When does the AK parking lot open in the morning?

[DexLabDeeDee]

I read in the UOG a few years ago that the AK parking lot didn't open until about 15 min before park open. Is that still the case?

This year, we are renting a car instead of taking Disney transportation so if the parking lot doesn't open until 15min before, then we might end up taking Disney transportation for our AK day. Also, on another day we were thinking about taking an early Wild Safari tour (8am) on a day that the park opens at 9am so driving our car would be an issue this day as well.

TIA!

 

[MiamiMere]

We always drive to AK and I know that we have been at the gate 30 minutes early, so I know it opens a little early. I would think with Tusker House breakfast ADRs, the parking lot has to be open way earlier than 15 minutes before open!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

We always drive to AK and I know that we have been at the gate 30 minutes early, so I know it opens a little early. I would think with Tusker House breakfast ADRs, the parking lot has to be open way earlier than 15 minutes before open!

Good point. Hopefully that is outdated information - thanks!

 

[Robo]

Good point. Hopefully that is outdated information - thanks!

Sorry, but the DAK lot can still be the last to open.

Figure, worst-case, by about 45 minutes before regular opening time.

Can that make you late for an 8:05AM ADR?
Many guests have been.

 

[seashoreCM]

You should not make early restaurant reservations in Animal Kingdom unless you are staying on site and willing to be at the bus stop 75 minutes in advance.

While the policy is to honor your ADR (you should be seated ahead of other ADR holders who actually arrive after you finally arrive) if you are late due to the parking lot's late opening, your breakfast can still cause you to miss a Fastpass Plus time slot.

If you ask me, the parking lot ought to have a lane open 24/7/365 although not necessarily attended.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Sorry, but the DAK lot can still be the last to open.

Figure, worst-case, by about 45 minutes before regular opening time.

Can that make you late for an 8:05AM ADR?
Many guests have been.

Yikes. Okay.

Well, we'll be staying at AKL so I think the best option will be to take Disney Transportation, then.

Why do they wait so long to open the lot? Is it to keep from disturbing the animals?

 

[cvjw]

On our trip last May, luckily we decided to take Disney transportation for an AK early magic morning. As we went thru the AK gates at almost 8:00, only Disney buses were being let inside - no pay gates were open yet. I felt bad for all of the Disney guests who decided to drive over early - they were stuck outside with all of the offsite guests.

Fast forward to last week, and we again decided on Disney transportation because we were nervous that we could not get in for early magic hours with our car. Last week, right before 8:00, the AK gates were open for guests driving in with their own cars.

Bottom line - who knows if you will be able to get in early if you drive your own car to AK. We have decided that we will always take Disney transportation to early magic hours at AK. That way, we are guaranteed early admission!

 

[msp2mco]

Spring of 2013, I wrongly read the opening time of AK and ended up getting there about 1 hour 25 minutes before it opened. They didn't have people directing us to parking spots, but I was able to park--quite close I might add. We were not the first people there either.

 

[Robo]

Spring of 2013, I wrongly read the opening time of AK and ended up getting there about 1 hour 25 minutes before it opened. They didn't have people directing us to parking spots, but I was able to park--quite close I might add. We were not the first people there either.

Yes. But, as has been noted, this doesn't happen every day.