Parking at Epcot and going to Magic Kingdom as first park (Park Hopper Pass)

[scsiguru]

We'll be in Florida for a few days next month and my wife and I are travelling with a friend who has never been to Disney (and probably won't have a chance again). We only have ONE day to see the park and he would like to visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot. We only have the option (due to our plans) of visiting for one day. We would like to visit Magic Kingdom first and then use the hopper to get to Epcot after 2 PM.

So here's my question. My wife and I have been to Disney World several times with our kids and about a year ago with our grandson. BUT, since this is only a one day trip we would like to park at Epcot and travel to Magic Kingdom first. What is the best (and fastest) way to get from Epcot parking to Magic Kingdom? We want to leave our vehicle at the Epcot parking lot since that is the park we will be leaving from to return to our Condo in Titusville. Thanks for any information and suggestions!

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Bus from the bus area to Contemporary. Walk over to MK. Or you can bus to any of the near hotels and take the monorail / boat over to MK.

Don’t go into Epcot to take the monorail, as you’ll only be able to enter with a park pass. And then won’t be able to hop to MK until after 2pm.

 

[scsiguru]

Bus from the bus area to Contemporary. Walk over to MK. Or you can bus to any of the near hotels and take the monorail / boat over to MK.

Don’t go into Epcot to take the monorail, as you’ll only be able to enter with a park pass. And then won’t be able to hop to MK until after 2pm.

It's my understanding that the entrance to the Epcot monorail station is after security BUT before the actual park entrance. So we wouldn't have to tap into Epcot to board the monorail?

 

[Mle8308]

You can take the monorail to the MK, if you are parking in the Epcot lot you do not need to enter the park to board the monorail. You will transfer from the Epcot monorail to the MK monorail at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) or you can take the ferry to the MK entrance. One thing to note, check the closing times for both parks to make sure you will be able to get back to Epcot. It should not be a problem, but still best to check.

 

[bluezy]

Bus from the bus area to Contemporary. Walk over to MK. Or you can bus to any of the near hotels and take the monorail / boat over to MK.

Don’t go into Epcot to take the monorail, as you’ll only be able to enter with a park pass. And then won’t be able to hop to MK until after 2pm.

The monorail is *not* inside EP. It is outside of the entrance gates. Depending on what time EP opens that day, there won't be buses running anywhere yet if OP is parking there early enough to get to MK at opening. If they don't have reservations for EP that day, they won't be able to get in the park first thing in the morning so no need to worry about accidentally doing that.

OP, it looks like the EP monorail starts running 30 minutes prior to EP opening so that might work for you. Though you'll have to exit at the TTC and take another monorail or ferry to MK. That could take a bit of time as there will be thousands of other people also wanting to take a monorail or ferry from the TTC to MK at that time. I'm thinking that the most efficient thing to do is to park at MK first thing in the morning and then either drive to EP when you're ready to hop there, or just take the monorail to EP and then back to the TTC at the end of the night to get your car.

 

[Lewisc]

Parking at the MK then driving to EPCOT when your ready to hop will take less time then any of the other options. Are you paying for parking? Show your MK parking receipt to the CM at the EPCOT parking lot

 

[SleeplessInTO]

It's my understanding that the entrance to the Epcot monorail station is after security BUT before the actual park entrance. So we wouldn't have to tap into Epcot to board the monorail?

Oh good point. My brain definitely went fuzzy and thought the monorail station was in the park. So yes, you’re right, you should be able to park at Epcot and board monorail to go to MK.

 

[SleeplessInTO]

The monorail is *not* inside EP. It is outside of the entrance gates. Depending on what time EP opens that day, there won't be buses running anywhere yet if OP is parking there early enough to get to MK at opening. If they don't have reservations for EP that day, they won't be able to get in the park first thing in the morning so no need to worry about accidentally doing that.

OP, it looks like the EP monorail starts running 30 minutes prior to EP opening so that might work for you. Though you'll have to exit at the TTC and take another monorail or ferry to MK. That could take a bit of time as there will be thousands of other people also wanting to take a monorail or ferry from the TTC to MK at that time. I'm thinking that the most efficient thing to do is to park at MK first thing in the morning and then either drive to EP when you're ready to hop there, or just take the monorail to EP and then back to the TTC at the end of the night to get your car.

Yep. You are right.

 

[_19disnA]

Whatever option you choose, you won't be able to see all of both parks in one day, even if you spend the entire day at Disney. Not sure if your friend knows that all of the Disney parks involve MILES of walking and trying to do both in one day means a lot of racing around from one place to the next. Perhaps if you only have one day, pick the one park they are most interested in seeing.

While I undestand wanting to depart from Epcot at the end of the day, I think a better plan would be to park at MK, see that park, then drive to Epcot and visit there. That plan wouldn't require the use of the monorail. Using the monorail will eat up a lot of time and you have to exit at TTC and board a different monorail.

 

[tzvdmd]

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