We are planning to rope drop Epcot, Hollywood Stuidos, and Animal Kingdom by driving from our resort. We are staying at the Grand Floridian. As of typing this at 8:30pm there is approximately a 10-15 drive to the parks with Epcot being the shortest.
Any recommendations on what time to leave the resort and head to the parks when rope dropping?
Current plans,
Monday 02/17/25: AK, EE 7:30 am, CL 8
Tuesday 02/18:25: HS, EE 8:00 am, CL 9
Thursday 02/20/25: Epcot, EE 8:30 am, CL 7
Also, any other good tips or fun activities for having a car on property?
If you want to avoid some walking in the morning and at the end of the day, splurge the extra $20-$25 for Preferred Parking (if it is in your budget).
We did this last fall on a Saturday night and the parking was a nightmare. Some of the garages were full, but we did end up finding space in one of the Disney parking garages. If I had it to do over, I’d still drive to DS, but I’d leave earlier to head to DS than we did … we cut it very close with our dining res and it was stressful as we hunted for a parking spot.
I would take the bus. But I don’t like driving in Disney. Although we’ve done plenty of it. As far as making ropedrop, if you want to get to the front of the pack, plan on leaving 1h 20 mins before rope drop. If you’re just trying to get in early and get a head start before off site, 45 mins is fine.
I think it would be fun to drive to the Campgrounds and take a bus to the Settlement. They have the electromagic parade at night, viewable from the launch. They have horse riding and archery. Putt Putt is always fun! And having a car is so much more convenient than the bus system in many cases.
There is a lot of road construction going on in the Poly area which could slow traffic.
If official park opening time is 8:30 try to be entering the parking lot about 7:45.
If on a bus, I’d leave my resort room 90 minutes before official park time.
If driving, at least 45 minutes for Epcot, depending on construction. More time for HS and more time for AK.
Some times guests are let in earlier
I wouldn’t drive to DS.
Sometimes you can’t drive into a resort you’re not staying at unless you’ve a dining reservation.
We’ve most trips had a car and most trips let Disney do the driving and buy the gas. The one time that we had to use our vehicle was for the surfing lessons at Typhoon Lagoon back in 2006. Busses didn’t run that early.
We have had our car at the Disney car care center twice. Once was a quick fix but the other time all they could do was tell us what was wrong. Car was still drivable so we fixed it later.
We’ve driven off property for water and snacks. Usually try to plan extra tho.
DH will drive to DS if we have a car. The DS parking garages are very good about indicating which levels or rows are full vs available, with green lights at each open spot.
Go to Ravello at The Four Seasons! Delicious Michelin recommended Italian restaurant. All pasta made in house and not outrageously priced! We spent the same at Ravello and Prime Time 50’s! My teens loved it and it was a fantastic way to begin our trip last summer.
I could be completely wrong with what I am about to say, but my only advice would be to be prepared for more auto traffic within the WDW property than you might anticipate. We always drive to WDW and have stayed at the GF like you are planning. And have used our car to visit AK park, as well as restaurant ADRs at other resorts. Be prepared to tell the parking lot guards that you already stay on property to avoid the daily parking fee, and/or show them your magic band. They do check & verify. I’ve never driven to DS however. Always used the buses when going there.
Also … I may be imagining this, but the last few years it seemed to me like the rest of Orlando has suddenly discovered the roads on Disney property when driving around town. Both Floridian Way and North World Dr. (goes by the Contemporary) appeared to have more & more north & south bound traffic than I ever noticed before. I just say all that to suggest you allow a bit more time than you might anticipate. Driving around WDW in your car is doable, but don’t be surprised by the number of other cars on the road at the same time. I also still have a WDW Property Map & Destination Directory that a front desk cast member at the Contemporary gave me a few years ago. I love it. May be worth asking if one is available when you check-in.
Last July we took a Lyft from UOR to DS for supper. Traffic between was congested. We had allowed something like 90 minutes.
When we got mired in traffic trying to drive along Disney Springs we exited the car before the dropoff/pick up location because it was clear that it was going to be awhile getting there in all the cars.
In December the road construction near the Poly had traffic tied up several times. Just at a standstill.
Oh, there was another day I took Lyft from WDW back to UOR - traffic in between was very slow.
I do not recall those roads being so busy in previous years
For me the answer is always drive, except to MK. The garages are really easy there and the walk to the buses is not any closer.
I’ve only stayed on property a few times, but had a car each time (we usually rent houses).
The only time I think buses help is MK.
When we have gone for RD, I have sometimes been in the parking lot before the parking attendants/kiosks are even manned! That was a number of years ago, however. The last trips have seen them manned. We have often had front row parking as our goal had always been to be to the taps one hour before open.
Our preferences are not everyone’s cup of tea.
Are you driving to DS on a week day or weekend? What time of day? Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday brunch will be harder parking, followed by weekday evenings.
One of the pod casts I listen to just reported they accidentally showed up to early at MK. No attendant but gates were open. I didn’t realize they started turning people away after COVID.
