AK mid-afternoon arrival on an EMH day

[quest4dl]

We are going to hit AK one day at RD on an non-EMH day and hope to hit the major attractions without FP+. Then we plan to return around 3 on an EMH day (picked that day as we need to meet up with ds from his band trip and they are leaving from the park that day).

Of course it is the least recommended park. I am wondering if we should even try spending any time in AK at that time - we need to meet up with ds and his group at their bus around 6 pm in the parking lot so we could go in for a bit at that time (have a 9:15 ADR at California Grill and will want to change for that).

On our early RD day we need to be back at MK by 2 pm latest to see ds in his parade at MK (starting at 2:30 as the pre-parade to the afternoon parade) so I doubt we will have time to enjoy the trails at AK before heading over. So planned to do the trails mid to late afternoon on EMH day as well as single rider EE and maybe Dinosaur. We will be in MK at RD in the morning and plan to use our FP+ there too (late morning, early afternoon, BOG FP+ too).

Also - this is peak season - last week in march.

 

[DebbieB]

We are going to hit AK one day at RD on an non-EMH day and hope to hit the major attractions without FP+. Then we plan to return around 3 on an EMH day (picked that day as we need to meet up with ds from his band trip and they are leaving from the park that day).

Of course it is the least recommended park. I am wondering if we should even try spending any time in AK at that time - we need to meet up with ds and his group at their bus around 6 pm in the parking lot so we could go in for a bit at that time (have a 9:15 ADR at California Grill and will want to change for that).

On our early RD day we need to be back at MK by 2 pm latest to see ds in his parade at MK (starting at 2:30 as the pre-parade to the afternoon parade) so I doubt we will have time to enjoy the trails at AK before heading over. So planned to do the trails mid to late afternoon on EMH day as well as single rider EE and maybe Dinosaur. We will be in MK at RD in the morning and plan to use our FP+ there too (late morning, early afternoon, BOG FP+ too).

Also - this is peak season - last week in march.

I would do it. By afternoon, the morning EMH people will be heading out. You don't have to worry about lines on the trails.

 

[lazer]

Even during peak season and 'red' days , I've never had a problem seeing everything at AK in an afternoon.

 

[quest4dl]

That's great to hear - I thought I had read that afternoons were particularly bad on EMH days at AK. The trails aren't all that enjoyable if totally clogged (I can give the gorilla trail a miss but really enjoy the tiger trail) and I've seen them before so although I would be sad to miss them I'm not sure I want to do them if I am fighting crowds. Plan is to hit trails first and then do rides sending DH to the meeting point (the bus will leave with him if we don't get there on time!). We may try to meet up with ds in the park too - he says he's going to be tired of the group by then!

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, I had a hard time figuring out where you were going to be and when!

Let me see if I understand...

You are going to AKP, on a non EMHs day, on the same day that DS has to be at MK for the parade? The parade is at 3 so I wouldn't stay past noon, at AKP, to allow plenty of time for transportation. As you pointed out, you are going during a busy time at WDW.

On the EMHs day at EMK, is the band leaving to go home at 6:00 PM? When you say 6, it could possibly be later they leave. I don't know if you will have enough time to enter AKP and do a few things, leave AKP, go back to your resort & change, and get to CA Grill in time for your ADR. (maybe if you take a cab from your resort to Contemporary)

I know this is not your first trip so just keep in mind if you are in a jam, time-wise, USE A CAB!

I plan on doing AKP on a non EMH day also (going at the end of April). I plan on getting there at RP too and do the Safari ride without a FP+. My plan is to do the Safari ride, the Patagonia Trail, Tusker House breakfast, and use 3 FP+s and leave at 2.

Congratulations on your DS and his band! How wonderful to watch them march at MK! Years ago I would take pictures of any Ohio high school bands that marched in the MK parade. When I would get home, I would e-mail them to the school/band director. It was so neat...One year I did this with a high school band, near Columbus. Would you believe one of the band parents was a DISer I knew! (I had no idea this was their school) She sent me a pm, here on The DIS and asked if I was down there at that time frame. She said the band director read my letter and showed my photos at their band meeting! She knew it had to be me!

It really is a small world!

TC

 

[quest4dl]

That was such a nice thing for you to do! We will have car which should save us a bit of time on transportation but you're right - I really shouldn't risk my arrival time at MK for the parade. I was going to eat at AK and then leave but I think we will eat at MK instead - maybe get one of those waffle sandwiches and find a good spot for the parade. I have the cell phone number of one of the chaperones so I should be able to get a good idea of there whereabouts and schedule most of the time (ds may not be reliable about responding and I do want him to enjoy his trip with his friends).

You got my schedule down right on the whole despite my twisting narrative. On the EMH day I plan to enter AK around 3:30-4. Do the trail(s) and at least ride EE single rider. DH would leave the park around 5:30 to meet up with ds or ideally shadow them back to their bus us if we find them at AK.

We will RD MK and have these fastpass+ scheduled:

Space Mountain®10:10 - 11:10 am
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid12:00 - 1:00 pm
Peter Pan's Flight®1:15 - 2:15 pm

RD plan is BTMRR, Splash, Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Space, Buzz (though we have FP for BTMRR, Splash and Pirates later afternoon early evening on the MK parade day so may swap out for Fantasyland rides - depends on younger ds )

We have BOG FP+ at 11:45 - hopefully get out in time for Under the Sea. We will pre-order our meals. We can skip this ride though if necessary and if we want to explore the castle a bit more.