Afternoon AK Safari -- Will We See Animals?

[TexasPete]

We luckily get an unexpected extra day at WDW, October 17 at Animal Kingdom. First time ever going to AK. We will be there from roughly 1130 or 12 until 5 or 530. I'm booking FP+ tonight. We were going to use one for the Safari, but I'm wondering if it will be worthwhile. I've read that later in the day you won't see many animals or they will be sleeping. Is it worth spending (limited) time and a FP for the Safari in the afternoon.

TIA!

 

[MataHari22]

Been to AK four times and I have seen animals at all times. I usually try and ride it at rope drop, and then fastpass it for later in the day. Actually, the best ride we ever had, was later on in the day, towards close. The animals were very active and even held us up in the road a couple times. Lions were up and roaring on that one a bit. It was neat.

 

[magicaldisney]

I had always read that the best time was the morning so in the past we always only went in the morning, but for the last three years, for each of our trips, we have done two in one day. One in the morning and one in the later afternoon. I will say the afternoon has been far better than the morning. I no longer agree that the morning is necessarily the best time to go. Do an afternoon safari and enjoy!

 

[CAS239]

The animals definitely won't be sleeping. You'll see plenty of them. Out of all the times I've done the safari, around 5pm is when the lions seem to be most active or out at all.

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with the PPs. We always ride both morning and late afternoon. Every ride is different, but some of the most active sightings has been late afternoon. I think it's because they know it's almost dinner time.

 

[hakepb]

The best animal activity can happen during and immediately after rain ...which is a frequent afternoon event in FL

 

[nherbert]

We go at rope drop and there are a lot of sleeping animals then. They are probably awake later. This year we might do an afternoon ride to see if different.

 

[Badger Brent]

After many trips to AK, i think we will shake up our usual touring plans. We will try the safari at or near closing for once in early January. I'm guessing around 4:30 pm or so with it getting dark out sooner. Thanks for the idea!

 

[TexasPete]

Thanks everybody for the very fast responses! I just finished making my FPs, and I got one for Safari at 430-530. I'm excited to see a new park!

 

[disnut8]

We luckily get an unexpected extra day at WDW, October 17 at Animal Kingdom. First time ever going to AK. We will be there from roughly 1130 or 12 until 5 or 530. I'm booking FP+ tonight. We were going to use one for the Safari, but I'm wondering if it will be worthwhile. I've read that later in the day you won't see many animals or they will be sleeping. Is it worth spending (limited) time and a FP for the Safari in the afternoon.

TIA!

Have done the Safari on every trip to Animal Kingdom. Which means from as early as 11:00 AM to as late as one of the last jeeps to go out. We've done it at high non, we've done it around 4:0 PM, which is the hottest time of the day. We've done it in the rain, we've done it bundled up in heavy jackets. We've never been disappointed.

 

[wisblue]

Over the years we have done the safari dozens of times. If we start the day at DAK we do the safari first, but we often go to DAK as our second park and do the safari anywhere from early afternoon until early evening.

The traditional wisdom is that the animals are more active in the morning. But, on the whole, I would say that it hasn't made much difference on our safaris. All of the safaris are fun, and some of the best ones have come at all times of the day. They can encourage the animals to graze toward visible spots by placing food in strategic locations.

If you are going to DAK and using FPs, I would always use one on the safari.

 

[rwdavis2]

The folks at touringplans.com assert that time of day makes no difference.

 

[Lisaloo]

We were at AK for rope drop in July, hopped on the safari first thing and we saw so few animals. We have been doing the safari since the park opened and we all agreed it was the least amount of animals ever seen, but still fun. We went back at 5pm in the thickest part of the heat and tried it again...animals everywhere. Each ride is different. Enjoy AK!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've been on KS more times than I can count-it's my favorite ride at WDW, and I've been at all times and many weather conditions. There's really "no rhyme nor reason", as they say, on when you'll see animals. Under the former FP system, I've had days where I've spent the entire day riding KS, between stand-by and FP (about 8 times in a day). So ride it and hope for the best!

 

[epcotty]

Let's see, Animal Kingdom...Safari...I think you'll see animals

 

[BrianL]

I think it's really just the Lions that are easier to spot in the cooler morning hours, though they are generally hard to spot anyway. They pretty much sleep on rocks all the time (they are cats after all). You really just never know what you will get to see on any given ride, but that's the nature of live animals.