Episode 819 - I Get Around

Authored by: frandog on Thursday, December 30 2010 @ 10:53 PM CST

Here is a tip if you are traveling from DHS or AK to Epcot: if you just miss the Epcot bus but either the Yacht and Beach club/Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin buses are still there, take one of the resort buses and walk to Epcot through the International gateway.

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Authored by: ccudmore on Friday, December 31 2010 @ 07:06 AM CST

Another tip is to use a "Where did I park my car" iPhone app to remember where I parked the car. Saved my butt at seaworld earlier this year.

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Authored by: EpcotFan1 on Saturday, January 01 2011 @ 03:59 PM CST

I hate how they make you fold up your stroller to ride the parking lot trams. I now walk to the entrance no matter which park I am at. Luckly my family gets to the parks early so it's never too far. Walking sure beats hauling three kids, a folded up stroller and our bags on and off the tram. Thanks for the other great tips you mentioned. I hadn't thought of getting a bus to the resorts within walking distance to the World Showcase. I'm going to use that advice on my next visit!

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Authored by: TriSec13 on Monday, January 03 2011 @ 09:57 AM CST

A friend of mine lost his car at Sea World last time down...I saw a tip at All Ears to snap a picture of the row where you parked on the ol' cell phone. (get the parking area name).

I've read many times that taking the bus to TMK is the way to go....but what about us monorail afficionados? It ain't Disney World unless I get a ride, sorry.

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Authored by: minniemouse on Monday, January 03 2011 @ 03:23 PM CST

We rented a car for the first time in June of 2010 and HATED it.

We got lost all over property. We always knew where we were, but consistently missed turns, causing us to take an additional 10-30min to get where we were going.

Additionally, our Magical Express experiences (5x) have always been quick and painless..as compared to our only rental experience at MCO where it took 1.5-2hrs to wait for our luggage and rent the car.

As a family, we definitely prefer leaving the car at our home airport and using Disney Transportation from the time we arrive at MCO until we depart.

That all said, we will be driving down to WDW this summer. We plan on parking the van at WL and leaving it there for the duration of our stay!

Christine

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Authored by: Thorpeedo on Tuesday, January 04 2011 @ 03:48 PM CST

Never had a car for 3 reasons
1) They might be big, but they are point and go's, not real cars.
2) You drive on the wrong side of the road.
3) you drive on the wrong side of the Car !

It's vacation, relax on the busses. If you're in that much of a hurry, you're not staying long enough.

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Authored by: TiggerRay on Friday, January 07 2011 @ 12:38 AM CST

I know it's going against what everyone has suggested but if you're going to be there close to opening time...or for an Extra Magic Morning...driving to MK is actually better than using the buses....no matter what time you're getting out....than the buses. If you get there early, you park near the front and there is no need to use the trams. It's a short walk to the TTC. If you leave in the middle of the day...you'll be waiting for buses since they don't run as often during the middle of the day than in the morning. If you stay until park closing....the wait for the buses and monorail are massive. I've had great luck taking the Ferry at night and getting to the TTC before the monorail (or at least when I would have gotten there if I'd had taken it). I've never had a big wait getting out of the parking lot at night. I think it might be a great Unofficial Guide test to time this out.

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Authored by: TiggerRay on Friday, January 07 2011 @ 12:50 AM CST

Matt....it's not really necessary to leave property to get into this entrance. If you're coming from the East....just turn onto Victory Way (It's the stop light after Caribbean Beach). Take Victory Way south...turn right on Osceola Parkway....the next light is the on ramp to World Drive and it takes you to the entrance to the parking lot. If you're coming from MK resorts....get onto Buena Vista Drive and head toward Coronado Springs and the All-Star Resorts....turn left onto Osceola Parkway...drive past World Drive...the next light is the on ramp to north bound World Drive as mentioned above...and you're there.

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Authored by: TiggerRay on Friday, January 07 2011 @ 12:58 AM CST

It's almost impossible to get lost driving. Disney always has multiple ways to get anywhere with their signage. I would also suggest getting a Transportation map when you check in. I know we've gotten one every time we've checked in at DVC resorts. Often times....if you spend a little time looking at this map, there are better ways to get from Point A to Point B other than the "suggested" way that Disney wants you to go with their signage.

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Authored by: ErwinM on Friday, January 14 2011 @ 09:46 PM CST

After listening to this, it occurred to me that what Disney is measuring when they say that the ferry is just as fast as the monorail is guest throughput. Over the course of an hour, the monorails and the ferries have the capacity to move the same number of people back and forth. For a single trip, the monorail is a heck of a lot faster. But it takes 4 or 5 monorails to carry the number of guests that a single ferry can.

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