Hello and welcome to Circula Parks podcast episode number 176. Today we are talking about how to get around Walt Disney World. There is far too much to see and do. We are here to help guide you through, but before we do that we must talk Disney merch. So this week at DisneyStorecom it is getting close to the holidays we can say that now there is a new Walt Disney World Holiday Starbucks Travel Tumbler and it is your traditional kind of red cranberry color Starbucks tumbler, but it has some unique features to it as well for the holidays. It has the castle kind of donned in Christmas colors and it's just really festive. And it has a straw cover that is a snowflake and in the center of the snowflake is Mickey Mouse. And so just again feeling the holiday cheer a little bit. And it is priced at $49.99 and that is this week's Disney merch thank you, everybody for joining us.
Speaker 1:Episode number 176 we're talking about how to get around Walt Disney World. We did an episode on Disney transportation like way, way, way back when a long ago. And things have changed a little bit and I don't think we did that good of a job.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I mean it was early on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So we're going to tell you how to get to Walt Disney World and, once you do, how to get around when you're there, because there's a lot of options, and the options are not just forms of transportation. Now they become attraction. They have become attractions as well.
Speaker 1:yeah, I think yeah, some have yeah and so we're going to talk about them how to get around, and there's some ideas here that maybe you wouldn't have thought of, because there's some little tricks in here that can help you kind of avoid some heartache at times. So let's get right into it. Let's assume you have flown into Orlando You're not driving in there, right? So once you get to the airport and you land, there's a lot of options, right?
Speaker 2:Correct, there are, and we'll dive into these separately, but there's Mears Connect, Uber, Lyft, private companies and car rentals.
Speaker 1:So we have not done Mears Connect way back when I know I hate to say that, but when there was the Disney's Magical Express.
Speaker 2:Yes, I wish they'd bring it back.
Speaker 1:If every Disney fan united on bringing Happy Labor After back right. Correct I think every Disney fan could reunite on bringing the Magical Express back.
Speaker 2:I agree. I mean, there's so many people out there that really miss it, and even though you were still at the airport when you got on there, it felt like you were already in that Disney bubble.
Speaker 1:It did at the airport. When you got on there it it felt like you were already in that disney bubble it did so. Magical express if you don't know what it is was a free bus service which was operated by mirrors. Mirrors is a company in orlando that does charter buses, but it was disney. It was a pretty much a bus line that were disney decorated and they would pick you up from the airport and take you to the resorts and they would play like behind the scenes episodes of how they made your favorite music video or tv show on disney channel and they would have like disney trivia on there.
Speaker 1:So as soon as you got to the airport you were inside that bubble yeah and when you left from walt disney world, oh my gosh, it's like the most saddest thing ever, because when you're pulling into the airport you know mickey mouse is doing the mic. See you real soon. You're like, oh my gosh, like this is right.
Speaker 2:This is hurtful. You get the disney blues immediately.
Speaker 1:You immediately get to disney blues and but it was maybe not the fastest way, but it was free first of all, and just fun.
Speaker 2:I remember just it being fun and enjoyable yeah, it was like enjoyable and relaxing and you know like it would like one bus would only go to one or two resorts, depending on how many people were on there, but they it wasn't like they did all of the resorts. You know the different buses were designated to certain ones and so sometimes you might if have had to wait like 30 minutes before actually driving away from the airport, but still you were already being in that disney environment so let's pour one, out for the magical express yeah, I miss, I just I missed that so much and as zach mentioned, mirrors connect, which is running still.
Speaker 1:Uh, you know they did own them, so yes, so they operate 24-hour service between orlando and the main and uh to disney and non-disney resorts. We won't mention the other resorts. They go to um but they have no search pricing, unlike uber and lyft. They are cheaper than a car rental and less hassle, and they said it has in right at him. We've never taken mirrors. We took sunshine flyers a couple of years ago correct.
Speaker 1:Yes, which has been bought out by mirrors. But it was fun like that. Wasn't quite the disney experience, but it wasn't bad Right.
Speaker 2:They still tried to keep the kids entertained. You know they were dressed up like train conductors. It was a really good theme yeah, Blue, like a little train whistle and all of that. So it was. It was still a good experience and we probably would have loved it had we not experienced Magical Express before.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But you know that. But that is no more.
Speaker 1:That lasted maybe a year about two years, and then mirrors is like, oh, they're doing pretty well, maybe we should take them over right and so anyway. Uh, children two and under are free. Uh, children are 13 I'm assuming that's going to be disney children that are from three doesn't really specify.
Speaker 2:So that's three to twelve, three to eleven yeah, but pricing for disney it's 10, adult 10, 10, 10, sorry, 10 years uh, and adults are 16, and this is one way right and so it's not.
