Thank You!!! I knew you could not be dropped off close to MK and the Contemporary is a good way to avoid that.
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People who drive to WDW, how do you choose to get to the parks?
- Thread starter geekza
- Start date
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
For the most part we drive every where. I'm dvc so as of yet I don't have to pay parking fees. generally I'm at either the Beach club or Boardwalk so Epcot and HS are walking. every where else I drive.
NYC/Philly gal. I'm on a bus or train almost daily in my real life, absolutely don't want to spend it on a bus on vacation.
NYC/Philly gal. I'm on a bus or train almost daily in my real life, absolutely don't want to spend it on a bus on vacation.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I just don't understand the desire to sacrifice some real nice stuff for the sake of saving a few minutes. What's the hurry to join the packed parks. At this point and since I started, I always take the ferry across Seven Seas to get to and from MK. It is a pleasant and scenic trip with The Poly, The Grand Floridian and The Contemporary as a backdrop of a pleasant ride across the Lagoon. At night with all the lights of MK and the Resorts reflecting off the water is a show in itself. I find it especially handy if I am going to park hop. I use my car so I can park in whatever location that I plan to be my final park of the day (either MK or Epcot) and use the Monorail to go between. If I'm going to end my day in Epcot, I will park there and take the Monorail to MK for whatever time I was planning there, then take it back to Epcot later in the day. I still ride the ferry over to MK simply because I love the scenery and the couple of extra minutes mean nothing. I'm there to take in the wonder that is WDW and that is what I do. I try to draw in every bit of whatever is available and that includes the ambiance. One of the highlights is standing at the bow of the ferry and watching as the Castle gets closer and closer.
OK, I'll admit that it is the small things that make WDW what it has been to me for the past 35 years. My favorite place to go and just leisurely take it all in. Sadly, at this point cost and life have jumped in the way of my experiencing it, at least for now. What possibly is cooler then the following view from the ferry.
OK, I'll admit that it is the small things that make WDW what it has been to me for the past 35 years. My favorite place to go and just leisurely take it all in. Sadly, at this point cost and life have jumped in the way of my experiencing it, at least for now. What possibly is cooler then the following view from the ferry.
eliza61nyc
Well-Known Member
lovely pictures Goofy,
I admit when I stayed at Wilderness lodge I enjoyed taking the ferry over to MK.
And you are absolutely right, the little things in a trip often make them memorable.
All that said, lol I still prefer to drive, now I admit that one of the reasons we started driving is that when our boys were small taking the buses was torture (to me). trying to finagle my strollers and gear onto a crowded bus at night was enough for me to fall on a sword.
Next we started driving because outside of Epcot we prefer the resort restaurants or the ones at Disney springs to the places in MK, HS or AK so it's a lot easier getting to the resorts via car.
I'm addicted to Art Smith's Homecoming. Before that I was addicted to Raglan.
I guess the poll went over me(or I'm over thinking it).. If I drive to the park, how do I drive Disney transportation?
Those of us that did drive there often, know driving includes sitting in traffic either coming or going, I-4 is legally considered a nightmare in 45 of the 48 contiguous states...
Those of us that did drive there often, know driving includes sitting in traffic either coming or going, I-4 is legally considered a nightmare in 45 of the 48 contiguous states...
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I believe it meant if you drive to WDW once you are there do you use your car or those other options listed to get to the parks or generally around WDW property.
World_Showcase_Lover007
Well-Known Member
Normally rent a car if I don’t have mine... waiting for buses takes forever and they catch every red light.
I have to keep moving and a car lets me do that.
I have to keep moving and a car lets me do that.
