Animal Kingdom Lodge Question

[DivineMadness7]

Last Christmas my family and I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge resort. We had a WONDERFUL time. It was gorgeous and on top of that, so close to the Magic Kingdom.
We plan on returning to WDW next Christmas but we have been looking at into staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this time.
I only have one concern...it is so much farther away from everything else! The only thing it is really close to is the Animal Kingdom, and we don't tend to spend a lot of time at that park.
Anyone who has stayed at the resort, could you please tell me if you found the distance to be a problem? Thanks

 

[Woody13]

AKL is far away from everything except for AK. It's never been a problem for my visists. The WDW bus system works just fine. Who cares if it takes a few minutes longer to get to the other three parks or DTD? Not I.

 

[crazygirley]

Although AKL is far away from everything, I never found the distance to be a problem, in fact, there were a few advantages. Since AKL is so secluded, the transportation takes you to AKL only, so you don't have to drop off at other resorts. The longest I ever waited for a bus was 10 minutes, both to and from, and I always had a seat. It seems as though AKL is really, really far away from everything, but honestly, the longest bus ride I took was about a 15 minute one, to MK. I wouldn't worry at all about the distance being a problem, because it isn't. AKL is a beautiful resort, absolutely gorgeous. I really hope you decide to stay there, I know you will enjoy it! Have fun!

 

[tztowerofterror]

i just got back sat. from a week and a half @ dakl, and i just gotta tell ya, you will love the christmas decorations. they are awesome! true, it is far away from everything (especially mk) but the fact of how beautiful the resort it makes up for it. also, it most of the time depends on your bus driver. some of those drivers were soooo slow! once it took us almost 35 min to get to downtown disney. i thought i'd die. but it was probably because the driver was about 400 years old and went about 15 miles under the speed limit :lol: other than the occasional grandma driver, the ride isn't that bad.

 

[goofyfan13]

I too have had no problem with the distance that the busses have to travel to get to MK from AKL. I think the beauty of the resort outweights the length of the rides, this is far and away my favorite, it's simply amazing. :sohappy:

 

[BRER STITCH]

Originally posted by DivineMadness7
We plan on returning to WDW next Christmas but we have been looking at into staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this time.
I only have one concern...it is so much farther away from everything else!

Keep things in perspective...

Pennsylvania to Magic Kingdom is a distance problem!
Animal Kingdom Lodge to Magic Kingdom? Not so much! :lol:

I stayed at AKL and didn't notice any difference in the transportation times from other resorts. The benefits of the experience of staying there FAR outweigh any imagined travel issues!!! If it they weren't, the place wouldn't always be filled!

Relax and enjoy your stay!

:xmas:

 

[CREEKWAYNE]

Originally posted by DivineMadness7
We plan on returning to WDW next Christmas but we have been looking at into staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge this time.
I only have one concern...it is so much farther away from everything else! The only thing it is really close to is the Animal Kingdom, and we don't tend to spend a lot of time at that park.

I have not stayed there yet but from what has been written thus far I wouldn't worry. I will let you know for sure. I leave for there in 13 days. :sohappy:

 

[DanStat]

Not to worry...

We didn't find the distance to be a problem...may I, however, suggest you try spending a little more time at Animal Kingdom?

 

[lebernadin]

When we stayed there they had a special early morning Kilimanjaro Safari vehicle for AKL guests that drove us around at a leisurely pace ala actual safari's rather than the spiel-driven typical ride if you entered from the attraction within the park.

You should check into it at the front desk or with your concierge.

Unlike the usual "experience" you don't have to snap shots while driving, they'll stop and get closer to the animals at your request.

I think the above, Penn->WDW comment says it best, a few more minutes on a bus shouldn't be the focus of your worries.

We always rent a vehicle anyways, since my uncle lives down near St. Pete, and there's a great little art theatre up in winter park that we enjoy.

 

[DivineMadness7]

Thanks for your input everyone! it is greatly appreciated!

