AK Without FastPass

[DisneyHokie25]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning for 1 day in the park with a few friends (4 adults, no children) who have never been to WDW before on April 2, 2016. We've decided to start at Animal Kingdom (opens at 8 for EMH), head back to Pop for a nap, and then end the day at Magic Kingdom (closes at midnight). We think its best to save our fast passes for later on in the day at Magic Kingdom and to tour Animal Kingdom without the fast passes. We have an 11:15 am lunch ADR for Yak & Yeti. Any tips/strategies/touring plans for making it through AK without fast pass? Thanks!!!

 

[JWigs]

Yes you are mapping out how I would as well.

We are going on mon night landing Tues morning next week. We are going to AK first since (to me) it is not a full day park yet.

We aren't planning to pull FP for it since we will be there for rope drop and a few attractions are closed as well. We mainly want to do the safari and catch the 2 shows (Nemo and lion king).

MK will be much busier so I'd stick to your plan.

 

[soniam]

You chose correctly. The only one that has a longer wait is the Safari. I would head straight to Safari once they let you in. Most of the others will probably still be dead during AM EMH too. Here are some that can get long waits too and would be good to do earlier: Expedition Everest (has single rider line though), Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids (but this may be down for refurb then), Festival of the Lion King, Nemo show.

EDIT: As an aside, I use touringplans.com. We are also doing an AM EMH day at AK in mid-March. TP does not want me to use my FP+. It keeps saying it will take longer. Going that early, they are pretty much worthless, but we won't really be in another park that day.

 

[lugnut33]

Just did your plan last week. Got to AK at 7:35 for 8 am open, went directly to Safari, then Everest, Primeval Whirl, and Dinosaur. Knocked all those out by 9:15 with leisurely pace. After that it was all gravy. Only thing we didn't do was Nemo and Tri Spin. Back to room at 2:30 for hour rest, then hit up Epcot at 4 where we used that days fastpasses. Worked great.

 

[seus-mouse]

Good plans. We hit rope drop...Kilimanjaro Safari...and either Kali River OR Everest 2nd, then the other 3rd. We usually do Everest 2nd, maybe twice depending on line and the Kali as often we ride several times as folks don't want to be wet that early. We like the Yak and Yeti counter service, great resting place and filling portions. Have fun.

 

[richmo]

I agree that you should hit Safari first. From a timing point of view, it might make the most sense to hit Kali second, but you have to decide if you want to stay really wet for an extended period of time. Personally, I'd probably go to Everest after the Safari, if inclined, then Dinosaur. Everest and Dinosaur lines usually aren't too bad fairly early. You can probably get into any FoLK, It's Tough to be a Bug, etc. Finally, if I was to do Kali, I'd probably do it last, even though the lines would be worse...I just don't want to stay soaked...

 

[Ladcassidy]

If you have an Expedition Everest junkie (like my 8 year old), go there first, and back-to-back it several times in a row, then head over to Safari to start the rest of your AK day.

 

[minnie mum]

Touring AK without FP is easy in the mornings, especially if you have EMH. Easywdw has a good itinerary for just this situation on its cheat sheet.

 

[pens4821]

We got to the park about 5 minutes before 8 AM EMH. They were letting people in. We walked at a decent pace to Everest. Rode it 3 times walk on. Then walked over to the safari and just about walked on that. We had a lunch ADR at MK so we headed out after that. We stopped at the restroom then went to Starbucks. Waited there longer than the rides. We were inside MK just before 10.

 

[MichelleWDWfan]

Definately head straight to the Safari and do that first.

Personally, I am a Rope dropper & always use my first 3 FP's first thing in the morning,
that way I can go to FP kiosks and get more FP's all day long after I use those first 3 that I chose online.
I do the same thing on days when I park hop....use the 1st three in the morning park, then hit the kiosks the rest of the day.
That way I get lots of FP's and rarely stand in a line more then for more than 20 mins.