Getting to the Parks from the Beach Club

[Plex]

We're going to be staying at the Beach Club in April and I was wondering what everyone thought about the best way to get to each park?

I've heard that BC shares buses with other resorts? Does this impact travel time enough to walk to a different bus stop?

How about walking to Hollywood Studios vs taking the bus or ferry?

Will it save any time or aggravation to walk through Epcot to the Monorail to get to MK?

Is there any sort of opening ceremony at the back gate of Epcot? Or will we have to bus to the front to see it?

And if it helps - we're both healthy and youthful with no kids in tow

[SBETigg]

I'll be trying the Yacht Club for the first time in April, also two adults, no kids. I've been paying attention to transportation advice for the YC, and the consensus seems to be that the buses are the way to go for everything but DHS and Epcot.

For MK: Walking through Epcot for the monorail, unless you happen to be in Epcot and leaving from there, is really out of the way and not as convenient as just taking the bus to MK. Shared buses doesn't seem to be that much of a problem, from what I've heard.

For AK, the water parks, or Downtown Disney, the best bet is obviously the bus.

For Epcot, an easy walk or boat ride to the International Gateway through to World Showcase. No bus to the front entrance. You can enter through the WS gate even if WS doesn't open at 9. You just walk through the quiet WS to Future World.

For DHS, no bus. the walk is about 20-30 minutes, and the boat might take about the same time. So it's a toss up, depending on what you prefer.

[Darbylew]

There is a ferry that takes you to Epcot and
DS. You can also use the walk between the two.
For the other parks it would be the bus. Now
you can take the monorail to MK from Epcot.
Have a great time.

[BrerGnat]

FYI, there is no bus from BC/YC to the front of Epcot or the Studios.

There IS a bus between Epcot and Studios, though.

Taking the bus to MK is faster than doing the walk through Epcot and taking the monorail. A few times last year, we would be in WS and want to get to MK, so we'd walk over to BC to take the bus.

During Spring Break last year, the bus to MK from BC was only shared with YC, no other Epcot resorts. I've heard that this is what tends to happen during the busier times.

[TammiMcMan]

During Spring Break last year, the bus to MK from BC was only shared with YC, no other Epcot resorts. I've heard that this is what tends to happen during the busier times.

We had the same experience during a Christmas trip.

Epcot: There is no "opening" ceremony that I remember at the front of Epcot. Walking the 2 minutes from BC and entering through the Int'l Gateway is so much easier. I think depending on your room location, the walk to the resort boat launch at the YC is actually longer than the walk right to the Int'l Gateway .

DHS: I agree, boat or walking (six of one, half dozen of the other).

MK & AK: Zero issues with bus transportation. You can always review it when you get there and if BWI is not sharing buses, you may want to walk to and from that resort instead. Even for saving a few extra minutes though, there is something nice about being dropped off right at your own resort.

[LudwigVonDrake]

Walk to Epcot, take the boat to DHS, and the bus to AK and MK

[Scar]

to Intercot

I've heard that BC shares buses with other resorts? Does this impact travel time enough to walk to a different bus stop?

If I were waiting for a bus for BC/YC and saw one for BW or S&D, I would take it.

How about walking to Hollywood Studios vs taking the bus or ferry?

I only take the boat if I see it aproaching, otherwise, I walk.

Will it save any time or aggravation to walk through Epcot to the Monorail to get to MK?

No, but I like to do it just because the fun of walking though Epcot and taking the Monorail is way cooler than taking a bus.

