1. What is the easiest way to get from DHS to MK, and vice versa? I have two days where we are split with one park in the morning, another at night.

2. My son and I don't fly out until 6pm on Sat, Dec 16. I thought it would be neat to see the Disney Christmas parade at the MK at 3pm just before we go. However, I heard that Disney schedules your ME transportation about 4 hours prior to flight time. Is that true? What would our other options be? Could we let them check our luggage, and then maybe take a taxi from MK to MCO? How much do you think that would cost? Would we even have enough time?

Thanks -

If your flight is at 6pm then I would expect your pick up time to be 3pm or even a little before. It is easy enough to get a later pick up - you just change the time of your flight in the database - tell them it leaves at 7.30 for instance, OR go with a limo company (which is what I did).

However, even I, notoriously of use-every minute, depart at the last possible minute fame, can't see how you could wiggle in a 3pm parade here. Assuming a 3.30pm end time, you have to get out of the park, back to your resort, pick up any hand luggage you have stored with bell services and meet the bus/car. Let's assume you watch from the railway station so you can make a quick getaway: if you are staying at a monorail resort or WL, that gets you back at 4.15pm ready to depart at 4.30 (mid afternoon will usually mean a fair queue of people waiting for bus, boat or monorail). If you are staying at a moderate or budget resort, i have no idea how much longer you are talking to get back to your resort. If you are using DME you have to catch the bus at your resort. You could, of course, get a car to pick you up at a closer resort, and just make sure you have your hand luggage with you I guess. But still ...

If you are catching DME, that gets you to the airport at 5.30 (once it stops off at other resorts) and if you are in a car say by 5.15pm. Even if you have checked in for your flight at the resort, you still have to get through security and to the gate. It might be possible but personally, the stress would be too much for me. I don't know what traffic is like in Orlando at that time of day on a saturday before christmas - here in Melbourne it would be chocka-block. What if traffic is delayed or diverted?

The best way from DHS to MK is to take a bus.

As for the parade- it would be cutting it close but if you had all your luggage with you (maybe in a locker?) Then you could just grab a taxi from the TTC and head right to the sirport. You could probably pre-arrange for a car/limo to meet you there too, instead of a metered taxi.

I THINK that the MK buses to other parks is at the TTC, and not with the other resort buses. I know I always struggle to find the MK bus at the Studios - so ASK before you walk too far the wrong way!

So you MAY need to transfer from the TTC (via ferry or monorail) to get to/from the MK.

Cathy's on the right track... go from DHS to MK via the TTC. Then you can either take a boat or the mono.

DME usually sets the pickup time to be 3 hrs before your flight. In all honestly, I think you would be cutting it close if you were trying to catch a parade then catch a ride to the airport. In this day and age of travel, you do not want to take a chance on being late for your flight.

Buses do not travel from park to park, unfortunately. But there would be several options when deciding how to travel from DHS to MK. Jumping on one of the monorail resort buses would be great, such as Contemporary, Grand Floridian or the Polynesian would all give you direct access to the monorail upon arrival at the resorts. Also, DHS has a relaxing water taxi option which would deliver you to the Swan Dolphin, Yacht/Beach Club Resorts or the Boardwalk, where it's a short walk through these beautiful resorts where you could catch an MK bus from their resort stops! And then there is always the TTC option.

What our family has done in the past is to survey the bus area and we will take the one that is first available. But if we are tired, we would take the boat, to get off our feet a bit and relax. I also have stored in my cell the transportation info number 407-WDW-RIDE and if all else fails, I call and ask a helpful cast member!

Buses do not travel from park to park, unfortunately.

Are you sure about that? I thought there were busses from park to park.

Actually, Dan, the answer is yes and no.
You can take a bus directly between parks but only certain parks. Some park-to-park bus rides requires a transfer.

For what its worth, we use this wizard (http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx) to help determine our transportation methods for different days.

Without making use of the wizard, can you say which park combinations require a transfer?