I'm with you. There's nothing like seeing the MK and the MK resorts from the ferry or monorail. It's purely nostalgia for me, but some of my fondest memories are of arriving at the MK by either the ferry or monorail. It truly felt like leaving the "real world" behind and taking a journey to someplace altogether "outside" of daily life. I'm torn on this trip because my wife has never been to WDW. I want her to have the same experience of arriving at the MK that I love so much, but, from what I understand, neither the monorail nor the ferries start leaving the TTC in the mornings until around 30 minutes before the park opens. With the heavy crowds I'm expecting, it would be a risk to get there in time. On the other hand, our first stop on our touring plan is Pirates, which isn't really one of the places that most people head toward at rope drop, so it isn't an absolute necessity for us to be on Main St. as soon as they open the gates. Nostalgia is going to win out on this one, methinks.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
I have to admit that nostalgia is indeed the motivation for me. I have tried the direct bus experience once and it left a huge gap in my day. It didn't ruin it, but, it did keep me in the "something is missing" feeling all day long. Since then it's strictly the TTC and the ferry across. I take the Monorail for other things even if it is just a round trip ride. Is that 30 minute thing something new? If someone staying at the Poly or Grand Floridian has breakfast ADR's at MK, or the Keys to the Kingdom tour, do they have to take the small boats to get there regardless of the weather? That even applies to people that stay offsite. They can still have ADR's or have set up a tour. I haven't gone until after it opened for years now, so I am not there that early, I have no first hand knowledge.
The MK resort monorail runs much earlier. It's just the one that goes from the TTC. I wonder, though, if it's possible to catch the resort monorail from the TTC earlier or if they simply don't stop at the TTC until 30 minutes before opening. It's been so long since I've been there, that I really have no idea.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Good question, I would think that it does, but, that isn't backed by any proof. There must be a way to find out. I just don't know where it can be found. I cannot fathom that there is no way across for those that have, like I said, ADR or Tours scheduled and don't stay onsite. One way of the other I doubt that they would leave people looking for transportation no matter how much it is said that Disney no longer cares. If they offer something they have to have a way for people to get to it.
EDIT: I just looked it up on the "Info" section of this board and it says that the resort Monorail starts at 7am and the ferry's start 1 hour before opening. It is a little vague, but, it does list that the monorail runs from the TTC and doesn't appear to show any exception. It only specifically states that the express Monorail starts half and hour before park opening.
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danyoung56
Well-Known Member
I couldn't agree with you more, Goof. That's why I always park at the MK lot and take the ferry in. It means a little more hassle at the end of the day, but that trip across the water is well worth it.
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
There’s no one all-purpose answer. It is often a matter of personal preferences. It also depends a good deal on your starting point, destination, and any place you plan to go in-between.
If you use WDW transportation, then you won’t have to worry about having a designated driver. Other times, WDW’s free transportation takes considerably longer than driving. Still, some folks love using Uber of the new Minnie vans.
Whenever we have tested our options, (some of us driving and some taking the bus/monorail/boat) the car people almost always arrive sooner than the bus/boat/monorail group, except the obvious exceptions- like walking from BC/YC over to Epcot.
If you are traveling between CR/Poly/GF, then the monorail is often fastest/easiest.
Alas though, there are a wide number of variables that can make a big difference.
If you use WDW transportation, then you won’t have to worry about having a designated driver. Other times, WDW’s free transportation takes considerably longer than driving. Still, some folks love using Uber of the new Minnie vans.
Whenever we have tested our options, (some of us driving and some taking the bus/monorail/boat) the car people almost always arrive sooner than the bus/boat/monorail group, except the obvious exceptions- like walking from BC/YC over to Epcot.
If you are traveling between CR/Poly/GF, then the monorail is often fastest/easiest.
Alas though, there are a wide number of variables that can make a big difference.
disneyworlddad
Well-Known Member
We stayed at Pork Orleans a couple of years ago and my brother and family stayed there this summer. They took the buses everwhere and lvoed it but they flew in and had never been to Disney before. When we stayed there it was our third trip to the world and we had always stayed offsite before. We drove to each park except magic kingdom. I think it has a real advantage not having to deal with TTC and then monorail or ferry. Case in point, we met my brother and family at MK one night when they were there. We both left at the same time as park was closing. They were back at the resort before we made it to TTC.
Stayed there several times, I always take WDW transportation. Part of our vacation is not having to drive, and worry about parking. After a long day at the park, the last thing we want to do is find our car and figure out how to go home. Especially true at Epcot, want to be able to try some of the specialty cocktails, and not worry about driving.