Animal Kingdom parking lot

[shellym]

We have a Wild by Design and we have to meet at 8:15. But the park doesn't open til 9am that day.

I have read that AK parking lot sometimes doesn't open till 15 mins before the park opens.

We have been to Epcot really early one morning for a tour and we just drove through the unmanned toll boths. Is it not the same at AK?

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

The AK parking lots open at 7:45am for a 9am opening. We have done early breakfast there a bunch of times. It is funny to watch people continuously getting out of their cars and walk to the toll booth to ask why they can't get in right away. HTH

 

[shellym]

Is there a certain booth open for early entry?

 

[CandleontheWater]

On the day of AK 10th anniversary I was in the parking lot at 6 am and the park didn't open until 9 am. I just drove right through the toll booths (there were no barriers) and I was the VERY FIRST person parked in the parking lot. I really should have taken a picture of that, I doubt it will ever happen again

So, I don't think you'll have any problems getting in early.

 

[dobtia]

On the day of AK 10th anniversary I was in the parking lot at 6 am and the park didn't open until 9 am. I just drove right through the toll booths (there were no barriers) and I was the VERY FIRST person parked in the parking lot. I really should have taken a picture of that, I doubt it will ever happen again

So, I don't think you'll have any problems getting in early.

We did the same thing for our first Breakfastsourous. First in. Right past the empty booths at 7:30. Nothing, just us. And then these nice men in a security truck came and got us. They were so nice. The one from from Africa even answered my sons questions. We still got to be the first in after they got our 10 dollars at 7:45 on the nose. It was funny to watch others walk up to the booth because they had that early breakfast too.

 

[phillyatdisney]

Animal Kingdom I believe is the only park that doesn't allow you to get in early. The booths are always blocked with a barrier and the workers generally walk out at 7:45 and leisurely get themselves ready to allow cars in. I had a 8 am breakfast once and for someone who hates to be late it really irritated me................ I got over and enjoyed the park though

 

[DWFan4Life]

I just wanted to say have a great time, have fun and enjoy in your upcoming trip. Looking forward in hearing more from you after you came back.

Have a nice and safe trip coming.

 

[suebedo]

Yep, 7:45 AM for a 9AM opening. I know this because we were just there first week in Feb. We stayed at the Poly. We were given incorrect info about an early bus to AK for 8Am ressies. We were told 6:45 AM was the earliest bus to AK. SO we were outside before 6:45A> NO bus ever came. We finally found out, none was coming until 7:45 or so. We would have never made our 8AM ADR at TH. So with DH angry heck, we had the valet guys call a cab. We left the Poly at around 7:15 (the times are fuzzy). I know for sure we arrived at the gates at 7:30 . We were shocked that we had to wait. We had never even thought about this happening. Even after talking to the gate attendant and then a manger, we could not get in early. Our cab sat there with the meter running for 15 minutes. They let us in at 7:45. Our cab ended up costing around $35 or so...(once again its fuzzy...I tried to block it out because we were so angry). Bu we did end up having a great day.

 

[shellym]

I just drove right through the toll booths (there were no barriers)

The booths are always blocked with a barrier

See, this is why I asked. I have heard that there is barriers and that there isn't. I wonder if they do it different for different days? I will have to wait and see now for certain
.

I just wanted to say have a great time, have fun and enjoy in your upcoming trip. Looking forward in hearing more from you after you came back.

Have a nice and safe trip coming.

Awww thank you, your message made me smile!

 

[Familycircus]

This is where I got confused. We had 8:15 ADR at Tusker House Sunday 3/1 and after reading everything on here, we thought we had to take the bus. We got on the bus before 7:30 at POP and as we were arriving at AK, I could see them letting cars through the toll booth. We could have driven .
They checked us in at the gate and then again at Tusker House. We made it in plenty of time, but wish I had driven.

I wish somehow we could get a definite answer one way or another. It seems that AK is the only park with this parking lot entry confusion.

 

[dobtia]

Last June, and hopefully this June, we had 8:10 ressies for Tusker House Breakfast. We got in at 7:45. That part is correct. We had no troubles walking right up to the ticket gate and getting in. We got great empty pictures with a photopass guy. Made our table. Had a great breakfast, and got out just as the rope drop was hitting the Africa area. Rode Safari with no real wait time.

We had a blast and hope to do it again this year. It is pretty painless once the gates open.