AK - Kilamanjaro Safari or Expedition Everest first?

[juliekzp]

Spending a morning at AK without FP+ (saving for later in the day at another park), and I'm wondering which ride we should hit first -- Kilamanjaro Safari or Expedition Everest? I know both get a long line pretty quickly, but which one is usually longer?

 

[PollyannaMom]

If you are getting there right at opening, I'd say to go for the safari first. Some animals are more active early in the morning. Plus, it's just a cool way to start your day there.

 

[minnie mum]

If you can do EE by using the single rider line, you can go on it just about any time of day with a minimal wait. Both rides have pretty manageable standby lines until 10 am unless you are going on a very busy day.

 

[Cyrano]

Safari is always our go to first thing after rope drop

Then the thrill seekers head to Everest unless they have a FP for later in the day.

 

[dizmom6]

Safari is the way to go but go fast...everyone else is doing the same thing. The last time we went I had injured my knee a few weeks before the trip. The Safari ride is so important to my family the first thing in the morning (yes, the animals are more active) that I still hoofed it to the back of the park. It wasn't pretty but it was worth it and my kids have a wonderful tale about mommy dragging her leg behind her.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I would do the safari first. It seems like the morning standby wait times get longer for the safari quicker than they do for Everest.

 

[Canuck16]

Do the safari first and then head over to EE.

We found that EE lines didn't build that fast in the morning

 

[lily2521]

If you can do EE by using the single rider line, you can go on it just about any time of day with a minimal wait. Both rides have pretty manageable standby lines until 10 am unless you are going on a very busy day.

If we plan on doing child swap for EE, is that the same as the single rider line? We too are planning on RD Safari, and then heading to EE, but we need to use child swap on EE

 

[juliekzp]

Thanks for the input! Can't do single-rider, because I'm riding with my thrill-seeking 5-year-old. He probably will care more about EE than the Safari, but I'd like to do both.

 

[powbob]

Don't forget to go see the baby gorillas on the Pangani Trail right next door after the safari. They are so cute right now it hurts.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

We always do Everest first then safari. If rope drop is at 9 and you are hightailing it to EE you will ride it by 9:15 and be at KS by 9:30. The animals are still active and you will have minimal wait. Then you can wander the trails at your leisure.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would say EE. If no line, it will go quite fast and plenty of time to hit Safari and catch the early morning animals.

 

[dkrauss]

Thanks for the input! Can't do single-rider, because I'm riding with my thrill-seeking 5-year-old. He probably will care more about EE than the Safari, but I'd like to do both.

Safari lines will get longer quicker..............but given your 5 year old thrill seeker.... if you get to AK at RD or earlier (breakfast at TuskerHouse) you may be able to ride EE 2X (back to back) early.........we've done that before. Your wait for the Safari will be longer but isn't it all about those thrill seekers

Have a great vacation.

Doug

 

[JimmyV]

Safari, no doubt. 95% of the people who go to AK will want to ride this. The percentage to EE is much lower. And it is a widely held belief that the early morning offers the best viewing irrespective of whether that has proven to be true. So the line builds quickly. Having done numerous trips to AK, I can tell you that in our experience, after hitting KS first and then going to EE, our average number of rides on EE with a 5-10 minute wait is over 2. And that is without using the single rider line. In other words, we arrive at EE and basically ride walk-on. Get off the ride and do it again immediately with minimal wait, meaning that there is no backlog until you get to the boarding area. We get off and sometimes ride a third time. EE simply does not back up in the first hour of operation. When we are done, we usually check out the tiger trail. We skip the gorilla trail until we head back to KS for our second trip on it later in the day using a FP.

 

[Dawn68PA]

Definitely do EE first. Safari line is constantly moving because of how many trucks they have but you have to wait at EE.

 

[Farps]

We hit KS first and then head over to EE. By the time we get to EE the wait is still very low (usually 5minutes) and we ride it multiple times !!!

 

[JimmyV]

but you have to wait at EE.

The consensus seems to be that the line at EE does not build up in the first hour of park operation, and that it is safe to head there after the Safari and still fine E to be a walk-on.

Both rides have pretty manageable standby lines until 10 am

It seems like the morning standby wait times get longer for the safari quicker than they do for Everest.

We found that EE lines didn't build that fast in the morning

you may be able to ride EE 2X (back to back) early

after hitting KS first and then going to EE, our average number of rides on EE with a 5-10 minute wait is over 2.

By the time we get to EE the wait is still very low (usually 5minutes) and we ride it multiple times !!!

 

[kaetra]

Do EE first! You can get a couple, maybe even a few rides in before it builds up. Go do the Safari after it's early-bird line dies down.