AKL Park Travel Times

[DisneyRacer500]

Hi All,
We're planning a June trip and are wrestling between AKL and Wilderness Lodge. We typically stay at Wilderness when we go but are contemplating staying somewhere new and have been interested in AKL after we went to dinner at Jiko a few trips ago. We also got a pin code and are able to get a pretty nice rate at AKL.

My wife is concerned about the bus travel time. We spend most of our time at Epcot, Hollywood and Animal Kingdom. We only do MK for one morning. Given that AKL is near the three we spend the most time at, should we be concerned with bus travel time?

A little additional info... it's just us two traveling, no kids.

Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

Hi All,
We're planning a June trip and are wrestling between AKL and Wilderness Lodge. We typically stay at Wilderness when we go but are contemplating staying somewhere new and have been interested in AKL after we went to dinner at Jiko a few trips ago. We also got a pin code and are able to get a pretty nice rate at AKL.

My wife is concerned about the bus travel time. We spend most of our time at Epcot, Hollywood and Animal Kingdom. We only do MK for one morning. Given that AKL is near the three we spend the most time at, should we be concerned with bus travel time?

A little additional info... it's just us two traveling, no kids.

Thanks!

Looking over my notes from our last 4 stays at AKL, it's a 7-8 minute ride to Epcot and DHS. It's under 5 minutes to AK. The ride to MK is about 21 minutes. We have always thought the "AKL is so far from everything" complaint to be a non issue. The only thing AKL is "far" from in MK. Every other destination is the same distance from AKL as the MK resorts. Yet I never hear "the MK resorts are so far from everything".

 

[Sharene0724]

I haven't stayed at AKL yet, we have a trip booked this summer there. Touring plans has some information on bus travel and like everywhere else, it depends on what time and where you are headed: https://touringplans.com/walt-disney-world/hotels/disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge

One thing you might consider, especially since its just the two of you is to use Uber or Lyft when you have to be somewhere at a certain time like for a dining reservation or rope drop. It's pretty inexpensive and a nice alternative to the buses. We used it a few times on our trip last September and once going going from WL to AK park and it was just under $10.

 

[gillep]

Looking over my notes from our last 4 stays at AKL, it's a 7-8 minute ride to Epcot and DHS. It's under 5 minutes to AK. The ride to MK is about 21 minutes. We have always thought the "AKL is so far from everything" complaint to be a non issue. The only thing AKL is "far" from in MK. Every other destination is the same distance from AKL as the MK resorts. Yet I never hear "the MK resorts are so far from everything".

THIS!!!

 

[disneyvoice]

Honestly, my DH and I never notice that there is a difference in far away we are from any of the parks regardless of where we stay. I truly don't understand the concern about this. ANY resort you stay at will be farther away from at least ONE or two parks. But I have honestly NEVER even noticed travel times whether we are using WDW transportation or driving a car.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The issue of AKL being "too far" from everything is seriously overstated. None of the bus rides were overly long, with MK being the furthest at around 20 minutes. I don't know about you, but a 20 min bus ride to MK is way better than the 3 hours by plane from my house.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Hi All,
We're planning a June trip and are wrestling between AKL and Wilderness Lodge. We typically stay at Wilderness when we go but are contemplating staying somewhere new and have been interested in AKL after we went to dinner at Jiko a few trips ago. We also got a pin code and are able to get a pretty nice rate at AKL.

My wife is concerned about the bus travel time. We spend most of our time at Epcot, Hollywood and Animal Kingdom. We only do MK for one morning. Given that AKL is near the three we spend the most time at, should we be concerned with bus travel time?

A little additional info... it's just us two traveling, no kids.

Thanks!

I agree with PP- AKL is only really far from MK. It's a pain on a day when you're hitting MK and want a resort break. We stayed at AKL early March and on our MK day we ended up bailing on the bus ride back to MK from AKL during the middle of the day and took a Minnie Van. I was impatient that day and didn't want to be a complainer but I was over waiting for the buses at that point and I really wanted to try a Minnie Van. It's not far from the other parks at all so it will be perfect for Epcot, HS and AK. We liked AKL a lot, enjoy!

 

[DisneyRacer500]

Thanks for the help everyone. We decided to go with the AKL and are both very excited.

I'd always thought the travel times had to be a bit of incorrect info. I think what's likely the issue that furthers this rumor is that it's a deluxe with no OTHER form of transportation than a bus to ALL parks. All other deluxe resorts have either the monorail or a boat or both.

We got a great rate on a Standard view and have put in a room request with TouringPlans that should give us a partial savannah view. Our good friend has decided to join us, a Disney first timer, so hoping this will be a great new experience for all of us.

Thanks again!

 

[kiford]

I've never really felt that AKL was that bad in terms of transportation. We found that the buses came frequently and we never waited more than 20 minutes if we just got there as a bus was pulling out. The buses to AKL only go to Jambo House and Kidani Village and no other resorts so the travel times aren't bad. Any minor inconvenience is outweighed IMO by the resort itself and the great selection of restaurants.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The issue of AKL being "too far" from everything is seriously overstated. None of the bus rides were overly long, with MK being the furthest at around 20 minutes.

I think a lot of people perceive Animal Kingdom as "too far" because they (wrongly) consider Magic Kingdom to be the center of WDW.