Speaker 1:And that's still cheaper than an uber. It's not bad. And they have standard service, which is shared service, limited wait and stops and then express service, which is shared, minimal wait, direct round trip service to all Disney resorts. Now that's going to be a little bit pricier and, from what I've read, you may be with another family in that little thing which we're going to talk about. Another mode of transportation that if you're in a confined area with another family, it can be pretty awkward. Right On a tour bus you're kind of you're not like you're with other people but you're in your own row and it's not like you're interacting with them.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:So, but we've never used mirrors. We have used Uber and Lyft a lot, and I will be. I'm actually going to Walt Disney World Thursday as a recording this tomorrow, or as you listen to this tomorrow and I have not. I've always used Uber because it's always been the cheapest and it's cheap. You're getting what you pay for. Here I have had some pretty dodgy cars that I thought were going to stall out at every stop sign or light. We got to and I was like I don't know about this. And I have gotten to where I now use Lyft and I use the, whatever it is a larger car service, I guess the Preferred or whatever it is. It's a little bit more expensive, but I have found out that I get nicer cars and now I'm not worried about us being stranded on the side of I-4. Does that make sense?
Speaker 2:Yeah, and last year when we flew separately from Zach just to scheduling and stuff, the boys and I you know I was a little iffy like because I'd never done Uber or Lyft without Zach and we did Lyft and the boys and I had a great experience. You know, the the driver like was prepared for kids of all ages. He had like Disney trivia stuff set up and handed out, like Mickey writing pins for us to keep and everything. So we we had a really good experience with Lyft that day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so again, it all just depends on what you get. I'm going to be using Lyft again Thursday when I go. It all just depends on what you get. I'm going to be using Lyft again Thursday when I go and I've noticed the cheaper ones that I have used each way were about $45, not including the tip. Now that I'm using Lyft and I'm using that larger car service, it's now about $60 each way.
Speaker 1:So it's worth it, I feel. For me, for my just security, not security, but just ease, ease, right, does that make sense? Yeah, just my comfort level to me. I feel it's worth it. Um, it's just a. I've noticed it's a nicer car. I don't worry that we're gonna get stalled out on the interstate or anything like that, so for me it's worth it. Um, the credit card that I have. We get discounts every month with lyft and uber, so, yeah, um, I will be using that. Now. We have also used private car companies like Ride to the Magic, and that's a minivan. They're going to run a little bit more expensive, but you know what you're getting with that. You're going direct to your resort instead of waiting around for waiting for multiple stops like you would with mirrors.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And with the private companies. You know you're going to be getting a nice car with a nice driver and they know where they're going and they will provide entertainment in the car like Disney Radio, stuff like that.
Speaker 2:And you schedule this out in advance. Schedule this out in advance.
Speaker 1:It is more expensive, but at times, sometimes the drivers you can have them wait in the terminal for you and you can go right out to the parking garage and go right from your resort. If you're taking a lift, sometimes it can be 20, 30 minutes because that gets backed up there in Orlando. It can take 20, 30 minutes for them just to get in there.
Speaker 2:So it can take 20, 30 minutes for them just to get in there. But if, like, right to the magic, like if you schedule with them, you know they have like your flight number and stuff so they can even track like OK, it looks like they're running 20 minutes behind or whatnot, if you don't have a way to communicate that with them and so, but they're still in that area where hopefully you don't have to wait that 20 or 30 minutes. They're going to be there right around that time that you need them Right.
Speaker 1:So there's pros and cons for all of these, and then you can just rent a car as well. And if you want to have a car on property I know a lot of people do, once we get there I don't want to be anywhere else, but I know a lot of people like to go off property. They like to Walmart or Target and get groceries and stuff like that, which completely understandable, or they want to go off property. There are some nice restaurants in orlando or do other stuff outside of walt disney world, and for that a rental car would be well, would be good.
Speaker 2:I will caution with this, though those rental car lines in orlando that's what I was about to say you can be waiting an hour plus yeah, I was gonna say pack your patience they are every time I've walked past them.
Speaker 1:They have been extremely long and if you're getting in on a later flight, so you get in at eight, nine and ten o'clock at night yeah you're ready to get to your resort? That?
Speaker 2:and then facing those lines. So, yeah, yeah, just be prepared, because I agree they they have been decently long lines every time we've been in that area great segue now.
Speaker 1:If you do want to rent a car and you do not want to wait in that long line, do you know what you can do on property?
Speaker 2:and he's talking about on disney property, property you can rent a car on disney property.
Speaker 1:they have a car, uh, they have Disney's Car Care Center, which you can rent a car from which we have done yes. On our first trip we wanted to take our boys they were smaller and huge into Legos, to Legoland, and my brother and sister-in-law had their car, but it wasn't big enough to fit all of us. And the car rental is through. Who is it through here? I think it's through National and the car rental is through who is it through here, I think?
Speaker 2:it's through National that I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think their car cares. Their rental is through National and they will have a shuttle bus come to your resort and pick you up to bring you there to it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it says. Our preferred car rental partners are Enterprise, alamo and National.
