will AKL with DDP mean stress?

[JMADgrad]

My family has booked 10 nights at AKL with DDP. We have ADR's for TS dinners each night (mostly at Epcot or DTD) and I am wondering if staying at AKL is going to be inconvenient or require us to plan our day around dinners? Calling all experts - please advise! How much time will we be spending en route to dinners ( we had planned to return to the hotel each PM and then head to dinner after a break in the room/pool) ? We will be driving down, so we will have our own transport, but with current gas prices I would like to leave the car in the lot amap.

 

[TDC Nala]

You will need to plan how you wish to get to those dinners.

DTD is about a 20 minute bus ride. This does not include wait time for the bus, which could be up to 20-30 minutes (30 minutes is sort of extreme but it happens).

Epcot would be a slightly shorter ride. But, if the restaurants are located in the World Showcase, you will have to walk pretty much through the entire park to get there. (This would also be true if you drove.) Leave time for the walk, you don't want to be running through the whole park to make your reservation.

If you have meals booked at other resorts, you may want to drive there.

 

[disnut8]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is not THAT far from things. It is further out than most but it's not that bad. It's actually a bit easier than some resorts because all the bus or your car has to do is go a short distance and then you are on Osceola Parkway which has very few traffic lights. And then to get to Epcot, you get onto World Drive which again, has very few traffic lights. The distance might be a mile more but the TIME is better.

For Downtown Disney, it's going to take a while not matter where you stay. I swear there are fifty traffic lights along Buena Vista Drive. And so it won't matter if you drive or take a bus. Any vehicle will get those lights. However, if you drive, you will have to park which means you will not be close to where you want to be. Same thing with Epcot. If you drive, you will have to take the tram to the front gates whereas the bus drops you off closer.

Word of warning with the Epcot reservations. Getting through security and the turnstiles at the front of the park is bad. Worse than any other park. Plan more time for dong that.

 

[JMADgrad]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is not THAT far from things. It is further out than most but it's not that bad. It's actually a bit easier than some resorts because all the bus or your car has to do is go a short distance and then you are on Osceola Parkway which has very few traffic lights. And then to get to Epcot, you get onto World Drive which again, has very few traffic lights. The distance might be a mile more but the TIME is better.

For Downtown Disney, it's going to take a while not matter where you stay. I swear there are fifty traffic lights along Buena Vista Drive. And so it won't matter if you drive or take a bus. Any vehicle will get those lights. However, if you drive, you will have to park which means you will not be close to where you want to be. Same thing with Epcot. If you drive, you will have to take the tram to the front gates whereas the bus drops you off closer.

Word of warning with the Epcot reservations. Getting through security and the turnstiles at the front of the park is bad. Worse than any other park. Plan more time for dong that.

Thanks so much for the sage advice - I had not even thought about security lines...it sounds like the bus will be a better bet for dinners at Epcot, yes? I think I am going to plan for us to do Epcot evenings on the days we are booked for dinners at World Showcase venues. Can you enter through the back closer to the World Showcase if you park at YC/BC or Boardwalk? Any reason not to do this? How about DTD - is it like the parks, with a large designated parking lot, or will we need to budget significant time to searching out a spot? Do you think it would save time/hassle to park at POR and take the boat? Will it be easy to find the restaurant(we are going to Raglan Rd.) or is it big and a map essential? Sorry for the endless questions - having never been, I feel completely clueless!

 

[geokeim]

Thanks so much for the sage advice - I had not even thought about security lines...it sounds like the bus will be a better bet for dinners at Epcot, yes? I think I am going to plan for us to do Epcot evenings on the days we are booked for dinners at World Showcase venues. Can you enter through the back closer to the World Showcase if you park at YC/BC or Boardwalk? Any reason not to do this? How about DTD - is it like the parks, with a large designated parking lot, or will we need to budget significant time to searching out a spot? Do you think it would save time/hassle to park at POR and take the boat? Will it be easy to find the restaurant(we are going to Raglan Rd.) or is it big and a map essential? Sorry for the endless questions - having never been, I feel completely clueless!

I think doing the Epcot diners and park on the same days is a great idea.
You may enter WS gate between GB & France from YC/BC area. (I can think of no reason not to if you are parked near there, as there is hardly ever a line)
As the other poster said, the fact you are staying @ AKL really makes no difference time wise from the other resorts. It's the travel & wait times for transportation that make the big difference.
Buy hey, don't stress about it, you're on vacation!
Do the best you can by planning ahead and expect some delays. You will still get to eat!
Have fun!

