Buses to AK

[DizFan13]

Hi everyone. I need some help figuring out the best way to get to Animal Kingdom from other parks. Our original plan was to return to the hotel each day for an afternoon break, but since AK closes so early, it doesn't make very much sense to get there in the late afternoon. Can anyone tell me how to go about this? We will be using the Disney buses. I don't know if there are buses directly from each place to AK, or if we will need to transfer somehow.

 

[norrodh]

You can pretty much get to AK from alot of the parks. From Magic Kingdom you either have to go to TTC which is where the boat or monorail will take you and you can get a bus to Ak from there in the Bus Charter lot. Also from Magic you can walk over to the Contemporary Hotel and get an Animal Kingdom bus from there which I think is easiest to do. From Epcot, there is a load zone for Animal Kingdom but I havent worked there in awhile so not sure what the load zone is anymore as they changed the load zones in the last few months. I think it is #6 but there is another bus driver on here who works at Epcot so hopefully he will see this and tell you what the correct load zone is. From Hollywood Studios at LZ 7 you can get a bus to AK. The only place you will have difficulty getting a bus to AK directly is from DTD which you will have to take a bus to Animal Kingdom Lodge and then take a bus to AK. From any of the resorts you can get a bus to AK. Hope this helps! Also there are signs for each LZ so just to be sure, check the sign to make sure the Load Zones I gave you are correct as they change alot!! It drives us bus drivers crazy cus as soon as you get used to where all the load zones are by heart, they change them!! lol!!

 

[DizFan13]

Thank you so much! I just have to figure out the best way to walk to the Contemporary, and we will be all set. Also, can anyone estimate how long the trips might take?

 

[norrodh]

There is a walkway that goes beside the bus loading zones that goes to the Contemporary. When you come out the main entrance of Magic Kingdom you want to go to the left towards the buses and keep walking all the way to the left under the monorail. Its about a 5-10 minute walk - its not bad. I would also say all the trips take between 30 - 45 minutes including waiting on the bus and traffic and all. Now give or take a few minutes incase of accidents or wheelchairs on the bus which will take the bus driver a little longer to load the bus, etc. I would err on the side of closer to 45 minutes at the least!! Hope this helps somewhat!! Dont think you will make it somewhere in 20 minutes, its really just not doable with so many people and traffic, weather, etc. I always tell people give yourself an hour and if its shorter than that, thats great and I really dont think it ever takes longer than that. Although you will hear people say they waited over an hour for a bus which is impossible cus they are dispatched every 20 minutes but the guests are always right.....lol!!! Enjoy your trip!!

 

[DizFan13]

Thank you so much! The info helps a lot.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you so much! I just have to figure out the best way to walk to the Contemporary, and we will be all set. Also, can anyone estimate how long the trips might take?

One thing you should know is after the Animal Kingdom bus leaves the Contemporary it will then stop to pick up guests at the Polynesian and might stop at the Grand Floridian. So it could be faster taking the Express Monorail to the Transportation & Ticket Center and getting on the Animal Kingdom bus from there, because it won't stop at any WDW Resorts.

Now if you still want to get the bus from the Contemporary all you do is follow the signs to the walkway which goes there from the Magic Kingdom and they are clearly marked.

 

[DizFan13]

Thank you so much! The info helps a lot.

 

[DizFan13]

So now we've been here for 8 days, and having dealt with the weather, we are not so fond about the idea of walking to the Contemporary to catch a bus to AK. I am thinking that we should use the monorail. Where do I go when leaving Magic Kingdom in order to get the express to the TTC? Also, is it easy to find the AK bus at the TTC? Thanks DISers!

 

[Jestocost]

So now we've been here for 8 days, and having dealt with the weather, we are not so fond about the idea of walking to the Contemporary to catch a bus to AK. I am thinking that we should use the monorail. Where do I go when leaving Magic Kingdom in order to get the express to the TTC? Also, is it easy to find the AK bus at the TTC? Thanks DISers!

After leaving the MK, bear to the right and follow the signs to the monorail station and get in the express line. If you get mixed up and wind up on the resort monorail it's no big deal. You'll still stop at the TTC with only a stop at the CR on the way.

 

[honeymo78]

So now we've been here for 8 days, and having dealt with the weather, we are not so fond about the idea of walking to the Contemporary to catch a bus to AK. I am thinking that we should use the monorail. Where do I go when leaving Magic Kingdom in order to get the express to the TTC? Also, is it easy to find the AK bus at the TTC? Thanks DISers!

When you get off at the TTC, I believe you need to walk past the ticket booths then make a left to find the bus to AK (there may be a little shop that you will pass on the left). There should be signs or a CM nearby to ask if you have any trouble finding it.