2 days in Animal Kingdom?

[Maureenmouse]

My family is going to WDW in June. We are there for 7 days and are trying to decide how many days for what parks. Last year, our first family trip, we went to AK for about 5 hours and didn't see half the park. Is planning for 2 days tooo much? We don't have park hoppers, so it's one park per day. DH and I do want to ride EE, so I figured that would take a lot of time. Any suggestions on how to break up our touring intop two days?

 

[ericafny]

I'm not sure you really need two days. With crafty planning and use of EMH you may be able to do the park in one day.

What I would do is plan your day around your MUST do's. For instance you MUST do EE. So get there early (or even earlier if its an EMH day!) and head straigh to EE. If there is a wait of 30 min or more, grab a FP. If not, get an FP and then get on line. You see what I mean?

We were there in July and ended up being able to do the park in one day. We had hoppers so we went back for a few hours another day so BF could ride Kali River Rapids and so I could ride Dinosaur one more time (AND I got to see Lucky!)

Hope this helps and have a wonderful trip!

 

[DeterminedOne]

Maybe you could get there early and plan to ride EE first. If you have to get a FP use your the waiting time to tour the rest of the park. I love AK but if I only had seven days w/o park hoppers I would not plan to spend two days there. I'd rather get there early, stay late and do what I need to do all in one day. JMO

 

[blessedby3]

We have never needed more than one day for AK. We get there when the park opens and we have always been done with the rides and shows and ready to leave by 4pm. Of course we have gone during low crowd times, so I guess it might depend on when you are going. With it being June you might need one full day and then hop back over at some point. We usually do the Safari, Kali, Dinosaur, Primevil Whirl, Flying Dinosaurs, Bugs Life, Tarzan Rocks, and Lion King, a few character greetings and are ready to go.

 

[scrappinmom]

It's easily do-able in one day..especially if you pick an EMH day. We love AK & spend a lot of time there...but still can see everything in one day.

 

[ACrider]

I would say shoot for one day but stay a little flexible - if you end up loving it and feeling like you have another full day worth of things to do there, then some last minute changing around of the schedule may be in line. Most importantly, enjoy yourself!

 

[goofyernmost]

As a themed park I think that AK is tops but to be perfectly frank, I am pretty hard pressed to imagine what anyone could find to do there for two days. Love the place but there just isn't that much to see, IMHO!

 

[paladin]

I on the other hand generally go back to AK multiple times on the same trip - we just love this park and never get tired of the animals (though I never spend an entire day at AK or any park for that matter, we prefer to go in the morning for 4 or 5 hours, then go back to our resort and go out in the evening)

 

[imagineerhopefull]

I would think that you could deffinitly spend two days at AK. Take your time, there are tons of things to see if you take your time, stroll amongst the paths and see the animals. Do the attractions that you love again, enjoy the senery, I've know that both flights of wonder and the lion king show are deffinitly worth seeing. If you can do it in one day, great, but dont feel rushed. The heat in AK can get to you also at that time of year so take it easy and have fun!

 

[dixipixi]

I think if you're the kind of person who enjoys looking at everything within a park (and not just rushing from one attraction to the next) you could surely fill 2 days at AK.

We usually visit twice during our stay (but we only spend about 1/2 day each time). Normally we go to a water park 1st thing in the morning one day and spend the afternoon/early evening at AK. Then on another day, we're at the AK at opening and stay until about 2pm. We then have a late lunch/early dinner at Rainforest, return to the hotel, and visit one of the parks for Wishes, Illuminations, or Fantasmic.

We like to do things this way because it breaks the day up. We never feel as tired as if we spend the entire day in one park. We also spend one visit to AK doing the rides and big attractions and the next visit doing the smaller shows and visiting the animal habitats.

 

[lizanne]

I've been to AK in the summer. It's very hot. I couldn't spent 2 full days there but I also couldn't do it in one day in the heat.

I imagine the park will be crowded because of the opening of Everest so you may need the 2 days.

 

[MJMcBride]

I would spend two days there but I'm an "animal" guy, so I would go just for the top notch zoological exhibits.

I know, I know its "natahzu" or whatever.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

Personally, although I do enjoy AK - I would not do that one for two days.
Why don't you plan on it for one full day. Leave your last *FULL* day open for whatever park you want to repeat. This is where the park hopper comes in extra handy. I like to park hop on that last full day to do some of my very favorite attractions at a couple of parks.

 

[pezpam]

AK seems to be one of those parks that some people need 3 days for and others need 3 hours. Plus, some people seem to find that the family's tastes change from visit to visit.

Unless there is some reason to plan it all out ahead, here's my .00003 of a cent. Plan to visit a different park for each of the first 4 days. Then regroup as a family and see what is on everyone's must-do-again lists and what you don't care so much about to plan the other 3 days. Even with hoppers, I do this with DD and it really has worked out well for us - her must-do list has changed with each trip.......

 

[Brian Noble]

pezpam: pure genious. You've just solved my itinerary planning problem. I've been struggling with trying to get "a plan", and it just hasn't really happened, but now I see how to apply your idea to my trip!

You have earned yourself some karmic pixie dust!

 

[bopper]

I disagree wtih pezpam. Four days of parks in a row (esp. if you get there early) is just too taxing. I would do two days, rest day, two days. On the rest day you can go swimming or something.

 

[njchris]

I would say you can use the two days. You may finish very early on the 2nd and rest, or go to downtown disney afterwards.

In June it is going to be hot..especially around the Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl area (concrete in the heat is brutal).

I like to do the animal trails and I can stare at the tigers and gorillas all day, I find them amazing creatures.

Even if you went the second day to finish up, you could hit Dinosaur or the Safari or whatever you liked a second time.

 

[Andrea]

what is ee ?

when my hubby and i went last june to seaworld and unvisersel we did both park in a day each so we are hoping to do animal kingdom in one day also

 

[Beetle]

We took 2 days for Animal Kingdom last month, but used the 2nd day as a more relaxing day. We opened the park up on day 3 of our disney vacation, hit the major rides, walked a couple of trails, then left around parade time to Downtown Disney for shopping & dinner. Came back to Animal Kingdom on day 5 of our trip, slept in a bit that morning, caught the shows, parade, etc. DD5 did the Kidcot program and that was split between the 2 days also. DD5 is a MAJOR animal lover and I'm sure we spent more time at exhibits than most, but it was well worth it for us.

 

[uncgsweetz16]

I would ask youself this..Are you a animal/outdoor lover? I love my dogs but in no way love all of nature if that makes sense. Think about when you go to the zoo...do you stand around each exhibit taking several pictures and taking a long time...or do you stop and see whats going on and then move on? I would set aside time for you to go to the park...hands down but one day should be plenty. If you could...also make time to stop by the Animal Kingdom Lodge and have a nice dinner at Boma or Kona Cafe and check out the grounds. It is beautiful there! Best of luck to you!