Help!

[KateB]

In June I am talking my mom on our first mother/daughter trip. It's also my 30th bday yikes! We own at BLT and are currently booked for 6 nights in a studio with a magic kingdom view. I really want to try a new resort. DH and I have only stayed at BLT and SSR since we bought in 2009.

SO... DM and I want to be close to a park. That way we could walk in and avoid waiting for buses all of the time. We were originally thinking of staying at AKL Kidani but have heard that the bus ride to MK is an hour!?! We are really open to any resort since we don't really have any preferences. I think that having a park close enough to walk to would be helpful. Please help!

 

[paults]

the ride from AKV to MK is not an hour, someone else might know better than me.
If you want to be close to a park check out BWV or BCV you have two parks you can walk too. HS and Epcot

 

[dvcterry]

The bus ride is not an hour. Hopefully that won't discourage you from booking at AKV if you wanted to stay there during this trip. It really is a great resort.

 

[CarolMN]

The ability to walk to a park (or parks) is great, but keep in mind that it will be HOT and probably HUMID in June. You may prefer to ride in air-conditioned comfort, LOL.

 

[KateB]

How long is the bus typically??? I know we spent many an hour on buses staying at SSR and I don't want that for this trip. I slept a lot on buses in August haha

 

[rusafee1183]

I'm not sure if this link is SUPER accurate, but I find it helpful in getting a rough estimate of how long it takes to get from Point A to Point B.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/aspx/twiz.aspx

 

[GoofyLo]

I checked out the link with the times. According to the link, it's 21 mins from AKL to Magic Kingdom. We've stayed at AKL several times and I can tell you it is not typically 21 mins. That time must be leaving security gate at the resort and turning into bus area at MK. The ride took us nearly 45 mins coming back from MK after Halloween party in September. I knew exactly how many mins I was on that bus holding a baby in one arm, three year old on my lap, and someone else's screaming kid kicking DH on the other side. The buses at AKL are similar to SSR in that they seem to come a little less frequent than other resorts.

I would recommend staying at BCV or BWV. You can walk to Epcot or take a boat. Technically you can walk to Hollywood Studios, but I wouldn't recommend it in June. The boat goes there too. Plus there's usually stuff going on around the boardwalk and some great restaurants. I did a trip with my dad and we stayed at BWV. It's a great area for families and adults. We even rented a bike and laughed so hard our stomachs hurt!

 

[JeanfromBNA]

If it's just the two of you, you will love BCV or BWV. So much for adults to see and do.

 

[KateB]

Ok so I think that BWV or BCV are the way to go. So I was looking at the points and was surprised at the difference. We can book 6 nights in a one bedroom at BWV for 190 but BCV is 232?!?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ok so I think that BWV or BCV are the way to go. So I was looking at the points and was surprised at the difference. We can book 6 nights in a one bedroom at BWV for 190 but BCV is 232?!?

You're comparing the BWV standard view which has the most possibility of being booked up. The BWV preferred view - which is either the Boardwalk view rooms or the pool/garden are 234 points compared to BCV 232.

BTW - the bus system from AKV is one of the best IMO and MK does not take 1 hour unless there's some snafu. BWV/BCV are great if you want to spend a lot of time at Epcot. The walk to DHS is not long but will be a little toasty in June. And the buses to MK, because they stop at more than one resort are at least as long as a bus from AKV - sometimes longer depending on if it's a busy time and you are only stopping at another one or two resorts or if it's slow and you are stopping at all the Epcot resorts.

There are trade offs for each resort IMO. We like to choose resorts based on what parks we most want to visit that trip (for example during F&W Epcot will see us a lot more) or for a specific resort we want to stay at. BWV/BCV are the best if you want to spend the majority of your time at Epcot or even DHS but not necessarily if MK or AK are your focus.

 

[Jasonkat]

I haven't taken a bus from AKL to MK, but I'm considering buying into AKL so I've been checking into this. I stayed at All Star Music (in a similar area to AKL) in 2011 and my memory is that the actual bus ride from/to MK was about 25 minutes.

