This link has fairly accurate travel times from point A to B in WDW, but the big advantage AKL has is to only has 2 bus stops. Many of the other resorts have multiple stops inside the same resort or they share routes with other resorts so while the time from A to B might only be 15 minutes you have already had to deal with 20 minutes of going to stop C, D, E, F and G inside your resort.
We've stayed at AKL and Kidani several times. Obviously, it depends a lot on traffic, time of day, emh, etc., but I can give you decent estimates from our experience. Since the buses stop at both resorts, and can stay parked for a few minutes, I'll give the times from when you leave the property gate, until your bus stops at the park.
Well, speculation was that this was going to use Vekoma's flight simulator system, which any purchaser would have "experienced" prior to purchasing. So yeah, Iger might have gotten a demo at Vekoma's headquarters, but the point may still be valid that Imagineering hasn't had a test unit to work on the programming/calibrating all the motion effects and their synchrony with other special effects. How time consuming that is, I don't know, but I'm just passing along the rumor (which I don't think is mutually exclusive with Iger's comment.)
Originally the Wildlife Express was planned to connect the Lodge to the park.
I don't know why he's saying "test". There's nothing to test. There is a mock-up, yes. As to the ride, there is a crude version of the ride at WDI that gives an approximation. We always end up doing a test and adjust on-site for this type of attraction, though. There's not much you can do to mock this up that you can't do in the building. It's just wasting money otherwise.
This would have been amazing. Too bad they didn't resurrect some form of this idea when they transformed AKL into 45% DVC. If I was a faux 1-percenter, I would insist on a private entrance to the park.
I really doubt that is possible now, since they are on opposite sides of the park. Perhaps it was an early concept that used the train to connect to AKL...or maybe at some point they considered putting AKL where Rafiki's is?
A few reasons. Budget, capacity and the thought was the two are so close via parking lot, it would take longer to take a train than it would to just drive over and park or take a resort bus.
I love AKL. That would have put that resort over the top. I keep saying we need to stay at another resort but I don't think I can tear myself away from this place. A train ride over would be cool. With the earnings reports that come out yesterday, they can afford it.
the fact they were that far apart was my first thought as wellWow! The photos from Everest reveal the current mid-section they are working on of the arch is a lot further away than the close ups have implied. No wonder I was having such trouble conceptualizing the vantage point from the entrance.
I'm now certain with the appearance of the new ridge at the 1ish minute mark that we are indeed getting this view as well.
Well... at least if D23 ends up being a total bust, this sub-forum has things to talk about.
I'm now stupidly excited for this whole project.
I believe that was the plan.
