So, Here's The Deal...

My wife %26amp; I are staying at the Clarion West Maingate Hotel (it%26#39;s 7675 W Irlo Bronson Hwy in Kissimmee) and we%26#39;ve discovered - much to our chagrin - that the hotel%26#39;s complimentary shuttle isn%26#39;t all it%26#39;s cracked up to be; we were hoping to get to the parks at opening time but as it turns out, the shuttle to Animal Kingdom doesn%26#39;t leave the hotel until 9:55am and the Epcot shuttle doesn%26#39;t leave until 11:05am and 12:20pm. The return shuttles are just as lousy.

So, we%26#39;re curious: what are our options? I tried looking at the Lynx website and I don%26#39;t have a clue how to figure it out. What about cabs?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

So, Here's The Deal...

You can check Taxi service and fares at

mearstransportation.com/TaxiFareEstimator.asp

So, Here's The Deal...

This is one area where car rental is best. You need to get to AK early to see any animals on the Safari, and to get fast passes for Everest.

Can you change your hotel? If so, look at hotel Blvd or Palm Parkway/Vineland/apoka rd in LBV. Lots of good choices there to stay, some extremely inexpensive, walking distance to DTD where you can get buses, or the hotels have shuttles and taxis aren%26#39;t too expensive either.

If you can%26#39;t change, then taxi over, and return on your hotel shuttle maybe.

Thanks for the link the the Mears website...we%26#39;ll probably use cabs to get over to Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom (it%26#39;s way cheaper than renting a car for the whole trip!)

Your%26#39;s is the typical experience with those so-called ';Complimentary park shuttles'; that hotel offer at times.

They mostly have lousy schedules.

Just incase you are interested in LYNX, the bus you%26#39;ll need to catch is #55, which will take you from west Hwy 192 to the Disney Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, you can catch Disney transport to the various Disney parks.

www.golynx.com/index.cfm鈥?/a>

Actually your journey by LYNX is like this:

Take a 55 going East. Alight somewhere (anywhere) at or beyond Old Town, Kissimmee, cross the street, and take a LYNX 56 going back the way you came to Disney%26#39;s Transportation Center. From there, take Disney%26#39;s free bus/boat/monorail to the attractions.

Buses 55 and 56 both run every 30 minutes, 7 daus a week. The first eastbound 55 will be around 6.40 am, which will get you to the TTC for 7.20. And every 30 minutes after that.

Going back, the last connection would be at 8.23 from the TTC, getting you back home around 9pm.

Cost $1.75 each person each way (transfers are free on LYNX).

Mistyped: 7 DAYS a week (same times). (sorry).

This is therefore not a case where the expense of a rental car or taxis is necessary - except if you intend to stay out late. And you don%26#39;t need to change hotels.

I appreciate your detailed information. As much as I prefer having a car, I know that using public transportation helps the environment and encourages exercise by walking to and from bus stops etc. so I wanted to ask a few more questions.

How long of a walk would you say it is from their hotel to the nearest bus stop? (IOW, what time would a person have to leave to get there by 6:40 am?) Also, once you get to the TTC at 7:20, how long is the wait for the transportation to AK, and then how long does it take to get there? What time would you think they%26#39;d arrive at AK itself?

Thank you for the information!

Lily

Personally, I advise everyone to avoid BUS transportation from T%26amp;T at all costs. You can easily wait over 30 min. for the bus to your destination. This is probably the most service deficient area Disney has. Just my opinion. My best advise for an option would be to check out Disney%26#39;s Coronado Springs. Great resort for adults and you get reliable bus service to all things Disney direct from resort plus the added benefit of EMH%26#39;s. On special mornings you can be inside the AK an hour before those guys staying over @ the Clarion West are allowed thru the gates. Sorry for the rub, just couldn%26#39;t resist. LOL

One last hope would be to check out schedule to MK. If it gets you there early, you can then transfer via Disney bus from park to park, usually fairly rapidly. In the case of Epcot, utilize the monorail system to transfer from MK to Epcot.

UPDATE: We ended up taking a cab to Animal Kingdom and then back to our hotel from WDW Transportation Center.

$16 there...$20 back; total of $36.

That might sound like a lot at first, but if we%26#39;d rented a car that would%26#39;ve been (at least) $30 for the day (plus the insurance) and $11 for parking at each park we were at ($22 total) so it would%26#39;ve been $52 total.

And we saved the inevitable fight that my wife %26amp; I would%26#39;ve had over directions/navigation (we don%26#39;t do well together with stuff like that...ha ha!).

BTW, we got our photos with Mickey %26amp; Minnie...it was AWESOME!!! Upon meeting them, I instantly became the world%26#39;s biggest 6 year-old kid!

You only pay car parking once a day, you can move from car park to car park at no additional fee.

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