I'm staying at the AKL Villas for seven days in March and as a faithful reader of the Unofficial Guide to WDW 2008 was surprised to read that the authors advise that because of its remote location "you should seriously consider having a car if you stay there".:confused:

I would prefer not renting a car but if it is that bad then perhaps I should rethink myself.:crying: My last few trips to WDW, we stayed at (in order) the Beach Club, Yacht Club, Saratoga Springs, and Boardwalk Inn and bus transportation was good to wonderful. Is bus transportation at AKL that bad? But I don't want to get into the old rental car vs. bus transportation argument for all of WDW so let's just consider the AKL.

I've looked at the Transportaion Wizard at www.ourlaughingplace.com and can't see that the bus transportaion is terrible.

Does anyone have any opinions (silly question!)?:D

Thanks.

My wife and I stayed at AKL the first week of October, 2006. Best place ever. Anywho--I drive everywhere, I hate the buses. HATE THEM! That being said, my wife and I took the bus every day. It was never crowded and most of the time, it was just my wife and I on the bus. No kidding! Of course, it may be a bit different in March.

I suppose the only reason you might need a car is if you want to go grocery shopping, since you are staying in a Villa. Then again, you could simply take a taxi, I suppose.

My wife and I stayed at AKL the first week of October, 2006. Best place ever. Anywho--I drive everywhere, I hate the buses. HATE THEM! That being said, my wife and I took the bus every day. It was never crowded and most of the time, it was just my wife and I on the bus. No kidding! Of course, it may be a bit different in March.

I suppose the only reason you might need a car is if you want to go grocery shopping, since you are staying in a Villa. Then again, you could simply take a taxi, I suppose.

That is great to hear!:p Thanks for the reply.

I stayed at the AKL last year for a few nights and didn't have any issues with buses. However, I was on a pretty relaxed touring schedule. I've found with the buses, if you are really concerned about time they can cause more stress. A lot of it has to do with attitude.

I've become more frustrated with the buses in general recently, but I still haven't broken down and rented. Yet.

Have a great time!

I stayed at the AKL last year for a few nights and didn't have any issues with buses. However, I was on a pretty relaxed touring schedule. I've found with the buses, if you are really concerned about time they can cause more stress. A lot of it has to do with attitude.

I've become more frustrated with the buses in general recently, but I still haven't broken down and rented. Yet.

Have a great time!

We have used buses on each of our trips and I thoroughly enjoy them. I have not found them crowded for the most part and thought that they were excellent on my stay at the Saratoga Springs. Even though the SS was somewhat isolated from the parks (exc. DTD---not a park, I know) the bus service was instrumental in making me feel that I was close to the parks.

Our other stays were at the EPCOT resorts where the urgency for quick bus service was not that acute---still necessary, if you will, but with two parks accessible by foot or boat, not a matter of life and death.

Thanks for you good wishes. We certainly will have a great time!:D

Im one that is of the "Use Disney Transportation" camp. We found the bus service at AKL to be just fine. I know that some swear by a rental and thats just fine too and it is an option. When we drove down last August we found that we did not gain all that much by driving to any of the parks with the exception of Epcot after 3PM. (We were able to get a real close parking spot.) So for us, we determined that renting a car for the specific purpose from going to/from the parks would not have been a good value.

In short... its all about value and only you can determine such. If you think that you will be able to get around easier and faster via a rental then by all means, go for it. If you dont mind using the transportation system now, then maybe that is still the best route for you in the future.

I'm going down in two weeks and we are driving. I tried to use the wizard on ourlaughingplace--but it seems to be acting up.
I was trying to figure out a good way to get around when we park hop--maybe ill try it again later.
Thanks for the tidbit...
:)

I've always had a bit of a hard time with people who won't stay in certain hotels cuz they're too far out. It's Disney World - it's not the state of Texas, folks! While it's true to say that the AKL is probably the farthest hotel from the MK, it's maybe 2 or 3 miles farther out.And it's also the closest to the Animal Kingdom. I'm another die hard car renter, but if you've enjoyed the busses at other resorts, you won't have any problem at the AKL.

Enjoy!