Time it takes via bus from AKL to Parks

[ILoveMyDogs]

How much time do we need to plan for in between AKL and parks via bus? I have both Passporter and Unofficial Guide books. The time that UG reports seem quit a bit longer (almost double) than Passporter.

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

There is another website with a "Transportation Calculator". Mods do not allow for us to put up links, but you can google: Disney Transportation Calculator and you should pull it up.

It gives every location (parks and resorts) and how much time it takes. It does buses, monorails, ferries.

Good Luck!

 

[Crazy Kanga]

When we stayed there it seemed like some were about 10 - 15 minutes at the most. Not any worse than ones we have had at BW and Swan which have to make multiple stops which makes them seem even longer.

 

[TomD]

we just came back. The bus transportation was awesome. we never waited more then 5 minutes for a bus and the rides were about 15 minutes tot he parks.

Out of all of our stays at WDW AK has the best transportation

 

[WillCAD]

Noplace on WSDW property is more than 20 minutes drive time from any other place on WDW property.

However, wait times for busses can be anywhere from 0 to 30 minutes, then you have to wait for up to 15 minutes while the bus unloads and reloads (it takes longer if there are Guests in ECVs who have to get off and more to get on). And of course, if you take a bus that has multiple stops, that adds another load/unload period.

Mostly, bus trips from AKL to the parks will take about 30 minutes of wait/load/drive time. Sometimes it will be quicker, sometimes it will be slower; I always budget about an hour when I'm trying to go anywhere by bus.

Of course, I always rent a car these days, so I rarely have to depend on the busses!

 

[munchie22]

I just got back on Tuesday and only have the very best of things to say about the bus transportation from AKL to almost anywhere - sometimes we just jumped on a bus and it left or we had to wait five minutes for it. The longest wait we had at AKL was leaving AK to AKL and we waited ten minutes for a bus to show up.

We went to the Contemporary for breakfast and waited 15 minutes for a bus from the Contemporary (and had to stop at the Poly to pick-up/drop-off) to downtown disney. I thought that the longest wait. The wait at DD to AKL was about 15 minutes maximum.

I was truly impressed with the bus service (including magical express) from AKL to other venues. And we hit everything but the waterparks.

I would go back to AKL in a heartbeat.

 

[Shazzie B]

I used the unofficial guide book too. We stayed at AKL Aug-Sept this year. We found the 'average' wait times were over estimated slightly - but don't forget they include the time it takes to get to the turnstyles, not just to the parks. We had a hire car but used the bus to MK, as the bus drops you off near park entrance-you don't have to use monorail or ferry like you do when you leave a car in the parking lot.

Buses from AKL to parks were great, not too crowded. We've had nightmare experiences on buses from All Stars resorts-overcrowded-far too many people including children having to stand etc - I vowed never to use them again. Bus from MK to AKL after Fireworks was full, as you'd expect, with some people standing, but not overcrowed.

Waiting area for buses at AKL was good too-convenient benches to sit on and quite tranquil, they are quite a walk from some parts of the hotel though. On your left and down a slight hill as you leave the hotel lobby.

 

[disneymore2]

We always drive to the parks, but considering taking the bus from AKL to MK for our upcoming trip (leaving tomorrow Considering you do not have to take the Ferry or Monorail, would this be the quickets way?? Even if we had to wait 20 minutes for a bus, although the recent posts make it seem like 5-10 minutes is the norm...

 

[disneymore2]

Follow up to the OP, I have the UG and it confuses me because it compares driving yourself and taking the bus, and I would assume the bus would be quicker, but it says driving is a little faster????

 

[WillCAD]

Follow up to the OP, I have the UG and it confuses me because it compares driving yourself and taking the bus, and I would assume the bus would be quicker, but it says driving is a little faster????

That depends on a lot of factors.

For MK, the bus is usually a little quicker, sometimes a lot quicker, because it drops you off close to the park gates, while the parking lot is on the other side of the Seven Seas Lagoon. Even if you get there early enough to snag a parking spot withing easy walking distance of the TTC, you still have to board the monorail or ferry and ride accross. If everything goes perfectly (i.e. you park close to TTC, walk right onto the monorail, and the doors shut right after you board), you will still have an extra 5-10 minutes travel time before arriving at the gates.

So driving to MK from AKL, best case would be 15 minutes plus 5-7 minutes transportation accross Seven Seas Lagoon, whereas best case for a bus (i.e. you walk onto the bus ust before the doors close and it leaves AKL) would only be about 15 minutes.

For the other parks, driving is almost always faster, because there is no addition ride accross a lagoon at te other parks.

But I drive to MK anyway. If yuo take the bus, you don't need to ride the monorail or ferryboat - and I really love riding the monorail and the ferryboat! To me, they are attractions as much as Pirates or Haunted Mansion, so as far as I am concerned, my park experience begins at the TTC, not at the park gates. YMMV.

 

[Shazzie B]

In the UG they include the waiting time for the bus as well as the actual journey for the 'bus' times so this can add 1 min to 20 mins to the travel time, hence average will be higher.


I would definately reccomend bus for AKL to MK, we did the first time so DH could have a drink at the Spirit of Aloha show which we were going to after our day at MK, but it worked so well -especially first thing in the morning, that we used everytime we went to MK. We used the car for all other parks.

 

[MarkLem]

If you stay at a Disney Resort and have a car, do you have to pay to park at the parks?

 

[conandrob240]

No, you don't pay for parking if you are a WDW resort guest. They give you a sign for yor dash.
I think AKL has the best bus service of any resort. Things are a little further away but the buses make no other stops, are never full and we never wait more than 5 -10 minutes (tops!) for the bus that we want. It takes anywhere from 15-25 minutes to get where you are going depending on time of day/traffic and how far away. Blizzard beach & AK are both real close- only 5 minutes away. DTD felt the farthest- probably more like 20-25 minutes.

 

[Shazzie B]

We were asked to show one of our 'Key to the Worlds' too. (this is your room key/credit card-so keep them handy!)

 

[disneymore2]

We were asked to show one of our 'Key to the Worlds' too. (this is your room key/credit card-so keep them handy!)

Are you referring to parking or to ride the bus??? It has been a couple of years, but everytime we drove we showed our parking pass provided by the resort...

 

[Shazzie B]

sorry, I meant for the parking at parks.

 

[disneymore2]

Just got back We took the bus to AKL once to MK, as we walked up to the bus stop we saw our bus leave. However in about 12 minutes another one showed up. The drive to MK was only about 15 minutes and you bypass the tram and ferry/monorail. On our way back to AKL the bus left as soon as we got on it, so that worked perfect. Espically conisdering the long lines at the ferry. If time is your main concern I would take the bus via MK for sure.

 

[raven69david]

I hope this post doesn't come off sounding wrong, but i've never quite understood these topics. To me, it seems as if people believe it's a 45 minute drive to any place on property via WDW bus transportation. It's not that big of a place where it takes that long to/from a park or hotel. Even transportation to DTD is not that bad; 20 minutes tops from most places, if that. Sometimes it takes longer to get on a park ride w/o FP than it does to travel from MK to AKL or any other destination.

Sorry if i seem a bit short, but i'm 33 days away and i'm going bonkers!!!!

 

[Shazzie B]

I think the guide books confuse some people , they say allow 45 mins etc to cover scenario of you arriving at bus-stop just as one bus leaves. This can be important to people who have ADRs booked etc, but other than that you have to take it as it comes, could be 15 mins could be 45 mins.

Have a great holiday (sorry vacation!)