Strongly Considering a Trip to WDW: Please Help me plan or talk me out of it

[Little Green Men]

I’m very intrigued by American Adventure. Have no idea what to expect.

How long does it take to get on a bus on average?

Busses can take anywhere from 1 min to an hour depending on when you time it. Ofc Covid might have them running even slower. The transportation system is great at WDW though, the skyliner, monorails, and ferries are extremely efficient.

 

[TP2000]

I will say, if you do the Uber thing to Universal and it's time to go back to WDW, don't mess around with theme park pick up. Much like I do at Disneyland, just go into the nearest Deluxe hotel to Islands of Adventure and summon an Uber from the lobby.

Before Disneyland closed, I did this all the time from the Grand Californian. I'd walk out of the park and instead of fighting the masses in that horrific pick-up lot on Harbor Blvd., I'd walk like a civilized man into the lobby of the Grand Californian. I'd then summon an Uber from my location inside the Grand Californian, and about 3 minutes later an Uber would pull up out on the valet drive of the Grand Californian. I'd get in to the Uber without any crowds or fuss, and off we'd go quickly onto Disneyland Drive and I'd be home to Villa Park about 15 minutes later.

Meanwhile, all the schleps on Harbor Blvd. would be fighting with each other over which silver Corolla was which and it would take them 20 minutes just to get out of that messy lot.

Don't ever under-estimate the power of a big fancy hotel lobby to summon an Uber from. This has worked for me in downtown LA, downtown Seattle, San Diego's gaslamp district, leaving a crowded nightclub in West Hollywood, after last call in Palm Springs, etc., etc. If it can work there, it certainly has to work in a Florida swamp.

 

[mickEblu]

I love this idea! I think you should do it! Because if not now, when?

All of the current issues seem to minimize your particular weaknesses (small children, minimal entertainment that a small child won't care about, first time visit) while maximizing your strengths (low Covid crowds, cheap travel, good weather in late winter, etc.).

And you've already received some very valuable advice here in this thread from others in tune with your particular young family demographic. That said, I will offer up my unique advice from the perspective of a Disneyland expert. Ready?


WDW is big, and it's not efficient. You'll need to get used to waiting around for buses and long commutes on not-so-efficient mass transit that seemed cool in the 1970's but hasn't aged well. Get your mind ready for a long morning commute and a similarly long evening commute back to the hotel, and you'll be fine. Don't expect speediness, or efficiency. You are on vacation, so just try and slow down and don't expect crispness or professionalism from the WDW CM's who are in charge of the various transportation systems. If a random WDW CM somehow summons up some crispness or professionalism, consider it a fun bonus!


There used to be a whole science behind this. But now, in the age of Covid, who knows? I wouldn't worry about it, but realize that the first park people want to see is Magic Kingdom, then Epcot, then the other two.


I would plan for two days in Magic Kingdom. Not only because it has the most to do of any WDW park, but is about the same as DCA in comparison for things to do, but also because it's a fun compare/contrast that will make you exceptionally thankful for Disneyland once you get home. My second choice for a second day is Epcot, because it's just physically big and has at least a couple of major rides that you could do twice and still be very entertained. The other two WDW parks are a one and done, thank you ma'am.



The food in the actual parks is not as good as the park food at Disneyland or DCA. That said, Disney Springs and a couple of the Deluxe hotels have some very good restaurants to offer. These are big cheesy, corporate offerings. But you are on vacation and you probably just want a big, cheesy corporate dinner served up by a smiling waitress from Georgia. So just go with it, and enjoy what passes for gastronomy in the swamps of central Florida!



Eh, it seems that Covid has rewritten these rules. I think you are going to be okay without park hoppers, especially with the almost complete lack of nighttime entertainment in the parks.



