Parking at AK prior to park opening

[grover]

So..I had asked some questions in this thread here about a 8am ADR at AK.

Someone brought up that it is better to take the bus as they don't open the parking lot until 8am. This was news to me!!! I guess I assumed if you have an 8am ADR that they would allow you to park prior to that..7:40 or so to give yourself time to get to the park entrance and walk to tusker house.

Is this every day or just certain days? What do off site people who have ADR's at 8am do, just be late due to waiting to park the car?

We are on-site and had planned to take our car that day but this has me re-thinking that

 

[seashoreCM]

The policy is that if you are late to a breakfast ADR due to holdup at the rope drop ceremony or parking lot, the maitre d' should seat you as if you were exactly on time for an ADR.

IMHO the parking lot arrangements should be changed to leave a toll lane open with a green light 24/7. Sufficiently few guests would pass through during unattended hours that losing the parking lot fees from them is miniscule.

 

[FrankWDW]

IMHO the parking lot arrangements should be changed to leave a toll lane open with a green light 24/7. Sufficiently few guests would pass through during unattended hours that losing the parking lot fees from them is miniscule.

Or a gate where you can shove in your KTTW card.

 

[grover]

that would make sense!

oh well..no point in worrying about it..maybe we will just bus it instead.

if we are at POR, what time should we be waiting for the bus at in order to make a 8am ADR? Does it matter if we wait at one of the depots..or should we go to the main bus stop?

 

[seashoreCM]

The suggestion is to be at the stop 75 minutes in advance (6:45 in your case) so if you just miss a bus the next one will get you there on time. Buses make all of the stops.
.

 

[joelkfla]

if we are at POR, what time should we be waiting for the bus at in order to make a 8am ADR? Does it matter if we wait at one of the depots..or should we go to the main bus stop?

AK buses start at the South (or main) depot, and then stop at the others, so you'll get a shorter travel time from depots other than South.

The only reason to wait at South would be if you were concerned about the bus filling up before reaching your nearest depot, but that's not an issue at such an early hour.

 

[grover]

Ouuu that is early! Thanks for the info!
If we took a cab..would it be allowed in to drop us off prior to 8am..or would it the same as us trying to take our car?

 

[Alexander]

If the busses are passing through the toll booths and dropping guests off, then you should be able to also drive through the toll booth and park. Not all guests stay at WDW resorts and thus cannot take the busses to their early ADRs. If you want to drive, then just drive.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Regarding the busses statement posted above..............I believe the actual WDW busses use a different non-toll plaza entrance. It drops people off in the "bus stop loop" which is different arrangement than where the non WDW busses go. They go to a series of parking spots in one of the main parking lots.

AK is notorious for not opening thier toll booths very early. It will be easier on your nerves to just take the bus. Sitting in front of an orange cone while tapping your fingers on the dash is no way to start the morning.

 

[seashoreCM]

For Animal Kingdom the buses go through a different route, not through the toll booths.