TexanInTheMidwest
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2018
Transportation from the Swan/Dolphin
It's been discussed here and asked about often: how to get to the parks. I wanted to share some photos of transportation spots at the Dolphin as well as some personal thoughts on rope dropping from the Swan/Dolphin Complex.
Bus Transportation
Here's the Bus Stop at the Dolphin.
This is where you get the bus to Animal Kingdom, Ticket and Transportation Center for Magic Kingdom, and Disney Springs. Buses begin about an hour before park opening such as EARLY park opening. So, around 6.30 AM for a 7:30 AM Animal Kingdom opening, etc.
The bus returning to the resort from Animal Kingdom is the best! The pick up location is over by where Lyft pick up is, right by the Handicapped parking) so it's just as close to the AK entrance as the buses from Disney resorts.
The fastest way to get here is from Fuel or out the front doors.
Benches for waiting
View for loading
Boat Dock for Swan and Dolphin
This is a view of the boat dock from the path tot he boardwalk. Like the buses, they start one hour before park opening (so 7:30 for an 8:30 Hollywood Studios early opening, 8:30 for a 9:30 early Epcot opening)
Here's a view where you line up for the boat
The boat route is: Hollywood Studios, Swan/Dolphin, Beach Club/Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Epcot (and reverse in that order)
Thoughts on transportation for Rope Drop.
I rope dropped all four parks (Animal Kingdom once, Epcot once, Hollywood Studios twice, Magic Kingdom twice).
Taking the bus to AK was fine. I was near the front of the crowd tapping into AK (I did not rope drop FOP but just entered the park and made my way to safari. They check early entry to the LEFT path to ensure you are at a Disney resort and this includes Swan/Dolphin. My Magic Band worked fine.
IF you want to be at the front of the crowd at Magic Kingdom, walk to the bus stop at either Boardwalk or Yacht Club. I know that people on these boards staying at the Boardwalk/Yacht Club complain about "crowding their buses" but to be honest, that first bus - at least at Boardwalk - did not fill up though it was significantly fuller on Thursday than Tuesday. The first bus for MK left The Boardwalk at 7:18 one day and 7:15 the other day.
Being solo gave me the advantage of walking fast and around families with small children/ strollers and I was at the front of the tapstiles and one of the first people into Magic Kingdom. People do a fast jog from this point. They check for Disney Resorts to the RIGHT of the castle near the Tomorrowland Terrance. A rope is held right about the Cheshire Cat Café for Fantasy Land and at the Tomorrowland Bridge for Tomorrowland.
I rope dropped Peter Pan both days and was one of the first on the ride.
IF you want to be at the front of the crowds for Hollywood Studios or Epcot, you need to WALK.
At Hollywood Studios, they let us through security, into the park, and straight to our ride at 7.30 which would put you at significant disadvantage if you waited for the boat which doesn't pick up until 7.30. On one day, I arrived about 7:15 and buses were already dropping folks off.
If being at the front is super important for you at Hollywood Studios, the line begins forming to go through security around 7 AM. They will hold you in two lines walk you towards security. Early Entry Resort Guest check is done via Cast Members waiting between the ticket booths. Then, straight through and on towards either Rise (they funnel you to the left at ABC Commissary), Straight to MMRR, and RIGHT for Toy Story Land. You are held at the exterior part of the que until 8:30
At Epcot International Gateway, the line began forming to be walked to security around 8:10 (I had time for breakfast at Trattoria al Forno first). They walk people through security and then hold you at the tapstiles. This is the only park where there is a Passholder line that is open early. The other parks don't open one until official opening.
You confirm eligibility for early opening near the little store at the International Gateway. then they hold you at either Canada or France until pre-park opening. Anyone rope dropping Remy has a big advantage at the International Gateway VS those entering through via bus at the front of the park. You are held at Canada or France until 8:30.
It's been discussed here and asked about often: how to get to the parks. I wanted to share some photos of transportation spots at the Dolphin as well as some personal thoughts on rope dropping from the Swan/Dolphin Complex.
Bus Transportation
Here's the Bus Stop at the Dolphin.
This is where you get the bus to Animal Kingdom, Ticket and Transportation Center for Magic Kingdom, and Disney Springs. Buses begin about an hour before park opening such as EARLY park opening. So, around 6.30 AM for a 7:30 AM Animal Kingdom opening, etc.
The bus returning to the resort from Animal Kingdom is the best! The pick up location is over by where Lyft pick up is, right by the Handicapped parking) so it's just as close to the AK entrance as the buses from Disney resorts.
The fastest way to get here is from Fuel or out the front doors.
Benches for waiting
View for loading
Boat Dock for Swan and Dolphin
This is a view of the boat dock from the path tot he boardwalk. Like the buses, they start one hour before park opening (so 7:30 for an 8:30 Hollywood Studios early opening, 8:30 for a 9:30 early Epcot opening)
Here's a view where you line up for the boat
The boat route is: Hollywood Studios, Swan/Dolphin, Beach Club/Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Epcot (and reverse in that order)
Thoughts on transportation for Rope Drop.
I rope dropped all four parks (Animal Kingdom once, Epcot once, Hollywood Studios twice, Magic Kingdom twice).
Taking the bus to AK was fine. I was near the front of the crowd tapping into AK (I did not rope drop FOP but just entered the park and made my way to safari. They check early entry to the LEFT path to ensure you are at a Disney resort and this includes Swan/Dolphin. My Magic Band worked fine.
IF you want to be at the front of the crowd at Magic Kingdom, walk to the bus stop at either Boardwalk or Yacht Club. I know that people on these boards staying at the Boardwalk/Yacht Club complain about "crowding their buses" but to be honest, that first bus - at least at Boardwalk - did not fill up though it was significantly fuller on Thursday than Tuesday. The first bus for MK left The Boardwalk at 7:18 one day and 7:15 the other day.
Being solo gave me the advantage of walking fast and around families with small children/ strollers and I was at the front of the tapstiles and one of the first people into Magic Kingdom. People do a fast jog from this point. They check for Disney Resorts to the RIGHT of the castle near the Tomorrowland Terrance. A rope is held right about the Cheshire Cat Café for Fantasy Land and at the Tomorrowland Bridge for Tomorrowland.
I rope dropped Peter Pan both days and was one of the first on the ride.
IF you want to be at the front of the crowds for Hollywood Studios or Epcot, you need to WALK.
At Hollywood Studios, they let us through security, into the park, and straight to our ride at 7.30 which would put you at significant disadvantage if you waited for the boat which doesn't pick up until 7.30. On one day, I arrived about 7:15 and buses were already dropping folks off.
If being at the front is super important for you at Hollywood Studios, the line begins forming to go through security around 7 AM. They will hold you in two lines walk you towards security. Early Entry Resort Guest check is done via Cast Members waiting between the ticket booths. Then, straight through and on towards either Rise (they funnel you to the left at ABC Commissary), Straight to MMRR, and RIGHT for Toy Story Land. You are held at the exterior part of the que until 8:30
At Epcot International Gateway, the line began forming to be walked to security around 8:10 (I had time for breakfast at Trattoria al Forno first). They walk people through security and then hold you at the tapstiles. This is the only park where there is a Passholder line that is open early. The other parks don't open one until official opening.
You confirm eligibility for early opening near the little store at the International Gateway. then they hold you at either Canada or France until pre-park opening. Anyone rope dropping Remy has a big advantage at the International Gateway VS those entering through via bus at the front of the park. You are held at Canada or France until 8:30.
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Thank you.
