Boardwalk-Epcot Question.

[Boomerdog]

We want to enjoy the Boardwalk our first night at Disneyworld.

First of all, what time do the shops stay open?

Second, we have a fastpass for Test Track. My initial thought would be park at Epcot, jump on Test Track and then on to Boardwalk. However, Epcot will close during the time we are enjoying Boardwalk. So, is there a way to walk back to Epcot parking?

If not, is the best way to go about this? We are staying at Caribbean Beach.

Is that resort within walking distance? Probably not I assume.

I assume, and I am sorry to those that this offends, the best option would be to park at Boardwalk?

What kind of time would it take to walk from Boardwalk parking to Test Track and back?

 

[englanddg]

We want to enjoy the Boardwalk our first night at Disneyworld.

First of all, what time do the shops stay open?

Second, we have a fastpass for Test Track. My initial thought would be park at Epcot, jump on Test Track and then on to Boardwalk. However, Epcot will close during the time we are enjoying Boardwalk. So, is there a way to walk back to Epcot parking?

If not, is the best way to go about this? We are staying at Caribbean Beach.

Is that resort within walking distance? Probably not I assume.

I assume, and I am sorry to those that this offends, the best option would be to park at Boardwalk?

What kind of time would it take to walk from Boardwalk parking to Test Track and back?

If the car isn't a big deal, I'd take a bus to Epcot for the first part, then walk or take a Friendship boat to Boardwalk, then take a friendship boat to HS and take that back to CBR.

Boardwalk is within pretty easy walking distance of EPCOT (easy for 2 able adults...a bit more of a push for families with kids).

Boardwalk offerings, with the exception of Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall, shutters up between 11p to midnight, iirc. The boats, iirc, run until 2a.

 

[Tiggerish]

We want to enjoy the Boardwalk our first night at Disneyworld.

First of all, what time do the shops stay open?

Second, we have a fastpass for Test Track. My initial thought would be park at Epcot, jump on Test Track and then on to Boardwalk. However, Epcot will close during the time we are enjoying Boardwalk. So, is there a way to walk back to Epcot parking?

If not, is the best way to go about this? We are staying at Caribbean Beach.

Is that resort within walking distance? Probably not I assume.

I assume, and I am sorry to those that this offends, the best option would be to park at Boardwalk?

What kind of time would it take to walk from Boardwalk parking to Test Track and back?

Depending on the time of year, they are very strict about parking at the Boardwalk. You may need to have a reservation at one of the restaurants. We are DVC members, Boardwalk is a DVC resort, but even we get a hard time about parking there if we are not staying there, and especially during festival time. If you want to spend the $, you could valet park there, they never turn away valet parkers.

It's a pretty good walk from Boardwalk to Test Track. If Epcot closes while you are at BW, you'd have to take a cab. Or, as @englanddg says, from BW walk or boat to DHS, then get bus back to front of Epcot from Studios. CBR is definitely not within walking distance. It's close as the crow flies, but there are no sidewalks and it would be (a) dangerous and (b) not allowed! to walk there from Boardwalk.

 

[englanddg]

Depending on the time of year, they are very strict about parking at the Boardwalk. You may need to have a reservation at one of the restaurants. We are DVC members, Boardwalk is a DVC resort, but even we get a hard time about parking there if we are not staying there, and especially during festival time. If you want to spend the $, you could valet park there, they never turn away valet parkers.

It's a pretty good walk from Boardwalk to Test Track. If Epcot closes while you are at BW, you'd have to take a cab. Or, as @englanddg says, from BW walk or boat to DHS, then get bus back to front of Epcot from Studios. CBR is definitely not within walking distance. It's close as the crow flies, but there are no sidewalks and it would be (a) dangerous and (b) not allowed! to walk there from Boardwalk.

I would avoid the car entirely, as it seems to be a hit or miss thing for people, even with an ADR (I have a dinner ADR), and I noted on our last trip that they have started scanning bands sometimes at the front gates...but, enforcement is, as you noted, hit or miss...

You could swing by it, but for striking distance and times, between the two, I'd park at HS if you have to take a car. Then take the boats to EPCOT, do your EPCOT day, then back to I-Gateway and either walk or Boat back to Boardwalk, then Boat back to HS... (you can walk to HS from Boardwalk, but it is a HAUL).

As Tiggerish noted, walking from CBR to anywhere is pretty much a no go. Heck, even walking to the BP right across the street is a bit of an iffy thing (I know, I stupidly did it once, felt scared for my life walking it between wilderness and traffic)

 

[Boomerdog]

It is the week before Thanksgiving week, so a calm time. And on a Tuesday night. So, hopefully even less crowds. Will HS transportation be running late at night even though the park closes at 4pm that day?

 

[englanddg]

It is the week before Thanksgiving, so a calm time. And on a Tuesday night. So, hopefully even less crowds. Will HS transportation be running late at night even though the park closes at 4pm that day?

Why is it closing at 4p? Private Party?

 

[Boomerdog]

Why is it closing at 4p? Private Party?

I am not sure. I assumed because it is a Tuesday the week before Thanksgiving week and therefor not a busy time of year. But now I am curious!

 

[Tiggerish]

I would avoid the car entirely, as it seems to be a hit or miss thing for people, even with an ADR (I have a dinner ADR), and I noted on our last trip that they have started scanning bands sometimes at the front gates...but, enforcement is, as you noted, hit or miss...

