Originally Posted By MickeyChick Which parks are easiest to get to directly from other parks? What I want to know, for example, is: It’s easiest to get from Park A to Park B, but to get from Park A to Park C takes a long time. I hope that makes sense.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss They're all roughly the same, IMO, and a lot depends on when the next bus/boat/monorail arrives. I think the closest/shortest it gets is between Epcot and the Studios... you can take a boat from the International Gateway at Epcot to the Studios.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I always drive there so hopping is absolutely no hastle for me. Just jump in the car or, if its between MK and Epcot the monorail and as quick as you can say, "Bob's you uncle" I am there.
Originally Posted By Labuda On occasion, I've found it quicker to hop a bus from D-MGM to a nearby resort (like Caribbean Beach) then hop a bus there to anotehr park. From Epcot, it's quickest to walk or boat from the International Gateway back to the D-MGM Studios. MK to Epcot - I usually take monorail since that's the easiest, even though you can occasionally run into traffic clearance delays. To Dak - just hop a bus to DAK Lodge if you see one waiting or coming,t hen bus from DAK Lodge to DAK. Or, just hop a bus directly to DAK from any other park.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins Since we're taking the train to Orlando and there is no Magical Express from the train station, I'm debating how to get to WDW. Goofyrnmost, are you saying it is much more convenient and quicker to drive from park to park? Do you think it is so worth it that it would be worth renting a car (big enough to hold the seven of us and luggage) just for park hopping? Do the parks charge parking if you're staying on property? We're not planning on leaving WDW at all during our stay so the car would be strictly for park hopping.
Originally Posted By Friar Tuck and Roll Since a come from soth Florida and always bring my own car, I would say that for the most part driving is generally faster than waiting for Disney transportation. There are only two major exceptions. One is hopping between MK and Epcot. That is almost always easier with the monorail. THe other expection is the end of the night at the Magic Kingdom. There it is usually better to use the bus transprotation if you are staying on property. A car is also convient if you ever do need anything from outside WDW. For example, most WDW hotel shops and resturants close at or before midnight (excluding the Contemporary's arcade). Many times I have used my car to go get something from Goody's Supermarket which is open 24 hours (across from Downtown Disney). Also, while you may not see it now you might want to see other thing in Orlando and a car is absoluty necessary.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Goofyrnmost, are you saying it is much more convenient and quicker to drive from park to park? Do you think it is so worth it that it would be worth renting a car (big enough to hold the seven of us and luggage) just for park hopping? Do the parks charge parking if you're staying on property? We're not planning on leaving WDW at all during our stay so the car would be strictly for park hopping.<<< Since you asked so nicely, I will be happy to give you my opinion on this subject. Keep in mind that my decisions are based on some personal feelings of the need for flexibility and to not be dependent on others for my needs. That said, this is why I prefer it. In the time that people spend waiting for a bus or transferring from one to another I am there. Once one overcomes the irrational fear of getting lost on site (really, if you can read signs it's not a problem) finding your way around the World is quite easy. I want to come and go as I please so I find a car not just handy but a necessity. I do not like being held captive by one group even if it's Disney. If I want to spend a dollar someplace besides there, I don't want an act of congress to do so. If I want to run to a store, see other Florida sites (there are many, many of those) I want to be able to do so when I want to, not when someone else has a trip scheduled. I want to be able to arrive at the parks when I want and leave the same way. If I want to leave for an hour or so I don't want to spend two hours just being transported. The low cost of car rental in Florida makes it very economical to have one. I'd have one even if I didn't use it just so I would know that I could if I wanted too, but that's just me. If you stay on site, there is no additional charge for parking your car and if you don't then $10.00 per day or whatever it is now, is quite reasonable, in my mind. If you can afford to go to Disney the parking fee will not be the deal breaker. This part is really more of a personal thing but I love to explore. I will get in the car, in Florida, with no particular destination in mind and just wander about seeing the area. I also love to go to other places like the Kennedy Space Center, SeaWorld, Universal, Cypress Gardens, Tampa's Sunshine Bridge, Silver Springs, beaches on the west or east coast and the list goes on and on. Don't get me wrong, I love the mouse, but I find that if I take a day or two away during my trip, I just plain appreciate it more. And that's not even mentioning how many great eating establishments that are just off site. Good food at a considerably lower price. Those are most of my reasons but you have to do what works best for you. I find the convenience of having my own transportation something that I am not willing to do without. You must decide for yourself if it is for you.