Pre-Covid, people raved about Disney's Magical Express and its checked baggage system. During Covid? Who knows? It would seem to be a toss-up over doing the Magical Express thing, or just being an adult and grabbing your own damn bag off the baggage carousel and summoning an Uber in 90 seconds to take you directly to Coronado Springs to check in like a grown man. But maybe with a wife and small kids the Magical Express thing makes it easier? Either way, it's not going to be too painful.


Realize that the Universal Studios park in Orlando is just a big fake poseur of a theme park in a swamp. They haven't even filmed a Dr. Pepper commercial there recently, much less an actual movie or 100 years of movie history like the Hollywood original version of this knock-off theme park. There is no tram tour. There is no industry. It's a fake theme park built on a swamp. I would instead focus on the Islands of Adventure theme park next door, that doesn't try to be anything but a cheesy theme park in a swamp. Embrace it! Live it! Enjoy it! Don't try and lie!

If you want a real Universal Studios, you know where to get it in North Hollywood. When in Orlando just try and do what the swamp creatures do and spend a day at Islands of Adventure. Leave the real movie industry parks to California, when you get home.


Uber? I'm sure there's some shuttle bus or something that's cheaper. But just walking out the front door of your hotel and summoning an Uber to take you to the front entrance of Universal Studios has to be the best bang for your buck. You are on vacation, don't try and save 5 bucks by making your life more difficult than it needs to be.

No! I love this! Mainly because I don't have to do it and can live vicariously through you. But you are young, you are healthy, you have disposable income. Do this! Don't think too much about it. Just do it! And take lots of pictures! Especially take pictures with people wearing masks and obeying Social Distancing, because 20 years from now your kids are going to laugh hysterically at it!

LOL thanks for this TP! Lots of good stuff here! I promise a juicy trip report with lots of pics.

 

[mickEblu]

I will say, if you do the Uber thing to Universal and it's time to go back to WDW, don't mess around with theme park pick up. Much like I do at Disneyland, just go into the nearest Deluxe hotel to Islands of Adventure and summon an Uber from the lobby.

Before Disneyland closed, I did this all the time from the Grand Californian. I'd walk out of the park and instead of fighting the masses in that horrific pick-up lot on Harbor Blvd., I'd walk like a civilized man into the lobby of the Grand Californian. I'd then summon an Uber from my location inside the Grand Californian, and about 3 minutes later an Uber would pull up out on the valet drive of the Grand Californian. I'd get in to the Uber without any crowds or fuss, and off we'd go quickly onto Disneyland Drive and I'd be home to Villa Park about 15 minutes later.

Meanwhile, all the schleps on Harbor Blvd. would be fighting with each other over which silver Corolla was which and it would take them 20 minutes just to get out of that messy lot.

Don't ever under-estimate the power of a big fancy hotel lobby to summon an Uber from. This has worked for me in downtown LA, downtown Seattle, San Diego's gaslamp district, leaving a crowded nightclub in West Hollywood, after last call in Palm Springs, etc., etc. If it can work there, it certainly has to work in a Florida swamp.

I like this approach but I don’t know if it will be as easy for me as I require two car seats in my Uber. I plan on using the shuttle from the Hilton at Disney Springs to go to the parks - it has no other stops.

Since I’m not eligible for the Magical Express I’m going to use a car service from the airport to Disney World and vide versa on the way back.

 

[mickEblu]

Busses can take anywhere from 1 min to an hour depending on when you time it. Ofc Covid might have them running even slower. The transportation system is great at WDW though, the skyliner, monorails, and ferries are extremely efficient.

Thanks. I think I’m going to go with the Hilton at Disney Springs which has a shuttle that leaves a few times in the mornings and picks up few times at night. No other stops which is nice. Still want to do the skyliner and Monorail / MK resorts on my down days though.

 

[mickEblu]

I would say the no internal bus loop would be a massive perk.

That should be the case with the Hilton, but in my experience the only way to get precise transportation information from a hotel is to call the front desk and ask. I've seen WAY too many website for hotels by all the various companies over the years that list 'transportation available" but apparently can't be bothered to give specific info.

