Planning itinerary and need some answers

[twinmommyks]

I am working on our itinerary and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. When staying at the AKL, how long does it take the bus to get to MK? to Epcot? to AK? Does it make stops along the way? And how do you know which bus to take? And how far of a walk is it from where the bus stops to the gates? Yes, I'm a beginning and basically, clueless.

We would like to be at the parks 30 minutes prior to park opening so I am trying to figure how what time to do PS for breakfast at our resort in order to get on the bus and to the park prior to opening. Since we have 3 children, we'd like to get as much done in the a.m. as possible.

Thank you for you help!!!!

Bren

 

[Lora]

I've not stayed at the AKL, but just from my experience elsewhere, here's what I would say.

Plan on 45 min. to an hour to get to the parks. You will probably have a short wait at the AKL bus stop, then a ride to the parks and a bit of a walk from the bus stop to the gate. Sometimes it will be shorter, but I usually plan for the hour just in case.

Perhaps if you ask on the transportation or resort board, you will find someone with more experience riding from AKL.

 

[Bob P]

I am working on our itinerary and have a few questions that I'm hoping someone can answer. When staying at the AKL, how long does it take the bus to get to MK? to Epcot? to AK? Does it make stops along the way? And how do you know which bus to take? And how far of a walk is it from where the bus stops to the gates? Yes, I'm a beginning and basically, clueless.

We would like to be at the parks 30 minutes prior to park opening so I am trying to figure how what time to do PS for breakfast at our resort in order to get on the bus and to the park prior to opening. Since we have 3 children, we'd like to get as much done in the a.m. as possible.

Thank you for you help!!!!

Bren

Hi Bren

I agree with Lora, plan on 45 minutes to an hour to all parks.

As for knowing which bus to take, the lighted display in the front will read "MAGIC KINGDOM" or "EPCOT" or wherrever it is going. On the way back, there will be a huge bus stop area where buses will stop for many different WDW resorts. just look for the AKL spot and the bus will arrive there shortly. It will say "ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE" on the front.

As for distance to the parks from the bus stops--it varies, but it's usually about a five minute walk or less.

Don't stress...it's easy!

Good luck,
Bob

 

[conmama]

We stayed at the AKL at the beginning of April, it was our first WDW vacation.

When you are at the entrance to AKL looking out (back to the doors), you have to walk left a little ways and that's where the busses come to pick you up. The bellmen can point you there. When you get there, you will see that it is set up for busses and there areas to stand for which park you want to go to. There are signs "Magic Kingdom", "Epcot", etc. When the busses pull up, they will go to the designated sign and have "Magic Kingdom, etc" sign on the front.

When they drop you off at the park, they drop you off really close and tell you that the AKL bus to get back on when you are ready to go back will be at (for instance) Gate 3 or Gate 8, etc.

The bus system is very well done and very easy as you will see. If you want to get to the park before it opens, you will need to get to your bus 45 minutes before opening time. For instance, if its an EMH at 8:00, the bus will pick you up at 7:15. We were always there just in case at 7:05. They were on time. If the park opens at 9:00, the bus will be there at 8:15. It never came earlier than those times. I loved the bus system.

The ride to Magic Kingdom was about 15-20 minutes, no stops. The ride to Epcot was about 10 minutes, no stops. The ride to MGM was 10-15 minutes with one stop at a waterpark. The ride to AK was 5 minutes.

I was really nervous about all of this to, but after your first trip, it is so easy you will have it down.

conmama

 

[twinmommyks]

Conmama,

Thank you so much for that info - that is "exactly" what I was wanting. Traveling with 3 young children, I like to have an idea of times, locations, etc. because I know our trip will go so much smoother if I have an idea of how everything runs!!

Glad to hear your trip went smooth!

Bren