Disney Buses vs Taxi & MK Dining

[RachLDis12]

Hello!

My family and I will be arriving for our first trip the week of Dec 6, staying at AKL kidani. I know this hotel is a far bus ride from MK from what I’ve read.

Kids are 3&4.

How early do the buses start transporting people to MK? We are early risers!

If we wanted to take a break after lunch and come back for dinner/walk around (meeting with friends later), would you recommend a taxi home if we left around 7/8pm? I know the kids will be wiped by the end of the day but I’m hoping to use the buses where possible. Anywhere in particular you recommend for dinner at MK or close-by? Our friends have a 1 year old too.

Also, we are renting a stroller. Do you feel comfortable leaving a few things in a bag in the stroller if you go on rides, etc?

Lastly how early does the magic express pick up? We have an 8:10am flight home. Worth it to take a cab/Uber/car service? (Would need to have car seats)

thanks!

 

[Robo]

Hello!

My family and I will be arriving for our first trip the week of Dec 6, staying at AKL kidani. I know this hotel is a far bus ride from MK from what I’ve read.

Kids are 3&4.

1. How early do the buses start transporting people to MK? We are early risers!

If we wanted to take a break after lunch and come back for dinner/walk around (meeting with friends later),
2. would you recommend a taxi home if we left around 7/8pm? I know the kids will be wiped by the end of the day but I’m hoping to use the buses where possible.
3. Anywhere in particular you recommend for dinner at MK or close-by? Our friends have a 1 year old too.
4. Also, we are renting a stroller. Do you feel comfortable leaving a few things in a bag in the stroller if you go on rides, etc?

5. Lastly how early does the magic express pick up? We have an 8:10am flight home. Worth it to take a cab/Uber/car service? (Would need to have car seats)

thanks!

1. Figure to be at the bus stop by an hour before the MK opening time.
2. Taking a car/taxi FROM the MK is accomplished best by walking to the Contemporary Resort and boarding the car from there.
Regardless, I would take the AK Lodge bus from MK at 7-8pm.
3. Ohana at the Polynesian Resort. (Of course, that reservation would be very hard to get.)
4. Tens of thousands of guests do that, but it's up to you.
Don't leave anything of real value, however.
5. You'd need to be up VERY early (say, 4:30AM-ish in order to get dressed and get to the pick-up area) to be ready for the Magic Express bus. The actual pick-up time will be between 5AM and 6AM.
If you take a car service, you need to pre-arrange for the car seats

 

[CynBeth]

At MK the kids might like Be our Guest. The theming is incredible in the castle and you get to see The Beast. It is prix fixe and the food is wonderful. I would not leave anything in strollers I have heard many stories about things disappearing.

 

[bsmcneil]

Hm. Traveling alone last week (staying at AKL-Jambo), I decided that if I were going to/from parks during the day (not around open/close) or felt in a hurry, I'd take a rideshare (and/or taxi - I feel they're interchangeable). That was based on a first day of the trip 63 min wait for a bus after really needing one faster than that (physically), right in the middle of the day. When it comes to traveling during open/close, buses seemed to be plentiful enough to be worthwhile. I also thought about what that would be like when I bring my 5/9 y/os in early '22, especially given carseats and family physical health (the three of us have a form of muscular dystrophy) - I think I've decided that it'll be easiest for me to rent a car (I note that you're traveling while DME is still an option and I'm not).