While he has pretty much decided to skip Universal, I still think that the Orlando Resort, as a theme park resort, is easily better than Hollywood. It's not a real studio, true, but they've long since stopped pretending that it is. And if you remove the Studio Tour from the equation, the Hollywood park is pretty lightweight by comparison. Between Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld, I'd say Universal is the only one that clearly and unambiguously gives the better theme park experience in Florida.

There's one other massive UOR perk that Hollywood can't boast: you can skip Fast and Furious! You can pretend it doesn't exist! Unlike USH, you are not forced to tolerate it in the context of your otherwise-wonderful Studio Tour! You can walk right by it, 100% confident that you will never find yourself in the middle of it! But it's there, all the same, should you feel the need to gauge your eyes out at any moment during your theme park day.

Unlike Hollywood, Universal Orlando lets you decide whether or not you wish to inflict F&TF upon yourself, and I think that's beautiful.

This is the way. Just called them. There is one other hotel that shares the shuttle but we are the first stop so no other stops for me.

Yeah sounds much better than potentially waiting an hour for a bus with multiple stops.

 

[TP2000]

I like this approach but I don’t know if it will be as easy for me as I require two car seats in my Uber. I plan on using the shuttle from the Hilton at Disney Springs to go to the parks - it has no other stops.

Since I’m not eligible for the Magical Express I’m going to use a car service from the airport to Disney World and vide versa on the way back.

Oh. Car seats. I forget about those. That's a law now, right?

In my day you'd just stash the kidd-o's in the rear of the wagon and let them stare out the back window and hoped you'd raised them well enough not to make obscene gestures at your fellow motorists. If you weren't flipped the bird by a burly man in a big Chrysler, you knew you'd raised 'em right.

But, sure. Safety. Security. Car seats. You do you.

 

[TP2000]

LOL thanks for this TP! Lots of good stuff here! I promise a juicy trip report with lots of pics.

If you didn't have young children included in the itinerary, I would suggest you take one of the fabulously bad guided tours that WDW offers for hundreds of dollars per person, like the Keys To The Kingdom Tour or the From Marceline To The Magic Kingdom Tour.

You could then spend your vacation time listening to a very poorly trained and tragically managed tour guide tell you an endless stream of lies and fabrications and urban legends that mostly involve Disneyland and Walt Disney, and then you could report back here to let us all laugh at how badly managed the Walt Disney World Resort is in the 21st century.

But, since you have kids and a wife who probably doesn't want to be punked as part of her vacation, it's probably best you avoid the messy mess that is WDW's guided tour program.

 

[mickEblu]

Oh. Car seats. I forget about those. That's a law now, right?

In my day you'd just stash the kidd-o's in the rear of the wagon and let them stare out the back window and hoped you'd raised them well enough not to make obscene gestures at your fellow motorists. If you weren't flipped the bird by a burly man in a big Chrysler, you knew you'd raised 'em right.

But, sure. Safety. Security. Car seats. You do you.

Hahah oh I remember those days. Of course those days for me are the 80s. But I remember being around 7 years old laying down in the truck bed while my family drove Around the city. Cant remember if it was parents or uncles etc. What the heck were my parents thinking? I can’t remember details of how far we drove. But they were major streets.

Anyway they are required now unless you are in a shuttle or bus.

 

[Tuvalu]

You will regret using offsite transportation.

The Hilton does not use Disney buses. None of the Disney Springs resorts use it. Offsite bus drop offs at the parks are far from the park entrances. For the MK, you will still need to board the monorail or ferry from the TTC lot to get to the park. Disney buses drop off at the MK entrance.

Disney buses run every ~20 minutes. During my 3 pandemic trips I never waited more than 10 minutes. The bus service is fantastic. An offsite hotel will have a set schedule and if you miss the bus you are SOL. With Disney, there’s always another bus on the way. You will get where you need to be faster EVEN if you choose a resort with an internal bus system. And if you need to get back mid-day for your infant or 5 year old, it will be much easier and convenient if you are on property.