[beachezncream]

yeah as they say there is no bus to DHS, walking is an excellent option, its one of my very favorite things to do when were there. I even prefer walking to the ferrys unless its extremely hot or extremely cold

walking to epcot is basically a hop skip and a jump you can really get to MK by walking through epcot and taking the monorail avoiding busses all together until you want to go to AK or DTD

[beachezncream]

walking though Epcot and taking the Monorail is way cooler than taking a bus.

quite agreed, im sorry i didnt see this post. it is, Epcot is my favorite, so the more time spent there the better.. its much cooler and well worth it most times, busses are the devil im convinced. i think staying at BC has spoiled me rotten on waiting for busses.. it gets annoying now but i gladly do it because it is after all the happiest place on earth , any way i can get to a park is a blessing just because im there

[jonahbear2006]

When we stayed at the beach club we only used the buses twice, once for Animal Kingdom and once for Downtown Disney. When we wanted to go to Magic Kingdom, we just casually strolled from the back of epcot to the monorail. It was better for us with a double stroller to not tear down the stroller and we love epcot and dont mind a bit of a walk; not to mention we have a son that loves the monorail. The ferry to DHS is fantastic! We did the walk once, and it was a little far for the kids but it was nice to get dropped off at the dolphin and just walk back through the boardwalk and have lunch at the bakery (one of our favorite restaurants on all of property!)

[bruin1344]

Walk to Epcot and DHS

Bus to Waterparks, AK, MK, and DTD

Its a hike from BC to the monorail. I would only use the monorail if you're already in Epcot and need to get to MK, if you love the monorail, or want to ride on one for the 1st time.

[PlutoPlanet]

We walked through the International Gateway at EPCOT from BW one morning and got to the rope drop in Future World. So, you can still enjoy the rope drop.

[WelshieLover]

As getting to EPCOT for the rope drop, you are actually in a better postition than the people coming from the monorail. We did it once and there was about 25 of us at the rope drop near the fountains. Coming from the BC/YC you will be standing closer to world showcase than the hundreds on the otherside closer to Spaceship Earth side. The characters are there for the rope drop, there is a countdown and then CMs escort you over to Soarin at a nice pace so that there is no pushing or shoving.

[Scar]

Its a hike from BC to the monorail. I would only use the monorail if you're already in Epcot and need to get to MK, if you love the monorail, or want to ride on one for the 1st time.

... or like to hike.

[Maleficent's Dad]

I was wondering what everyone thought about the best way to get to each park?

"Best" way - what do you mean by best? Fastest? Most Scenic?
Here's the lowdown on speed:
To Epcot - walk
To DHS - walk (we were just there - beat the boats every time, it wasn't even close)
To AK, MK, & DTD - bus

Now for relaxation, ambience & scenery, you might choose the boat to DHS or the Epcot/monorail route for MK.

I've heard that BC shares buses with other resorts? Does this impact travel time enough to walk to a different bus stop?

BC/YC share all buses.
The only other "shared" bus is the return bus from DAK. The route of that bus goes like this: DAK, BB (if open), Swan/Dolphin, YC, BC, BW.

How about walking to Hollywood Studios vs taking the bus or ferry?

Walking is the fastest from the BC - you walk towards the ESPN side (over the bridge near Epcot), then go through the BW pool area out to the path for DHS. We walked over the bridge one morning as a boat for DHS was passing under. We had 2 kids and 2 teens in tow - so we weren't power walking. Never even saw the boat (and we were looking for it to see how timing would fare). It's much quicker to walk, but it's not too close. Takes 15-20 minutes. Boat is easier on the legs, but quite slow.

Will it save any time or aggravation to walk through Epcot to the Monorail to get to MK?

No it will not. But it is a cool option.
Bus is quicker, less crowded than the park, etc... But definitely not as cool.

Is there any sort of opening ceremony at the back gate of Epcot? Or will we have to bus to the front to see it?

Nope - we get nothin' back there. Just let 'em fly from the back... no perks other than a much less crowded entrance. Oh yeah, and you'll never be first to Soarin'. The folks up front will beat you. Oh well!

By the way -
to Intercot!

[cardnl1b]

We would of course, take the boat to Hollywood Studios. But, to get to the MK we would go thru Epcot, hang a left when you get into that park and right to the front main gates to the monorail. I've never been a fan of the busses at WDW. But, think the Monorail and boats are usually the quickest with least crowds.