You could swing by it, but for striking distance and times, between the two, I'd park at HS if you have to take a car. Then take the boats to EPCOT, do your EPCOT day, then back to I-Gateway and either walk or Boat back to Boardwalk, then Boat back to HS... (you can walk to HS from Boardwalk, but it is a HAUL).

As Tiggerish noted, walking from CBR to anywhere is pretty much a no go. Heck, even walking to the BP right across the street is a bit of an iffy thing (I know, I stupidly did it once, felt scared for my life walking it between wilderness and traffic)

You're right, parking at DHS is a much better idea. The walk from BW to Studios is not THAT bad!!

Although I have no idea how the "closing at 4pm' would affect the parking situation. That's an odd time.

 

[englanddg]

I am not sure. I assumed because it is a Tuesday the week before Thanksgiving week and therefor not a busy time of year. But now I am curious!

It sounds like a private event or party...frankly. The boats will run until 2a. Not sure about the HS busses though if it's a private party. I want to say yes? I know they kept running when Celebration rented out HS, but that was a long time ago. I dunno about the cheerleading competitions and the like...so, I'm really not sure.

 

[englanddg]

Disneyworld.com has HS closing at 7:30p on Nov 17.

-edit- No it doesn't...the site was just slow to update...it says 4p now that it's loaded everything.

 

[Boomerdog]

Disneyworld.com has HS closing at 7:30p on Nov 17.

-edit- No it doesn't...the site was just slow to update...it says 4p now that it's loaded everything.

No worries.

Thank you Englanddg and Tiggerish for the help so far.

 

[englanddg]

Yep, private party.

http://www.happilyeverdisney.com/2015/06/disneys-hollywood-studios-closing-early.html

As it's for CMs, they may not run the public busses there that night...as opposed to a ticketed private event like Celebration was...

You will be allowed back through the gates at EPCOT for a period of time, but don't be surprised if they pull out Mouse Security.

The more I look at this, the more I'd think you should just take a bus to EPCOT from CBR, then friendship boat to boardwalk, then taxi back to the resort. It won't be much ($10 - $15 bucks most).

Or, you could bus hop through Disney Springs...

 

[englanddg]

How late are you planning to stay at Boardwalk?

 

[Boomerdog]

Yep, private party.

http://www.happilyeverdisney.com/2015/06/disneys-hollywood-studios-closing-early.html

As it's for CMs, they may not run the public busses there that night...as opposed to a ticketed private event like Celebration was...

You will be allowed back through the gates at EPCOT for a period of time, but don't be surprised if they pull out Mouse Security.

The more I look at this, the more I'd think you should just take a bus to EPCOT from CBR, then friendship boat to boardwalk, then taxi back to the resort. It won't be much ($10 - $15 bucks most).

Or, you could bus hop through Disney Springs...

All excellent info. Thank you! I'll have to debate between car and bus hopping. If, for whatever reason, they turn us away at Boardwalk (I'd be a bit shocked if they did during a notoriously down week), we could go back and work the bus system.

Or, if they said no parking, we could pay the $20 for the valet.

 

[Boomerdog]

How late are you planning to stay at Boardwalk?

Probably until laterish. Maybe 11-12 when everything starts to close.

 

[englanddg]

Yeah, I'd taxi it. Or do the ADR trick @Tiggerish mentioned and park at Boardwalk. Take the car to EPCOT, do EPCOT, then drive to Boardwalk and park there (though, I would just abandon the car and bus/taxi it myself)....

 

[englanddg]

All excellent info. Thank you! I'll have to debate between car and bus hopping. If, for whatever reason, they turn us away at Boardwalk (I'd be a bit shocked if they did during a notoriously down week), we could go back and work the bus system.

Or, if they said no parking, we could pay the $20 for the valet.

An ADR for Boardwalk Evening is probably a good idea to get you through the front gate. I'm not sure how Valet works there (@Tiggerish or someone else can elaborate), but I think you'd still need to get through the security gate and "I want to valet" may not be enough.

They seem to crack down on it randomly. Even at AoA, where parking is ample, they were doing it on my last trip (scanning MB) even when I was taking a Taxi in...and I've heard others get hassled. Never first hand experience on this though, because I don't drive on my trips if I can avoid it.

 

[Mickey5150]

I always stay at All-Star Sports but do the same thing you are planning. I just bus to Epcot and then walk thru to the Boardwalk. After that I take a bus to Disney Springs and then transfer there to my resort. The only concern would be if you were at Boardwalk really late because I think with Jellyrolls it stays open later then the Springs.

 

[englanddg]

I always stay at All-Star Sports but do the same thing you are planning. I just bus to Epcot and then walk thru to the Boardwalk. After that I take a bus to Disney Springs and then transfer there to my resort. The only concern would be if you were at Boardwalk really late because I think with Jellyrolls it stays open later then the Springs.

Jellyrolls closes at 1:45p, iirc, busses run to and from Springs until 2a iirc. If you close out Jellyrolls, yeah, I guess it would be an issue, but I'd just taxi it at that point. I did a taxi from Yacht (across the lake) to CBR in 2011, and it was cheap. 12 bucks or something.

 

[Mickey5150]

Jellyrolls closes at 1:45p, iirc, busses run to and from Springs until 2a iirc. If you close out Jellyrolls, yeah, I guess it would be an issue, but I'd just taxi it at that point. I did a taxi from Yacht (across the lake) to CBR in 2011, and it was cheap. 12 bucks or something.

I've never been at the Boardwalk past 10 so never had to worry. Although I once took a taxi to the Springs after waiting 30 minutes for a bus and my family already sitting down for our dinner, lol.