Offsite hotels may be cheaper (or offer nicer rooms at a lower price) and work well for couples or families with older children. With an infant and kindergartner? I wouldn’t ~ unless I had my own car as transportation.

 

[mlayton144]

You will regret using offsite transportation.

The Hilton does not use Disney buses. None of the Disney Springs resorts use it. Offsite bus drop offs at the parks are far from the park entrances. For the MK, you will still need to board the monorail or ferry from the TTC lot to get to the park. Disney buses drop off at the MK entrance.

Disney buses run every ~20 minutes. During my 3 pandemic trips I never waited more than 10 minutes. The bus service is fantastic. An offsite hotel will have a set schedule and if you miss the bus you are SOL. With Disney, there’s always another bus on the way. You will get where you need to be faster EVEN if you choose a resort with an internal bus system. And if you need to get back mid-day for your infant or 5 year old, it will be much easier and convenient if you are on property.

Offsite hotels may be cheaper (or offer nicer rooms at a lower price) and work well for couples or families with older children. With an infant and kindergartner? I wouldn’t ~ unless I had my own car as transportation.

Completely agree with everything above , I wouldn’t stay outside the bubble unless money is truly the driving factor. In terms of the size of the CBR , are you relatively young that can walk a few extra steps or an old cranky geezer like TP2000? I would much rather walk through a nice resort on way to skyliner than wait on a bus from an offsite hotel that may or not arrive on time and then drop you at the half-paved auxiliary parking lot at the TTC for the MK. On-site Buses generally arrive every 15 or 20 mins or so unlike offsite which might be every hour or 2. A day in the bubble , no matter where you stay will involve 5-10 miles of walking , but you are young right? If you are going to WDW and won’t be back anytime soon, why would you forgo the bubble which is a key difference from the DLR?

Another myth from TP2000 is the food, WDW has many many more good and varied table service options than DLR - are they overpriced , yes just like our sister DLR restaurants out west.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Lots of good info here but I’d add this thought- the most important piece of visiting WDW as a Disneyland local is to take advantage of what makes WDW unique. Take boat rides on the Seven Seas lagoon, the monorail when you can, ride the Skyliner, relax and explore the resorts, soak up Disney Springs. Take time to enjoy your pool, especially at night. Even take a resort bus to visit an out of the way place like Port Orleans Riverside just to have a drink. When you’re at a park, go deep land by land and enjoy the details instead of running from one end of the park to the other to check off a to do list.

 

[Tuvalu]

Lots of good info here but I’d add this thought- the most important piece of visiting WDW as a Disneyland local is to take advantage of what makes WDW unique. Take boat rides on the Seven Seas lagoon, the monorail when you can, ride the Skyliner, relax and explore the resorts, soak up Disney Springs. Take time to enjoy your pool, especially at night. Even take a resort bus to visit an out of the way place like Port Orleans Riverside just to have a drink. When you’re at a park, go deep land by land and enjoy the details instead of running from one end of the park to the other to check off a to do list.

Agree! Though Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter are currently closed and do not have a reopening date.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

Agree! Though Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter are currently closed and do not have a reopening date.

That’s too bad! Really wonderful atmosphere there.

 

[SaltyD]

You will regret using offsite transportation.

The Hilton does not use Disney buses. None of the Disney Springs resorts use it. Offsite bus drop offs at the parks are far from the park entrances. For the MK, you will still need to board the monorail or ferry from the TTC lot to get to the park. Disney buses drop off at the MK entrance.

Disney buses run every ~20 minutes. During my 3 pandemic trips I never waited more than 10 minutes. The bus service is fantastic. An offsite hotel will have a set schedule and if you miss the bus you are SOL. With Disney, there’s always another bus on the way. You will get where you need to be faster EVEN if you choose a resort with an internal bus system. And if you need to get back mid-day for your infant or 5 year old, it will be much easier and convenient if you are on property.

