Faster to park our car or take Disney transportation?

[princesspumpkin]

i'll be arriving at AKL around 7:30am to officially check-in. We want to be at AK before the gates open. Should we drive our car there and park or take the busses. Thanks.

 

[ciera321]

We always rent a car and find AK & MGM so easy and a bit faster to drive to. If you really want to be at AK at a specific time, then I'd drive. Having said that, the bus service is very good at AKL!!!

 

[goofymom23]

The only problem we have found in driving to the AK is that the cars are stopped at the gate until a certain time while the buses are alound through. This at least what has happened to us twice.

 

[Atchley]

If you are only getting to AKL at 7:30 to check in, you might not make it to the opening of AK. It may depend on the extra magic hours and how much traffic is surrounding the park and lodge. Don't you also have to pay for parking? I try to use the bus service as much as possible to save not only parking fees but DH from having to drive us everywhere. I'd be afraid that we might make a wrong turn or something going to all the different parks. The choice is ultimatly up to you. Good Luck and have a great vacation whichever you choose!

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you're staying onsite, you get a parking pass for your dashboard and parking is free at all the theme parks.

 

[princesspumpkin]

If you are only getting to AKL at 7:30 to check in, you might not make it to the opening of AK. It may depend on the extra magic hours and how much traffic is surrounding the park and lodge. Don't you also have to pay for parking? I try to use the bus service as much as possible to save not only parking fees but DH from having to drive us everywhere. I'd be afraid that we might make a wrong turn or something going to all the different parks. The choice is ultimatly up to you. Good Luck and have a great vacation whichever you choose!

Can you explain what you mean by not making it to the opening of AK? The park opens at 9am. We figured that it shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour to actually get checked-in at AKL at that time of the morning (we won't be going to our room at that time, just doing the check-in at the counter). Times don't have to be exact, but wouldn't 1/2 hour be enough time to get from AKL to AK? Thanks

 

[clonetothebone]

Can you explain what you mean by not making it to the opening of AK? The park opens at 9am. We figured that it shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour to actually get checked-in at AKL at that time of the morning (we won't be going to our room at that time, just doing the check-in at the counter). Times don't have to be exact, but wouldn't 1/2 hour be enough time to get from AKL to AK? Thanks

that should be more than enough time, even riding the bus.

 

[David R]

The bus leaves you near the entrance, if you drive your car you have to ride the tram, and after a long exhausting day, I doubt that you'll feel like riding the tram back through the parking lot and then drive to the resort.

Since you are checking in at 7:30 am, you have plenty of time to check in, unpack your bags and get on a bus by, say, 8:30.

The bus ride from the AKL to the park should be pretty short.

 

[Evil Queen 12]

Driving to AK, MGM, and EPCOT usually aren't a problem. EPCOT can be an issue, sometimes, but the one that you definately need to take the busses is to Magic Kingdom, hands down. If you're staying at AKL, then driving should not be an issue.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you get your car in gear before the bus you would have taken loads and closes its door, you will probably beat the bus to the park toll booths.

With an early morning meal at Animal Kingdom, if you must drive, park at Animal Kingdom Lodge and take the bus from there. Use left lane and bear left before you get to AK toll plaza. Tell the AKL perimeter guard you are "Visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[princesspumpkin]

The bus leaves you near the entrance, if you drive your car you have to ride the tram, and after a long exhausting day, I doubt that you'll feel like riding the tram back through the parking lot and then drive to the resort.

Since you are checking in at 7:30 am, you have plenty of time to check in, unpack your bags and get on a bus by, say, 8:30.

The bus ride from the AKL to the park should be pretty short.

I was under the impression that if I arrived early enough, I could park close enough to not have to ride the tram. Also, I will probably have a AAA diamond parking pass.

 

[princesspumpkin]

If you get your car in gear before the bus you would have taken loads and closes its door, you will probably beat the bus to the park toll booths.

With an early morning meal at Animal Kingdom, if you must drive, park at Animal Kingdom Lodge and take the bus from there. Use left lane and bear left before you get to AK toll plaza. Tell the AKL perimeter guard you are "Visiting Animal Kingdom Lodge".

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I don't quite understand what you mean

 

[Dopey's Girl]

I was under the impression that if I arrived early enough, I could park close enough to not have to ride the tram. Also, I will probably have a AAA diamond parking pass.

Not necessarily so...we've had that be the case, but we've also been one of the first few cars in and been parked in a far spot and had to take the tram...I have no idea how they decide which part of the parking lot they park first I have not seen a pattern in the times we have been there. I also don't know where the AAA lot is at AK, so I'm no help there. Sorry.

 

[DrTomorrow]

The only problem we have found in driving to the AK is that the cars are stopped at the gate until a certain time while the buses are alound through. This at least what has happened to us twice.

This has also happened to us. Quite frustrating to be waiting at not-yet-open parking entrance booths and watching bus after bus drive by - particularly since we WERE on-site resort guests.

The bus leaves you near the entrance, if you drive your car you have to ride the tram, and after a long exhausting day, I doubt that you'll feel like riding the tram back through the parking lot and then drive to the resort.[...]

Non sequiter. In the morning, being close to the entrance is not a big benefit, and riding the tram can be fun. At the end of a long day, getting on a tram quickly and driving 'home' in a comfortable car can be much better than a long wait in a long line for a long bus ride home....

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

 

[keiff$the$mouse]

We prefer to rent car. I'm not big on buses, and who wants to wait for a bus after waiting in rides lines. Take a cab to Pleasure Island if you plan to consume some drinks. And you do get a parking pass when staying on disney property thats good for all the disney parks.

 

[disbigsis]

We've got ADR's for Donald's Breakfastosaurus for 8:00 a.m., but the park doesn't open until 9:00 (there's no EMH). We're staying at Ft. Wilderness, so we were thinking it would be faster to drive our own car rather than ride the bus. After reading these, and other threads, now I'm afraid we won't be able to get throught the parking gate. The buses from FW can run slow and I'm not even sure they'll be running that early?!?!?! Any suggestions?