 

[ntsammy5]

Can you enter through the back closer to the World Showcase if you park at YC/BC or Boardwalk? Any reason not to do this?

You will get some flames telling you that resort parking is for resort guests only, but what the hey, I do it too when I'm not at one of those resorts. Tell the parking attendant what you're doing and see what they say!.

Going in the IG is a good way to go to WS. Enjoy

 

[JMADgrad]

You will get some flames telling you that resort parking is for resort guests only, but what the hey, I do it too when I'm not at one of those resorts. Tell the parking attendant what you're doing and see what they say!.

Going in the IG is a good way to go to WS. Enjoy

Gee - hadn't given a thought to people resenting the resort parking thing Having never been, I tend to just think of being a Disney resort guest per se, not a particular property guest. But I can see why it would be considered "bad form". Thanks for pointing that out...although of course, it should be no problem to park in a resort lot if you are eating at the resort and then going on to the park, right? (For example, Poly or Contemporary before EMH?)

 

[disnut8]

Gee - hadn't given a thought to people resenting the resort parking thing Having never been, I tend to just think of being a Disney resort guest per se, not a particular property guest. But I can see why it would be considered "bad form". Thanks for pointing that out...although of course, it should be no problem to park in a resort lot if you are eating at the resort and then going on to the park, right? (For example, Poly or Contemporary before EMH?)

For you World Showcase seatings, it would be in "bad form" to park at an Epcot resort and then go into Epcot. You aren't eating at that resort and the parking lots are reserved for resort guests only. The Boardwalk does have self parking for guests but you aren't really using the Boardwalk facilities. You can skirt the issue and valet park for the evening and not have an issue. But you still aren't using the resort for what it is intended for.

So - do the Epcot dinners for the nights you are at Epcot. No questionable ethics.

For Downtown Disney, you can get a map from your resort. We have found that if you don't mind parking a bit further out, you can easily get a space. Just don't go near the Marketplace parking lots. Go way out to the theatre and Cirque. Then walk. You'll be there before you would be if you circled the parking lot looking for a close space. AND, you can usually get a spot close to the sidewalk.

PS - if you have women who want to wear heels to dinner at Downtown Disney, have them wear sneakers or whatever and take a change of shoes with them. Then switch before you enter the restaurant. Who cares what is in that bag?

 

[brittsmum1998]

I am NOT judging by all means, noone is perfect but I do remember reading of people getting "2 hr parking pass" for dinner etc. esp. @ the Contemporary ( I know you talked of Epcot resorts) personally I would be too paranoid w/ my luck that I would get the 2 hr pass and be worried about my car all night long. I do believe they have even called restaurants (on busy days) although I would think the Boardwalk would be easier to park in then the Beach Club, just say your using the entertainment on the Boardwalk. Have fun

 

[JMADgrad]

First, thanks Disnut for the words of wisdom about DTD Driving around a parking lot cruising for a space is not something I find relaxing , so your point about walking from the Cirque area is well taken, as is the tip regarding shoes. We will have little ones in tow, so do we need a stroller for these situations? (some of us are coming from abroad and will probably rent them in the parks, but maybe I should suggest that an umbrella stroller for these other expeditions might be needed?)

About the 2 hour parking pass for Contemporary ....I do seem to remember reading somewhere about that, now that you mention it ( I've read so much that I can't keep it all straight! )...but it has occurred to me that if we are going to be in MK afterward anyway, it will probably be better to just take the bus from AK and do the monorail to the hotel... the contemporary stop is on the way in to the park, isn't it? I was thinking a car would give us more flexibility, but the 2 hour parking limit at CR would not be worth the worry, IMO, although I suppose we could park in the MK lot...hmmmm. What do you think?

 

[disnut8]

First, thanks Disnut for the words of wisdom about DTD Driving around a parking lot cruising for a space is not something I find relaxing , so your point about walking from the Cirque area is well taken, as is the tip regarding shoes. We will have little ones in tow, so do we need a stroller for these situations? (some of us are coming from abroad and will probably rent them in the parks, but maybe I should suggest that an umbrella stroller for these other expeditions might be needed?)