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Which parks are easiest to get to directly from other parks?<< DL and DCA are the easiest since their main entrances are only 200 feet away from each other and takes a minute to cross over from one to the next. 2nd best hopping? DLP and WDSP, as it takes only 3 minutes to walk from one to the other thru the lovely Fantasia Gardens and esplanade. 3rd best hopping? TDL and TDS. From TDL to TDS is only about 7 minutes on the monorail, and back from TDS to TDL takes about 5 mins. Now... as for WDW. It can take you anywhere from 25 mins to 1 hour to park hop, depending on traffic conditions and monorail/ferry situation AND if you do not have your own (or rented) car. Ideally, the best hopping can be done from the MK to EPCOT thru the monorail system, but since the monorails are always on some kind of a delayed situation... this may take as long as 45 mins to accomplish some times. The other best park hop option at WDW is to walk from Epcot to MGM, which takes me on average about 25 mins (when taking the International Gateway route thru the Boardwalk Resort.) Everything else.. if you do not have your car, you are at the mercy of WDW's bus system and travel times from one park to the next are simply unpredictible, because no one cares to run the system on a dependable schedule. So good luck.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins >>>I also love to go to other places like the Kennedy Space Center<<< Ooh, if that is anywhere near WDW, I'm getting a car. Is it?
Originally Posted By TDLFAN About an hour away from WDW...I-4 east to Beachline east, then follow the signs. However, I woould skip it until the summer when they will open their Space Shuttle Experience simulator attraction.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins ^^^I'm going to HAVE to check this out! I'll look it up on the internet. We're going in November and I have a daughter that is going to be an astronaut. She's especially interested in the space shuttles. I am so glad you guys passed this along to me.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins Oh, I didn't mean that she is going to be an astronaut. More like she wants to grow up to be one. But it could happen.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Nothing is impossible. Allow your daughter to pursue her dreams and make you proud of her accomplishments.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost And, even though they will be adding to the experience in the summer, the Space Center is a very interesting place to visit. When you walk under a huge missile, the type used to propel them to the moon, it is very humbling. The simulated launch and control room along with Imax movies and show type displays are not only educational but very, very eye opening. Like TDLFAN said, it is about 1 hour away on the Bee Line Express, easy to find and should be seen by everyone.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Agreed. Kennedy Space Center is awesome and it is unique in the World. A do not miss expereience in my books.
Originally Posted By LadyandtheTramp Goofyernmost: They've renamed the Bee Line to Beachline, with all of the signs changed appropriately, so you want to be sure you're looking for the right name, or you can be driving around forever.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Well, imagine that! Nobody cleared that change with me. I will have to have my people make some calls. Anyway, Beachline is pretty close to Bee Line, so I guess it's OK.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle We noticed the name change on our last trip in November. Road signs were changed over to Beachline, but even a recent AAA map still had Beeline on it. It was a little confusing, but we figured it out fairly easily. We'd been before so knew we were going in the right direction. ;-) nemopoppins, if you are staying on property without a car, you can easily rent one for the day through the Alamo/National agency at the Car Care Center near MK. They offer a service to pick you up at your resort and take you back once you've returned the car. We've done that a couple of times now and each time it's been easy and efficient. Kennedy is on our 'must' list whenever we visit WDW.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins Beeline/Beachline. I probably would have recognized it and thought that Beeline was just some local nickname. And thank you for the rent a car tip. I'm sure we won't be parkhopping or leaving the resort every day.
Originally Posted By u k fan I can add that the shuttles to and from the Car Care Center work really well. A few years ago we rented a car from National and upon returning the car we were given the option to go anywhere on resort. We decided to go to the MK and as we were leaving the shuttle my brother realized that he had left his pass back at the resort (All-Star Sports). The shuttle driver (an ex-cabbie from NY) offered to drive my Bro back to the All-Stars and then waited for him and took him back to the MK, dropping him off near the contemporary so he wouldn't need to get the monorail/ferry. An excellent service!!!
