AK pre-park opening ADR- any value?

[emij]

I have heard much about the value of early ADRs at MK but not really about the other parks. I have an 810 ressie for Tusker house and I am wondering if there is anything interesting or exciting to do in an almost empty Animal kingdom

Thanks!

 

[matthewhavens]

I have heard much about the value of early ADRs at MK but not really about the other parks. I have an 810 ressie for Tusker house and I am wondering if there is anything interesting or exciting to do in an almost empty Animal kingdom

Thanks!

I'm not sure about the value versus the cost, but since you already have the reservation, yes it's a good thing.

Last time I was there, they didn't stop you from getting seated at 8am with an 8:15am reservation, so get to Tusker House by 8am at the latest. You will need to eat in an efficient manner (and ask for the check very early in the meal) but if you can leave Tusker by 8:45am or so, you can wait with just a handful of people at the rope right in front of Kilamanjaro Safari.

My family has been on the very first jeep a couple of times and have seen animals like no other time of day.

 

[PantherPete]

The only advantage that I see with a pre rope drop ADR at AK is that you eat while the park isn't open as opposed to spending time eating while it is open. Other than that, there isn't much of an advantage to doing it vs just arriving at the rope drop. AK is a 1 day park and outside of Expedition Everest, nothing is worth doing more than once (although Primeval Whirl is a lot of fun) and arriving at the RD should allow you to experience everything you want to experience there.

 

[Accident]

I find the animals more active, especially if it's the time of year with hot and humidity early on so aim for the live animals early before them (and you) are being baked alive... Aim for the few places with A/C for lunch time.


REST DELETED, I misread and thought this was an EMH question.

 

[emij]

Thanks so much! Yes, I was wondering about experience"value" rather than cost value. Appreciate the responses. I think I will do Tusker house for lunch to escape the heat rather than the breakfast.

 

[DopeyDame]

We *love* the Tusker House lunch. The food is great and really different than most other placed - it's so nice to have something other than warmed over hamburgers

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

An alternative strategy which is what we usually aim to do. We go in cooler seasons though, is aim to get there around 9 and do Safaris and then go to brunch at Tusker House around 10-10:30. That meal serves as our breakfast/lunch and then we catch Lion King after the meal.

 

[KT0191]

We always do a very early Tusker. Great pictures in front of the Tree of Life and get to Safari first thing. Love the PPO!

 

[jvattes]

The only advantage that I see with a pre rope drop ADR at AK is that you eat while the park isn't open as opposed to spending time eating while it is open. Other than that, there isn't much of an advantage to doing it vs just arriving at the rope drop. AK is a 1 day park and outside of Expedition Everest, nothing is worth doing more than once (although Primeval Whirl is a lot of fun) and arriving at the RD should allow you to experience everything you want to experience there.

I respectfully disagree with almost your entire post

1) The value in eating pre-rope drop is twofold: nothing like walking through an empty park, no matter which one, and finishing before rope-drop means you can be at Safari before it opens.
2) AK could easily be stretched out to more than one day if you take your time, see it ALL, and enjoy all of the street entertainment and character meets.
3) I would do a lot of things more than once in this park. The Safari alone is a completely different experience every single time you ride it!

But I don't really enjoy HS much, so there's that. Something for everyone, in other words.

 

[KT0191]

2) AK could easily be stretched out to more than one day if you take your time, see it ALL, and enjoy all of the street entertainment and character meets.

This! I could spend days at AK. Its pretty much tied with being my favorite park (other being obviously MK). Many f people run to the rides and then they're just done but there is easily so much more to do if you take your time and not rush around the place.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

So we have never done a pre park opening ADR before at AK, but we are planning for 1 on our next trip. I see it as an advantage bc Tusker House is literally right next to the safari so you could easily jump on the safari without a FP after breakfast and use a FP for either another ride or possibly (this is what we are thinking) the new safari at night time thing. We are planning on doing Tusker House pre park ADR jumping on the safari in the AM and then getting a FP for the safari later on at night for when the sun sets...Or you could totally use the FP for something else if you want to. Maybe get a FP to both the shows and either Everest or Dinosaur instead of the Safari. Theres a lot more options if you do a pre park opening ADR for AK in the way of FPs.

 

[ktlm]

You can get some great photopass pictures in front of the Tree of Life. Assuming you are doing with your meal before rope drop, TH is very close to Safari and you should be able to walk on.