Question About Buses

ObscurityPoint

ObscurityPoint

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
So me and a friend have plans to be in Florida during the first week of March, and are looking to spend a day at Disney, probably on a Tuesday or Wednesday. We’re most likely aiming for MK, but also were going to spend some time at Disney Springs that night. Is it possible to arrive and park for free at Disney Springs, around say 9 am, and take a bus to MK for rope drop? I know that DS buses don’t go directly to the parks, but does anyone know if it’s possible to take a bus from DS to a resort and then hop on another bus to MK in the morning? It would just make it easier for us to avoid parking at the TTC and trying to find a spot at DS that night. Thanks!
 
Queen of the WDW Scene

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
DS parking is for DS only.
Park at the TTC and then drive to DS.
Also you won't get to MK at rope drop if you are arriving to a parking lot at 9am.
Arrive at the TTC about 45 minutes prior to park opening.
 
P

plutofan15

Well-Known Member
I believe that busses for Disney Springs start running 45 minutes prior to Disney Springs opening. You will not be able to make rope drop at Magic Kingdom with a 10:00am opening at the Springs.
 
CaptainAmerica

CaptainAmerica

Premium Member
ObscurityPoint said:
So me and a friend have plans to be in Florida during the first week of March, and are looking to spend a day at Disney, probably on a Tuesday or Wednesday. We’re most likely aiming for MK, but also were going to spend some time at Disney Springs that night. Is it possible to arrive and park for free at Disney Springs, around say 9 am, and take a bus to MK for rope drop? I know that DS buses don’t go directly to the parks, but does anyone know if it’s possible to take a bus from DS to a resort and then hop on another bus to MK in the morning? It would just make it easier for us to avoid parking at the TTC and trying to find a spot at DS that night. Thanks!
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No. If you're not a resort guest, you don't get free parking.
 
ObscurityPoint

ObscurityPoint

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
CaptainAmerica said:
No. If you're not a resort guest, you don't get free parking.
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I’m pretty sure you still get free parking at DS if you aren’t a resort guest. I was there in February and was able to park at DS when I was staying at some hotel near Universal. Same goes for all the previous years when it was Downtown Disney.
 
Queen of the WDW Scene

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
ObscurityPoint said:
I’m pretty sure you still get free parking at DS if you aren’t a resort guest. I was there in February and was able to park at DS when I was staying at some hotel near Universal. Same goes for all the previous years when it was Downtown Disney.
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The DS parking area is free and is only for those visiting DS. Otherwise you do not park there period. If everyone does it you'll find that there will no longer be free parking at DS. People need to stop cheating the system and trying to get something for nothing
 
DisNerd86

DisNerd86

Member
Queen of the WDW Screne said:
The DS parking area is free and is only for those visiting DS. Otherwise you do not park there period. If everyone does it you'll find that there will no longer be free parking at DS. People need to stop cheating the system and trying to get something for nothing
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Are there signs at DS that say this? The disney springs website only says this:

Free Self-Parking
Self-parking is complimentary in all surface lots and garages, providing direct access to Disney Springs.

I know that the implication here is that it is for visitors of Disney Springs but that's not how it reads exactly. And if you go to visit Disney Springs and then want to go check out a resort and then come back to Springs, is that not an appropriate use of the parking garage? Just curious if there is more clear signage in the actual garages.
 
Queen of the WDW Scene

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
DisNerd86 said:
Are there signs at DS that say this? The disney springs website only says this:

Free Self-Parking
Self-parking is complimentary in all surface lots and garages, providing direct access to Disney Springs.

I know that the implication here is that it is for visitors of Disney Springs but that's not how it reads exactly. And if you go to visit Disney Springs and then want to go check out a resort and then come back to Springs, is that not an appropriate use of the parking garage? Just curious if there is more clear signage in the actual garages.
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Well I'm visually impaired so unforutnately I cannot answer your sign question.
You may want to check the next time you go.
My point is when people take advantage of using DS as a free park and ride when that is not its intention Disney will decide that parking at DS will be the same price as parking at the theme parks which in the end really hurts those that just wanted to go to DS for the evening like my parents who often go to DS during their trips to central Florida even if they are not planning on staying onsite or going to a Disney park but rather just want to do some Christmas shopping.
 