Speaker 1:Okay, there you go, so you can rent from any of them, from Disney, and we rented a huge SUV just for the day to drive down to Lakeland and back and when we dropped it off, they're like you can keep it for the night and bring it back tomorrow. I was like no, I don't want to deal with this stuff. And my brother had their car and took me there and back, but they will come and get you and drop you back off.
Speaker 2:That's pretty cool and it's closest, closest to Magic Kingdom Park, just to give you an idea. And yeah, I mean they offer convenient complimentary shuttle with door-to-door service from Disney Resort Hotels to the facility. Shuttle service should be scheduled at least an hour in advance, though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we booked ours way out Right, just like you would, a normal rental car. But yeah, so those are options as well, and it's very convenient too, and I didn't think the price was jacked up just because it was on Disney property.
Speaker 2:I don't think it was. I don't think so either. I think it was very complementary to Enterprise Alamo and Nationals normal pricing.
Speaker 1:All right, so you're on vacation. I don't want to drive. That's how I feel. So how do you get around property if you don't have a car? In Disney?
Speaker 2:Yeah, there are probably more modes of transportation than you realize there. Yeah, so, starting off, probably one that you have heard the most about are the buses either love them or hate them. I, I love them and I hate them yeah, it depends on what time of day, how tired you are, those kinds of things. But they depart from all the resorts to most of the parks and we will clarify that in a minute.
Speaker 1:Yes, um, and they also operate from resorts to disney springs and transfer to typhoon lagoon and blizzard beach from disney springs we'll get to an easier way to get to those water parks in a minute, because that's a kind of a really roundabout way it is to get there and it can take a long time, and sometimes you're they.
Speaker 2:Those buses still come directly to your resorts as well not really. I think mainly they try to route those through they do, but sometimes they do come directly to the resort check with your resort to make sure, because yes, please do, but yeah so.
Speaker 1:And on the resorts on the seven seas lagoon. This is the contemporary polynesian grand floridian. They will not offer bus service to.
Speaker 2:The magic kingdom makes sense right, yeah, because you're right there and we'll get to more forms of transportation in a second.
Speaker 1:Okay, uh, from all other resorts, the buses will drop you off at the bus depot at the magic kingdom right there. That's pretty cool right before security. So that's one of the perks to taking the disney buses. If you're not staying in one of those resorts, right, because you're not gonna have to go to the ticket and transportation and ticket center yeah, and being right there instead of having to take other modes to get to that point.
Speaker 2:You know um, or even other modes of transportation that we might mention here in a little while. It's not going to put you right at security no.
Speaker 1:so if you're staying at the swan and dolphin or other non-disney owned resorts, they will drop you off at the transportation and ticket center at the Magic Kingdom. So now you got another form of transportation to get to the Magic Kingdom, and the reason why there's such a disconnect from the parking lot and the transportation and ticket center to the Magic Kingdom is they wanted to disconnect you from the real world and to the fantasy that you're about to be going into. So it's meant to give you time to break away from those two.
Speaker 2:Right which makes sense. Right, it does, it does.
Speaker 1:And also from your larger moderate resorts like Coronado Springs, saratoga Springs, caribbean Beach and the cabins at Fort Wilderness. They have internal bus systems.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's crazy. These resorts they, when we say larger, they are larger, they are spread out, and so you need to have an internal bus system. Sometimes, if you're on the complete opposite side from where you're wanting to go, like to the main pool area and lobby and stuff, they have that internal bus right and keep this in mind.
Speaker 1:If you're staying at one of those larger, moderate resorts, the buses to the parks will have multiple stops in that, so your stop may be the last stop and it's standing room only right?
Speaker 2:yes, very true, and you know. You see that in mind. Yes, you know, because if you're the last stop, it could be standing room only, or if you're one of the first stops, you could make four or five more before you even leave the resort all right, so you're at the transportation and ticket center.
Speaker 1:How do you get to the magic kingdom? We get several options here. You do, uh. First of all, you can take a bus from the transportation ticket to the Magic Kingdom, which drops you off at the bus depot. A lot of people don't know that and sometimes that's usually the easiest least amount of people and quickest.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:It's right there and you're right there at security. The most iconic one probably is the monorail. There are two monorails. You have the express monorail, which goes straight to the Magic Kingdom, and then the resort monorail which will stop at all the resorts. Yes, that one's usually less crowded from the transportation ticket center.
Speaker 2:Right. And when we say all the resorts, the three that we mentioned, seven Seas, Lagoon Resorts and you have the ferry boats, which are the huge boats.
Speaker 1:You know I like that. I've taken it quite a bit. Is it the easiest? I'm sorry, is it the quickest? No, but they play Disney music on there and you're right there, next to the Polynesian, and you see the grand Floridian and you see the contemporary and you see the castle off in the distance. You know it's, it builds you up to it, it's, it's really cool, it really gets you in that mindset. It may not be the quickest, but I think it from anyway from the Transportation Ticket Center. It might be my favorite.
Speaker 2:Well, and you can see the park as you're approaching it and everything too.
