Best way to get from WL to Epcot quickly....on arrival

[Tinkwings]

Ok so arriving at airport around 11:30ishAM.....using Magical Express, and usually have carryons so heading to Wilderness Lodge.....already did online checkin.....have a fast pass for Soarin 2:25-3:25 and another thereafter, staying for Food and Wine for first time! (woohoo!) I am thinking I should get to WL by 1:30.....would love to ride monorail there and back, but that said wondering if the bus would be most efficient for timing.....ugh....but can't recall if there is option from boat launch to stop at Contemporary any longer....I know there is a direct boat to Magic Kingdom the last several years but can't recall if there are 2 choices any longer.....was thinking take boat to Contemporary and hop on Monorail.

Other thought was get my necessities in DH's Backpack and go directly to EPCOT from airport.....stow backpack in locker....but can I hop a bus to a monorail resort instead from airport or will they force me to do WL.....trying to remember which resorts we stop at first en route from airport prior to lodge, I seem to remember it did stop at Poly and Contemporary first.....can anyone here confirm this? I think this option would give me the most park time at Epcot, its the only day we are going this trip and more is more. I like to have my suitcase carryon with things incase luggage is lost but my logic is that has never happened with ME.....what do YOU think?! And thanks....

 

[Rob562]

A) You cannot take a Magical Express bus to a different hotel than your own. If you *happen* to have nothing stored under the bus, there's nothing stopping you from getting off at a different hotel if the DME bus happens to stop elsewhere first.

B) Going anywhere else from WL just to ride the monorail will *not* be your fastest way to Epcot.

C) If you are pressed for time, taxi or Uber will be your fastest option from WL to Epcot. Fastest free option will most likely be the direct bus.

-Rob

 

[Schneewittchen]

If you're willing to spend money to be quick and really want to monorail it into Epcot, here's what I would do:

Take a taxi from the airport to Wilderness Lodge. Yes, it costs money, but it's fast.
Dump your bags in your room and hop on the Blue flag launch to Ft. Wilderness and the Contemporary.
Disembark at the Contemporary and hop on the monorail.

I totally understand, I never take the bus, I take a boat from Ft. Wilderness to Contemporary and hop on the monorail for Epcot all the time. Being on a boat or the monorail feels more Disney to me than being crammed on a bus.....

 

[Tinkwings]

If you're willing to spend money to be quick and really want to monorail it into Epcot, here's what I would do:

Take a taxi from the airport to Wilderness Lodge. Yes, it costs money, but it's fast.
Dump your bags in your room and hop on the Blue flag launch to Ft. Wilderness and the Contemporary.
Disembark at the Contemporary and hop on the monorail.

I totally understand, I never take the bus, I take a boat from Ft. Wilderness to Contemporary and hop on the monorail for Epcot all the time. Being on a boat or the monorail feels more Disney to me than being crammed on a bus.....

Thanks much that's awesome, now I remember the blue and red flags and different routes.....glad to hear they still exist....will consider doing this....sometimes the ME bus leaves right when we get there but you know....I know my luggage will go to the WL regardless of where I get off so that's good.....but you got it, riding the bus after getting off a bus is not as magical as the boat/monorail transport. So will be prepared with lesser carry on and have to evaluate on site considering flight delays....and the rest..... may just have to play it by ear(ears as in Mickey Mouse) and see where my little ME bus takes me....if time is pressing for the longer more magical route, will hop off bus at first monorail stop and be on my way. Thanks Rob for that insight. I seem to recall sometimes WL IS the first stop, but usually isn't in my experience at arrival.

 

[DisneyJoe]

B) Going anywhere else from WL just to ride the monorail will *not* be your fastest way to Epcot.

I agree - it will slow you down greatly.

 

[DisneyJoe]

Don't forget, the monorail from the Contemporary takes you to the TTC and you will need to switch to the Epcot monorail

 

[Tinkwings]

Don't forget, the monorail from the Contemporary takes you to the TTC and you will need to switch to the Epcot monorail

Point taken.....thanks! Thinking maybe if all else fails, will look forward to riding it back to MK and take a boat to the WL......I don't suppose a boat runs from Contemporary TO the WL? probably not later at night.....there is a party at MK that night, first Mickeys Christmas one and thus there will be boats running from MK. So good to bounce things off this board.....

 

[rob0519]

One word: Uber. Forget Disney Transportation if you're in a hurry.