Car vs. Monorail Advice

[AngryEyes]

OK, so we're staying at the Polynesian. On one of our Epcot days, we're planning on leaving the park for an afternoon in the pool, followed by dinner at San Angel Inn at 6PM.

Would there be a substantial benefit to driving back over before dinner and entering through the International Gateway or should we just stick to the monorail? If so, where's the best place to park (closest walk)? Beach Club? Downtown Disney?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[BransonJ]

Downtown disney is not walking distance. You'd be better off with the monorail in my opinion. Wouldn't only need to change the monorail once at TTC and enter the park at the main entrance. You would do more walking to get to the international gateway then from the front entrance to Mexico.

 

[AngryEyes]

Yeah, we can just walk to the TTC and get the monorail straight to Epcot. It's been a while, so I couldn't get a handle on the distance to Mexico from each entrance, plus I thought it was seen as some sort of benefit to some Epcot area resorts that you could walk to the International Gateway.

 

[Clamman73]

Personally, I would just walk from Poly to TTC to get back to Epcot on monorail if going back late afternoon. When walking to Mexico, stay toward Test Track and walk by Odyssey for fastest route...

 

[Master Yoda]

Stick to the monorail.

 

[ShookieJones]

We rent a car every year and use it extensively.
The year we stayed at the Poly we were at the Tahiti longhouse next to the TTC and that reduced our car usage by quite a bit.
For the scenario you're talking about go with the monorail.

 

[AngryEyes]

It's unanimous! Thanks, guys. This is where I am in my planning...I'm seeing if I can shave 3 minutes off somewhere. Pathetic, I am.

 

[Zortek]

Just don't forget to....
Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.

 

[jkl2000]

Can you walk from DTD to anywhere (that one might actually want to go)?

 

[Monty]

Can you walk from DTD to anywhere (that one might actually want to go)?

Disney strongly discourages walking. From DTD you can walk to SSR and that's it. There are no sidewalks anywhere else and given the way people drive, you'd be taking your life in your hands.

 

[SMS55]

If you are staying at a monorail resort the whole point is to use the monorail so I would suggest the monorail. Having said that keep in mind the EPCOT monorail can take a while to arrive. Give yourself time. The car will be quicker to get to Epcot but don't use international gateway. It is a longer walk from international gateway to the Mexican PAvillion than if you were to walk in from the front door. Since it is later in the afternoon you might even be able to park near the front as some of the early birds have left. You could avoid waiting for the tram and go right in.

 

[jkl2000]

Disney strongly discourages walking. From DTD you can walk to SSR and that's it. There are no sidewalks anywhere else and given the way people drive, you'd be taking your life in your hands.

I didn't mean on highways, just footpaths, etc. I actually didn't realize you could walk from DDT to SSR - good to know.

 

[WDW Monorail]

I didn't mean on highways, just footpaths, etc. I actually didn't realize you could walk from DDT to SSR - good to know.

There aren't any foot paths anywhere because people really aren't wanted to be walking around alongside highways. Besides, the Distance from DTD to Epcot may seem short on a map but it's a looooong way. Likely a 45 minute walk.

 

[AngryEyes]

Thanks again for all the responses, guys. I could have sworn I read that you could walk to DHS or Epcot or both from several resorts in the Epcot area. I guess that's not true? What's the International Gateway for? Are they just taunting me?

 

[docdebbi]

i will take it on and be the lone dissenter here.
i would say it depends on what time you plan to leave epcot.
if we are going over for an evening in world showcase and plan to leave right after Illuminations, being parked at Boardwalk and going in International Gate avoids the crazy exodus for the monorail and parking lots.
it saves us a lot of time and distance (you can take the boat back to boardwalk and not walk it).
we think it is far easier
here's the problem.........Disney does not want you to do that. they do not want the Epcot resort parking lots clogged up with all the Epcot visitors.
Since we try to avoid breaking the rules, we will park at boardwalk only if we plan to be there only a few hours, and always stop and both eat somewhere- even if just the bakery or pizza- and shop and buy something so that we have not technically broken any rules. you are permitted to park there to eat and shop on the boardwalk

 

[AngryEyes]

I had been thinking about the Illuminations exit. That's one of the thoughts that prompted the question.

Now, I thought one of the perks I receive for staying onsite is that I have access to all parking lots within the World. Is that not true? Does that only apply to theme parks?

 

[boilerpicc]

Thanks again for all the responses, guys. I could have sworn I read that you could walk to DHS or Epcot or both from several resorts in the Epcot area. I guess that's not true? What's the International Gateway for? Are they just taunting me?

You can absolutely walk (or take a boat) to Epcot and DHS from the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach, and the Swan and Dolphin. We always walk from those resorts when we are staying there. It is especially cool in the mornings when the World Showcase isn't open yet. You get to cut through to the front while all of the employees are getting set up for the day. It just doesn't make sense in your particular case. The International Gateway is between the UK and France pavilions and just about exactly opposite Mexico. If you came that way, you would have to walk from the resorts to the gate and then halfway around the lagoon to get to your dinner, which is about the same distance as coming in the front. You might has well save the hassle of driving your car and just take the monorail.

 

[olinecoach61]

Without a doubt Take the monorail! It's one of the best benefits of staying on the monorail loop. Plus it's awesome!

 

[SMS55]

Thanks again for all the responses, guys. I could have sworn I read that you could walk to DHS or Epcot or both from several resorts in the Epcot area. I guess that's not true? What's the International Gateway for? Are they just taunting me?

From EPCOT to HS Studios you can walk. There's a walk path along the ferry route but it's a bit of a walk.

 

[Zortek]

I had been thinking about the Illuminations exit. That's one of the thoughts that prompted the question.

Now, I thought one of the perks I receive for staying onsite is that I have access to all parking lots within the World. Is that not true? Does that only apply to theme parks?

That is not true. Resort parking lots are for guests of the resort and people using the facilities of that resort. If that wasn't the case, I think you would see a lot of people parking at the contemporary to walk to the MK.