Do you need a park pass to get in? - You do not, it is just outside of the gates for AK, so you don't actually need to enter the park to dine there.
How long does it take to get the AK from the AKL via Disney transportation? - Generally not more than half an hour.
How much tax is on food/service/merchandise in Orlando/WDW? - 6.5% for all of Disney except for All Stars and ASM. All Stars and ASM are 7.5%