Speaker 1:You see the castle and all that, it's just like, wow, it's that buildup to it right, it's that anticipation, which is what the designers wanted here.
Speaker 2:Right, which I think is really cool, and you know, all the ferry boats have unique names.
Speaker 1:We'll get to that more in a minute. Well, my goodness, okay, did you know? You can also walk to the Polynesian from the Transportation and Ticket Center and take the resort boat to the Magic Kingdom as well?
Speaker 2:And it's not that long of a walk at all. It is really not, it's literally right there.
Speaker 1:I remember our first time going to the Polynesian we took the monorail from Epcot to the Transportation Ticket Center and was like, oh, we've got to take the monorail to Polynesian and waited like 15 minutes for the next monorail, Right we could have already been in the main building of Polynesian at that time. It's a very beautiful walk, very peaceful, very serene. Stop, get you some Tonga toast and then take that resort boat, which we'll talk about more of the resort boats in a minute. But it's a nice boat ride as well.
Speaker 2:I do that a lot, but you don't have to get the Tonga toast.
Speaker 1:Yes, you do? What if you're sitting on the seven seas lagoon and you're going to the magic kingdom, right? So we've already talked about the monorail from the contemporary. You can take the monorail, which will take you. If you take the monorail from the contemporary, it goes all the way back around.
Speaker 2:Yes, it does.
Speaker 1:It's the resort loop right, Just walk. It has its own dedicated security line.
Speaker 2:It does, it really does.
Speaker 1:Which is awesome. Which little trick. If you're Ubering or lifting to the Magic Kingdom, they have to drop you off to Transportation Ticket Center. Go to the Contemporary, say you want to go eat breakfast at Steakhouse 71. They'll drop you off. Walk right over there Much quicker. Yeah, actually, I may be doing that on Thursday. You'll have to let us know how it goes next week, but anyway, that's a little bit of a tip there, but there is an exception. There is an exception.
Speaker 2:For the minivans.
Speaker 1:So the minivans? I think that's at the very end, but they will drop you at the bus depot though. The minivans will take you right and drop you off at the bus depot. Yes, the minivans will take you right and drop you off at the bus depot.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, yes, also Didn't mean to throw you off, but it's right there. It is right there, yes.
Speaker 1:Yes, I did read that now. Okay, you are correct.
Speaker 2:We have some show notes here that even Zach created.
Speaker 1:I'm not even looking at the show notes anymore, I'm just going, I'm just going. Well, one of those more so we wouldn't forget about things. Yes, so the minivans they are more expensive, they are operated by lyft, but they will take you to the bus depot, essentially. Yes, so if you want to, do that and it's.
Speaker 2:It is more expensive, but it's a special treat. I think it is, and you know the drivers are like cast members and so it's. It is a little different, but in a good way it is yes.
Speaker 1:From the polynesian you can take the resort boat across Seven Seas Lagoon or the monorail, which will stop at the Grand Floridian and then the Magic Kingdom. And also, when you take the monorail you'll go straight through security at your resort. So that's another perk.
Speaker 2:Yes, before you get on the monorail, you're going through security.
Speaker 1:I do like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Except that's contemporary when it feels like you're going through TSA. Yeah, it does. When you pointed that out, I was like, oh my gosh, it does. Also, once they finish the new DVC Tower, you'll be able to walk again from the Polynesian to the Grand Floridian, to Magic Kingdom. Now it's going to be a long walk.
Speaker 2:That's a longer walk, yeah.
Speaker 1:But you're able to do it.
Speaker 2:Right Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom isn't bad. Right Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom isn't bad, but if you're doing it all the way from Pauley.
Speaker 1:That's a long walk. Yeah, and from the Grand Floridian again, the monorail would be right next to the Magic Kingdom. Or you can walk or the resort boat which goes from Magic Kingdom Grand Floridian. Then it'll stop at the Polynesian and then back to the Magic Kingdom.
Speaker 2:But if you're not in a hurry or anything, that's a good way to start your day too, especially if the weather's beautiful. It's so nice, so pretty.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Again. That's why I said these boats, they're an attraction within themselves. Right, I think Again there's something about just sailing around Seven Seas Lagoon. It's just magical, it's just really fun, yeah, so what if you're staying on the Bay Lake Resorts? You staying on the bay lake resorts, you got the wilderness lodge and the cabins at fort wilderness. What do you do then?
Speaker 2:well, to the magic kingdom, you have, uh, the boats which we have taken. I think it's the only way to magic, I believe.
Speaker 1:So I mean weather and stuff sometimes they change it, I think, but I think that is the main way right, oh, and if you're staying at seven seas lagoon resorts, they have buses to the other parks, so keep that in mind. Yes, so, uh, from the bayorts they have buses to the other parks, so keep that in mind.
