AK Advice Needed! What is the best agenda with a TH lunch and Jiko dinner?

[BlondeAppetit]

We are really looking forward to AK.

We are staying at the Contemporary Resort.

We have an 11:20am reservation for lunch at Tusker House - which I thought would be a welcome break from the September heat - and we have a 6pm reservation at Jiko.

We will be with our 5 year old daughter and want to make the most out of this park.

I would like to do the safari in the morning as to see the animals moving and maybe even later in the afternoon.

I am also interested in the shows - especially the Festival of the Lion King.

The parade will be discontinued in September.

One of my concerns is with the Rapids and getting wet and messy before our Jiko reservation.

Is there anywhere to "freshen up" a bit at the AKL...like a bathroom to touch up hair and make-up a little, etc. before dinner?

Would you advise bringing a change of clothes for dinner? That seems like a pain the fanny? Are there lockers, etc?

We are looking forward to exploring the AKL prior to dinner and maybe even enjoying the campfire afterwards.

What would you do?

 

[eyehartdisney]

Bring ponchos to wear on the ride, then you won't get very wet, if at all.

 

[OhThePain]

There are a couple of Signatures where you could feel perfectly comfortable heading to right from the parks. Jiko is not one of those IMO.

If I were staying at CR and planned on spending the day at AK before Jiko, I would plan on leaving AK by 2-2:30 and head back to CR to shower and freshen up and then walk over to MK to grab a bus to AKL by about 5.

It kind of depends on what you want to do while at AK or if you are planning more than one day there.

 

[BlondeAppetit]

There are a couple of Signatures where you could feel perfectly comfortable heading to right from the parks. Jiko is not one of those IMO.

If I were staying at CR and planned on spending the day at AK before Jiko, I would plan on leaving AK by 2-2:30 and head back to CR to shower and freshen up and then walk over to MK to grab a bus to AKL by about 5.

It kind of depends on what you want to do while at AK or if you are planning more than one day there.

I honestly had not considered that option. I have not been to WDW since 1984 and only know what I read about logistics.

Would that be a pain?

 

[MLinDisney]

On our September, 2012 trip, we went to Jiko right from AK. We both brought a nice blouse and sandals in our backpack in plastic bags. They weren't very heavy. We left the park at 4:30 for our 5:30 ADR and stopped off in the lobby bathroom at AKL. We changed, freshened up and put on some makeup. The day wasn't that hot so we didn't feel grungy. It worked out well.
Check out my dining report (the last link in my signature.) There are links to Jiko on Page 1. for reviews.
Enjoy Jiko - we did!