11:30 Too Late For AK?

[FayeW]

We will be arriving in Orlando at 10:15am and would like to plan something for our first day. We will have to be up around 5-5:30 to make our flight, so I don't want to be tempted into a late night, and I thought it might be a good time to go to AK. None of our group has ever been to AK. If we arrive just before noon, will that be enough time to enjoy the park and be able to do most of the rides, shows and parades? We will be staying at Sheraton Safari for the first night, then switching to Bryan's Spanish Cove for the next week. I know the kids will want to spend at least part of the evening in the pool enjoying the waterslide. Should we plan on using one of our "plus" features, and spending the afternoon at DQ instead? ( Never been there either!)

 

[kilee]

When will you be going?? Also will it be an EMH day AK? Both those will have an effect on the crowd. I would think since you've never been- I would want to arrive right at opening- if it's peak season. In off season it won't matter as much. If it's an EMH morning- I wouldn't bother no matter which season. The lines will be so long (possibly) that you may not get to enjoy much anyhow.

We usually don't do a park on our arrival day. Getting up early, checking into the hotel and all that is a bit tiresome. We usually plan a character meal (at a resort), do some DTD shopping, then enjoy our resort and pool.

 

[DVCLiz]

I think AK would be a good choice for you, although if you are going very soon it will be hot, and I think AK feels hotter to me than any other park. Also, arriving at around noon, you'll be in the midst of the largest crowds of the day (again, not sure when you are going, so not sure how big crowds will be.) That said, you could easily get a FastPass for the Safari or another of the "big" rides, see Festival of the Lion King, Pocohontas, Tarzan Rocks or Flights of Wonder, walk the animal trails of the Oasis, the gorilla path and the tiger path, or go over to Conservation Station and see the facilities there. There would be planety to see and do for an afternoon. You might have to visit another morning to see one or two of the biggies, but you'd have time to get the flavor of the park. Also, the afternoon parade would be fun.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[SqueakyMouse]

When will you be going?? Also will it be an EMH day AK? Both those will have an effect on the crowd. I would think since you've never been- I would want to arrive right at opening- if it's peak season. In off season it won't matter as much. If it's an EMH morning- I wouldn't bother no matter which season. The lines will be so long (possibly) that you may not get to enjoy much anyhow.

Good advice! We arrived at AK around 11 on a Saturday morning Halloween weekend and had no problem touring the park. Of course, we didn't see or do everything; but we had very little wait for what we did do. When we returned on an EE morning (pre-EMH, remember), the place was PACKED!!! In May, we found that AK stayed crowded from around 10:00 onwards. Even so, the wait times really weren't all that bad. AK always feels more crowded than the other parks -- even when it probably isn't.