Transportation for early breakfast in Animal Kingdom before park open

[goofy4wdw2]

We have an 8:05am reservation for Donald's Safari breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. The park opens at 9am...what time will the buses start to AK that morning? We will have 2 little children with us and no car seats, so I don't think a cab would be an option for us. We're staying at BLT. Thank you!

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I suggest you be at your resort bus stop no later than 7am. The early buses that take guests to the various meals/activities around WDW do not run as often as the regular park buses.

There have been many posts here about cars not being allowed into the AK parking lot until almost opening time. My son and I experienced this a few years ago. We (unfortunately) believed at CM at our resort when he told us there would not be any early buses to the AK. So we grabbed a taxi and the driver told us right away he had problems just a few days earlier trying to get into the AK. He had to drop his fares off outside the gates and they took the Disney bus the rest of the way in. We were fortunate that the CM on duty the morning we went finally releneted as the line of cars grew longer and longer and let us through. You are always better off using Disney transportation to the AK for early meals. For whatever reason, the AK gates do not always open early for anything other than Disney buses.

 

[clkelley]

For whatever reason, the AK gates do not always open early for anything other than Disney buses.

The reason the AK gates can stay closed longer (at all) is because no one but guests have to go through the toll gates.

CMs have parking outside the toll gates, the buses have an entrance outside the toll gates.

All other parks, folks have to go through the toll gates 24/7.

MK - guests to the resorts and CMs
Epcot - CMs
Studios - CMs

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Is 7am our only option to catch a bus...they won't run another one until after 8am? Our kids don't usually wake up until 7-7:30 so I was planning to get ready and wake them around 7 and then get out of the room by 7:20 or so...I guess we need to get up earlier!

 

[goofy4tink]

Is 7am our only option to catch a bus...they won't run another one until after 8am? Our kids don't usually wake up until 7-7:30 so I was planning to get ready and wake them around 7 and then get out of the room by 7:20 or so...I guess we need to get up earlier!

If you have an 8:05 ADR, even if the buses ran every 10 mins or so, you still wouldn't make it in time by leaving at 7:20. You could get to the bus stop and watch as the AK bus pulled away, which would mean a wait for the next bus to come. Then it's about 10-15 mins on the bus. Then, a few mins to get from the bus area to the turnstiles. Then the trek to Tusker House...about 8-10 mins.
You need at least 40-45 mins to get from your resort to the restaurant, and that's if everything goes quickly. I always leave about an hour...just to be sure.
The buses start running around 6:30. If it were me, I would be out at the AK bus stop by 7am. If your kiddos are early risers, and you really don't want to wake them that early, I would consider changing your ADR time to one that is later in the morning. I try to get a late ADR for breakfasts within the parks..that way I can get there early, have some fun and then eat around 10ish..more like brunch. Then, no need for lunch, just a midday snack.

Not sure how young your kids are, but they should be fine in a cab without car seats. But, even using a cab, you may find that you can't get in that early in a cab.

 

[RRRmouse]

Anybody have any recent experience with this? We have an 8:00 am ADR for Tusker House. Is driving a possibility or do we have to take the bus from our resort (Beach Club). We don't want to chance being held up at the gate and not let in the parking lot, but if we don't have to try to catch a 6:30 bus we'd prefer to drive.

 

[twooley2]

I was wondering this too if we have our own car will we be able to get through the parking gates or how is this set up before the park opens?

 

[Alesia]

I was wondering this too if we have our own car will we be able to get through the parking gates or how is this set up before the park opens?

There haven't been any changes. Sometimes the parking lot is open early and sometimes it isn't. Taking the bus is definitely your best option.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are late to your ADR (reservation) because the parking lot did not open early enough, the restaurant should seat you something like 20 minutes after you do get there.

This is because you should be there 10 minutes in advance of your ADR. So when you get there they should pencil in, er, ink in, a new ADR time for you for no more than 10 minutes later. Then it usually takes something like 10 minutes to get you seated. (The 20 minutes total is take or give.)