Animal Kingdom walkway!

[locodemickey]

We just got back from a 20-day stay at AKLV and the bus service there is not very good to AK. The trip is 3 minutes on the bus and you would think that there would be one bus dedicated to a round trip service but there isn't. One time there was a huge line at AK returning to the AKL (after a rainstorm) and a bus finally came. The whole line didn't fit on the bus so you'd think that they'd be back in around 10 min. to get us. Well they came back in 25 minutes but in the meantime, several buses came for other resorts including SEVEN for Fort Wilderness!! Obviously something is wrong with the dispatching. I just wish that I could be in control with when I could return with a walkway!! They really did a disservice to th AKL resort guests by not building one. BTW, we also walk to Hollywood Studios from BWV and BCV so a semi-long walk is not unusual for us.

 

[hannah's dad]

When staying at AKL in March for three nights, I too wondered why there is no walkway. Walking to EPCOT is one of the joys and pleasures of staying at the Beach Club or Boardwalk, and I would think adding a similar experience for AKL guests would add value.

 

[crisi]

We had this conversation a while ago. There are a few problems - the biggest is from AKL to the main entrance of AK is MUCH longer than from Epcot to MGM. There are shorter ways, but it would involve crossing the savannah (unlikely given the security around the animals) and/or putting a second entrance (ala the International Gateway) into AK. There probably aren't enough rooms to justify a second entrance even when Kidani is built - the Epcot area has far more rooms between BW/BWV/Y&BC/BCV and the S&D. I take the walkway between MGM and BWV myself, and honestly, I think that is underused.

I wouldn't be disappointed if one went in, but it would surprise me if Disney expended the capital and ongoing maintenance expense to build such a thing.

 

[jdg345]

At a minimum, a back/forth tram or something would be nice. If the walk is that long, they could do a themed transport, like the boats -- but on land.

imo, that's the one thing AKV/AKL are missing -- direct transportation to the park. It's the only resort linked to a park that doesn't have a direct path.

And, as the OP mentioned, if the bus takes 3m to get there, or 6-7m round-trip, there's no reason to have to wait 30m between buses. Unless, of course, they only have one bus assigned.

 

[moredisneyplease]

I didnt realize that the bus system from AKL to AK is so bad!! I plan on staying there early next year and perhaps we'll just grab a cab there and back. What do you think?

 

[DebbieB]

I was there June 26 to July 1 and the only long wait we had for a bus was at DHS going back to AKL mid-day, about 40 min. I am not a fan of the bus system but it wasn't bad. We were lucky that the bus was never crowded enough for people to stand.

 

[bookwormde]

I have often wondered the same thing from VWL to TTC. I know They Would need and overhead walkway at the road it would be nice to be able to take a leisurely walk instead of the extra monorail trip and back on the boat when coming to and from Epcot by monorail.

The came thing is true from OKW to Epcot, I guess they just do not like the idea of people walking to and from.

bookwormde

 

[Dina]

I didnt realize that the bus system from AKL to AK is so bad!! I plan on staying there early next year and perhaps we'll just grab a cab there and back. What do you think?

Not to dispute the OP, but we had a very different experience. We just returned from AKV last week, and had no problem with bus service to Animal Kingdom. The bus was very very quick-- I think around 5 minutes, and we never waited long for a bus to/from that park. Now, one night, we had a real problem with the bus to Epcot (waited almost an hour). But we went to Epcot many times on this trip, and that was the only time we had a problem. And we've encountered fluke problems at other resorts here and there. I would at least give the bus a try.

 

[alldiz]

We just got back from a 20-day stay at AKLV and the bus service there is not very good to AK. The trip is 3 minutes on the bus and you would think that there would be one bus dedicated to a round trip service but there isn't. One time there was a huge line at AK returning to the AKL (after a rainstorm) and a bus finally came. The whole line didn't fit on the bus so you'd think that they'd be back in around 10 min. to get us. Well they came back in 25 minutes but in the meantime, several buses came for other resorts including SEVEN for Fort Wilderness!! Obviously something is wrong with the dispatching. I just wish that I could be in control with when I could return with a walkway!! They really did a disservice to th AKL resort guests by not building one. BTW, we also walk to Hollywood Studios from BWV and BCV so a semi-long walk is not unusual for us.

20 days
I think a walkway would be great.
Kerri

 

[momof3poohlovers]

I didnt realize that the bus system from AKL to AK is so bad!! I plan on staying there early next year and perhaps we'll just grab a cab there and back. What do you think?

We are here at AKV's right now(check out tomorrow) and we have had wonderful luck with the transportation. We have done a lot of resort hopping for dinners so have had to transfer several times on this trip and with the exception of 2- 10 minute waits, we have always been lucky enough to walk up just as a bus to where we are going arrived. I have to admit, it may have just been luck on our part as on Sat. when we got off the bus in the afternoon there were many people waiting for the MK and Epcot(?)busses and they all seemed very angry so I assume they had been waiting for a while. Honestly, I think it's just plain luck but in our case I am so glad I didn't rent a car.

 

[Simba's Mom]

At a minimum, a back/forth tram or something would be nice. If the walk is that long, they could do a themed transport, like the boats -- but on land.

OOOH! A Kilamanjaro Safari truck-wouldn't that be fun!

 

[jdg345]

OOOH! A Kilamanjaro Safari truck-wouldn't that be fun!

Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[wildernessDad]

DW and I experienced a long wait this past May for a bus to take us, and a bunch of other folks, from AKV to AK. Several busses each arrived for the other parks before the AKV <-> AK bus showed up.

One of the people waiting gave me the number for WDW transportation, 407-WDW-RIDE, so I called and chewed. She recommended calling whenever I had a long wait for a bus.

 

[jdg345]

DW and I experienced a long wait this past May for a bus to take us, and a bunch of other folks, from AKV to AK. Several busses each arrived for the other parks before the AKV <-> AK bus showed up.

One of the people waiting gave me the number for WDW transportation, 407-WDW-RIDE, so I called and chewed. She recommended calling whenever I had a long wait for a bus.

Excellent Tip! TY!

 

[buckeyebill1995]

I don't think that it's limited to AK...we were at blizzard beach and watched 8 Pop Century buses, 3 Contemporary buses, etc go by for an hour while we were waiting for our SSR bus. A transportation CM said that they switched to a new GPS system instead of the old dispatching system, so they never knew where they were going next and it was causing all kinds of havoc while they are trying to get the kinks out of the system.

 

[Sully]

We stayed at SSR during February and encountered bus issues. They told us the same story (gps system). I would hope by now that they would have it worked out.

 

[Doc CW]

I think a walkway between AKL and AK would be really cool because they could do so much with it like have little areas where you can stop and view animals and cool stuff like that.

 

[famsen]

The bus service to AK and back was by far the worst during our stay at AKV.
I would love a walk way.

 

[jdg345]

You can always email: DVCMemberSatisfactionTeam@disneyvacationclub.com

And tell them you'd like a walkway.

I'm sure they've love the break from hearing how the new booking policy sucks.

 

[kimberh]

We were at AKV's in May, we had bus issues one morning out of five. It was for Hollywood (MGM), we waited 50 minutes, while all the other park buses came over and over. Sometimes on top of each other. It is strictly a bus issue. People were getting angry.

20 days at AKV's! Lucky you!! Did you do everything? We have yet to do it all, we probably never will.