Are you sure about that? I thought there were busses from park to park.

Sorry, I was a bit too definite first post, so I called the 407-WDW-RIDE number for the 'official' answer and received a most definite yes and no! There are some direct bus transports between park to park, some with stops elsewhere and some not at all, it depends on which park to park transfer you are attempting! According to the cast member who answered the phone, from DHS you should be able to catch a bus to MK directly, or the other options mentioned.

But not all parks have direct bus routes from park to park. If you are staying at a WDW resort, you will receive a great brochure that has the transportation info as well. And good news, it's really not as complicated as it seems! What we have found is you don't have to wait long and you can get around the 'world' with ease!

Sorry to confuse - but hope this helps.

Without making use of the wizard, can you say which park combinations require a transfer?

Whenever I've traveled to MK from another park, I had to Transfer at the TTC. Other than that, it's been direct. I can't say I've done every combination - and I know I never tried Epcot to MK (or back) via bus (take the monorail and transfer at TTC) and I haven't tried Studios to Epcot (or back) via bus (though there probably is one) I've either walked or taken the boat.

I KNOW I had to go to the TTC in May to get from MK to AK - because I 'messed up' and 'did it wrong' so I just took the bus to AKL and transferred there (and I didn't even have to get off the bus!)

I'm shocked to hear of a DHS to MK direct without going through the TTC. I vividly remember having to go through the TTC to get between those two parks.

Whenever I've traveled to MK from another park, I had to Transfer at the TTC. Other than that, it's been direct. I can't say I've done every combination - and I know I never tried Epcot to MK (or back) via bus (take the monorail and transfer at TTC) and I haven't tried Studios to Epcot (or back) via bus (though there probably is one) I've either walked or taken the boat.

I KNOW I had to go to the TTC in May to get from MK to AK - because I 'messed up' and 'did it wrong' so I just took the bus to AKL and transferred there (and I didn't even have to get off the bus!)

I'm shocked to hear of a DHS to MK direct without going through the TTC. I vividly remember having to go through the TTC to get between those two parks.

I was shocked as well, I asked three times to make sure. I couldn't remember ever having the ability to take a bus directly, but I was told yes. So I called again and the second cast member said yes also. I do remember AK being tricky as it stops at the Water Park - Blizzard Beach. You do not have to transfer, but it does add to the travel time.

Personally, I like taking resort buses, then I can see the other resorts!

So is it safe to say that all the parks have direct busses, as long as by direct you mean that the MK's point will be at the TTC?

So is it safe to say that all the parks have direct busses, as long as by direct you mean that the MK's point will may be at the TTC?

Yes, with correction.

This is so helpful. I will definitely check out the "wizard" and also save the transportation number to my cell phone. That is probably the thing I find MOST unattractive about Disney World, (coming from a DisneyLAND Resort perspective) is the amount of time spent traveling. I would rather be enjoying the parks!!!

This may not be relevant, but...we took a direct bus from AK to HS this past September. On the way out of AK, I told my husband we would have to go back to a resort and then grab a bus to HS, he said surely Disney would not make you go to all that trouble...and he was right!:cool:

...and he was right!:cool:
Well, every once in a while it's bound to happen, right?

You WILL have to go through a resort to go from a park to Downtown Disney, though.

Well, every once in a while it's bound to happen, right?

You WILL have to go through a resort to go from a park to Downtown Disney, though.

I figured he would eventually "luck up" and be right about something...I just didn't know it would be about something Disney as he allows me to be the "Disney Expert!" :D

Without making use of the wizard, can you say which park combinations require a transfer?
To go along with what has been said, we tend to verify the route we want to take when we leave when we actually get there. That way we dont have to waste time in determining where to go when we leave.

Probably the trickiest is getting to/from MK, but like it was mentioned, there is more than one way to get around that. We try to not see the transfer points as delays in getting there since we try to plan for some sort of event during that stop, even if it is just to take in the sights. (ie: Stopping by the CR for dinner before going to MK for the evening.)