Speaker 1:Yes, so from the Bay Lake Resorts a boat to the Badger Kingdom, because there's no monorail, and then a shared bus. So Wooden Dislodge and Cabinet Fort Winters share a bus to all the other parks, so keep that in mind, including Disney Springs. So now we have the monorail. It operates around the seven seas lagoon resort loop and there are two. We've talked about this. There's the resort loop which starts, stops at all the resorts, and then there's the express loop which just goes between the magic kingdom and the transportation and ticket center and when he said all the resorts again, the seven seas lagoon resorts that we have just talked about.
Speaker 2:I don't want people getting confused with that wording.
Speaker 1:Yes, and then the third monorail line operates from the Transportation Ticket Center to Epcot and vice versa, so that's pretty cool. I use that a lot when I'm down there on my day trips. Yeah, but it's pretty cool to pull into Epcot. You go around the non-World Show showcase side and loop around before you end. I always loved that. I just think it's cool.
Speaker 2:Oh, how it, how you can see all of it, yeah it just.
Speaker 1:I think that's so cool. Yes, just super cool. Anything you want to say about them.
Speaker 2:No, Um, you know the monorail. If you've never experienced it, try to at some point when you're there, know, because it can be an attraction in itself it is.
Speaker 1:It's iconic, right?
Speaker 2:yes, it's so iconic, yes, and not just approaching.
Speaker 1:You know magic kingdom, but exactly what zach just said with epcot as well so the monorails were designed originally in disneyland by bob ger, legendary imaginary bob ger. There's a story that when they were building the contemporary that the monorail, even going through it at what it goes through, at like three or four miles per hour, would vibrate the structure of the contemporary. And Bob Girl's like no, it's not. And he proved it to him about a week before opening. He drove the monorail through the contemporary multiple times at full speed of 55 miles per hour and they were using like a richter scale to measure the vibrations. Zero. Oh nice.
Speaker 1:So he just like could you imagine the monorail going through there 55 miles an hour? That would be awesome, it'd be fun, that would be so awesome. Um, but yeah, they were. Um, walt first got the idea of the monorails in Germany on a trip in the 1930s. Okay, so that's where the idea originally came from. The Germans thought that it would take Bob Gurr and the Imagineers like three or four years to build the first monorails. It took them like a year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:And all the monitors are original designs. I didn't copy them from anywhere. Original designs oh, that's awesome, pretty cool.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but like Zach mentioned, though, if you're trying to get to, you know, from all of these resorts we've just talked about Epcot, hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom then you have the best options.
Speaker 1:You do as well. Yes, all right, the newest one, and I'm loving this. Not on a windy day, I love it. On a windy day, I love it, brittany.
Speaker 2:The Skyliner.
Speaker 1:Love it.
Speaker 2:And the reason why on a windy day is just you know, they're up in the air, they sway a little bit and it just. I don't know I just I'm like, and then sometimes if they have to stop for a few extra seconds because maybe someone with a wheelchair or something or trying to get a stroller off or something like that, you know they have to completely stop it for a minute. You're just swaying. That's the part that I don't like, but when it's moving I enjoy it.
Speaker 1:So these don't bother me at all. I used to be a big snowboarder. I took one winter and lived out in colorado, so I was very used to taking ski lifts and and the skyliner, which essentially is just a gondola. That's what it is, yeah, um, the swing inside the gondola doesn't bother me. I can remember one time I was on a lift and just this freak blizzard popped out of nowhere.
Speaker 1:I was probably 12 or 13 000 in colorado and they stopped the lift and I was probably 100 feet above trees and rocks and I was just swaying for about 20 minutes and yeah, so this doesn't bother me one bit yeah not one bit yeah yeah, I mean after experiencing that?
Speaker 2:I guess not. But uh, this skyliner, though it operates from pop century, caribbean beach, the riviera beach and yacht Yacht Club, boardwalk and Swan and Dolphin.
Speaker 1:So we're going to include those Epcot resorts in there, because it does stop right there, even though it's right outside the side entrance to Epcot.
Speaker 2:Right, but from Beach and Yacht Club, boardwalk and Swan and Dolphin it's not that far of a walk to get there. No, it's not.
Speaker 1:And they operate the Hollywood Studios in Epcot and the main transfer hub is at the Caribbean Beach. That's a massive thing, Right? So you can go to Epcot, you can go to Pop Century or you can go to Hollywood Studios.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:From the Caribbean Beach Resort.
Speaker 2:Yes, and that part I love because it made it a lot easier when we were staying at Caribbean Beach to have those options.
Speaker 1:And I think that's what has made Caribbean Beach so much more popular than it has in the past.
Speaker 2:Because of the access to the Skyliner, because of the access to this.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and now Pop Century. I know people have said Pop Century is the best value resort. This has just upped it up. Because of the Skyliner, because of the Skyliner Because it is so easy to get to Epcot or Hollywood Studios now of the skyline because it is so easy to get to epcot or hollywood studios now. Um, now the buses for epcot and hollywood studios do not run now between these resorts to hollywood studios and epcot yeah, they typically don't.
Speaker 2:You know, every once in a while there might be some exceptions, but they usually do not, they usually do not.
