Animal Kingdom and EPCOT questions

[gelatoni fan]

It's been quite a few years since I've been to WDW and I have a few questions about AK and EPCOT.

1. On Monday, Animal Kingdom closes at 7PM while on Tuesday, it closes at 6PM. Would the difference in crowd levels be significant enough to be worth visiting on the day that closes earlier or should I prioritize longer park hours?

2. I was thinking of ending the day with Flight of Passage so that when I get off the ride, I can take pictures of Pandora in the dark. Is there ever a risk of them closing the queue before 6PM? Since I plan on ending the day with Flight of Passage, how early would I need to arrive at the park gate to avoid a long wait for the safari (or whatever the 2nd choice rope drop option is)?

3. How wet do you get on Kali River Rapids? Given that it's January, would it be uncomfortably cold to go on this ride?

4. Where would you recommend eating dinner after leaving Animal Kingdom? I will be driving and I'm staying at the Hyatt Place Lake Buena Vista.

5. What's the best place to watch Luminous at EPCOT and how early do you need to arrive for like a 3rd row standing position on a weekday in January? If it's going to be at least a 45 min wait, what quick service would you recommend buying as dinner to eat while we wait?

6. What are your must eat foods or must see shows at EPCOT?

7. Any tips for how to organize the day at both of these parks if I don't plan to pay for any lightning lane?

Thanks in advance!

 

[scrappinginontario]

I’m happy to answer what I can.

It's been quite a few years since I've been to WDW and I have a few questions about AK and EPCOT.

1. On Monday, Animal Kingdom closes at 7PM while on Tuesday, it closes at 6PM. Would the difference in crowd levels be significant enough to be worth visiting on the day that closes earlier or should I prioritize longer park hours?

I would go on the 7PM closure day if you wish to see Pandora after dark. The difference in crowds will be little although I would anticipate many having a similar idea of seeing Pandora after dark it’s amazing though and so worth seeing!!

2. I was thinking of ending the day with Flight of Passage so that when I get off the ride, I can take pictures of Pandora in the dark. Is there ever a risk of them closing the queue before 6PM?

I have not heard of it closing early. You can hoping the line up until 1 min before park close.

Since I plan on ending the day with Flight of Passage, how early would I need to arrive at the park gate to avoid a long wait for the safari (or whatever the 2nd choice rope drop option is)?

Safari is not open for ETPE so it will not open until the park officially opens to all guests.

3. How wet do you get on Kali River Rapids? Given that it's January, would it be uncomfortably cold to go on this ride?

You can get very wet on KRR.

 

[cruising spud]

Safari is not open for ETPE so it will not open until the park officially opens to all guests.

Safari does not open until the park opens for all guests, but a line does form. And, this line gets long before cast members officially open the ride.

 

[lovethattink]

It's been quite a few years since I've been to WDW and I have a few questions about AK and EPCOT.

1. On Monday, Animal Kingdom closes at 7PM while on Tuesday, it closes at 6PM. Would the difference in crowd levels be significant enough to be worth visiting on the day that closes earlier or should I prioritize longer park hours?

2. I was thinking of ending the day with Flight of Passage so that when I get off the ride, I can take pictures of Pandora in the dark. Is there ever a risk of them closing the queue before 6PM? Since I plan on ending the day with Flight of Passage, how early would I need to arrive at the park gate to avoid a long wait for the safari (or whatever the 2nd choice rope drop option is)?

3. How wet do you get on Kali River Rapids? Given that it's January, would it be uncomfortably cold to go on this ride?

4. Where would you recommend eating dinner after leaving Animal Kingdom? I will be driving and I'm staying at the Hyatt Place Lake Buena Vista.

5. What's the best place to watch Luminous at EPCOT and how early do you need to arrive for like a 3rd row standing position on a weekday in January? If it's going to be at least a 45 min wait, what quick service would you recommend buying as dinner to eat while we wait?

6. What are your must eat foods or must see shows at EPCOT?

7. Any tips for how to organize the day at both of these parks if I don't plan to pay for any lightning lane?

Thanks in advance!

1. I live in central Florida. Last night I drove my son somewhere at 6:15 and it wasn’t completely dark. Each day stays light a bit longer, so I’d go with the 7pm. It might affect crowd level a bit.

2. The only reason I can think for early closure of FoP would be breakdown.

3. Plan on getting soaked. Because often people do.

4. Dinner, depends what you want. There are all kinds of chain restaurants on 192 near AK. Cici’s has all you can eat pizza. It’s next door to a Burger King. There’s a Ponderosa across the street, unless that one closed down too. And most chain sit downs. On 535 in Lake Buena Vista there’s all kind of chain restaurants just down the street from Downtown Disney. Red Lobster, Carabas, Golden Corral, etc. Downtown Disney has many choices.

5. We watch away from crowds, usually am obstructed view.

6. Are you there during the festival in January?

7. I’d suggest saving high capacity and fast loading attractions for later in the day.

 

[Miffy]

I don't know what the refurbishment schedule is for January, but Kali is sometimes closed for refurb in January. And, yes, you can get soaked. And also yes, it is often too cold in January to want to get soaked!

 

[Marthasor]

I would not do Kali River Rapids in January unless it's an abnormally hot day. You can get soaked and, IMHO, the ride isn't worth it. If you would like to stay in the Disney bubble after AK, consider having dinner at Sanaa at AKL (you will need an ADR).

For Luminous, I would consider Japan or Italy (the Italy Isola area over the bridge if there isn't an event going on during the fireworks). Lots of good QS - we like Regal Eagle in America.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Safari does not open until the park opens for all guests, but a line does form. And, this line gets long before cast members officially open the ride.

I really wish that the Safari was open early, like some of the other rides. I was talking to a security guard at AKV and he said that he could hear the male lion roaring (yes, from the Villas) during early opening time. And of all my Safari rides, the only time I ever heard the male lion roaring was when I was fortunate enough to be there right at the ride's opening. He was really active, too. If they opened the Safari ride early, more guests could have that experience.

 

[Miffy]

I really wish that the Safari was open early, like some of the other rides. I was talking to a security guard at AKV and he said that he could hear the male lion roaring (yes, from the Villas) during early opening time. And of all my Safari rides, the only time I ever heard the male lion roaring was when I was fortunate enough to be there right at the ride's opening. He was really active, too. If they opened the Safari ride early, more guests could have that experience.

I did the safari pretty late in the day once and the male lion was roaring then too. Maybe he's a dawn-or-dusk kinda guy!

 

[gelatoni fan]

6. Are you there during the festival in January?

7. I’d suggest saving high capacity and fast loading attractions for later in the day.

Thanks for the tips!

This trip is before the festival at EPCOT so I'll be looking for normal quick service food.

I'm not entirely sure which attractions are considered high capacity and fast loading. But I do see that Remy and Test Track have single rider so I was thinking of starting with Frozen at EPCOT and doing those later in the day. Not sure if that's a good plan though if I don't have early entry. Given the layout of EPCOT, is there a certain direction to go in for lower wait times and less walking?