Quickest transportation park to park

[Micklessor]

This Sunday I want to try something fun like hitting 3 or 4 parks in 6-8 hrs. (no touring per se). My itin will be

Arrive BC around 3pm, then
AK via bus from resort
DHS via bus
EP ?
MK via monorail

Are the busses from park to park non-stop or do they stop at resorts as well? What would be the quickest way to get from DHS to EP? I'm not opposed to taking a taxi to save time.

Can't wait!

TIA

[Micah008]

I have found this to be handy:
http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/aspx/twiz.aspx

To me, the most "fun" way would be using the boat between HS and EP. Not necessarily the fastest, but then you can also say that you used all of the different modes of transportation to get to all of the parks.

[Micklessor]

Thanks Micah - I have been on that site as well. I was looking for some personal input too (perhaps from the man, himself). I like the idea of the boat between HS and EP - if there's a breeze or it's raining

[Micah008]

Are the busses from park to park non-stop or do they stop at resorts as well?

They are non-stop. But, depending on the time of day (and your luck) you may have to wait a little for it to arrive to take you.

[pfalcioni]

The boat from HS to Epcot is relaxing and a pretty ride, but it is slow. If I were doing it, I'd at least get off at Boardwalk and walk the rest of the way.

You definitely won't be doing much park touring if you're getting started at 3pm, but it's always fun to put up a challenge like that just to say you did it!

[Micklessor]

the purpose of this trip is not really to tour - I have a list of things I want to find out for our 2013 family trip. Having never toured with kids before, I realized that there's a lot I don't know. Thanks for the tips!

[stevenmilz]

You can also just walk from DHS to the EPCOT IG in about 25 minutes, cutting thru BW. Not proposing that as the "best" option, just throwing it in the mix. If there is no boat in sight at the DHS dock, it might be the quickest option.

[blyday]

Just FYI.....the boat is covered and has AC.....so it really is nice. It does however stop at Swan/Dolphin, YC/BC and then BW before arriving at Epcot. (In that order.....or at least that was the order when we were staying at BWV this past May.)

One of the biggest problems with using Disney transportation is that you could end up waiting 20 minutes for a bus or boat if you happen to just miss one. With a schedule where you are trying to make it to 3-4 parks in a few hours.....that 20 minutes can eat up a lot of time. So......here is what I'd recommend.....Bus to AK, Bus to DHS, walk down by boat area and see if there is a boat there or one on it's way.....if not.....then just walk the path to Epcot. The walk really takes about the same amount of time as the boat does....then monorail to Epcot. However, if you arrive at the bus stop just in time to see your bus drive off.....walk over to the taxi pick up area and take the taxi.

Of course.....since I happen to know that you are staying at BC.....I might suggest a slight change in plan order......
HS (Walk or take boat)
AK (via bus or taxi)
Epcot (via bus or taxi)
MK (via monorail)

Since you are only talking about walking around the park for a bit and maybe hitting a ride if it is easy.....then this plan would basically have you in HS from about 3:30-4:30 at AK by 5:30 - 6:30, Epcot from 7:30-8:30 and MK from 9:30 until whenever. It gives you a good solid hour of time at each of the parks and......if you end up taking the taxis to wipe out some of the wait time....you could be looking at more like 1 1/2 hours at each park.

[Micklessor]

Wow...thanks Brenda - I was trying to maybe hit a show in AK (FoW) so that's why I picked it first, but I'll re-think that. Also, I have some CM friends in FoLK and a friend in BaTB in HS - still working on my priorities, plus there's also those autographs I need to get for the iPad "giveaway" .... MK has EMH until some ridiculous hour like 2am...so, I'm not so worried about that park.

I do appreciate all the advice!

[blyday]

Hmmmm......looking at times.....I don't see that it will be possible for you to see all 3 of those shows no matter which way you do it.

If you do HS first though.....you can hit BatB at 4:45 PM then head over to AK to hit the 5:30 FOtLK or.....you could still do AK first and hit either FOTLK or FOW at 4:30 PM then head to HS to hit the last BatB show at 5:45 PM. Or....skip BatB and do FOW at 4:30 PM (last show) and FOTLK at 5:30 PM (as you can see....won't let you make it to that last BatB show.)

And......I know that you are trying to figure out what will be fun for the younger kids to do so I'll tell you right now.....FOW is a really good show and although we haven't taken young kids ourselves to see it.....I have watched the kids around us and they really seem to be enjoying it. So.....my opinion is that it is worth taking them to if it fits into the schedule!!!

[Micklessor]

Thanks Brenda - no intention of seeing all three, I've seen FotLK, so that will most likely be the one I drop. Thanks for the heads up about FOW - I definitely will put that one on the list!

[allgiggles]

Just FYI.....the boat is covered and has AC.....so it really is nice. It does however stop at Swan/Dolphin, YC/BC and then BW before arriving at Epcot. (In that order.....or at least that was the order when we were staying at BWV this past May.)

It has A/C????? When we took it last June it most definitely did NOT have A/C. I was wishing we had taken the bus or walked from DHS to EP, but we wanted to try something new. Never again. After we got back from that trip I read messages on several different boards from people pointing out that those boats only have fans and are mostly enclosed...causing them to be very hot and stuffy. So, did they add a/c to those boats now or did we just have bad luck and get the one that *doesn't* have a/c?

[blyday]

It has A/C????? When we took it last June it most definitely did NOT have A/C. I was wishing we had taken the bus or walked from DHS to EP, but we wanted to try something new. Never again. After we got back from that trip I read messages on several different boards from people pointing out that those boats only have fans and are mostly enclosed...causing them to be very hot and stuffy. So, did they add a/c to those boats now or did we just have bad luck and get the one that *doesn't* have a/c?

Hmmmm.......maybe I'm wrong but it sure seemed to have AC when we rode it this past May. I just asked DH and he said that it could have just been the fans running. It was raining that day so not the hottest day of our trip.

[Micklessor]

This is what Josh had to say on the subject: Last summer, I didn’t care much for the boat because circulation/ventilation/air-conditioning inside was so poor because there’s only a small doorway in the front and back. It was actually hotter and more uncomfortable than walking. It doesn't really answer the question, but I had to post it because I was impressed with myself that I found it in the blog! (I can never get the search feature to work!)

[roball]

Anytime we've used the boat to/from DHS we came off very sweaty. We always try to get a seat outside; even if it's sunny, you still get a breeze.

[pfalcioni]

I think they must just have fans because for A/C they'd have to have a roof unit, and if I remember correctly the boats don't have anything on the roof.