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Are the Minnie Vans convenient to arrive to the parks early?
- Thread starter mdcpr
- Start date
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Not worth it from WL to MK. In addition to the boat, there is a direct bus from WL to MK and the ride is 5 minutes. Even if you just miss a MK bus, your total transport time is under 20 minutes. With a high demand for Minnie Vans in the morning, you could easily wait more than 20 minutes for the van to pick you up.
Also you should know that you can enter MK as early as 8 am when the official opening is 9 am. Guests can wander and shop on Main Street until rope drop. On our recent stay at WL, the bus picked us up at 8:10 am and we were through security and inside the park at 8:30....plenty of time for rope drop. And the transportation was free.
Also you should know that you can enter MK as early as 8 am when the official opening is 9 am. Guests can wander and shop on Main Street until rope drop. On our recent stay at WL, the bus picked us up at 8:10 am and we were through security and inside the park at 8:30....plenty of time for rope drop. And the transportation was free.
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JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
We found using the Minnie van service ideal when we were in a park and had reservations later in the evening for HDD or meeting friends for dinner at a resort. The timing was better and we didnt have to chance on waiting for a bus to arrive. We also used it later in the evenings to get from a park or DS, to return to our resort, avoiding the massive late night line ups at the bus stations and body crushing packed late evening buses.
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chrisbarry
Active Member
I can't vouch for the morning or for the route you want, but I have to say that on a recent trip, our plans were to make it back from Animal Kingdom to our resort, Yacht Club with enough time to walk or take the boat to the Studios to catch the Star Wars Spectacular. We got seriously delayed for a few reasons. This was definitely going to be my brother's only time in Disney. He's not a fan of the whole experience, but he and I share a big love of Star Wars, so I wanted to see it and he was leaving the next day. There's no way we would have made it on the boat or the walk. We had about 20 minutes to showtime. I called a Minnie Van. They were there instantly and got us over and nice and close to the Studios entrance well in time for the show. I realize this is a different scenario then what you're looking for, but my point is, I couldn't believe how quick and easy using the Minnie Van was. Completely worth the $$ if you're in a bind or really want to get someplace with speed and ease.
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CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
I've only attempted Minnie Van once and it was a complete disaster. It took more than 45 minutes to find an available car until we finally gave up and took the bus instead. We cancelled the ride request, but were charged anyway. They fixed it in the end but if I had been relying on it to get me somewhere in a hurry, it would have been a complete failure.
Regardless, the resort transportation gives you way more than enough time to get to the parks for rope drop. I don't think there's much value in Minnie Van if you're traveling to and from the parks. The real value is traveling resort-to-resort, which is more complicated when you're relying on the buses.
Regardless, the resort transportation gives you way more than enough time to get to the parks for rope drop. I don't think there's much value in Minnie Van if you're traveling to and from the parks. The real value is traveling resort-to-resort, which is more complicated when you're relying on the buses.
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DisneyDreamer08
Well-Known Member
We are a rope drop family. My rule of thumb is to be at the bus stop an hour before opening. So if MK opens at 9am, we make sure we are at the bus stop by 8am. So depending on where our room is, we are walking out the door a few minutes prior to 8. We’ve never had a problem making it to the parks by our desired time. Sometimes the bus is pulling up as we get there, the ride is quick, and we’re in line by 8:20. Other times, the bus arrives 10-15 minutes after we get there and we get to the parks by 8:30/8:40. We personally love the bus service and have never had any major issues.
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So, your recommendation is to take the first bus/boat leaving the resort? We're staying at the Wilderness Lodge.
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CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
In about 20 trips and three years as a local, I can honestly say I've never experienced this. I've had bad buses but never in the mornings heading to rope drop. They've always been timely and efficient at that time of day.
Midday buses and park closing buses are a whole different story.
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CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
That's crazy early and unnecessary unless you have a pre-opening reservation or something like that. The first buses are usually around 7am for a 9am park opening.
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DisneyDreamer08
Well-Known Member
Buses start running early, I want to say 6:30am but someone can correct me if I’m wrong. You will have no problem making it any where by rope drop using buses & boats.
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I did not know. My kids are up at 6:30, so I want to take as much advantage of the morning as possible.
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CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
Take your time, eat a good breakfast, get everyone sunscreened before you leave the room, etc. If you head to the parks too early you're going to spend a lot of time standing around using up energy but not really doing anything fun.
If you're up that early anyways, take advantage of the morning extra magic hours, especially if you'll have park hoppers. Do the EMH and then park-hop to another park once the crowds start to pick up.
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Naplesgolfer
Well-Known Member
You also can use a Uber or regular lyft from WL. Also Mears has a app. We use Uber , lyft, Mears, Minnie Vans and Disney buses. Just depends from which point to what point we are traveling and the timing our schedule with allow. Also leaving a park at closing, it is often better to take anything but the bus.
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CaptainAmerica
Well-Known Member
Even with the parking fee, if you're doing that on a daily basis wouldn't you just be better off renting a car?
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Naplesgolfer
Well-Known Member
I drive from south Florida. We are DVC member's and AP holder's, so parking is covered. But we have a cocktail or two during the day in the parks and with meals at night so I don't drive around WDW.
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