During my research into AKL I checked out youtube videos of the bus ride from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom (yes, people actually record the bus ride from almost any resort to almost every park so you can see what it's like to ride a bus from point A to point B). The ride takes about 15 minutes from bus beginning to drive to bus arriving at the MK sign (where you pay at the toll booth before driving into the parking lot). Add some time to actually complete the drive to the front of MK and you're up to 20 minutes. Add 5-10 minutes for loading/unloading and 20 minutes waiting for a bus and you have about 50 minutes from the time you get to the bus stop at AKL until the time you are walking up to the MK gate. My research into this also showed me that AKL is 11 miles from MK. So the 20 minute bus ride makes sense with the actual distance you have to travel.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I haven't taken a bus from AKL to MK, but I'm considering buying into AKL so I've been checking into this. I stayed at All Star Music (in a similar area to AKL) in 2011 and my memory is that the actual bus ride from/to MK was about 25 minutes.

During my research into AKL I checked out youtube videos of the bus ride from Animal Kingdom to Magic Kingdom (yes, people actually record the bus ride from almost any resort to almost every park so you can see what it's like to ride a bus from point A to point B). The ride takes about 15 minutes from bus beginning to drive to bus arriving at the MK sign (where you pay at the toll booth before driving into the parking lot). Add some time to actually complete the drive to the front of MK and you're up to 20 minutes. Add 5-10 minutes for loading/unloading and 20 minutes waiting for a bus and you have about 50 minutes from the time you get to the bus stop at AKL until the time you are walking up to the MK gate. My research into this also showed me that AKL is 11 miles from MK. So the 20 minute bus ride makes sense with the actual distance you have to travel.

The wait time is the varying factor and something that averages out at all resorts so I would not state it's a 50 minute trip. I've only timed it once and did so out of curiosity because of all the complaints which I've not agreed with. It was a slightly longer than avg load time at Jambo - lots of people and a scooter to load. I had started at Kidani. Total time from when I arrived at the Kidani bus stop to the time I walked off the bus at MK was 30 minutes. And I've been on faster trips with but very few slower trips. The wait at the bus stop or boat landing or monorail station is the factor that gets eliminated when you walk.

Compared to the 1 hour trip from Epcot on the monorail to BLT at 1AM one morning it was a breeze.

 

[ldo]

what is your main park? If MK, why not consider VWL--it's beautiful and you can take the boat (or bus--which is very quick). The lobby is really nice and there is a nice pool and hottub right at VWL, if you don't want to walk over to the main pool.
However, the WOW factor of AKV is really something. I suggest since you are taking your Mom, if you choose AKV, that you book in Jambo house--the lobby is so impressive, and so different than any place else I have ever been. Also, the pool area is very nice, and Mara is a very good quick service restaurant. AKL is a deluxe hotel--you will be at th ehotel, on the 4th or 5th floor for DVC. We book at 7 months for AKL almost every trip. It is far from the parks--but not anymore than 5-7 minutes more than other resorts.

 

[sleepydog25]

Only one other mentioned it, but VWL would be a solid alternate choice. You can't walk to a park, but you have the option to boat to the MK which is special. I've never had any issues with boat times unless one winds up at park close when everyone is trying to get back to the resort. Another option is to take a boat over to CR and walk into MK from there. As for the bus service at VWL, it's fairly good, overall. We were there the last weekend of F&W, for the unofficial Jersey week, the half-marathon, and the PGA golf Classic at Disney, and we never spent more than 30 minutes to get from point a to point b. Just a thought.

 

[KateB]

Ok so THANK YOU!!!! We have yet to decide as my DM is SUPER indecisive. We are picking between BLT (which we have a studio booked with MK view), BWV (1 bedroom standard- which is available), or AKV Kidani (1 bedroom standard). They each have tons of perks and we will decide at some point. Any more advice THANKS!!!

 

[butsy113]

That BWV standard view won't last long if its even still available. I would decide sooner than later!

 

[Murron]

If it's just the two of you, you will love BCV or BWV. So much for adults to see and do.

Totally agree.

 

[Missyrose]

We did a BCV/AKV split stay in October and loved both resorts for very different reasons.

For the record, the bus to and from AKV to MK took 15 minutes, 17 minutes if heading home to Jambo (it stops at Kidani first). I wouldn't let a fear of the buses keep you from staying at this beautiful resort, it is really worth it!

On the other hand, if you like Epcot (the World SHowcase and its restaurants, especially) you can't beat the stroll from BCV or BWV.

And the monorail makes getting to MK/Epcot/other resorts so easy from BLT.

I guess I'm not being any help other than to say you can't make a bad choice!