Animal Kingdom Morning Advice

[ddesousa323]

I am taking two people to Animal Kingdom that have never been there before (Fiance 23, Cousin 19). I am trying to figure out a game plan for Animal Kingdom. We will be there June 27-July 1st. I already know to avoid an EMH day at the park because I am not staying on-site. Should we head straight to the Safari? or to Expedition Everest? I always hear that the animals are better in the morning so I am trying to see which would be better to do first.

What do you think?

 

[kmkja1]

Go to EE first thing. It will fill up the fastest.

 

[Robo]

Wrote this last night.
Just as I was ready to send it, the DIS "servers" were down.
Here goes:

If you are there on a non EMH day, make sure you are waiting at the front gates by 30 minutes prior to posted "opening time".

The gates will be opened to guests about 20 minutes "early" to allow them to walk back to where the rope-drop ceremony (The Adventure Begins") will be held.

The ceremony will end at scheduled opening time and the CMs will lead guests directly to Safari but half or more of the folks will head straight to EE. (They likely now have CMs lead guests to EE as well.)

If not, the pathway thru Asia is closer to the ENTRANCE and FP lines of EE... rather than the path via Dinoland.

I'd go to EE first and be amoung the first riders that day.
Then go directly to Safari and check standby line.
If wait is 30 minutes or less, take the standby line and ride.
If its much longer, gets FP's and go have some cinnamon rolls or fresh fruit at Kusifiri Restaurant in "Africa" (near Safari entrance), then walk back and do the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, before your FP return time.

See "Festival of the Lion King" (2nd show of the day starts about 11am) .
Go get FP for Dinosaur before of after the Lion King show.
Ride it when you can.
That should take care of your morning (and then some)... if you stay, there's plenty more to do.

See "Its Tough to Be a Bug"
See "Flights of Wonder" (trust me, its GOOD).
Walk "Maharajah Jungle Trek" (Tiger Trail)
Kali River Rapids will SOAK you, so plan accordingly.
Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is very entertaining. (usually 4pm)

We love this park.

 

[ddesousa323]

Will a lot of the animals be out at that point? Everyone keeps talking about getting there early to see the animals, my fear is after EE the safari wont be as good?

 

[Robo]

Will a lot of the animals be out at that point? Everyone keeps talking about getting there early to see the animals, my fear is after EE the safari wont be as good?

I have riden the Safari at all times of the day. Each and every ride is different (even ones only minutes apart).

We love to ride "first-thing" in the mornings, but we see different animals later in the morning, and later in the afternoon.

This is a first-rate attraction any time of day.

Mornings are particularly good, but it does not HAVE to be the VERY first thing you do... and certainly its fun later in the afternoons, too.

(Otherwise, they'd have to close it down at 11:30am every day.)