AK Strategy...thoughts?

[ilovetotravel1977]

9:00-9:20am – RD: Na’vi River Journey
9:30-10:30am – FP #1: Flight of Passage
10:45am – Head to Dinoland
11:00-12:00pm – FP #2: Dinosaur, then get in line for Nemo
12:00pm – Finding Nemo (40 mins.) (11, 12, 1, 3, 4pm)
1:00pm – Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ
1:30pm – Head to Africa, Visit Tree of Life
1:00-2:00pm – FP #3: Kilimanjaro Safari (22 mins.)
3:30pm – Get in line for Lion King
4:00pm – Festival of the Lion King (30 mins.) (10am-6pm, on the hour)
4:30pm – Head to Asia (start at the end, work way back)
4:45-6:00pm – Expedition Everest, Jungle Trek, Flights of Wonder)
6:00pm – Dinner at Yak & Yeti Local Food Café
6:30pm – Tree Awakening (every 10 mins.)
6:45pm – Back to Pandora (visit at night) - DO WE NEED MORE TIME THEN 45 MINS. AT NIGHT?
7:30pm – Oasis Exhibits
8:00pm – Park Closes

I was looking at dropping Rivers of Light as I hear the seating is crappy for standby and you have to get in line very early, and I read the show wasn't really worth all the effort.

Thoughts?

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Just bumping up... we make our FP+ reservations in a few weeks, and I'm just trying to nail down some park plans.

 

[BriLovesDisney]

I would move up Kilimanjaro Safaris. You see more animals in the morning than in the afternoon.

I've never seen ROL but from what I've seen of it on YouTube I would drop it.

I think it sounds good!

 

[jaceraden]

When is your trip and what time are you planning to get to AK?

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

February 6 we are planning on going to AK. Get there for 8am?

 

[disneyvoice]

There is a LOT more to do and see at AK than meets the eye when you look at the list of attractions. We always think we can do AK in one day but end up needing more (and that was before Pandora). You will need more than an hour and 15 minutes for EE, Jungle Trek, and Flights of Wonder. Check the times for Flights of Wonder because I think the last showtime might be 5:00 or earlier?? It's a great show, one we wouldn't miss. The issue we always have trying to do AK in one day is that once we have planned out the rides and shows, we have almost no time to enjoy the animals. Personally I would drop both Nemo and Rivers of Light. Use the extra time you have from dropping those to rearrange things a bit so you can take more time in Gorilla Falls and Maharaja Jungle Trek. Agree with PP that it is better to see the animals in the morning, we also find both GF and MJT to be ridiculously hot and humid, much more than the rest of the park which already hotter and more humid than the other parks. Since you are already doing the rides in Pandora in the morning you won't need much time in Pandora at night - you just need a quick walk through to see it lit up. In general I think there is a LOT to look and kind of take in at AK. There are a lot of really great details in AK that are easy to miss if you don't take to slow down there.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Yes, that's what I'm afraid of. I haven't been to WDW since 2005, and my folks since (gasp!) 1990! So AK is completely new for them.
And my DD9 is animal obsessed, so I want to ensure she has lots of time there with that stuff. We only have 5-day base tickets, so only one day for this park.

So instead of heading to Dinoland after Pandora, should we go right to Africa in the morning? Then do Asia and then finally Dinoland and back to Pandora at night?

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

How does this look instead? Dropped ROL and less time in Dinoland.

8am - Arrive at park
9:00am-9:20am – RD: Na’vi River Journey
9:30am-10:30am – FP #1: Flight of Passage, Visit Pandora
10:45am – Head to Africa, Grab snack at Creature Comforts, Visit Tree of Life on the way
11:00am-2:30pm – Visit Africa
11:00am-12:00pm – FP #2: Kilimanjaro Safari (22 mins.)
12:00pm-1:30pm - Gorilla Falls, Rafiki's Planet Watch
1:30pm – Get in line for Lion King
2:00pm-2:30pm – Festival of the Lion King (30 mins.)
2:30pm – Head to Asia
2:45pm – Lunch at Yak & Yeti Local Food Café in Asia
3:00pm-5:30pm – Visit Asia
3:00pm - Get in line for Flights of Wonder (eat while in line for show)
3:30pm – Flights of Wonder (30 mins.)
4:00pm-5:30pm – Maharajah Jungle Trek (10 mins.), Expedition Everest (single-rider line)
5:30pm-6:30pm – Visit Dinoland
5:30pm-6:30pm – FP #3: Dinosaur
6:30pm – Dinner at Flame Tree BBQ
7:00pm – Tree Awakening (every 10 mins.)
7:10pm – Back to Pandora at night or Oasis to see animals (individual picks)
8:00pm – Park Closes

 

[kittylady1972]

The other thing I would consider is staying even later at AK to ride FOP again. Yes it is THAT good. Since you are heading back to Pandora at night, and skipping ROL (I also still haven't seen it but from what I keep hearing/reading don't feel bad about missing it) I would suggest walking around Pandora and THEN between 7:30pm and 8pm getting in line for FOP. It will probably show a long wait, but expected will probably be about an hour. So worth it, to see the inside queue and to ride the ride again! You would then get out of the park closer to 9pm or 9:30pm but had a full day and will probably be glad to ride FoP a second time.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Does the park stay open that late in February though?

 

[kittylady1972]

Does the park stay open that late in February though?

I would guess the park will be open until 7pm at least in February, maybe 8pm. My point is that as long as you are IN line for FoP before park closing (meaning it closes at 8pm but you get in line at 7:59pm) then you WILL get to ride FoP. They won't close the line because the park is closed, it will just remain open until the last of the queue is through with the ride. Once you exit, the park WILL be closed...you'll just have to leave. Still it will be totally worth it.

 

[amylevan]

AK is open until 8 pm on Feb 6: https://media.disneywebcontent.com/StaticFiles/ParkHours/TAC_WDWFeb2018.pdf

 

[rangerxenos]

There is a LOT more to do and see at AK than meets the eye when you look at the list of attractions. We always think we can do AK in one day but end up needing more (and that was before Pandora). You will need more than an hour and 15 minutes for EE, Jungle Trek, and Flights of Wonder. Check the times for Flights of Wonder because I think the last showtime might be 5:00 or earlier?? It's a great show, one we wouldn't miss. The issue we always have trying to do AK in one day is that once we have planned out the rides and shows, we have almost no time to enjoy the animals. Personally I would drop both Nemo and Rivers of Light. Use the extra time you have from dropping those to rearrange things a bit so you can take more time in Gorilla Falls and Maharaja Jungle Trek. Agree with PP that it is better to see the animals in the morning, we also find both GF and MJT to be ridiculously hot and humid, much more than the rest of the park which already hotter and more humid than the other parks. Since you are already doing the rides in Pandora in the morning you won't need much time in Pandora at night - you just need a quick walk through to see it lit up. In general I think there is a LOT to look and kind of take in at AK. There are a lot of really great details in AK that are easy to miss if you don't take to slow down there.

THIS!!!!! AK is not a park you rush through, you need to meander down all the different paths to see the animals.

They've added a beaufitul projection show on the Tree of Life once it gets dark that I almost never see anyone mention. Flights of Wonder -- one of my favorite shows at Disney.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

We only have a 5-day base ticket, and I was thinking of using 2 days for MK just do the sheer size of the park and walking.