Offsite hotels may be cheaper (or offer nicer rooms at a lower price) and work well for couples or families with older children. With an infant and kindergartner? I wouldn’t ~ unless I had my own car as transportation.

I agree with staying off property....staying in the World creates a wonderful vacation bubble - the feeling that the world is going on around you while you enjoy a Disney vacation. There's also something to be said that when you return to your Disney resort you still feel like you're in Disney - not at a resort for the day.

Transportation IS plentiful in Disney - buses come often, you are still "in" Disney while on a bus, which your son will enjoy. And there truly IS a convenience to staying in the World with young kids - your wait for a Disney bus back to your Disney resort will be much more enjoyable than a wait for a shuttle bus back to the Hilton. Plus the convenience location of the pick up and drop off of the Disney buses.

The staying offsite may look more attractive on paper and in the wallet, but staying in Disney still offers perks that will be well worth it!

 

[PiratesMansion]

You will regret using offsite transportation.

The Hilton does not use Disney buses. None of the Disney Springs resorts use it. Offsite bus drop offs at the parks are far from the park entrances. For the MK, you will still need to board the monorail or ferry from the TTC lot to get to the park. Disney buses drop off at the MK entrance.

Disney buses run every ~20 minutes. During my 3 pandemic trips I never waited more than 10 minutes. The bus service is fantastic. An offsite hotel will have a set schedule and if you miss the bus you are SOL. With Disney, there’s always another bus on the way. You will get where you need to be faster EVEN if you choose a resort with an internal bus system. And if you need to get back mid-day for your infant or 5 year old, it will be much easier and convenient if you are on property.

Offsite hotels may be cheaper (or offer nicer rooms at a lower price) and work well for couples or families with older children. With an infant and kindergartner? I wouldn’t ~ unless I had my own car as transportation.

I had read that Hilton had used the Disney buses in the past from Unofficial Guide, and I remember that particular fact was in their publication for YEARS. Perhaps they changed, or maybe that was one of those things that UO just was never correct about.

@mickEblu if that is correct, that they use a different, sporadic bus system, that is unfortunately a wrinkle worth considering (though I do think some of the people that have replied since are overestimating the value of the "bubble" and the current "perks" of current covid WDW). While I do think the value of the WDW bus system is oversold, more frequent bus service is definitely going to be helpful for you and your family if that's how you're primarily going to be commuting to the parks. OR you could ignore the bus system and drive to the parks. Ah, the agony and ecstasy of WDW planning!

 

[rreading]

You will regret using offsite transportation.

The Hilton does not use Disney buses. None of the Disney Springs resorts use it. Offsite bus drop offs at the parks are far from the park entrances. For the MK, you will still need to board the monorail or ferry from the TTC lot to get to the park. Disney buses drop off at the MK entrance.

Disney buses run every ~20 minutes. During my 3 pandemic trips I never waited more than 10 minutes. The bus service is fantastic. An offsite hotel will have a set schedule and if you miss the bus you are SOL. With Disney, there’s always another bus on the way. You will get where you need to be faster EVEN if you choose a resort with an internal bus system. And if you need to get back mid-day for your infant or 5 year old, it will be much easier and convenient if you are on property.

Offsite hotels may be cheaper (or offer nicer rooms at a lower price) and work well for couples or families with older children. With an infant and kindergartner? I wouldn’t ~ unless I had my own car as transportation.

+1.

To me, the whole point of WDW is to be in the bubble. Were I only able to stay off-site, I would probably visit only every few years. I would stay at Caribbean Beach with the skyliner as your transportation to 2 of the four parks. The skyliner is fun and efficient - almost as much as the monorail. Ideally, you would stay at a monorail resort (have you looked at renting DVC points?) but the skyliner is a second best transportation option.

 

[mickEblu]

I had read that Hilton had used the Disney buses in the past from Unofficial Guide, and I remember that particular fact was in their publication for YEARS. Perhaps they changed, or maybe that was one of those things that UO just was never correct about.

