Denali????

[dogladyjw]

I was thinking of coming in a day early and taking the Mckinley Explorer train up to Denali and taking the 6 hour bus tour and then returning on the train to Anchorage. Is this possible? Do you need to book the train in advance or the bus tour in advance? Any idea what the costs are? I know I'm asking a lot, but please help. I do not want to do a cruise tour just one day or at most two days extra. And I read somewhere that you have to pick up your 6 hour tour tickets the night before???

nitl My Sovereign Of The Seas Cruise to the Baham
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2005;04;22;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

msStatendam,Alaska,8/2003

[jengwen]

You would want to book the shuttle bus in advance, because it sells out during the peak season. You can find info on prices/schedules at the nps.gov site for Denali. I believe the shuttle to Eielson is $23. Also, the bus and train schedules don't fit well with the shuttle buses, and take 5 or more hours to/from Anchorage, so you would need to spend one night there.

[Budget Queen]

The train is 8 hours- Anchorage- Denali Park- so it definately requires ideally 2 overnights. Add also the $5 park admission to the shuttle prices. Myself- I would never consider the Denali TOUR buses and always opt instead for the SHUTTLE buses. My min. distance in is Eielson. You need to allow time- see if you can??

[mpk]

BQ, I'm definitely city folk so the shuttle bus has me a bit worried. As I understand it, the shuttle bus will drop me off anywhere I want, but off they go. I have to wait for the next bus that has empty seats. I'm not outdoorsy enough to be comfortable being alone in the back country.

The tour bus makes regular stops, with time for looking around and picture taking. This seems to be a better fit for me?

[Palomino]

I haven't done it yet, but we have our shuttle tickets for July. You don't have to leave the bus. There are breaks about every hour and also time at Eielson. You can then board the same bus on the way back. I would assume that a majority of people stay on the same bus, but there is the option of waiting for another bus if you want time on your own.

[Nidwaldner]

Indeed the shuttle buses do stop several times-Polychrome, Eielson, Wonderlake among them for a generous amount of time each (both ways). I felt satisfied with the amount of time I had at each stop to walk around on our shuttle to Wonder Lake last August. I believe at Wonder Lake and Eielson we had more than 30-minutes or so to get back on the bus.


Alaska-Sun Princess 8/4/03


Western Caribbean-Grand Princess 12/28/03

[Budget Queen]

The Shuttle buses stop every time someone yells- STOP, when wildlife is spotted. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] For clairfication the buses stop about every hour and half. You have about 20 mins at Polychrome Pass - long enough for photos, then about 20-30 mins. at Eielson. No need to not to reboard your same bus- most people do. I think you may not realize the vast opportunities available via the shuttle. It clearly is not just a nonstop ride in.

[mscloyd]

Here's another thought. Why not rent a car in Anchorage and drive to Denali since you have a limited time. The trains take a lot longer and don't have any flexibility on times. You can drive it in 4-5 hours leaving you more time in Denali. Plus, it would be save you some money. BTW, the buses on the "tours" and "shuttles" use the same vehicles.

[mpk]

Thanks for the advice. So the real difference is that the tour don't go as far into Denali as the shuttles. The Tundra tour stops just short of Eielson. Just 4 more miles... I wonder why they don't just keep going and go to the visitor center [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

I suppose the wildlife viewing opportunities are the same with both, they both go on the same road.

So if the buses are the same too, I guess I don't see the advantage of the tour either. Are they more talkey / touristy on the tour perhaps??? Something to justify $80 instead of $20???

[Yukon]

>>Just 4 more miles... I wonder why they don't just keep going and go to the visitor center<<

The tour buses stop where the best view of Denali is (in a big lot that only tour buses can use). Occasionally the caribou viewing is a whole lot better at Eielson, but it adds another hour or so to an already-long tour.

Murray

[zoocruiser]

A question for all that seem to know the shuttle well- I heard that wildlife viewing is best early in the morning. If we take an 8am shuttle to Eielson, is that too late or will we still have a good chance to see lots of wildlife?

[hooked-on-travel]

The tour bus generally provides food, water, and A/C that the shuttle doesn't have. Don't take this to be an endorsement of the tour bus (I prefer shuttle), but don't laugh at the advantage of A/C. On the day I went last year it was 34 F at 7:30 am when we were waiting for the bus. It was pushing 90 F by afternoon. Depending on the weather you're used to (it gets much hotter than that in KS, but some people melt at relatively low temps) you may find virtue in A/C.

[Yukon]

I've been on the tour buses a few times and recall some very warm trips - way warmer than it would have been if there was an air-conditioner on the bus. The tour operator's site doesn't mention it either - [url="http://www.denaliparkresorts.com/tours.shtml"]http://www.denaliparkresorts.com/tours.shtml[/url] I have, however, seen roof-mounted a/c units on the buses used by Kantishna Lodge.

Murray

[This message was edited by Yukon on 04-22-04 at 01:48 PM.]

[JohnQ]

I sure didn't notice ac on the tour buses either-I would think they would advertise that bigtime as a major difference. The 8:00am shuttle should be fine. When I was there on May 30 and June 1st, that was as early as they went. The big difference is that the tours take care of the cruise company land tours and guests at the big hotels, where the people are coming in on trains or buses and don't want to mess with finding their own water, drinks, or lunch for the all day trips. By organizing this and providing lunce and a "narration", they can charge $78 rather than $23. My opinion, anyway from what I have heard, seen and read over last 3 years.

[Budget Queen]

If McKinley is not visable the Tundra Wilderness tour bus turns back at mile 53, Eielson is mile 66. The AC may certainly be an issue in July?? Myself- I am always on the first bus. But wildlife opportunities are unpredictable and no guarantees anytime. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Take a good pair of binoculars. You'll see something.

[santamaria]

Does this mean that if McKinley IS visible, the tour bus keeps going?? Maybe that's why they say tour is 8 to 10 hours??

[Yukon]

>>Does this mean that if McKinley IS visible, the tour bus keeps going?? <<

That's correct - if Denali is out (we don't use the term "Mt McKinley"!), the tour buses go a few miles past the Toklat River to Stoney Hill, which has the best view of the mountain - [url="http://www.explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa082099.htm"]http://www.explorenorth.com/library/weekly/aa082099.htm[/url]

Murray

[mpk]

Sounds like everyone is for the shuttle. I've switched over to the shuttle, and saved a lot of $$ in the process.

The link that Yukon posted shows the tour bus lumbering down a dirt road. They're using the same a/c that I had as a kid... open windows [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I would pay more if it really was a tour bus with comfy seats.

BTW, at least one restaurant in the area will make up box lunches for you to take on the shuttle. Can't remember which one off hand, but I saw it printed or maybe on a web site.

I understand that they stop every 90 minutes or so for a nature break. Are there facilities by the road, or do we get "really close to nature" ?

[Budget Queen]

There are bathrooms except one stop has port a potties. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]