AKV too far?

[nvrenoughdisney]

We're thinking about buying into AKV but I'm a little worried about how far it is from the parks. I've never stayed there but I've heard that it takes a long time to get anywhere. Does anybody find this to be the case? Do you know if it shares buses with any other resorts? Thanks for the help!

 

[backyardponder]

That's one of the reasons we bought BWV through resale.

 

[Cyndibear]

It does not share buses with any other resorts. As far as how long it takes to get to the parks vary. We really did not notice that it took that much longer. We did not feel it was as big of a problem as we though it might be.

Cyndi

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We are most likely buying into AKV, but we always have a car, so no issues with its location here.

 

[LindaBabe]

It's farthest from Magic Kingdom, in the same range as Coronado Springs and the All Stars. It goes pretty quickly because there aren't any interm stops at other resorts, and there are only 2 stop lights. BWV is closer in miles, but to Magic Kingdom, last time I stayed there, I had to ride around the other 4 Epcot resorts and then two traffic lights.

 

[drag n' fly]

IMO not far enough We bought there for just that reason. I just want to get away from all the park madness sometimes and AKV fits the bill We rent a vehicle once there so I cannot comment on that as I hate doing the buses wastes too much time

 

[momof3poohlovers]

We have stayed at and own both AKV and BCV's and I actually found them to be about the same(w/ the obvious exception of Epcot and DHS for BCV's). By the time the BC bus stopped at YC and then BW and the Dolphin and Swan, it took much longer than the bus from AKL. Now I am not sure if the BC bus still stops at all of these resorts but honestly, I did not notice a big difference at all.

 

[DVC Eric]

We're thinking about buying into AKV but I'm a little worried about how far it is from the parks. I've never stayed there but I've heard that it takes a long time to get anywhere. Does anybody find this to be the case? Do you know if it shares buses with any other resorts? Thanks for the help!

The length of the bus ride is longer than other resorts, but the resort has features that the others do not have. You have to figure out which is more important, the little bit of extra bus ride or the savannah veiw rooms which are great.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We didn't feel too far away with the great bus service there. The only thing that seemed far away to us was DTD, but then we are used to walking there or taking the pontoon from OKW.

 

[ToodlesRN]

We will be staying the AKV in Feb 2009 our first visit home! and thinking about renting a car to venture around Orlando. For those of you had drove did you drive to the parks and if so how much was parking or did you take the shuttle bus?
Thanks!

 

[Nigel8600]

Yes, we have heard the same thing too that AKV gets GREAT bus service because AKV is over in it's own corner it kinda has it's own bus service that's very efficient.

I guess they don't subject the higher paying AKV guests to share buses with the pop, music, and all stars economy resorts in the same area because it probably wouldnt be good for business.

These economy Disney motels get some of the WORST Disney Express bus service. Check them out on trip advisor ..... not good things to say about buses there. Waiting sometimes for 3 buses because the lineups are so long to get on and when the bus does finally show up its already 80% full from other economy resorts.

 

[Nigel8600]

did you drive to the parks and if so how much was parking or did you take the shuttle bus?
Thanks!

If you stay at the Disney resorts the parking at the parks is free.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We bought into AKV in Feb. We have stayed at AKL several times and we really love it there. It is such a fantastic resort. I'm sure the new villa's will be just as beautiful. One of the things we really like is the fact that it is all by itself. No having to share buses.

 

[moredisneyplease]

direct buses sound good to me because we just wrapped up a stay at BWV and rented a car because last time we were there we got soooo tired of all of the stops just to get somewhere! And then all of those same stops just to get back home!

 

[soonertxmickey]

We are @ AKV right now and it took us 45mis to get to MK. We previously stayed @ VWl(ferry spoiled 15mins max) and SSR(prob 30mins max). Honestly the resort exceeded my expectations. I still love my home of VWL but the warmth and closeness of AKV makes it feel so welcoming. The savannah view is top notch having your coffee and the little ones eating cereal watching the animals, Priceless! AKV is worth the $$. Oops gotta go, I can hear the lines at the parks getting filled already.

 

[hardingk]

We have stayed at CS several times (right next to AKV) and we had no problems getting to the parks. I didn't think it took any longer then any of the other resorts we have stayed at! We did like the ferry to MK from WL, but that is only one park. If you went to any other park, you had to stop at aleast one other resort.
We also like that the AK bus stop is one of the first bus stops at all of the parks verus being the furthest way for the All-Star resorts and Pop Century!!

We are looking forward to our first trip home to AKV in December!!

 

[nvrenoughdisney]

We also like that the AK bus stop is one of the first bus stops at all of the parks verus being the furthest way for the All-Star resorts and Pop Century!!

Great point!!

 

[SandrainNC]

We always take our car, so we don't mind the location at all. I timed it 10 minutes to MK one morning (in our car of course).

Sandra

 

[JimMIA]

You'll hear all sorts of comments about various resorts being too far, or the transportation being too slow. Personally, I think they are all great, but there are some tradeoffs.

For example, we own at OKW and SSR. Prior to AKV, these were the two resorts frequently dissed for being "too remote." But we always drive, and I can drive from anywhere to anywhere in WDW in 10 minutes. Even the "remoteness" of OKW/SSR works for us, because we enjoy eating offsite and there are dozens of good restaurants within minutes of our resorts.

People brag about the ability to walk to Epcot from BCV and BWV, and that's a legitimate benefit IF you happen to be spending most of your time at Epcot. But I can drive to MK from either of my homes before valet will bring your car to you at BWV or BCV. And if I go early in the AM, I might actually beat you to Epcot.

If you're bussing, OKW and now AKV usually get great reviews on their bus service. BCV/BWV not so much...at all. In fact, the Epcot resorts are the only ones where you usually here complaints about the bus service. VWL is very convenient to MK, but not so convenient to the other parks.

We don't use the busses much, but when we have, we've been very satisfied no matter where we were traveling from or to. One big benefit of driving for us is that we like to come back to the resort in the middle of the day for some nap/pool time. That's a LOT easier with a car than by bus, no matter where you are staying. I don't mind two bus trips a day, but I sure don't want to do four!

My favorite resort is still OKW. I can get anywhere I want to go quickly, and I love the quiet, relaxed atmosphere. Call it a retirement home if you like -- we love OKW! Other people just love the action of Boardwalk or the beauty of BCV. Every resort has its charms.

And, if your particular home resort busses don't please you, you can always try to get into BCV or BWV for a primarily-Epcot trip, or into VWL/BLT for a primarily-MK trip.

 

[joech]

We always get a rental van/suv so the extra distance doesn't border us.