AK and HS?

[WalkerFamily072906]

I am thinking of breaking up a day between AK and HS. We are going Oct 19-26 2015. The day I want to go to AK it has EMH in the AM. I was thinking of going to AK for 8am and straight to safari ride then do other stuff till lunch. Have lunch and head to HS where I was planning on making the FP's for in the afternoon.

Does this sound like a good idea? Our group is myself, husband 4yr, 13 mnth old and my parents, we probably wont be the fastest group getting around LOL

How would I get from AK to HS? Would you consider breaking a day like this? My reasoning is I was thinking that by the afternoon in AK it might get pretty busy bc of the EMH. The day before and the day after are two very full/early days at MK. I am also considering just doing short day (1/2:00 departure) at AK heading back to the resort then going to BOMA for dinner (5/5:30?). Oh we are staying at AoA.

Also did anyone take their kids (around the same age) to "its tough to be a bug" show. I know it can be a lil dark and the stinging chair was a surprise even to me LOL

Thx

 

[tink9702]

Depends on what you want to do at AK and HS honestly. We need a full day at AK and 3/4 of a day at HS since we love animals and do the rides too. And at HS we like to watch a couple of the shows which adds on time very fast! Some people can do a half day at each park just fine though.

If you skip HS I don't think it makes much sense to go all the way back to your resort and then back to Boma though. You could do a late lunch instead at 2pm.

we avoided tough to be a bug, heard too many kids at 4/5 years old were scared of it.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My 6 year old was not a fan of ITTBAB, but it was the "creepy sounds" and scary grasshopper that did her in, not the sting. It wasn't terrible, but not great. "Creepy" is where she draws the line. Fantasmic was 1,000 times worse.

 

[subtchr]

I think your plan is fine the way you have it. I'd do the safari first, as you said, then take the kids on the train to the Conservation Station. Then the 10:00 Festival of the Lion King.

After that, do whatever else you'd like to in the park. I just did ITTBAB last week for the first time in a long time, and the number of kids crying and screaming made it almost unwatchable. And it was different things that set them off -- spiders dropping down, creepy-crawly feelings in the seats, etc. YMMV, but I don't think I'd take most 4 year olds.

Your 4 year old might really like the Wilderness Explorer activity -- I know mine would have at that age.

There is a direct bus from AK to DHS. Having your FP+ for that park in the afternoon is perfect.

Enjoy!

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We have done this before, I think it is a good plan to go to AK when it first opens and head to HS in the afternoon and make your FP for the afternoon at HS. Especially if you want to ride Toy Story Mania. I feel that you can ride Expedition Everest and The Safari without a FP first thing in the morning. We also really enjoy the Lion King Show.

Good Luck!

 

[lillyshula]

We have done split days between parks a lot. It really depends on how much you want to do in each park if it would work well for your family. All you need to do to get to a different park is to hop on a bus at Animal Kingdom to whatever park you are hopping to. Make sure you have FP+ for the park in the afternoon.

I will say that I took my youngest on It's Tough to be a Bug when she was 3 and she was terrified. She rushed to my lap, buried her head in my chest, and promptly went to sleep (at this age she put herself to sleep when she was scared. She also did it at T-Rex). We are going again this year (she is almost 6) and she refuses to go anywhere near it.

 

[WalkerFamily072906]

ok so TTBAB is out. I was leaning towards that anyway but you have sealed it for me. My daughter is the most adventurist lil girl LOL.

What about Bone yard with this age? The pics look like it might not be as long a visit in it as I first thought. The sand area probably, but not sure about any other part?

We have 7 days to do the parks so I could in theory go back to AK and do more on a non EMH day. I'm just worried bc the crowd calendars say not to go this day, but I want to do the safari as early as possible. Do you think these calendars are good to go by? Does it male much of a diff at a park like AK?

 

[WalkerFamily072906]

I think your plan is fine the way you have it. I'd do the safari first, as you said, then take the kids on the train to the Conservation Station. Then the 10:00 Festival of the Lion King.