@mickEblu if that is correct, that they use a different, sporadic bus system, that is unfortunately a wrinkle worth considering (though I do think some of the people that have replied since are overestimating the value of the "bubble" and the current "perks" of current covid WDW). While I do think the value of the WDW bus system is oversold, more frequent bus service is definitely going to be helpful for you and your family if that's how you're primarily going to be commuting to the parks. OR you could ignore the bus system and drive to the parks. Ah, the agony and ecstasy of WDW planning!

After I got off the phone with the Front desk at the Hilton last night I decided to look at Yelp reviews where someone was saying it took on average 40 minutes to the get to the parks as one shuttle would stop at all 4 parks. I realized the guy I spoke with on the phone spoke of there being no stops on the way back but never got into specifics of the mornings other than mentioning the 3 departure times. I’m going to call and confirm but if all of this true and the bus stops are farther than the Disney buses and the overall experience is not as good then I don’t think it’s worth the savings anymore. I was only saving about $500 bucks staying at the Hilton when it was all said and done. The primary factor of me wanting to stay there was the perceived convenience of their shuttle system. Saving on a comparable room/ hotel experience was second. But it’s starting to sound like that’s not really the case? Then another inconvenience of the Hilton is that magical express wouldn’t be an option and id be on my own when it comes to getting to and from the airport. Not a huge deal I guess but another knock on the Hilton.

I honestly don’t mind the fewer departure times and pick up times as the parks are closing so early when I’m there that I have no intention of leaving them before 5 or 6pm. I just want to chose the transportation system that will provide the best overall experience and will be the most convenient with my 2 kids. 3 counting my nephew.

Sounds like Caribbean beach is the way to go. I’ll just have to call them and request a room near the skyliner station.

I also feel like a yo yo going back and forth. Lol. I’ve gone from Coronado to Springs to Caribbean Beach to the Hilton back to Caribbean Beach.


@SaltyD @mlayton144 @Tuvalu @rreading

Thank you all again for all of the great insight!

 

[PiratesMansion]

After I got off the phone with the Front desk at the Hilton last night I decided to look at Yelp reviews where someone was saying it took on average 40 minutes to the get to the parks as one shuttle would stop at all 4 parks. I realized the guy I spoke with on the phone spoke of there being no stops on the way back but never got into specifics of the mornings other than mentioning the 3 departure times. I’m going to call and confirm but if all of this true and the bus stops are farther than the Disney buses and the overall experience is not as good then I don’t think it’s worth the savings anymore. I was only saving about $500 bucks staying at the Hilton when it was all said and done. The primary factor of me wanting to stay there was the perceived convenience of their shuttle system for a comparable room/ hotel experience. But it’s starting to sound like that’s not really the case? Then another inconvenience of the Hilton is that magical express wouldn’t be an option and id be on my own when it comes to getting to and from the airport. Not a huge deal I guess but another knock on the Hilton.

I honestly don’t mind the fewer departure times and pick up times as the parks are closing so early when I’m there that I have no intention of leaving them before 5 or 6pm. I just want to chose the transportation system that will provide the best overall experience and will be the most convenient with my 2 kids. 3 counting my nephew.

Sounds like Caribbean beach is the way to go. I’ll just have to call them and request a room near the skyliner station.

I also feel like a yo yo going back and forth. Lol. I’ve gone from Coronado to Springs to Caribbean Beach to the Hilton back to Caribbean Beach.


@SaltyD @mlayton144 @Tuvalu @rreading

I think, given everything you know and have been looking at, at this point Carribbean Beach sounds like the best option for what you want.

Going back and forth like a yo yo is a signature aspect of WDW planning, even more so during regular times when there's more emphasis on restaurant and FP reservations.

 

[mickEblu]

That’s too bad! Really wonderful atmosphere there.

I would have probably stayed there. Looks like my vibe and price point wasn’t bad when I looked in the past.