AK ADR and rope drop?

[recently25]

Next week we have an 8:05 ressie for Donald's breakfast, park opens at 9. Since this is our first time having breakfast in a park befor it opens I'm not exactly sure what the best strategy will be. What are the chances we will be out for rope drop? Our party consists of 3 adults, a 15 y/o and a DD2. The "big kids" are thrill riders and have never been on EE but with a 2 y/o I'm wondering what the best way to handle our morning. I was thinking about FP KS, going over to EE (grabbing a baby swap pass) and hopefully riding stand by or the single rider line then heading over to dinosaur and doing the same thing. We would then utilize the baby swap passed later in the day. Would this work or is there a better way to handle this? I'm looking for any suggestions

 

[Robo]

Next week we have an 8:05 ressie for Donald's breakfast, park opens at 9. Since this is our first time having breakfast in a park befor it opens I'm not exactly sure what the best strategy will be. What are the chances we will be out for rope drop? Our party consists of 3 adults, a 15 y/o and a DD2. The "big kids" are thrill riders and have never been on EE but with a 2 y/o I'm wondering what the best way to handle our morning. I was thinking about FP KS, going over to EE (grabbing a baby swap pass) and hopefully riding stand by or the single rider line then heading over to dinosaur and doing the same thing. We would then utilize the baby swap passed later in the day. Would this work or is there a better way to handle this? I'm looking for any suggestions

You won't be a part of the Rope Drop ceremony as it will be taking place at a great distance from at Tusker House.

You will be just a few steps from the Safari entrance at Tusker House, so that will be easy to board right
at 9am when the park opens.

You will be "eons" from EE at Tusker House.
But the FP for Safari, then making the long trudge to EE to ride will be OK.

Bottom line-
If you want to ride EE early and see the Rope Drop ceremony, don't do a Donald's Breakfast Safari before the park opens.

 

[recently25]

Thanks Robo! You're always very helpful!!!

To help clarify - seeing the actually rope drop ceremony is not a "must" for us - I am more concerned about where we should start heading once we are out of breakfast to help minimize wait times.

Now I'm wondering with the crowds in August would we be ok if we rode KS first then headed over to EE and grabbed FP, would the return time be ridiculous? I see Nemo is over there - a must for my little one. AK is the only park I'm struggling with - I'm not too fimiliar with AK as I am with the other parks

 

[Robo]

Now I'm wondering with the crowds in August would we be ok if we rode KS first then headed over to EE and grabbed FP, would the return time be ridiculous?

Many do just that.

If you don't wait too late, the FP return time should be reasonable.

Nemo is great.
Line up about 45 minutes before show-time, to be sure of getting in.

Festival of Lion King is spectacular, too.

And, don't miss Flights of Wonder.

 

[recently25]

thanks again!!! I am actually starting to feel a bit more comfortable with my AK plans

 

[arcurioa]

We are in the same boat - ADR's at 8:05 too. I am hoping to get on KS close to when it opens.

We do Disney in August every year. It is definitely best to do KS in the morning in August, as you are much more likely to see the animals the earlier it is.

Also, if you are baby swapping at EE, know that the person handing out the tickets makes sure that one person actually gets in the stand-by line.

As another poster said - do not miss Flights of Wonder; it is one of the hidden gems of AK.