How early/late to the buses to AKL run??

[DISNEYmooner2008]

DF and I were wondering how early/late the buses ran from AKL to all of the other parks?? We aren't so much concerned with early as we are with late. We have ADR's for all of our evening meals and almost ALL of them are at other resorts. Our latest reservation is for 9:30pm. Is the schedule determined by when the park closes?? Thanks!!

 

[cjsmom5]

Yes, bus schedules are determined by park opening/closing times. The one "for sure" is the bus to DTD and Pleasure Island. You can always catch a bus from the resort to DTD and then to your resort. It may take longer but there is always a route to take up until Pleasure Island closes. Buses run an hour or so after it closes which is late (around 1pm or so I think).

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Yes, bus schedules are determined by park opening/closing times. The one "for sure" is the bus to DTD and Pleasure Island. You can always catch a bus from the resort to DTD and then to your resort. It may take longer but there is always a route to take up until Pleasure Island closes. Buses run an hour or so after it closes which is late (around 1pm or so I think).

1am not 1pm, right?? Pretty sure but just wanted to double check. Would you allow more than 1 hour to go from AKL to DTD and then to another resort???

 

[cjsmom5]

Oooppsss... you are right ... I'm getting so old I don't even remember that time in the morning.


The timing all depends. We have found that the buses to DTD usually take longer than any other ones whether we are at the AKL, WL, YC/BC or POR/POFQ ... I'm not sure why, though.

If you hit it right and only have to wait a few minutes for the bus to DTD it will take you about 20 minutes or so to get there. But, once there you will have to wait for the other resort bus which could be as long as 20-25 minutes if you just missed one.

If your latest ADR is 9:30pm depending on where you are going ... you might still be able to hop a bus to Epcot ... as Epcot doesn't close until 9pm and buses will run until 10pm at least. From Epcot, if you are going to a monorail resort you can catch the monorail or you can catch a bus to the resort from there. It is hard to say not knowing exactly where you are going. Let me know and perhaps I can be of more help.

There are times when we catch a bus to Epcot and walk through Epcot (before 9pm) to get to the International Gateway Gate and then walk to YC/BC and/or Boardwalk.

The easiest alternative of all ... when faced with a time crunch ... is take a cab there and then Disney transportation back. My DH always cringes when I say this but there are times when there isn't a choice.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

Oooppsss... you are right ... I'm getting so old I don't even remember that time in the morning.


The timing all depends. We have found that the buses to DTD usually take longer than any other ones whether we are at the AKL, WL, YC/BC or POR/POFQ ... I'm not sure why, though.

If you hit it right and only have to wait a few minutes for the bus to DTD it will take you about 20 minutes or so to get there. But, once there you will have to wait for the other resort bus which could be as long as 20-25 minutes if you just missed one.

If your latest ADR is 9:30pm depending on where you are going ... you might still be able to hop a bus to Epcot ... as Epcot doesn't close until 9pm and buses will run until 10pm at least. From Epcot, if you are going to a monorail resort you can catch the monorail or you can catch a bus to the resort from there. It is hard to say not knowing exactly where you are going. Let me know and perhaps I can be of more help.

There are times when we catch a bus to Epcot and walk through Epcot (before 9pm) to get to the International Gateway Gate and then walk to YC/BC and/or Boardwalk.

The easiest alternative of all ... when faced with a time crunch ... is take a cab there and then Disney transportation back. My DH always cringes when I say this but there are times when there isn't a choice.

All of our ADR's are after 8pm and most after 9pm. Here they are:

Citrico's (GF)
Narcoossee's (GF)
Yachtsmen Steakhouse (YC)
California Grill (Contemporary)

The others are at MK and EPCOT so i'm good there

 

[cjsmom5]

For the GF - if MK is open until 9pm that night I would take the bus to MK as it will be running until after 10pm and then catch the monorail to the GF. The bus to MK will take about 20-23 minutes then it will take you another 8-9 minutes to walk to monorail (depending on how fast you walk) ... then wait for the next monorail (which at that time could be 10 minutes - perhaps) then go around to the GF which is probably about 15 minutes. These are all estimates depending on crowds. You will more than likely have to take a bus from GF to DTD and then to AKL unless it is a night when MK is open until midnight.

As far as Yacht Club, if you have the time you can go a little early and get into Epcot before it closes at 9pm. Walk through Epcot and then either take the boat or walk to YC. Bus to Epcot is about 15 minutes (maybe less) then it would depend on how fast you walked. We found it was quicker to walk than take the boat but it is sometimes fun to take the boat. At that time of night, though, the line to get on the boat can be long.

Contemporary, if MK is open until 9pm you should be okay to catch a bus and then you can either walk from MK or you can take the monorail. Contemporary is the first stop so it won't take long. That said, if you are good walkers, you will get to the Contemporary quicker to walk than ride the monorail. But the ride on the monorail is wonderful and fun. Here again, unless it is a night MK is open late you will need to go to DTD and then to AKL.

Hope that helps.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

For the GF - if MK is open until 9pm that night I would take the bus to MK as it will be running until after 10pm and then catch the monorail to the GF. The bus to MK will take about 20-23 minutes then it will take you another 8-9 minutes to walk to monorail (depending on how fast you walk) ... then wait for the next monorail (which at that time could be 10 minutes - perhaps) then go around to the GF which is probably about 15 minutes. These are all estimates depending on crowds. You will more than likely have to take a bus from GF to DTD and then to AKL unless it is a night when MK is open until midnight.

As far as Yacht Club, if you have the time you can go a little early and get into Epcot before it closes at 9pm. Walk through Epcot and then either take the boat or walk to YC. Bus to Epcot is about 15 minutes (maybe less) then it would depend on how fast you walked. We found it was quicker to walk than take the boat but it is sometimes fun to take the boat. At that time of night, though, the line to get on the boat can be long.

Contemporary, if MK is open until 9pm you should be okay to catch a bus and then you can either walk from MK or you can take the monorail. Contemporary is the first stop so it won't take long. That said, if you are good walkers, you will get to the Contemporary quicker to walk than ride the monorail. But the ride on the monorail is wonderful and fun. Here again, unless it is a night MK is open late you will need to go to DTD and then to AKL.

Hope that helps.

That does help!!! TONS!!! thanks so much!!!!

 

[cjsmom5]

My pleasure. You might want to stop off one of those trips at Pleasure Island. It has been many moons since we have been there (at least 9 since DS is now almost 10) but it can be fun. I'm not sure if you have to pay per club now or how it works as it is much different. But, that said, after one of your dinners since you will have to go through that way you might look into make it a "pit stop."

As honeymooners, just looked at your pre-trip report, you will enjoy the walk from Epcot to the BC/YC. It is very nice and the resort area around the resorts are also nice. You can sit out on one of the swings on the beach area and watch the boats come and go... you can also walk over to the Boardwalk and the night life over there is lots of fun ... jugglers, magicians, etc.

We just got back and were on the DP (which included the appetizer) ... we ate ourselves silly ... gained 7 pounds and am just now starting to get it off again ...

The other thing to do is bring warm clothes and catch the boat from POR to downtown Disney. In the "winter" months the breeze can get cool but it is a nice ride in the evenings. We've stayed at POR many times...you will enjoy it. Let me know if I can answer any other questions. We have been to WDW 23 times in the last many years... having stayed at YC/BC, WL, AKL, POFQ, POR.