How to Get to 8 AM Wild Animal Trek at AK

[Hopefully]

Hi Experts!!
DH wants to do the 8 AM Wild Africa Trek in AK in October. We will not have a car. I understand that they want you at Tusker House 30 minutes before your tour - so that would be about 7:30, so I am thinking at the turnstyles about 7:15 or so. We are staying at BCV.
I know the breakfast buses start about 6:30 - 7:00, but 7:15 is way before the first breakfast ADR's are available.
I have heard that the Parking Lot does not open early either.
If he took a cab would the cab even be allowed in to drop him off? I want him to do th 9 AM tour, but he really wants to do the 8 AM one.
Any suggestions?

 

[sassyredhead]

I just booked the 8am tour for June 3rd. During the booking, I was told I would need to provide my own transportation. We are renting a car, so this was fine for us. I was also told a CM would meet us at the turnstiles, not Tusker, for the first tour of the day.

You could either a) book the 9am tour and take a bus or b) take a taxi.

I will reply to this thread after we get back with more details!

Have fun!

 

[Hopefully]

I just booked the 8am tour for June 3rd. During the booking, I was told I would need to provide my own transportation. We are renting a car, so this was fine for us. I was also told a CM would meet us at the turnstiles, not Tusker, for the first tour of the day.

You could either a) book the 9am tour and take a bus or b) take a taxi.

I will reply to this thread after we get back with more details!

Have fun!

What time were you told to be at the turnstiles to meet the CM?

 

[sassyredhead]

By 7:30. I plan on leaving our resort (CSR) around 7am.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Breakfast bus at/about 6:30 will have him there in plenty of time for the tour. It doesn't matter that actual meals don't start that early. If he misses the first bus I'd only suggest waiting for the next bus if you're at AK, CSR, maybe the All Stars. Otherwise, get a cab.

 

[sassyredhead]

Breakfast bus at/about 6:30 will have him there in plenty of time for the tour. It doesn't matter that actual meals don't start that early. If he misses the first bus I'd only suggest waiting for the next bus if you're at AK, CSR, maybe the All Stars. Otherwise, get a cab.

That is what I thought, but the CM who booked my 8am tour made it a point to say the buses would not be running early enough to get me to the gate by 7:30 and to make sure i had transportation. I thought that was odd, as I've had early reservations before and used WDW buses, but that is what she said. Weird!

 

[goofy4tink]

The CM was wrong. The early morning buses are NOT just for early breakfasts, they are also for those going out on tours. I have also had CMs tell me that I would have to get my own transportation to an early Segway tour at Epcot. She informed me that if it had been an EMH morning, I wouldn't have an issue, but since it was a regular park day, I wouldn't be able to get there using Disney transport in time for our 8:15am tour. Kind of strange since I told her I was staying at BWV. She told me that no, I still wouldn't be able to access the park and would have to get a cab to the front of Epcot. Incredibly incorrect info. We just walked in through the International Gateway, and walked over to Furtureworld with no issues at all.

 

[Simba's Mom]

When I had a tour at 8:00, I got a bus from OKW around 7:25 and had no problem being there in time. Last year, I had an 8:00 tour and got a bus from AKL at 7:30. Also, I've heard that all other vehicles are held at the entrance to the parking lot until 1/2 hour before the park opens, making it difficult to try to supply your own transportation. I'd be interested in the definitive answer on this also.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I want to add that you must NEVER listen to anything a Cast Member tells you about buses unless you are talking to a bus driver.

I learned over the years that although the CM mean well they have absolutely no knowledge of the bus system. You would think that this is something that WDW can easily fix during training sessions.

Early morning buses are available to take guests throughout WDW for early tours and breakfasts.