About the 2 hour parking pass for Contemporary ....I do seem to remember reading somewhere about that, now that you mention it ( I've read so much that I can't keep it all straight! )...but it has occurred to me that if we are going to be in MK afterward anyway, it will probably be better to just take the bus from AK and do the monorail to the hotel... the contemporary stop is on the way in to the park, isn't it? I was thinking a car would give us more flexibility, but the 2 hour parking limit at CR would not be worth the worry, IMO, although I suppose we could park in the MK lot...hmmmm. What do you think?

For the Downtown Disney things, yes, you would more than likely need a stroller unless you can convince the kids that "we're almost there". An umbrella stroller would be perfectly fine.

For the Contemporary one, definitely take the bus from the Lodge to Magic Kingdom and then use the monorail. However, it would be quicker to walk from the bus unloading area over to the Contemporary (strollers would be needed - again umbrellas are fine). You would be halfway there anyway.

Do NOT drive to the Magic Kingdom parking lot if you can avoid it. Taking the Disney bus is MUCH better. The bus drops you off right near the front entrance. If you drive, you park in the TTC lot and then will have to transfer to a tram to get to the launching spot where then you will need to take either the monorail or the ferry boat to the entrance of Magic Kingdom. Not a great plan with kids who need strollers.

 

[EnnEss]

My family has booked 10 nights at AKL with DDP. We have ADR's for TS dinners each night (mostly at Epcot or DTD) and I am wondering if staying at AKL is going to be inconvenient or require us to plan our day around dinners? Calling all experts - please advise! How much time will we be spending en route to dinners ( we had planned to return to the hotel each PM and then head to dinner after a break in the room/pool) ? We will be driving down, so we will have our own transport, but with current gas prices I would like to leave the car in the lot amap.

AKL isn't going to cause any more stress than usual. Epcot and DTD are relatively easy to get to, as everyone mentioned. Dificult ADRs are always the ones at other resorts because it can take forever to transfer buses to get there. Going to a resort with a monorail makes it much easier. Did you make any ADRs at AKL? They have two very nice restaurants.

You generally have to plan your day around ADRs no matter where you're staying. Driving to DTD though will pretty much make it a lot easier. Buses seem to run with less frequency to DTD from most resorts. You could consider making some of the DTD ones at different parks, DHS or MK, so you could work it in with a park visit in the evening.

 

[JMADgrad]

AKL isn't going to cause any more stress than usual. Epcot and DTD are relatively easy to get to, as everyone mentioned. Dificult ADRs are always the ones at other resorts because it can take forever to transfer buses to get there. Going to a resort with a monorail makes it much easier. Did you make any ADRs at AKL? They have two very nice restaurants.

You generally have to plan your day around ADRs no matter where you're staying. Driving to DTD though will pretty much make it a lot easier. Buses seem to run with less frequency to DTD from most resorts. You could consider making some of the DTD ones at different parks, DHS or MK, so you could work it in with a park visit in the evening.

Yes...we are trying both Boma and Jiko (this one without the kids). The only other resort restaurants that we are booked into are CGRill and the Luau at POLY. And we have just the one at DTD. (I just added the Cgrill after dropping an Epcot because I couldn't resist the chance to dine with that view - hope I made the right move!) I would have liked to try other resort restaurants, but as you confirmed, the DDRs sort of drive the days' schedules and hence so many of our ressies at Epcot (we are doing a lot of 1/2 days there to make the most of our time and not be bouncing all over the place). One reason we chose AKL is because so many posters felt that it was a bit removed from the hustle/bustle - it sounded like a good place to retreat to during our mid-day breaks...but then I started second-guessing the "removed" part. All of the helpful comments have definitely eased my worries, but a part of me is torn about being "away from the action" - I would do a monorail resort in a heartbeat if only we could afford it. (We were originally booked at POFQ and, depite no monorail, I loved the idea of the boat to DTD). I know my hermit husband will love the peace/relaxation of AKL though, and the idea of a place that feels like an exotic location appeals to me.

 

[EnnEss]

Glad to hear it worked out for you. AKL really isn't that much further, tack on five minutes to travel times to some places, basically, but not even all. Monorail ones are good choices for ADRs because they are easy to get to. I like WL for that to because you can boat from MK to it. I chose WC at WL and I'm at AKL in may. The boat to DTD is nice from PO, but the resort itself doesn't compare to AKL for me.

Enjoy your stay