Animal Kingdom in a day?

[April L Shackleford]

Hello,
Is it possible to do most of Animal Kingdom in a day on an expected "average" attendance on a weekday (mid week) in May (not memorial..thankfully!)?

Also.. I have a TA...but I am a bit obsessed with this trip. Lol It is my families first Orlando Vacation and I just like to know what to expect, etc I know she will help me, but you know it's fun to hear what works for you guys while I plan and daydream about this trip! Lol

What we are hopeful for. . . .
Rope Drop Safari
Already have reservations for Tusker house at 9:55 (RoL package! )
There are no expected EMH here during our stay, but it's most important to my daughter) ... here are our interests in order of importance (after Safari and Tusker House as that is already a part of our plan).....

Conservation area if it's reopened (fingers crossed. Possible future vet on my hands who this is like the dream must do!)

Expedition Everest


Flight of Passage

Lion King Show

Kali River

Dinosaur

Pin Trade

Dinosaur land rides not the dark ride (sorry, I do not know the names off top of head ... The one like Dumbo and the mouse coaster one)

She will probably want to at least see the Gorillas (her fave!), but we live by an amazing zoo and see animals often so it's a if we have time thing (minus her hopes to see a veterinarian in action) *She already has met with *KEY* Zoo staff near us for one on one Q and A's about becoming a Zoo Veterinarian. That was an amazing day.



I think that is it... Not too interested in

Nemo
Navi River
Twirl ride (like tea cups)
Bugs Life

So my thoughts are... Rope drop Safari.. FP+ FoP.... FP Everest ..... FP Kali River...
Is this a good idea ?
Can we get the must do's done?
Or is it possible to do it "all" in one day?

Finally.. For food, quick service the rest of the day or another table service meal like near dinner time? We will have a Laundrys card.

So many choices?!?!??

So AK disney loving friends? Tips and ideas to make my daughters dream AK trip most "magical"?!?!
THANKS!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Here's what we did last summer on a weekday at AK in early June. The crowd level for your date is probably similar. I think you can easily do all of your list in a day with time to spare.


Prebooked FPs for Safari (9:30), Kali (10:30) and FoP (11:30). We were running a little late and didn't arrive until 11 am but were still allowed to use the Safari FP.

After FoP, we started refreshing for Dinosaur and Everest FPs. By the end of the day, we had ridden Dino 4 times and Everest 6 times, although I only went on it twice.

We also had time for Bug's Life, Nemo, Lion King and Up (which I don't recommend). We rode the Train to Rafiki's (but didn't get off) and also walked both Trails.

I thought the lunch plan was going to be Restarauntasaurus, but the family got hungry for tacos so we slipped out the back way via Sherbeth Road around 3 pm and hit the nearest Taco Bell then returned.

We were on a quest for a certain hard to find Minnie Graduation Ears hat which we did find that at AK after checking in about a dozen shops. We also added a after dark Safari right before closing time but couldn't see much.

The park closed at 10 pm and we ended the day at RoL at 10:15.

Not a bad day at the park.

 

[kwdw]

Yep - you can get that all in one day - and maybe include some of your second tier choices, too.

I don't know the time the park opens that day - but don't "waste" time by having down time between your Safari ride and breakfast at Tusker House.

In AK - I think the QS choices are great - so I would only do one TS meal. And I'd decide where to eat that QS based on where you happen to be in the park (and where you are headed) at the time you are hungry. I don't think you need to pre-plan that.

For a true animal lover - finding time to watch the animals on the trails or on Discovery Island is great. Sometimes there are CM's talking about the animals - and they can be really interesting to listen to. I don't know how old your daughter is - but the Wilderness Explorer Program can be fun - though it's not something they can really finish in one day - especially when you only have one day at the park on a trip.

And frankly - Navi is a cool boat ride. The effects are pretty cool. No - I would not wait in line more than 20 minutes - but I think its worth a 20 minute wait.

 

[Klayfish]

Yes, you can easily get all that done in one day. If you only want the rides you listed, you can probably get it done by mid-afternoon.

 

[g-dad66]

So my thoughts are... Rope drop Safari.. FP+ FoP.... FP Everest ..... FP Kali River...
Is this a good idea ?

Yes, given your interests and Rope Drop plans, those are exactly the three FPs that you want.

