Animal Kingdom Parking Lot...

[eangel12]

Is it true that Animal Kingdom parking lot only opens 30 minutes PRIOR to park opening??

Animal Kingdom opens at 9am on 9/29 and we have an 8am Tusker House reservation. How do we get into the park?? We are staying at Beach Club and bus isn't an option (toddler and jogging stroller would make it a nightmare!!!) Any other ideas?? I was thinking of doing valet parking at Animal Kingdom Lodge and then grabbing a bus from there...but we would have to leave SUPER early from our hotel to make that happen.

Has anyone done this recently and AK parking lot was open??

 

[seashoreCM]

Yes you would have to leave super early although I would try self parking (at the All Stars) since it is easier to get away saying you are doing breakfast at their largely self service eating facilties. In addition, by going super early, you can change your mind and head for the Animal Kingdom's own lot if your ruse fails.

At any rate, the current policy at Tusker House, Pizzafari, etc. in the morning is to honor your reservation by merging you into the reservation lineup even if you are late. They know there is a problem with the parking lot.

Oops, just saw that you are staying on site so scratch what I said.

 

[joelkfla]

Why is bus from AKL not a nightmare when bus from Beach Club is?

 

[ancestry]

I'm confused. If you are willing to take a bus from AKL why not just take one from the BC?

 

[canopynut66]

Is it true that Animal Kingdom parking lot only opens 30 minutes PRIOR to park opening??

Animal Kingdom opens at 9am on 9/29 and we have an 8am Tusker House reservation. How do we get into the park?? We are staying at Beach Club and bus isn't an option (toddler and jogging stroller would make it a nightmare!!!) Any other ideas?? I was thinking of doing valet parking at Animal Kingdom Lodge and then grabbing a bus from there...but we would have to leave SUPER early from our hotel to make that happen.

Has anyone done this recently and AK parking lot was open??

We have gone early to Tusker and we took the bus from POP and had no problem and hardly anyone on the buses early seemed to us. just take the easiest way or take the strollers on the bus. so many do. be best time saver for you in long run

 

[eangel12]

Why is bus from AKL not a nightmare when bus from Beach Club is?

Because a majority of the complaints on the BC board is directly related to the bus issue from AK and DTD...both of which share CROWDED buses with very little room to maneuver. As I mentioned...I have a larger jogging stroller that even when folded is still large. Going from AK to AKL isn't that long of a haul...from AK to BC is VERY VERY long and VERY VERY crowded!!

I actually called Disney told and they told me that they were aware of the issues and that AK parking lot would be open by 7:30am at the latest. She originally said 6:30am and I said, "really" and then she switched it to 7:30am.

 

[eangel12]

We have gone early to Tusker and we took the bus from POP and had no problem and hardly anyone on the buses early seemed to us. just take the easiest way or take the strollers on the bus. so many do. be best time saver for you in long run

Didn't think about the POP considering we are at BC and already doing valet parking, I thought valet parking at AK would be easier....definitely something to think about!!

 

[joelkfla]

Because a majority of the complaints on the BC board is directly related to the bus issue from AK and DTD...both of which share CROWDED buses with very little room to maneuver. As I mentioned...I have a larger jogging stroller that even when folded is still large. Going from AK to AKL isn't that long of a haul...from AK to BC is VERY VERY long and VERY VERY crowded!!

At that hour, unless its a morning EMH park, buses rarely have more than a half dozen or so guests on board. BC is the 4th of 5 stops; the bus will be stopping only at BW before going on to AK. Buses will not be stopping at BB that early. Unless there's a wheelchair to pick up at BW, your time on the bus would be about 15 minutes.

Now, the trip back could be rather crowded and rather longish, depending on the time of day. If you're not a single parent, perhaps you could convince another adult to head back to the resort later in the a.m. and retrieve the car. Or you could take a taxi back, probably for around $10-$15; if the stroller's too big for the trunk, you could get a taxi van for the same price.

I actually called Disney told and they told me that they were aware of the issues and that AK parking lot would be open by 7:30am at the latest. She originally said 6:30am and I said, "really" and then she switched it to 7:30am.

That would be nice. I'd watch these boards for verification by other DISers that it is actually happening.

 

[Alesia]

Because a majority of the complaints on the BC board is directly related to the bus issue from AK and DTD...both of which share CROWDED buses with very little room to maneuver. As I mentioned...I have a larger jogging stroller that even when folded is still large. Going from AK to AKL isn't that long of a haul...from AK to BC is VERY VERY long and VERY VERY crowded!!

At that time of morning, I would be shocked if the bus was crowded.

I actually called Disney told and they told me that they were aware of the issues and that AK parking lot would be open by 7:30am at the latest. She originally said 6:30am and I said, "really" and then she switched it to 7:30am.

Unfortunately, CMs you speak to on the phone are really unreliable.

 

[eangel12]

At that time of morning, I would be shocked if the bus was crowded.



Unfortunately, CMs you speak to on the phone are really unreliable.

I'm definitely NOT worried about the trip there...it is the trip BACK that concerns me with the buses!! Having to lug a jogging stroller, sleepy toddler and grouchy husband on the bus trip home would be a disaster. I could do a taxi back to the hotel...not a bad idea at all!! Bus there, taxi back to hotel. Are there normally taxis waiting at the parks to take people back to the hotels??


