Animal Kingdom strategy question

[aaronlisar]

OK, so our first day in the parks will be 11/29 at AK. I see that the park opens at 8am that day and the Jammin Jingle Jungle parade is at 3:45pm. We are traveling with my parents and our three kids (5, 2, 1) and we planned to go back to the room after lunch everyday to let the kids rest. I'm contemplating what to do on this day however because I don't want to come back to AK in the afternoon just for the parade (yet I definitely don't want to miss it). We have ADR at Coral Reef at 6:15 so we planned to leave for EPCOT once the parade is over. I'm wondering since this will be our first official day if we can make it without going back to the resort after lunch and just push through for the day. When we were there three years ago we were done in AK about an hour before the parade started and just sat around waiting for the parade. I don't want to have crabby kids for dinner that night but it seems like quite a pain to go back and forth multiple times as well. Decisions, decisions, decisions..... What would you do???????

 

[snickerboo]

We never go back to our resort on AK. If AK is not busy, it's a good place to see a parade because no one will be standing in front of you an your kids. We found the stone bench in front of Pizzafari a good place to see the parade and the kids and one adult can look at the animals or tree of life while waiting. However the "Jungle Jammin' Parade" is good but not as good as some of the other parades. If you find kids/parent/grandparents are getting grumpy or tired at about 3, I'd leave and go back to your resort before your dinner reservations because you're right about not wanting the kids tired and cranky at your dinner.

 

[OB1]

If you will make your day a leisure day and enjoy AK for all the beauty & discovery that it is, then you should be able to make it work. Plan a few sit downs at neat places to rest. We watch the Village Beatniks near Flame Tree, sit and watch animals some place around Discovery Island, and sit for a show at Tusker House. I believe there is still one of the performance groups there. Add in Lion King or Nemo, Flights of Wonder, and you have some time to rest.

We look foward to seeing the Jingle parade in December - and we really like the regular parade

 

[Supermom3]

If you are done with AK long before the parade begins, I'd skip the parade instead of waiting around for it. That way the kids can get a good nap in.
Are you driving? On our AK day we left after the parade and took our time driving over to Epcot. By the time we had parked the kids had about an hour long nap. I know napping in the car isn't ideal, but for us in this situation it was more efficient than going back to the resort and gave the kids enough of a boost to get through the rest of the evening.

 

[koolaidmoms]

It all depends on your children. You know them best.

My kids could nap in a stroller anywhere. If you can go into a nice secluded area - there are some on your way in with benches around the back, around the TofL or behind near the Birds of Prey and rest for a bit, get some quiet time and a light snack you may be able to make it fine.

My niece's kids are so nap strict that they could never make it without the nap everyday at 1:00 pm. It's what your kids are used to.

By the way the parade is good but not the best at WDW. If the parade is your main thing to see you may want to go a bit later and plan on doing less rides and shows. Just a thought.