 

[MrsDuck]

You can definitely do it!

Highly recommend Satuli Canteen in Pandora for a quick service meal.

 

[eliseisawkward]

It’s definitely possible to do AK in a day, I did! I managed to do all the things on your list except RoL because it didn’t exist when I went.

Order of “attack” will totally depend on what FP you manage to get. I would try for a FOP FP, but consider rope dropping that instead of the safari if you can’t get it. A FP for safari should be easy to get.

The park itself is actually huge and you will walk a TON. I recommend having a plan that does not require crossing the park repeatedly.

 

[kiford]

It depends on what you mean by "do" AK. If it's about getting onto rides, then, yes, it's perfectly possible to do in a day if it's not too busy and you structure fastpasses well. We like to spend a lot of time on the animal trails and shopping so one day is definitely not enough for us. If you go to a local zoo a lot then maybe the animal trails are not of interest so you can skip it. For us, it's one of the best parts of AK. Unfortunately, I've not seen any indication that they are planning to reopen Conservation Station any time soon so I wouldn't bank on it. It's too bad because we always enjoyed spending time there.

As others have mentioned, there are some decent QS places in AK so you don't need to do TS if you don't want to spend the time. In fact, to rest your aching feet, you might want to consider doing QS/snacks 2-3 times during the day at different places. Harambe Market, Nomad Lounge, Yak & Yeti QS (which is Landry's) all have some reasonably good foods.

 

[DisDreaming4116]

I'd think about rope dropping FOP and getting a FP+ for it. You'll want to do it twice and the Safari is an easy additional FP+ to get.

 

[gharter]

There is a lot to see if you try and do it all, but it can be done.
You just need a well organized plan and luck.
Seems like a good plan.
Agree with Satu'Li for QS.
If you are planning RD, I would go to FoP if you are toward the front of the crowd. I would still gt a FP if you can and ride twice (it sthat good).
The majority of the RD crowd is all headed to FoP. If you can ride it early, you can then go to the other attractions, Safari/ EE and still have very little wait.

 

[MikeNamez]

Half day for me... At MOST. All the stuff you want to do, probably a full day.

 

[gharter]

Half day for me. At MOST All the stuff you want to do, probably a full day.

You must skip many rides, not see the shows or walk the trails?
I used to think it was a half day park, but not anymore.

 

[MikeNamez]

You must skip many rides, not see the shows or walk the trails?
I used to think it was a half day park, but not anymore.

A few rides like Navi and Kali River I bypass and have 0 interest in shows... Love the walking trail through the aviary though, but I don't spend all my time in there. Also enjoyed Rafiki's planet watch when it was still around.

If I rope drop FOP I can pretty much get the rest of what I want done by lunch. Everest, Dinosaur, Bugs Life.

Don't use fast passes here either, save them for whatever my second park of the day is. Usually DHS because that's only a halfer for me too.

 

[goofygal531]

We usually have an ADR at TH around 10am.

We rope drop Everest, then FP Safari before breakfast. TH is right near the safari.
After safari, we always catch the Lion King show (I like staying in one section at a time! Lol)
Then we’ve done Bugs Life in the tree (it’s cute) then FP dinosaur.

I prefer Pandora in the evening so I’d FP those rides for later that night, whichever one you can FP. Then standby the other one.

For quick service meals, Satu’li Canteen was surprisingly very good. We also enjoyed the Harambe market.

The rest of the shows are filler for us. Nemo was one and done. We do like the bird show but it’s not a must see.

Also keep in mind AK gets very hot in the summer months. The foliage traps in the heat. It’s usually ten degrees warmer in there. Some summers (pre-Pandora) we’ve skipped the park entirely due to the heat. Plan accordingly. Lots of water!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Yes, you can easily get all that done in one day. If you only want the rides you listed, you can probably get it done by mid-afternoon.

Can I hire you out as a park and Fastpass guide?? I mean I've been to Disney 7 times in my life, but reading your replies makes me feel like I'm missing some key details!

 

[super7wdw]

There’s a teacup like ride at AK? Is it new? We haven’t been since 2015.

 

[eliseisawkward]

There’s a teacup like ride at AK? Is it new? We haven’t been since 2015.

AFAIK there is no teacup like ride at AK.