AK Parking Lot...will it be open for us?

[Tuffy4God]

Does anyone know what time the AK parking lot opens up when they have a YES class scheduled?

Our "Principles of Animal Behavior class" in September is scheduled to start at 8:30 am, but the park doesn't open up to everyone else until 9:00 am.

Will the parking lot be open for us before 8:30? I'm really hoping to drive to AK that day since we want to stop over at Blizzard Beach afterward and it would be more convenient to drive than to take the bus.

TIA!

 

[Miskey]

Yes it will be open. Many people will be going to Tusker House to eat breakfast an hour before the park opens

 

[ArielRae]

We arrived at each of the parks this last trip every morning at 6:30am and was able to go in and park no problem.

 

[Tuffy4God]

Thanks for the info!

 

[ghtx]

But warning: there have been reports that for some reason the AK parking lot sometimes doesn't open until an hour or so before regular opening time - causing problems for people driving to AK for early ADRs or AM EMH.

 

[tobikaye]

But warning: there have been reports that for some reason the AK parking lot sometimes doesn't open until an hour or so before regular opening time - causing problems for people driving to AK for early ADRs or AM EMH.

I have read these rumors as well, but I have not read any recently where someone has had this problem. I wonder if this is less likely to be a problem now.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Last Thursday we had a 7:45 YES class at EPCOT that we thought started at 7:30am and got there at 7:00am. One lane was open to enter the parking lot, but there was no one to collect the parking fee. I asked a parking attendant about it and she said jokingly, "It's a magical day!" Free parking.

Two weeks ago, I went to AK to pick up my park passes at Customer Relations. It was 6pm. Again, one lane was open but no one was there to collect the parking fee.

I've driven by AK (down Osceola Pkwy) after leaving the MK at midnight. There was one lane with a green light.

I suspect that the parking lot is always open at AK and the other parks. If no one is there to collect the parking fee, parking is free.

 

[rangebob]

As stated above the lots are always open. It may be manned or unmanned sometimes and collecting monies though is the question.

 

[ghtx]

As stated above the lots are always open. It may be manned or unmanned sometimes and collecting monies though is the question.

No, that's not what I've heard. I've heard that sometimes the AK lot is not open early in the morning for AM EMH, and cars are lined up waiting to get in and park. I've never seen it happen but have seen it posted here several times.

 

[Hopefully]

No, that's not what I've heard. I've heard that sometimes the AK lot is not open early in the morning for AM EMH, and cars are lined up waiting to get in and park. I've never seen it happen but have seen it posted here several times.

We had it happen to us. It is almost 3 years ago now, so maybe it is better.
We had an early (8 AM) Wild Africa Trek check in. We took a taxi to AK and we were stopped at the entrance gates, with the meter running up charges, for several minutes right before 8. The gates were not open and we could not get in to be dropped off.