Speaker 1:Now, this is when it's really awkward if you're on there with another family. I don't like being on there with another family because you're trying to talk about your day, but then you don't want other people to hear you, so you're kind of like talking a lot, hey. So how was your day at upcon today? Yeah, it's good and they're other families try not to talk too loud, so they're over there like making sure you're not listening to them.
Speaker 2:Right, and it's just, it's extremely or you're with, with families that just go ahead and you know like, oh, did you have fun today I would rather die wait, and I've, and I've experienced both the one like everyone, trying to kind of talk quietly, whispering, you know, about their day. But I've also been on one that you know. It was I, I think me and Nolan with another mom and son and we just ended up talking because it was just too awkward the other way, I would rather die.
Speaker 1:So what was incredibly awkward was my first day trip that I went to do book research. I was taking the monitor, the Skyliner from Epcot to Hollywood studios, cause it was made the fourth. I wanted to check out the stuff at Hollywood studios. And it was May the 4th. I wanted to check out the stuff at Hollywood Studios and it was nobody really in line and they ended up putting me and this other guy in a Skyliner together and we just kind of looked at each other and you remember I forgot the comedian, it was Chris Rock. When it was like you put a bunch of guys together that don't know each other, they're like hey, you like sports, yeah, I like sports, yeah, I like sports, I like sports too. That's kind of what it was like yeah it's extremely awkward.
Speaker 1:We kind of like acknowledge each other and then we just both got our phones out and started looking at our phones right, but so here's the thing that was the most awkward thing ever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, usually, when there's not that much of a line, they're not going to put multiple people in one, they're going to keep just one family together or one person together. You know, by themselves. Um, so that is a little awkward that they did that. Usually it's, you know, the in like beginning in the morning, beginning of the day, when there's a line that's backed up, or at the end of the night, then that's when you're usually with it but when that line is backed up, do not get intimidated by it, because it moves, it does really quickly.
Speaker 1:It does move really quickly. All right, moving on anything else you want to say about the skyliner um, no, just again.
Speaker 2:You know, be just be prepared if it is a little bit more of a windier day, because it does sway a little bit and there are times where it's going to stop, when you're not at a point where it's time for you to get on or off. But again, just be patient because it's usually back up and running within 30 seconds to a minute, you know.
Speaker 1:You know what's the most fun about it? Yes, what? The taking off on it and then the coming into the station.
Speaker 2:Well, for me it's like when you're coming into this station and then, depending on which way you're facing, if you can see the one that's about to come in behind you, because it looks like it's coming in at full speed, like it's not going to stop in time and bump you, but it yeah, so you know how they work right, you want me to, because they're on the cables.
Speaker 1:So they're on the cables right. When you come into the stations, they're disconnecting from the cables and getting on the, the mechanism that moves them around the station. So that's why. So the cables don't go all the way through the whole station. Yeah, okay, pretty unique. Huh, yeah, it's pretty ingenious. Yeah, all right, how else do you get around the parks?
Speaker 2:there are boats so operate from the seven seas, lagoon and bay lake resorts to the magic kingdom and from the Seven Seas, lagoon and Bay Lake resorts to the Magic Kingdom and from the Magic Kingdom to the Ticket and Transportation Center.
Speaker 1:Also just came back, I think this past year. In the afternoons you can take boats from the Contemporary to the Wordness Lodge and the cabins at Fort Wordness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's only in the afternoon, it's only afternoon.
Speaker 1:So if you're at one of those resorts and want to go eat at one of the restaurants at those other resorts, you can do that as well.
Speaker 2:That's an option. I think it's like after one or two o'clock, after one or two, yeah.
Speaker 1:Check with your resort if that's something you want to do. But I think that's pretty cool Right. Including at Fort Wilderness, that you don't want to go all the way to Magic Kingdom.
Speaker 2:get a bus all the way you know this is pretty cool and it was like that actually last year around Christmas time at Wilderness Lodge because remember they had that one other side.
Speaker 1:I think they had just started it back.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it had said it was one or two o'clock in the afternoon when they would run.
Speaker 1:Because they used to do that before COVID and then it went away. It used to do that before COVID and then it went away, but I think they had just brought it back then, right? So yeah, that's a cool little thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, now there's other boats, friendship boats that operate in Epcot between the non-World Showcase side and the World Showcase.
Speaker 1:I've never taken that has you.
Speaker 2:No no.
Speaker 1:It just seems quicker to walk.
Speaker 2:It does, because, especially if you just missed one that left to go across, you know, to the other side, then you can walk there in the amount of time that you have to wait for it to come, yeah, but if you're in no rush. Exactly, and just kind of enjoying the day.
Speaker 1:Be a cool thing to do too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. And then they also operate from international gateway at Epcot to the boardwalk. So this is like the side entrance of Epcot to the boardwalk. So this is like the side entrance of Epcot that's over there by France and Remy's, all of that, so that's called the International Gateway at Epcot and they go to the boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club, Swan and Dolphin and on to Hollywood.
