What is the story with AKV transportation?

[GoofyDad1970]

I was on another website, and it seems like everyone has their own varying opinion on this. Some claimed they wanted for 1.25 hours for a bus only to find it full, while others claimed they only waited 15 minutes. (I suppose this difference might be partially attributable to how long the posters arrived after the prior bus left). I also read complaints that buses came by more frequently for parks other than MK (although I suppose you could take the bus to Epcot then hop on the monorail if it were really that bad). SO, does anyone know how often the buses come, and how long the ride is? My understanding is that the bus is dedicated only to AKV, which is probably nice.

 

[erionm]

Buses to each destination are supposed to run about every 20 minutes. With the exception of the two stops within the resort, AKV does not share transportation with any other resort.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

Just having stayed at Kidani i can say this, transportation is an issue. While buses do run every 20 minutes during busy seasons the buses fill up quickly and waiting in line for over an hour before getting on a bus is a reality. While during slower times getting on the first bus that comes along is also a reality.
but no matter what it's going to be a 20-30 minute bus ride to anywhere.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Actually it's pretty normal for the differing reports on transportation at most of the Disney resorts.

My report would be that buses at AKV are some of the best on property. Right above mine the person reports issues. I've never experienced any bad issues at AKV but I have at other resorts (CR/BLT and OKW). I don't think Disney makes the service any better or worse at the Deluxe resorts but things happen or timing can be good or bad.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

In multiple stays we've never had a problem while staying at Kidani. Once, we just missed the MK bus and did have to wait awhile for another. I don't think any bus ride was ever over 20 minutes. Other resorts I've stayed at that share buses, or have many stops, can take just as long or longer.

According to my WDW Transportation Wizard app, from AKL to MK is 18 minutes, Epcot 17 minutes, DHS 16 minutes, and to AK is 15 minutes.

Just for fun, I also checked from SSR: to AK, 20 minutes, Epcot 15 minutes, DHS 13 minutes, MK 12 minutes. I also checked for BLT: to AK 25 minutes, to DHS 19 minutes,to Epcot via monorail 34 minutes, and to MK - walk 10 minutes, 19 minutes monorail. Port Orleans Riverside: to MK, 17 minutes; DHS, 14 minutes; Epcot, 11 minutes; AK 26 minutes. I know it's got to be at LEAST that long with all the stops! I stayed at All Star Music in November and those rides were the longest I have ever experienced on property. My app says all those were over 20 minutes to each park.

I haven't stayed at BLT since it was built- just at the Contemporary before AK was built, so I can't say if those times sound accurate. The SSR and POR do sound about right with my experience though.

 

[WolfpackFan]

During our stay a month ago, our problem wasn't as much about buses leaving AKV but those heading to AKV from a park. Every night without fail, the buses were very packed and I had to stand. And that can be a long time back to AKV from MK standing the whole time. It seemed leaving the resort for a park, it was just the luck of the draw. Sometimes you'd walk out to the stop and there would be a bus right there for where you're going. Other times you did have to wait but I can only think of one time when the wait was especially long.

 

[montrealdisneylovers]

We are BLT owners and have only stayed there on our annual 4 night visits. We leave our car parked and take the buses to Downtown Disney and any other park (except Epcot we use the monorail). Up until now, we have never waited more that 15 minutes for any of the buses to our destination.

This past trip, we decided to check out AKV. We walked over to the bus depot at MK and waited a good 20 minutes to catch the bus to AKV. We were not the first in line, so I do not believe that we just "missed" a bus.

We toured the lodge and enjoyed the animals out back. Then it was time to head back to MK. We waited and waited and waited for a MK bus to arrive. Finally, when the 3rd Epcot bus showed up, we decided to hop on that and take the monorail back to our resort. This was certainly NOT a good impression of the bus service at AKV. We decided that it is not a resort we would want to stay at for any lenght of time.

 

[CruznLexi]

We prefer to stay at KV I have asked husband if he wants to stay elsewhere other then VB and HH and the answer is no. We like the fact that we are first on and first off. I have noticed that at night when returning home it does not matter what your resort is they are going to pack the bus as full as it can be. If you don't like that you can wait for the next one and did see some do that. We generally go during Oct early Dec or late Jan and were there early Dec this year and rarely waited more than 10 min for a bus and most were there sooner than that. We did wait at MK for close to 40 min for a BC bus as the monorail to Epcot was down. We don't get stressed about the buses as we generally have not had an issue.

 

[HayGan]

We have found the bus service to be ok for both Kidani and Jambo. If you are going to a park from Jambo, yes there is a chance that the bus will be already packed with people but I've never seen it be too much of a problem (it wasn't for us when we were there.)

I can't imagine ever waiting over an hour for a bus. The longest wait we ever had was at SSR and I used the courtesy phone to call after 35 minutes.

 

[hakepb]

The combined time spent walking from a farther room to the bus stop + the time spent on busses (the bus route from Jambo to Kidani is way too long..wish they could put the Jambo stop on the other side of the lobby closer to Kidani..)
Its a lot of vacation spent in travel... Now, if they had a boat, or at least a zip line to get to DAK, it would break up the bus only monotony.

I also don't think it helps that they switched bus routes..(or am I only thinking about All Stars?). Busses to EPCOT and MK used to take Buena Vista drive past CSR as a Diagonal NE shortcut to World Drive. Now you go straight W on Osceola til you meet World drive...i the new route is more fuel efficient (one less light) but often a bit slower.

 

[wbl2745]

We were at Jambo House a couple of years back and ended up using taxis a couple of times. Once because we were tired of waiting and once when we were at another resort and didn't want to have to transfer through Downtown Disney to back back to the hotel. Surprisingly, we didn't think the taxi rides were all that expensive.