getting to the park before it opens?

[Kona65]

We have a reservation for the Wild African Trek at 8 a.m. The park does not open until 9 a.m. We have to be at our location for kick off no later than 7:45. How do we get to the park if the buses do not start running until 8 a.m.? Can we get into the parking lot with our own car at 7:30 or can we take a cab?

 

[nannye]

Don't worry! I Was worried too, busses actually start earlier than that The first one is around 6:45 blieve it or not, they don't have as many busses running, but you won't have a problem For safety I'd be at the bus stop a few min before 7.

 

[janabananas]

If you choose to drive you can get in early, for sure. I got into the TTC/MK lot at 715am for an ADR, and the park didn't open til 9am.

I have not personally taken a bus that early, but they do have buses that run early for folks with early ADR's, so you could take that one.

 

[Jestocost]

Regular bus service begins running about one hour before scheduled park opening. Early buses to get guests to character breakfasts, tours, etc. begin running--albeit less frequently--at about 6:30 a.m.

AK is the park most known for having issues with the parking lots opening early.

 

[jpabst17216]

I always take my car or a taxi if I need to be there before the park opens. I would check the bus schedule before I depend on them to get me to the park before it opens. I was under the impression that they only ran for 60-90 minutes before the park opens. They run every 20 minutes now, and if they ran on a limited schedule before opening, how long would you have to wait for a bus then? 40 minutes? I would probably pay the $12 for the taxi.

 

[Alesia]

I always take my car or a taxi if I need to be there before the park opens. I would check the bus schedule before I depend on them to get me to the park before it opens. I was under the impression that they only ran for 60-90 minutes before the park opens. They run every 20 minutes now, and if they ran on a limited schedule before opening, how long would you have to wait for a bus then? 40 minutes? I would probably pay the $12 for the taxi.

That's a bad idea if you're going to AK. Sometimes the parking lot doesn't open until 8:00.

There isn't a bus schedule to check. Buses begin running every day at 6:30.

 

[Kona65]

Thanks for the info. I guess my first question when we check in will be when do the buses start running. Hope the answer is correct.

 

[Alesia]

Thanks for the info. I guess my first question when we check in will be when do the buses start running. Hope the answer is correct.

I can almost guarantee you that you'll get incorrect information if you ask the front desk. Phone CMs, park CMs, and Resort CMs do not know anything about the bus system. If you ask any WDW bus driver (and we have a couple on here) the will tell you that the buses start at 6:30 every day.

 

[Kona65]

I can almost guarantee you that you'll get incorrect information if you ask the front desk. Phone CMs, park CMs, and Resort CMs do not know anything about the bus system. If you ask any WDW bus driver (and we have a couple on here) the will tell you that the buses start at 6:30 every day.

Thanks for the info. I am trusting you......

 

[vossjemi]

Huh. Sure glad I read this thread. We have an 8am ADR at Donald's Safari Breakfast. We are staying at Fort Wilderness and had planned on driving our car. We had also planned on leaving the park early to get over to MNSSHP by 4, so we thought having our car would help with that....basically go back to Fort and get on ferry, but quicker turn around time if we had our own vehicle.

So, are you saying we should take a bus instead? Because we may not be able to park our car at AK until 8, thus missing our ADR? That seems odd to have ADR's in the park but not allow people in.

 

[Alesia]

Huh. Sure glad I read this thread. We have an 8am ADR at Donald's Safari Breakfast. We are staying at Fort Wilderness and had planned on driving our car. We had also planned on leaving the park early to get over to MNSSHP by 4, so we thought having our car would help with that....basically go back to Fort and get on ferry, but quicker turn around time if we had our own vehicle.

So, are you saying we should take a bus instead? Because we may not be able to park our car at AK until 8, thus missing our ADR? That seems odd to have ADR's in the park but not allow people in.

Yes, that's what I'm saying. It's incredibly stupid, but sometimes the lot opens early and sometimes it doesn't - and there's no way to tell which you'll encounter on any given day. If the lot does open late, they'll still honor your ADR once you show up, but it will put you behind for the rest of the day.

As far as getting to MK from AK goes, you can just take the direct bus to the TTC. That's probably easier than driving, parking, and taking the tram to the TTC anyway.