After that, do whatever else you'd like to in the park. I just did ITTBAB last week for the first time in a long time, and the number of kids crying and screaming made it almost unwatchable. And it was different things that set them off -- spiders dropping down, creepy-crawly feelings in the seats, etc. YMMV, but I don't think I'd take most 4 year olds.

Your 4 year old might really like the Wilderness Explorer activity -- I know mine would have at that age.

There is a direct bus from AK to DHS. Having your FP+ for that park in the afternoon is perfect.

Enjoy!

What is the Wilderness Explorer activity- i dont remember reading about this? I was thinking of skipping the conservation station. Is it more than a petting zoo type thing and a "learning center"? She is not a sit still kind of kid at these kinds of places LOL. Plus we have really great zoos here that we go to regularly. If we have time I was thinking of doing one of the animal treks probably the one close to the safari but not sure about it. Maybe another one of our vacation days, the "zoo" aspect of AK isn't a huge draw for us.

 

[subtchr]

What about Bone yard with this age? The pics look like it might not be as long a visit in it as I first thought. The sand area probably, but not sure about any other part?

We have 7 days to do the parks so I could in theory go back to AK and do more on a non EMH day. I'm just worried bc the crowd calendars say not to go this day, but I want to do the safari as early as possible. Do you think these calendars are good to go by? Does it male much of a diff at a park like AK?

I still think it's a great plan. Get there early and you will get a lot done, and if you end up liking it so much you want to come back another day, you can. The Boneyard would be great for your DD, and it's more like a playground, so usually no wait or anything like that.

 

[tink9702]

Boneyard is great for that age. the kids LOVE the slides, climbing around etc. Your 4 year old will love it. We had to drag the kids away! ha ha I think we spent 30 minutes or so but the kids would have spent a lot longer.

that's a good plan about going back to AK if you find you need more time on a different day. And definitely hit Safari first. AK is the park I think it's easiest to not have FP+ at and a crowded day at AK doesn't feel like a crowded day at any of the others since it's so large. I do think the calendars are fairly accurate but if you arrive at RopeDrop and tour the things with longest lines first (Safari, Everest) you'll be fine.

 

[tink9702]

Panjani trail has gorillas and the Maharajah trail has tigers. They also both have smaller animals but those are the big draws on each trail. AK is also a good place to meet Mickey/Minnie (the only place they are together for the picture), Daisy, Donald, Goofy and Pluto as well since the lines aren't as long typically. It's also the only park to meet Russell&Doug, Pocahontas, Baloo & Louie. In case you are into meeting characters.

 

[WalkerFamily072906]

Panjani trail has gorillas and the Maharajah trail has tigers. They also both have smaller animals but those are the big draws on each trail. AK is also a good place to meet Mickey/Minnie (the only place they are together for the picture), Daisy, Donald, Goofy and Pluto as well since the lines aren't as long typically. It's also the only park to meet Russell&Doug, Pocahontas, Baloo & Louie. In case you are into meeting characters.

I'm expecting characters to be a big deal, just not sure about the costumes and her surprise at how big they will be. I am already prepping her on that . I know the princesses are very important to her LOL. I plan to see M/M together at AK and Pocahontas. I will feel her out with the others. It just doesn't seem like the rides other than the Triceratop spin are going to work for her.

 

[WalkerFamily072906]

This is what I'm thinking....?

8:30-9:30
Safari-20 min
Brfst Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery
Everest r/s?-adults

9:30-10:30
TriceraTop Spin
Meet Donald/Goofy/Pluto?
Dino-Sue

10:30-11:30
Bone Yard
Meet Daisy Duck?
OutPost M/M

Lunch Flame Tree BBQ 11:30 ish

12:30-1:30
Walk around Tree Life/Meet Pocahontas
Tamu Tamu - dole Whip/spiked ! LOL
Lion King 1:00-1:30

Head to HS


If we want to go back another day we can. maybe do some animal and Nemo musical? Would you pick Lion king over Nemo?

