Walking to Animal Kingdom

[TOM&LORIE]

My bride and I have a home resort of Boardwalk and enjoy the daily walk to EPCOT and to Hollywood Studios. Her and I were just discussing the fact that one can not walk from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom. I have never asked this question to anyone but we never saw a walking path outside of the park. Am I correct in that one can not walk from the Animal Kingdom to the Lodge/Villas?

 

[erionm]

Correct.

 

[daisyduck123]

You can't walk from Animal Kingdom to anywhere.

 

[TOM&LORIE]

Thank you for your quick answers. My next question is a resounding "WHYYYYYYY?" Could it be proximity? I have not seen a map of both the AK and the AKV together.

 

[AlexTina]

I haven't actually looked at the maps myself but I know I've read here that they would basically have to put a path right through the savannah, which I guess they could do but there are currently no plans for it as far as I know. I definately agree that it would be great!

Tina

 

[twinklebug]

Other than the few obvious walkways (at CR, BW, BC, SSR, VWL) Disney really discourages walking in general. When's the last time you saw sidewalks along the road or even a resort driveway on Disney property?

I think they feel it adds too much to the safety and security issues and it's just best to bus folk. It could also have to do with the 'show' and trying to create that feeling of isolation & being away from it all.

I'd love a walkway from AKV to AK. Do I think they'll add one? No.

 

[unpaintedhuffheinz]

We're in the process of buying in to AKV. I'd assumed (yes, I know...) that we'd have easy access to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Please tell me that I'm not wrong.

 

[Caskbill]

The path would have to avoid the savanna, all service areas, parking lots, and water.

Using Google Earth, the only viable path would have to go along the road that the busses use, and would be 1 mile in length (from the AKV bus stop area to the AK front entrance. Those staying in Kidani village would probably have an additional 1/2 mile.

It would need to cross three different service road entrances. And I don't recall specifics, but I think that area right along the water's edge doesn't have a lot of room between the bus road and the water to place a walkway.

Here's a Google Earth image with what would probably be the only 'viable' path shown in red dots.

I don't think many people would want to walk a mile, especially with all the walking they'd be doing in the park itself. Just for comparison, at one time I used a GPS receiver to walk around the World Showcase at Epcot. Walking right down the middle of the walkway, all the way around the lake, measured exactly one mile.

 

[unpaintedhuffheinz]

Wow---that is a fabulous reply. Thanks, Caskbill

 

[Sandisw]

We're in the process of buying in to AKV. I'd assumed (yes, I know...) that we'd have easy access to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Please tell me that I'm not wrong.

Yes, you can walk from Kidani Village to the Animal Kingdom Resort Lodge...just not to Animal Kingdom park.

 

[drusba]

We're in the process of buying in to AKV. I'd assumed (yes, I know...) that we'd have easy access to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Please tell me that I'm not wrong.

Animal Kingdom Lodge is the "Jambo" building for AKV and the fifth and sixth floors are part of AKV. The new Kidani building will be all AKV rooms. Together the two make-up AKV. Each building will have its own bus stop but will share busses. Each will have its own valet service. There will be a walkway from front door (lobby) of Jambo to front door (lobby) of Kidani running in the front of the buildings along the roadway. Walk from front door to front door will be about 1/2 mile.

 

[LisaS]

We're in the process of buying in to AKV. I'd assumed (yes, I know...) that we'd have easy access to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Please tell me that I'm not wrong.

Here is a drawing showing the location of Kidani Village (the building on the left shaped like the script letter E) and the Animal Kingdom Lodge building (aka "Jambo House", on the right, shaped like a horseshoe). As you can see they are right next to one another and you can walk between them. Because you have to walk around the outside of the buildings (due to the savannas) it will be a bit of a hike. As others have posted, it will be approx. 1/2 mile between the main entrances of the two buildings.

If you don't want to walk, I've read that the theme park buses will stop at Kidani first then go to Jambo so you can hitch a ride on the bus if it's raining or super hot or you're just too tired to walk. The DTD bus will stop at Jambo first then Kidani so you can get back by bus as well.

 

[hakepb]

It would need to cross three different service road entrances. And I don't recall specifics, but I think that area right along the water's edge doesn't have a lot of room between the bus road and the water to place a walkway.

That water is surrounded by a chain link fence with 2 layers of barbed wire

Not sure what they are doing in there , but I know it is something I do not want to be walking within a few feet of...

 

[dianeschlicht]

We're in the process of buying in to AKV. I'd assumed (yes, I know...) that we'd have easy access to the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Please tell me that I'm not wrong.

Yes, Animal Kingdom lodge is easy access from AKV because it IS AKV! Part of AKV is in Animal Kingdom Lodge, and the rest of it is in an unattached building that is strictly AKV.

Both lodges will have the same access to Animal Kingdom that all other resorts do....with the bus system. The good part is that the buses from AKL/AKV are a lot faster to AK than the buses from the other resorts are.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That water is surrounded by a chain link fence with 2 layers of barbed wire

Not sure what they are doing in there , but I know it is something I do not want to be walking within a few feet of...

Those fences are your protection....we don't want those animals getting loose!

 

[anotherdisneygal]

My bride and I have a home resort of Boardwalk and enjoy the daily walk to EPCOT and to Hollywood Studios. Her and I were just discussing the fact that one can not walk from Animal Kingdom Lodge to the Animal Kingdom. I have never asked this question to anyone but we never saw a walking path outside of the park. Am I correct in that one can not walk from the Animal Kingdom to the Lodge/Villas?

I specifically asked this when question to a CM and was told that you could walk, but it'd be on the road, so no one does walk it and they do not recommend that you walk it.

 

[twinklebug]

That water is surrounded by a chain link fence with 2 layers of barbed wire

Not sure what they are doing in there , but I know it is something I do not want to be walking within a few feet of...

I always picture those as holding gators, although I'm reasonably sure it's nothing of the sort. I have to wonder how far down into the ground those fences go. It's obviously hard for anyone or thing to get over them, but what about burrowing under? Yea, I'm positive I don't want my feet near the fence.

 

[TOM&LORIE]

I am glad that Disney is concerned about security of their guests. I was hoping that a walking path would be in the projects. I may be an odd indiividual but I prefer to walk to the parks. Boardwalk is so nice to be able to walk to the parks close by. The walking path to hollywood studios is not used frequently and I do see some issues with security at night but in the daytime I am happy it is there.

Anyway, thank for the info ya'll.

 

[wildernessDad]

I don't think many people would want to walk a mile, especially with all the walking they'd be doing in the park itself. Just for comparison, at one time I used a GPS receiver to walk around the World Showcase at Epcot. Walking right down the middle of the walkway, all the way around the lake, measured exactly one mile.

You are right on with that one. I did a Gmaps Pedometer of World Showcase and this is what I got.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1212982

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I don't think many people would want to walk a mile, especially with all the walking they'd be doing in the park itself.

While I don't think the majority of people would walk a mile, there are still a lot of people would like to have that opportunity. That's less than the distance from BCV to DHS - and you'll see tons of posts from people who make that walk and/or mention it as one of the great things about BCV (you can walk to two parks!).

My biggest hope for Disney is to change their attitude towards walkers - right now they are darn hostile and I honestly don't understand why.