What time does AK parking lot open

[i luv the duck]

We are going to AK on a Friday that does not have morning EMH. We are currently unable to get a FP for FoP so we're planning to be there at rope drop. The park opens at 9:00 what is the earliest time we can get into the parking lot?

 

[Robo]

We are going to AK on a Friday that does not have morning EMH. We are currently unable to get a FP for FoP so we're planning to be there at rope drop. The park opens at 9:00 what is the earliest time we can get into the parking lot?

The lot doesn't have a gate.
Just orange cones.
Its been reported that guests have arrived as early as they wanted to.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

So you can go in right past the entrance without paying?

 

[Robo]

So you can go in right past the entrance without paying?

That's the case (at all lots) in the evenings, too, when the CMs are finished for the day.
You can't pay if there's no WAY to pay.

 

[ppjluvsdvc]

I didn't know if they would let you by the toll booths or make you line up there. Never gone that early. Thanks for the info.

 

[NH-to-FL]

I propose that you plan on being at the park no later than 90 minutes before opening. I've read reports that they were letting people into the park about 45 minutes before opening. The crowd then was held at the bridge into Pandora. From there CM's will walk the crowd toward FoP.

Don't worry about getting to the lot too early. One day during Christmas week a few years ago we arrived at the Epcot parking lot at 6am. There was no one in the parking lot booth, just a sign that said something like proceed to parking lot.

It was extremely foggy and we slowly made our way down the access road until we finally saw the "Parking --->" sign. We turned and drove down into the parking lot to discover two Cast Members directing traffic. We were directed to park up onto the grass. There were already about 30 cars there.

 

[wareagle57]

Weirder question. Since you can park in the lots as early as you want, what is to stop you from going past bag check and lining up at the entrance. For that matter, I can't remember seeing any way of stopping people there either. I'm sure there is something and you can't just stroll into the park. I just don't recall seeing gates of any kind.

 

[i luv the duck]

We'll be traveling to the park via Uber since we won't have a rental car, do you think this will be a problem getting in?

 

[FastPasser.]

Disney buses are staged for the next day at the AK parking lot so they need access through the tool plaza late nights and early mornings.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Weirder question. Since you can park in the lots as early as you want, what is to stop you from going past bag check and lining up at the entrance. For that matter, I can't remember seeing any way of stopping people there either. I'm sure there is something and you can't just stroll into the park. I just don't recall seeing gates of any kind.

No matter how early we have arrived there were CMs and Security at the entrance.

 

[wareagle57]

No matter how early we have arrived there were CMs and Security at the entrance.

"Sorry folks, park's closed. Mouse out front should have told ya."

 

[maxiesmom]

To piggy back on this, what time did they allow people in to line up when Pandora opened? 2 am? 5 am???

 

[CAS239]

To piggy back on this, what time did they allow people in to line up when Pandora opened? 2 am? 5 am???

Believe first few people started arriving around 2am. Majority of others was 5/6am

 

[Robo]

We'll be traveling to the park via Uber since we won't have a rental car, do you think this will be a problem getting in?

Nope.

 

[jpeden]

That's the case (at all lots) in the evenings, too, when the CMs are finished for the day.
You can't pay if there's no WAY to pay.

We experienced this at MK one early morning. I mean, it just surprised me as Disney usually is all about revenue and for them to just say, "well, they arrived at 6AM so we won't make them pay to park" surprised me (I mean, we were staying on-site/are AP holders so we would have gotten free parking anyways). I guess maybe the early arrivers are just a small number so they don't worry about it?

 

[Robo]

We experienced this at MK one early morning. I mean, it just surprised me as Disney usually is all about revenue and for them to just say, "well, they arrived at 6AM so we won't make them pay to park" surprised me (I mean, we were staying on-site/are AP holders so we would have gotten free parking anyways). I guess maybe the early arrivers are just a small number so they don't worry about it?

Yup.
And, later-arrivals, as well.
A law of diminishing returns to pay CMs to staff the lots when only a few cars would be arriving.

 

[AngiTN]

Weirder question. Since you can park in the lots as early as you want, what is to stop you from going past bag check and lining up at the entrance. For that matter, I can't remember seeing any way of stopping people there either. I'm sure there is something and you can't just stroll into the park. I just don't recall seeing gates of any kind.

They can, and do, close the security check points.

We have gotten to MK before security opened for bag check several times

 

[DreadBaroness]

Accidentally turned the wrong way and ended up in the Animal Kingdom parking lot when returning from picking up friends at the airport. Our first time driving and staying on property. So yes, at half past midnight, I drove past the gates and right up to the park the whole time saying, 'Surely there's a security somewhere.'

 

[FastPasser.]

Accidentally turned the wrong way and ended up in the Animal Kingdom parking lot when returning from picking up friends at the airport. 'Surely there's a security somewhere.'

That's quite the wrong turn. Having been in all the guest parking lots hundreds of times well after closing time, all I've ever seen is the mobile roving security.

 

[Robo]

Accidentally turned the wrong way and ended up in the Animal Kingdom parking lot when returning from picking up friends at the airport. '

That's quite the wrong turn.

I tried to understand this, and my GUESS is that DreadBaroness was heading back to Animal Kingdom LODGE parking but, instead,
made a turn into the Animal Kingdom THEME PARK lot.