tremendous atmosphere. Kids should enjoy it. Ask for ketchup as mentioned earlier, crayons, and get ready for the pony rides around the WC. Even the adults get to do things. One evening for dinner at WC, the dads/men got up to do a dance. It was hilarious, so my DW says.
From MK to WL on the boat is about 15 mins. Something different and a nice boat ride.
We went to Ohana last year and it was ok. The atmosphere was fun for the kids but the food was so-so for us. We are not going back this year.
We are at POR the same time you are and we plan on driving everywhere. Even to MK. I don't my the ferry or the Monorail. Brings back memories when I was a kid. Safe travels from OH and see you at the POR. :wave:
Upvote
0