Speaker 1:Studios and vice versa. Yeah, so we've taken this boat just as like an attraction something to do before, but if you're staying at one of these resorts, it's usually quicker just to walk yeah, it is especially like yacht and beach club especially, but if you're staying at the swan and dolphin that's a bit of a hike it is it's about a 20 minute walk, so maybe if you're tired, just take the boat yeah, like the morning might not seem like it's too too bad of a walk, but in the evening after walking all day it can be, but again, those are options you have and also if you're staying at these resorts on.
Speaker 1:this is called Crescent Lake. Yes, you may not want to take the Skyliner all the way. If you're going to Hollywood Studios from the side entrance to Hollywood Studios, you can take the boat.
Speaker 2:You could take the boat. You could take the boat, you could. Oh, we're going to get to the other, but yes, you could take the boat.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or.
Speaker 2:We're not there yet. Not there yet.
Speaker 1:You know you can also take a boat from Disney Springs to Saratoga Springs, old Key West, port Orleans, french Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside. Yes, that is so cool and I've taken the boat from disney springs to port orleans, french quarter and back. I'm sorry, not french quarter but riverside. Well, it stops at french quarter. It is a beautiful, beautiful boat ride.
Speaker 2:So you've said so we'll have to do that one. It is very peaceful maybe on our next couple's trip.
Speaker 1:You don't want to go see yeehaw bob.
Speaker 2:You already told me that I didn't flat out say I just were only there for a couple of days and, and you flat out said no yee-haw-bop. Because, we need to try to do other things we haven't experienced that are more like that our kids might not want to do yet.
Speaker 1:Like yee-haw-bop.
Speaker 2:We've already experienced yee-haw-bop, though, and you have multiple times Just other restaurants or bars, or Yee-haw-bop Moving along restaurants or bars, or you hop up moving along.
Speaker 1:yes, the boat ride. It's very peaceful and very relaxing. I really thoroughly enjoy this, especially disney springs at night it's beautiful from the water. It's so beautiful yeah so cool. You get to see the treehouse villas at saratoga springs from the boat ride oh, that's nice, it's pretty cool. You don't see old key west because you make a turn, is it like a canal turns away, so you don't see old key's nice it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:You don't see Old Key West because you make a turn. There's like a canal that turns away, so you don't see Old Key West, but yeah, it's pretty cool. I would highly recommend if you had some free time and you were at Disney Springs and then oh, you just wanted to go see Yeehaw Bob tonight. Take the boat on over to Riverside. You won, I promise you.
Speaker 2:Or if you're staying at one of these resorts you know, and going to and from Disney Springs yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and now you can walk Like what options are there to walk, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's just the way you started that. Now you can walk.
Speaker 1:You can walk so walking.
Speaker 2:if you're staying at the contemporary, you're going to have to. I got the giggles from that, I'm sorry you're gonna have to.
Speaker 1:I got the giggles from that for some.
Speaker 2:Keep going, push through. You can push through, I know you can if you're staying at the contemporary or the grand floridian and the polynesian. Once the new tower is open again, because they're still doing all that construction over there at poly, you can walk to the magic kingdom. So again, the contemporary right there, its own security, all of that. That is definitely a pro to this. And then the grand floridian what about 15 minute walk?
Speaker 1:we said it's 10 or 15 minutes. Yeah, it's a nice walk, it's not too bad and then the polynesian again.
Speaker 2:Like you're going from poly to grand floridian and then to magic kingdom, so it's a little bit longer of a walk, but those are options especially so at the end of the night.
Speaker 1:Leaving the magic kingdom man, the wait for the monorail backs into the magic kingdom. The wait for the ferry boat backs into the magic all transportation, all of backs up yeah, walk, just walk. Yeah, you can walk to the transportation ticket center or take a boat to the, to the polynesian, if you need to get to the Trans-Pacific Center and then walk from the Polynesian to the TTC.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that is true, it's that simple. The TTC really is like right there, like it is right next to some walking pass of the Polynesian, like it's crazy how close it really is.
Speaker 1:It's really right there, and so that's another option if you don't want to wait an hour for the monorail and be crammed in there like a bunch of horses or just sardines or the ferry boat man, they cram you in there in the ferry boat.
Speaker 2:At night, they do yes.
Speaker 1:It's not as pleasant leaving as it is going.
Speaker 2:Correct. Yeah, going, it's well. I haven't been on it, but from what you say, it's a lot more roomy and relaxing. I relaxing.
Speaker 1:I don't get there first thing in the morning.
Speaker 2:That's true too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but it's just nice and beautiful.
Speaker 2:But if you are staying at the Yacht and Beach Club Boardwalk or Swan and Dolphin, like we've said, you can walk to Epcot. And when we mean walking to Epcot, again, that side entrance International Gateway it's putting you over there right by France, so, like if it's in the morning, you know, then that's probably where you want to rope, drop Ratatouille, because you're right there.
