Animal Kingdom musts for young children

[sunnymom5]

We are only going to Animal Kingdom 1/2 day and wanted to find out what are the absolute must with 10, 7, 6 and twin 21mth olds. We know that we won't be able to do everything since we are only going 1/2 day so we wanted to make sure we don't eliminate a "must" see. Also, we have never done any of the trails. Are they worth doing instead of lets say Lion King or other shows. Or, are the shows better to spend our time. I thought about skipping Dinoland but think that the 21mth olds might enjoy that over a show? Help!

 

[littlbugmom]

We only had a 1/2 day to spend in AK too. The time went by FAST!


My DH and DD8 wanted to do Expedition Everest. We got there at rope drop and DD changed her mind. My DH made a beeline for EE. The kids and I walked the trails, listened to and danced with musicians in the street, took pictures and examined the Tree of Life, etc.... It was relaxing and very enjoyable for all of us!


After that, DH joined us and we headed for Dinoland playground. Kids need to run around after a quiet morning. (I thought it seemed easy to lose a kid in there!)


Kilimanjaro Safara---it was just ok. We live close to a very good zoo. We see these animals all the time. The storyline wasn't enough to make us want to do this again.


We spent time with Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore.


Finding Nemo musical---the kids were bored halfway through.
(dh and I loved it)


It was too cold that day to do Kali River Rapids but that would be on our list if it were warm.


Next trip, we're spending 2 half days at AK. I want to have the same kind of quiet morning but then also do Dinosaur and Festival of the Lion King.

 

[asoko]

Our kids are younger 4 & 6. But we all LOVE the safari (DH favorite). My nephew 6 enjoyed EE. It would scare the daylights out of my son. We've seen the Lion King show once with the kids, I think they liked it ok but it was too loud, so we didn't go to see it on our later visits, instead we spent a lot of time in the boneyard digging bones. My son is a dinofreak and would spend the whole day there if he could.

My recommendation is the Safari for the whole family especially in the morning before it is gets too warm. For anyone tall enough and brave enough EE.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

We loved AK, we spent a whole day there and did everything. We enjoyed it so much, but if I had to say what not to miss, it would be:

The Safari (I thought that was amazing)

Camp Minnie Mickey ( lots of characters, and it doesn't take that long)

Expedition Everest (for the older ones, get Fast passes early)

The Parade

In Dinoland, we loved Dinosaur, for the older ones, height restriction is 40 inches. We also loved Primeval Whirl for the older ones. And Triceratop spin for everyone!!!!!

Have FUN!!!!!

If you do have time too, we took the train up to Rafiki's planet watch,and the building up there is nice cold AC and we saw 3 characters while cooling off. It was a nice break from the heat.

 

[ajcolorado]

Everyone can ride Triceratop Spin in Dinoland. Ride this as soon as the park opens and you should be able to ride a couple of times without much of a wait. One parent can let the little ones repeat this while the other parent takes the oldest child or oldest two children on Dinosaur.

If you have two adults, have one go and get Kilimanjaro Safari FASTPASS tickets. Line up for the 10AM "Finding Nemo" by 9:30AM, if it is offered that early during your trip. One of the adults can watch the kids at the Boneyard Playarea for a little while while the other adult holds your place in line. If "Finding Nemo" isn't offered until 11:15 or 11:30, do the Maharajah Jungle trek and come back or you can go see the first "Festival of the Lion King. You can see the show schedules at http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

I enjoy the animal trails but wouldn't try to do all of them, if time is limited. You might go from Dinoland to the Maharajah jungle trek in Asia. See Nemo. Then head over to Africa to do the Safari. Catch one of the early afternoon shows of "Festival of the Lion King" - right now there is a performance at 1:00PM.

I think that both "Finding Nemo" & Festival of the Lion King are great.

These might help you:

http://buildabettermousetrip.wordpre.../preschoolers/

http://buildabettermousetrip.wordpre...with-toddlers/

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Kilimanjaro Safara---it was just ok. We live close to a very good zoo. We see these animals all the time. The storyline wasn't enough to make us want to do this again.

I'm so glad DD and I are not the only ones not feeling a great desire to do the Safari again. We've been on it twice. I asked DD not too long ago what her favorite things were at the AK. She listed off the Pocahontas, Nemo, Lion King shows. Unfortunately the Pocahontas show is now closed. But I asked "What about the safari? Do you want to do that next time we go?" She said no. At first I was surprised, but the more I thought about it, I agreed with her. It's nice, and it's a definite "must-do" on a first trip, but if we don't get to it on our next trip, I won't be heart broken.

I'd say the shows are a definite must-do.

 

[defendthehill]

Safari
Lion King Show
Camp Minnie-Mickey
Afternoon Parade

All were big hits with my three daughters ages 7,5,3

 

[puffkin]

DS3 loves the Boneyard. He will stay in there for hours and hours if we let him. He also likes Triceratops Spins, Safari, Festival of the Lion King, Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids. He got bored at Nemo, but I liked that. We usually spend at least two mornings here, there is so much to see!

 

[Darcy03231]

I took my niece for her first trip last fall. She was 4, almost 5. She loved the Finding Nemo show and the Lion King show. She also really liked the Conservation Station and the petting area. We did the safari and she liked that too, but wasn't as enthralled with that as she was with the shows. We skipped Its a Bug Life (she terrified of bugs), Dinosaur and Expedition Everest. We did walk around on the trails, saw the performers, the parade and the animals. We ended up spending pretty much a full day there. We also skipped most everything in Dinoland and Kali River Rapids (she didn't want to get wet).

 

[taymacsmom]

We cannot imagine only 1/2 a day at AK! It is our favorite park and plan to spend a day and a 1/2 there in August. With your kiddos ages I would recommend the safari, KRR and the Lion King show is not to be missed IMHO. EE is an awesome rollercoaster if you and DH can do the child swap. We really enjoy ITTBAB also although I can see that some kids may be scared. Have a great time!!

 

[DISNEYNV]

If you have never done the Safari do that first! Then make your way to Everest for fast passes and order lunch at the Picnic in the Park. To see Finding Nemo and don't miss the jungle trails! My kids loved these (one in Asia the other in Africa I think). They are really cool and educational well...that is probably more than half a day so have fun and enjoy AK!

 

[Lovin' Disney]

Kali river rapids is the best. Lion King show is good, finding nemo show is good but may not hold a child's attention.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Since you have a range of ages in your group, here are DS10's and DD6's top choices at AK:

DS10: Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, Safari, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Primeval Whirl, Finding Nemo show

DD6: Kali, Safari, Maharajah Jungle Trek, Triceratop Spin (we ride this while DS's ride Primeval Whirl), she went on EE but didn't particularly care for it

Personally, we think Maharajah Jungle Trek is much better than Pangani Forest. If you decide to explore one of the trails, take the time to talk to the CM's and don't rush through.
We like the Lion King Show although it is not a must do for us.
Although he will go on them, DS isn't crazy about Dinsosaur or Tough to Be a Bug. In fact, Dinosaur is his least fav in all of WDW.
We went to Rafiki's Planet Watch early in the day last year and had a private audience with Jiminy Cricket and Rafiki and an almost private one with Pocahontas, but I don't think I would take the time during a half day.