 

[AkiraRaptor]

I copied the following bus times from a post Tyler made a few months back...

--------------------------------------------------------
AKL -> DAK - 5 mins
AKL -> Epcot - 9 mins
AKL -> Studios - 8 mins
AKL -> MK - 13 mins

Port Orleans/OKW -> MK - 11 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> Epcot - 6 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> Studios - 9 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> DAK - 13 mins

Coronado Springs -> MK - 10 mins
Coronado Springs -> Epcot via BB - 10 mins
Coronado Springs -> Studios - 6 mins
Coronado Springs -> DAK - 7 mins

Caribbean Beach -> MK - 11 mins
Caribbean Beach -> Epcot - 7 mins
Caribbean Beach -> Studios - 5 mins
Caribbean Beach -> DAK - 7 mins

Epcot Resorts -> MK - 11 mins
Epcot Resorts -> DAK - 11 mins
(Depending on route... add 2 mins per resort...)

MK Area -> Studios - 11 mins
MK Area -> DAK - 13 mins
WL/FW -> Epcot - 6 mins

Routes can vary. Add for the following:
CR/Po - Add 4 for CR
CR/Po/GF - Add 7 for CR, 4 for Poly
WL/GF - Add 5 for WL
WL/Outpost - Add 5 for WL
WL/Settlement - Add 3 for WL
FW alone - Add none

--------------------------------------------------------


If you start compairing times, you can see that AKL is no worse off than other resort areas, and it's actually better than alot of them. The longest time for AKL is to the MK area, and that would be expected because of it's location. But if you study some of the other Epcot resort times, you will see that to the MK, they too have times that are within 2 min of AKLs times. Add this to the factor that AKL doesn't share it's routes with the exception of the water parks, and you can see that AKL is not at any significant dissadvantage than any other resort.

Yes, if MK is the only resort you are going to visit, then it is the longest ride (at 13 min), but if you are visiting all the parks on your stay, then the 5, 8, and 9 min rides are not really an issue seeing that other resorts (Caribbean Beach MK - 11, Epcot - 7, Studios - 5, DAK - 7) are only off by 2 or 3 min, and CB is centrally based versus AKLs location.

Like BRER STITCH and lebernadin said, the extra min should not be the most worrying thing on your vacation.

Have fun!

 

[Pixie Duster]

My family and I are going to spend a weekend there at the end of January. I have been in there many times since I work at AK, but I LOVE IT! And AKL is oh say 7 minutes from MK, and 6 from MGM and EPCOT, at least when I drive from AK to said places. Also it was designed by the same architect as Wilderness Lodge. To me it is so unique you can't beat it, plus it has the largest pool on property. But get a savanah room if you can, but all rooms have a balcony and there are viewing / seating areas near the savanah in case you opt not to get a savanah room.

Also I believe the special safari is just if you are staying on the concierge level, but I might be wrong...

 

[crazydaveh]

I've stayed at the AKL many, many times, and the wait is no longer than any other resort!

I would rather stay at the AKL, the scenery is the best there, with the live animals, and the busses don't get as crowded as the other hotels.

Have fun!

 

[lebernadin]

Originally posted by Pixie Duster
Also I believe the special safari is just if you are staying on the concierge level, but I might be wrong...

I don't know for sure either, but we were on concierge when we did it, so you're probably right.

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Originally posted by lebernadin
I don't know for sure either, but we were on concierge when we did it, so you're probably right.

Yes, for sure, it does require a stay on concierge to get onto that tour. We've done it twice now. Both times were very good and I'd recommend it to anyone. Our last one was not as good as the first thoug. One, alot of the animals had not been releasd from their holding areas yet when they took us throgh (like the Giraffies).

And second. They assigned us seats during the buffet. Not that we don't talk to others, but we were with another couple and would have liked to sit with them. But it all workd out cos' the people that were seated inbetween were great to talk to.

And we had some good conversations with them later in the week. They were there for a month (wow!). They were from SF, CA, and were just great to to talk to.

Man I just ramble on don't I...shutting up.