My original thought was to take the bus by myself to AKL and pick up our car and drive back to pick up my son and husband...so they didn't have to ride the bus at all. I love the idea of a taxi, but think my husband will do the thumbs down because of no car seat. I'll have to give it some more thought!!!

 

[1tufgt]

So let me understand this. In Oct we have a 8:15 Tusker house reservation and the park opens at 9am. Which means the parking lot doesn't open till 8:30??

If driving how do we get to our reservation? Also is AK parking lot the only one that opens up 30 mins before park opening?

 

[seashoreCM]

Hmmm. Who would like to be the guinea pig that gets run over by a Segway? Get to AK, if no one there then move the cone, drive on in, drop everyone off, then just you exit heading for AKL or AS or if you did all this early enough, BC to park and catch the bus back.

 

[DisneyGuess]

So let me understand this. In Oct we have a 8:15 Tusker house reservation and the park opens at 9am. Which means the parking lot doesn't open till 8:30??

If driving how do we get to our reservation? Also is AK parking lot the only one that opens up 30 mins before park opening?

Agreed, I didn't know this. We have an 8:05am ADR at Tusker House. Kind of stupid to open the lot at 8:30am when they offer early morning ADRs.
If I decide to take the bus from POR on that day instead, what time should we hop the bus? I'd rather drive but will do what I have to do to get to our breakfast.
Is AK the only park that opens there lot that late?

 

[robinb]

Is it true that Animal Kingdom parking lot only opens 30 minutes PRIOR to park opening??

Animal Kingdom opens at 9am on 9/29 and we have an 8am Tusker House reservation. How do we get into the park?? We are staying at Beach Club and bus isn't an option (toddler and jogging stroller would make it a nightmare!!!) Any other ideas?? I was thinking of doing valet parking at Animal Kingdom Lodge and then grabbing a bus from there...but we would have to leave SUPER early from our hotel to make that happen.

Has anyone done this recently and AK parking lot was open??

The "nightmare" part of taking a bus with a toddler and jogging stroller is getting on and off the bus. I don't see a difference between doing that from Animal Kingdom or the Beach Club. I would just take the stroller on the bus from the Beach Club and if it's a real nightmare take a cab back.

 

[seashoreCM]

I would think that getting off of the bus would not be a nightmare. Let everyone else off first, then you can get off without having to worry about annoying others behind you.

Try to take it easy; don't sweat or fret.

 

[goofy4tink]

There is no way to know, beforehand, exactly what time the parking lot opens. For an 8:05 ADR, you would have to be there by 7:40 in any case. It will take a bit of time to get to the park entrance, then it's about 10-15 mins to Tusker House.

Really, in all reality, it isn't going to be a nightmare to get a stroller on a bus..at any resort. You fold up the stroller, your dh takes it onto the bus, you take your toddler onto the bus. Just not a big deal. The buses at that time of morning are never crowded..unless it's early entry at AK, you should not have any issue at all using the bus. If you do decide to use the bus, be out at the bus stop by 7:00 so as to be ontime.
You can drive to AKL and park there and then take the bus over. Or, you could drive to AK, see if the lot is open, park if it is, and if it isn't, drive back to AKL and park there and take their bus. But, be sure you get to AK no later than 7:20 to give yourself plenty of time to get back to AKL and onto a bus.

 

[1tufgt]

How hard is it for scooters to get on and off the buses? We will have 1 scooter for sure but might end up with 2.

 

[eangel12]

Haha...trust me...I know getting on and off of a bus with a jogging stroller would be a nightmare, no matter how short the commute. I just figured the bus to AKL would be shorter/less crowded than the BC bus. I have never done this before so I have NO idea. Just what I gathered from reading the boards.

I think the idea of going to AK and seeing if it is open at 7:30am is a good idea.

Is moving the cone and driving in really an option?? We are also going to AK on 9/26, but going to AKL first for Boma breakfast. I think I will talk to the parking lot people when I go on Monday and let them know my dilemma for Thursday. Maybe they will take pity on me and tell me what to do!!

 

[goofy4tink]

How hard is it for scooters to get on and off the buses? We will have 1 scooter for sure but might end up with 2.

If there are no other ECVs on the bus, or waiting ahead of you to board, then it should be fine. Each bus can carry at least two ECVs and some can take three. They are loaded first.....up a ramp. Then tied down. Then, everyone boards the bus. When the bus gets to it's destination, everyone gets off, then the ECV is untied and allowed off.

Haha...trust me...I know getting on and off of a bus with a jogging stroller would be a nightmare, no matter how short the commute. I just figured the bus to AKL would be shorter/less crowded than the BC bus. I have never done this before so I have NO idea. Just what I gathered from reading the boards.

I think the idea of going to AK and seeing if it is open at 7:30am is a good idea.

Is moving the cone and driving in really an option?? We are also going to AK on 9/26, but going to AKL first for Boma breakfast. I think I will talk to the parking lot people when I go on Monday and let them know my dilemma for Thursday. Maybe they will take pity on me and tell me what to do!!

I've taken buses from both BC and AKL...you still have to get on a bus with that stroller. If the stroller is going to be an issue, then you may have to make do with your car. Many, many people ride the buses with young children and jogging strollers. Removing the cones is NOT an option. They are there for a reason.
Check on the parking lot opening times when you get there. I'm sure they will have the info you need.