Speaker 1:You've got a better advantage over those that came from the main entrance.
Speaker 2:Yes, you can also walk to Hollywood Studios from those same resorts as well. There is a walking path off to the side before you get to where the Skyliner and all that is.
Speaker 1:Yes, to Hollywood Studios. You'll have to go through the boardwalk and then go that way, because the path is on the outside. Okay, yeah, yeah, I haven't done that way yet, I haven't walked that either, because it's a long walk and also, if you're staying at Saratoga Springs, you can walk to Disney Springs.
Speaker 2:Yes, you can, because we did that.
Speaker 1:We did that. We stayed literally right across the lake from Disney Springs. It was really pretty at night.
Speaker 2:Sorry, there's so many things from that trip, like now, looking back, I'm like, oh, we need to stay at Saratoga again one day, because we just yeah.
Speaker 1:We had no idea, we had no clue. But you know what I'm glad we did, though I'm glad we didn't know anything.
Speaker 2:Right, we didn't know any different. But yeah, saratoga Springs is right there and from where we were I mean, we were like right there across that water and you can, at night, from where we were staying, like you could see everything lit up. It was very it's very pretty and the bridge that you walk over is is a nice walk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah all right, so anything else you'd like to say?
Speaker 2:well, no, we, we already covered the minivan. So again, just keep that in mind. You know, they look like mini, you know, and those cast members are very nice. We actually used them on our last trip when we were leaving one of the water parks.
Speaker 1:So we took it to the water parks and back from the water parks. Yeah, that's true, we did both. It just seemed easier. You know, then they're going to be big seven person suburbans, so there's plenty of room. They have car seats available in them If you need that. Yeah, this is a special treat. Do we take them all over time All the time? No, they are pricier than normal Lyfts or Ubers, but they are. It's kind of just a special treat. Hey, we're on property going to. We were going to Typhoon Lagoon. It just seemed easier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because, as mentioned earlier, with those water parks, you do often have to go from the resort to Disney Springs and then to the water park on occasion, or vice versa. But, on occasion they do come straight to your resort. So that's just something. Again, you need to ask the front desk at your resort.
Speaker 1:Yes, and they used to go to the. You can have them pick you up from the airport as well. Pre-covid. Oh, minivans I have heard that it is trying to come back for like resorts at deluxe guests at deluxe resorts. But, I haven't seen anything on the website, just again, just like a rumor, like that would be a little pricey. I think it was like $180 each way, which is yes, I don't know if they do come back.
Speaker 2:I don't know if we would do that for the airport, but again, just around property and stuff, you know, or like I was using that example, you know, for the water park days, if you're at a resort that doesn't have buses coming straight there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't even think like a hired suburban would be that much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't even think like a hired suburban would be that much. Yeah, one way that's. That's pretty from the airport. Yeah.
Speaker 1:All right. So that brings us to this week's Disney trivia how many ferry boats sail the seven seas lagoon and what are their names?
Speaker 2:That's why you hushed me, that's why I hushed you earlier.
Speaker 1:Brittany, do you know?
Speaker 2:Well, I remembered the general Joe Potter. That name just stuck in my head and I can't think of the full name of Fowler, but it's Admiral Joe Fowler.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:And then I did not know, the third one.
Speaker 1:Richard F Irvine. So there are three. I'm going to read an excerpt from my book that's in progress. So who are they Right? We hear these names, we're like. Who are these people, right? So they right, we hear these names, we're like, who are these people, right? So admiral joe fowler served in the us navy for 32 years. Admiral joe fowler oversaw the construction of disneyland and later assisted with the construction of walt disney world. Richard f irvine I'm sorry, uh, major general joe potter served in the us army for for 38 years and was the Panama Canal Zone governor. When he was hired by Walt himself, he was a main construction designer for Walt Disney World and retired in 1974. Richard F Irvine was hired by Disney in 1943 as an art director. He was one of the first Imagineers and worked on several attractions in Disneyland. He was a head of Walt Disney Imagineering and led the design of Walt Disney World until he retired in 1973. So that's who the ferry boats are named after, and this week's winner is no one.
Speaker 2:Aww, nobody, no one. Aww, that was a good one too. That was a good one, wasn't it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's all right, nobody nobody decided to wanted to even try. Yeah, all right. So thank you everybody for listening for this week's episode. Uh, if you want to support the podcast, the best way to do that is to share the show with your friends and leave us a five-star review on apple podcast or any review five-star review.
Speaker 1:you can email us at circle of parks at gmailcom. Our website's wwwcircleofparkscom. We're on facebook, instagram and x and all that circle of parks and I will be doing a live disney trivia thursday in the parks he gets to see the holiday decor I haven't even thought about that. I will be. I will be researching Fantasyland, so I'm going to try to think of a cool live trivia from Fantasyland.
Speaker 2:Alright, well, we'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1:Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
Speaker 2:Hey, hey, thank you.