ObscurityPoint

ObscurityPoint

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Queen of the WDW Screne said:
Well I'm visually impaired so unforutnately I cannot answer your sign question.
You may want to check the next time you go.
My point is when people take advantage of using DS as a free park and ride when that is not its intention Disney will decide that parking at DS will be the same price as parking at the theme parks which in the end really hurts those that just wanted to go to DS for the evening like my parents who often go to DS during their trips to central Florida even if they are not planning on staying onsite or going to a Disney park but rather just want to do some Christmas shopping.
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I understand your point, but considering that this has been going on since Downtown Disney opened, I don’t believe Disney sees it as much as a problem. If they did then they would have switched to paid parking when they transitioned to DS. The majority of guests/crowds who are unfamiliar with Disney property don’t tend to think of this option anyway. As bad as this sounds, I’m still going to take advantage of a situation that cuts costs for a quick trip when Disney is still providing the free transportation.
 
Queen of the WDW Scene

Queen of the WDW Scene

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
ObscurityPoint said:
I understand your point, but considering that this has been going on since Downtown Disney opened, I don’t believe Disney sees it as much as a problem. If they did then they would have switched to paid parking when they transitioned to DS. The majority of guests/crowds who are unfamiliar with Disney property don’t tend to think of this option anyway. As bad as this sounds, I’m still going to take advantage of a situation that cuts costs for a quick trip when Disney is still providing the free transportation.
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Great so you are publicly letting the forum know you intend to cheat the system. You are such a great person.
 
M

MissingDisney

Well-Known Member
Disney Springs (Town Center): This is where to find buses departing to and arriving from the Disney Resort hotels. Disney Springs buses start running at 8:30 a.m. The bus driver will announce the latest bus return time.
Typhoon Lagoon: Bus service will begin 1 hour prior to the park opening time listed for that day.
Blizzard Beach: Bus service will begin 1 hour prior to the park opening time listed for that day.

So, when they drop off, they also pick up. We’ve “transferred buses“ at DS early in the morning, often prior to 8:30 am.
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Queen of the WDW Screne said:
Great so you are publicly letting the forum know you intend to cheat the system. You are such a great person.
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Heck yea, lets have them arrested. People have been doing that for a long time. Even though it seems like cheating the system by not paying $25 for parking there is a cost and that is time and hassle. Considering that the cost for one day is minuscule to park, comparatively, they paid a lot more to get into the park and now they are cheating themselves out of their limited time in them. It may have saved twenty five bucks, but it cost them a lot more then that when one considers the hourly cost in the parks.

It's going to take a minimum of an hour each way depending on timing, so sometimes much more. It works if you are going to MK, but any other park requires more lost time waiting for a second bus, or walking the extra distances to make the connections. If all that is standing between them and a couple of hours extra park time is the parking fee, perhaps Disney isn't the place to go. It is penny wise and pound foolish to do it that way. That is why Disney really doesn't do anything about it. Most people realize that it is a waste of time and money. What Disney does is make it difficult and counterintuitive to make it universally unattractive to do. Therefore, most do not even attempt it. It's not even a rule, just a desire on their part. No one going to enforce a rule/desire which I don't think is even publicized except in places like the discussion boards by us.
 
ObscurityPoint

ObscurityPoint

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
While I didn’t intend to bring so much conflict on a simple question I had which I figured was already well known by park regulars like yourselves, I will ask this, from the TTC, are you able to walk directly to MK or must you take the monorail/ferry? Like can you walk directly from TTC to Contemporary on a sidewalk and the make the walk over?
 
larryz

larryz

I'm Just A Tourist!
Premium Member
ObscurityPoint said:
While I didn’t intend to bring so much conflict on a simple question I had which I figured was already well known by park regulars like yourselves, I will ask this, from the TTC, are you able to walk directly to MK or must you take the monorail/ferry? Like can you walk directly from TTC to Contemporary on a sidewalk and the make the walk over?
Click to expand...
You must take transport (monorail or ferry), at least until the walking path is complete over by the Grand Floridian.
 

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