 

[CarolynFH]

re Pangani Forest Trail in Africa - there are baby gorillas to see, so don't miss it!

 

[RJstanis]

If I remember correctly Conservation station isn't open during EMH anyway.

We more or less have the same plan for our trip this year. We have a 4 and 2 yr old boys. Both are adventurous but the DS4 loves everything including Tower of Terror.

Suggestion is to ride EE before coffee to take advantage of smaller lines (hopefully) and Daisy Duck is no longer by Dinoland according to Kenny the Pirate so I would save her for when you go to Lion King since she's now East of Tree of Life.

And definitely do Bone Yard! My DS4 (who will be DS5 by the time we go) loved loved Bone Yard. If you end up not splitting your AK day to do HS I would also recommend Dino Dance Party at 330p. This was one of kids favorites of the trip but unfortunately we're skipping it this year since we're hopping to HS (doing Characterpalooza instead).

Our plan for EMH AK is:
8am
Safari
Pangani Forest
Daisy Duck meet
10am
Lion King Show
Tree of Life back view
Baloo and King Louie Meet
11am
Boneyard
Pluto Goofy and or Donald Duck meet
Triceratop Spin
12p
Nemo show
Russell and Doug
maybe Flights

 

[tink9702]

Lion King is definitely the better show than Nemo.

 

[WalkerFamily072906]

If I remember correctly Conservation station isn't open during EMH anyway.

We more or less have the same plan for our trip this year. We have a 4 and 2 yr old boys. Both are adventurous but the DS4 loves everything including Tower of Terror.

Suggestion is to ride EE before coffee to take advantage of smaller lines (hopefully) and Daisy Duck is no longer by Dinoland according to Kenny the Pirate so I would save her for when you go to Lion King since she's now East of Tree of Life.

And definitely do Bone Yard! My DS4 (who will be DS5 by the time we go) loved loved Bone Yard. If you end up not splitting your AK day to do HS I would also recommend Dino Dance Party at 330p. This was one of kids favorites of the trip but unfortunately we're skipping it this year since we're hopping to HS (doing Characterpalooza instead).

Our plan for EMH AK is:
8am
Safari
Pangani Forest
Daisy Duck meet
10am
Lion King Show
Tree of Life back view
Baloo and King Louie Meet
11am
Boneyard
Pluto Goofy and or Donald Duck meet
Triceratop Spin
12p
Nemo show
Russell and Doug
maybe Flights

What time are you starting your FP+ selections at HS. I was thinking to start with Toy Story 2:00-3:00. Are you doing dinner in HS?

 

[RJstanis]

What time are you starting your FP+ selections at HS. I was thinking to start with Toy Story 2:00-3:00. Are you doing dinner in HS?

We're a midday break family so we and the kids can you really enjoy the day while we are there. We are coming back at 4pm. FP for Tower of Terror at 4, TSMM @ 5, and then Star Tours @ 6-630pm. Obviously other things in between but those are our FP. We are eating @745 at SciFi for dinner. DS2 hates fireworks and my family didn't like Fantasmic! so we will probably skip those.

If you are leaving AK at 130 I wouldn't make TSMM FP until 230 to give you plenty of time to leave and enter both parks and transportation. The time between parks is not long but you never know how wait times can go.

 

[RJstanis]

If you are doing EMH and not having a break midday you should give yourself plenty of cushion IMO. You will need the energy to last all day and not wasting it on rushing with time crunches.

 

[richmo]

If you're going to have a split park day, AK then HS does make the most sense...do your FP+'s at HS.

But, I'm also seeing you're there a week. AK is pretty walking intensive and you're saying you won't be the fastest group around, so I'm thinking you might be rushing when you have plenty of time. You might want to spend more time there than you have planned. Also, definitely try to get to 'Festival of the Lion King'...'Flights of Wonder' is also one of those underrated shows that you should try to catch if you can.