Animal Kingdom strategies needed

[maxsmom]

Let me say my husband and I hate this park. I would love it if we were able to go sometime other than summer. It's just way too hot w/ too many people crowded in to narrow walkways. With that being said our kids love it. We want to try the Lion King show. I am going to assume that the best way to see this is wait until like maybe the last show. Or is it like most other shows, we don't stand in line. We show up as the line is heading in and have never had a problem getting seats. We know these won't be "prime" seats but we are fine with that. Thanks!

Ok, was thinking maybe I should plan left or right. We aren't going to get there until about 1 (open until 7). I was thinking depending on arrival time & 1st fastpass time we would do Bugs Life, then FP for Dino. Spend a little time in the canival area, then FP for Expedition Everest. Then FP the safari. Hopefully we can see lion king and go out to rafiki while we are backs here. I need to check the times for rafiki though. Thoughts? Thanks

 

[maxsmom]

Test, I cannot find this in the list. Just trying to see if it will show up.

 

[JennyDrake]

OK, dumb question and I'm not trying to be snide--if you hate this park in the crowds and heat, why are you not going until 1 pm?

_I_ would go at RD w late morning FP+ for Safari and one other, and FP Lion King for the latest you plan to stay and enjoy the a/c show before leaving.

 

[senadler]

Going in the summer, I would rather skip the park entirely than get there at 1 PM. I think you need to get there when it opens, get those few things done in the first 2-3 hours and head out. You can easily walk on Dino and probably a few others, FP+ safari, EE, and something else and be done before noon. Schedule the show last, just as it is getting hot.

 

[maxsmom]

I totally understand your question. We are not morning people. We like to sleep in and often go for a swim before heading to the parks. We stay late and take advantage of the late night extra magic hours. Setting an alarm clocks are not for vacation! That is the only way any of us would be up in time to be there for rope drop. We plan on not getting back to our room until at least 1 am the night before. We also don't want to use a FP for Lion King b/c there are other things we want to do that we know we love (the ones I said we were getting.)

 

[sturner324]

I don't find FP important for the shows, but I wouldn't necessarily wait until the last show. It might be nice to go earlier to get out of the heat. Also, don't forget about Nemo if you have time. GREAT cool spot in the summer. Don't worry about prime seats, I feel like you can see fine from anywhere in Lion King especially. I would echo others opinion about not getting to the park so late, but it's your vacation so you can do what you want.

Are the animal trails important to your kids? I think that is usually the hot part, and since you'll see a lot of animals on safari maybe you can skip them. To me, that is a morning activity.

 

[maxsmom]

They don't know about them! We only started taking them when they started to ask where the "tree" was. We go and hit a few things and get out! The most time is spent in the dinosaur area. I'm fine w/ doing the show earlier. Just didn't know if we would be able to get in. We could go left 1st. 1st FP for safari and we could get there and maybe catch lion king before or after and continue clockwise. If we don't get in something while we are over there and have to swing around to Everest for that FP we won't be going back. Once around, we hit what we hit, spend a bit more time around Everest and Dino land trying to do those things multiple times and we are out of there.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I would try to get my FP for Safari just after 1pm and get that done. Being that you'll be blistering hot, shoot for Kali River Rapids next to help you cool off. Then do Everest and the show before heading to Dino on your way out.

The main tip I can give you is to walk slow and don't rush. It will just make you more hot. Take breathers and enter shops with AC to cool off periodically. Aside from that, going in the Fall (if thats ever an option) makes this place much more enjoyable. I went in August once and thought I was going to die. Went in October ever since then and its amazing.

 

[dprincessmom]

If they are open to 7, I think you should be fine either way. Maybe FP Kali to cool down a little. The shows will be busy in the afternoon as people seek out AC. That being said, our experience with late arrivals at AK have been good. Those that view AK as a half a day park will be headed out at 2 or 3 at the latest. We were there last year on a late evening and were able to do everything we wanted to do.

I am not certain of the hours but I think I would try and get Safari then EE and then head on around to Dino-land

 

[maxsmom]

I would love to be able to go during a not so busy and hot time. That's not possible for us since my husband and I are both teachers. We don't have a fall break either. I figured we would have better luck w/ the shows later b/c everyone would be trying to get out of the heat mid-afternnoon. We aren't doing Nemo. We do Dinosaur and sometimes the play area and triceratops (that one is a killer in the sun), Everest, Safari, Tough to be a bug. This yr we are adding Rafiki and hopefully the Lion King. We will hit the trails up if we have extra time. Yes, we do not usually have a problem going in the evening and do everything we want unless there's storms. That's what happened last yr. Thanks for all of your great ideas b/c we don't spend too much time there.

 

[Disneyliscious]

In the future maybe try to go during christmas break but not actually on christmas day. Like maybe leave the night school is out (usually around the 18th here) and head to the parks before xmas. Or maybe between xmas and New Years. Ive never been during xmas break so I dont know the crowd levels but it cant be worse than august.....but at least it wouldnt have the heat. Kudos to you though for putting your kids first and still going to AK because they like it. That makes you one cool parent in my book.

 

[maxsmom]

Well we drive and my husband doesn't like to drive through the mountains in the winter. One year though we hope to save up to go at Christmas. It is beautiful. We went before we had kids. The cost of airfare and the higher cost of rooms has kept us away then. It unfortunately is the most expensive time to go. The crowds are actually just as bad! The weather is much better though. It's funny to see the natives dressed in winter stuff w/ gloves when we are like this is a heat wave compared to back home! One year I hope to spend Christmas day in the park, just for the experience. We were there for the millennium on new years eve. That was an experience. Every park was closed due to them being filled to capacity that day.

 

[newestkg06]

Just double check what stays open until 7pm and the showtimes of the shows on that day. I think the Safari ride closes early and the last show may be 5pm, not 6pm. It would be frustrating to leave the Safari for last and it's already closed.
I like your way of touring! Unfortunately, we have early bird little kids who get up at 5-6am already, so rope drop works for us.

 

[RustManFan]

My sister and I love AK but only planned one day last trip. Changed our minds and went back a second day to see FOTLK a second time (and the animals of course)

Other than the safari, AK is not about rides for my family

 

[tink9702]

I agree with newestkg06 - make sure you check what time the last show is & when the Safari is closing for the night too. The safari is very rarely open until "closing time" if you stick with your original plan.

You'll have more luck getting on Everest multiple times if you save that for last. I think I'd hit Safari/Lion King first and circle around to the right. IMHO there isn't a bad seat in that theater.