Animal kingdom

[Rae&familyxmas05]

Will be in WDW for 1st time traveling with dh3 and dn5, what is the best time to view Festival of the Lion King and go on safari. Trying to decide if we should fast pass safari during wait for Lion King.

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Best time to do the safarri is first thing in the morning. Can't help with FOTLK, we just seem to hit it either on our way out at noon, or if we arrive late, on our wayout in the evening.

 

[crisi]

Will be in WDW for 1st time traveling with dh3 and dn5, what is the best time to view Festival of the Lion King and go on safari. Trying to decide if we should fast pass safari during wait for Lion King.

You should get a fastpass when you first arrive for the Safari. Then do something else. We usually spend time in Dinoland and the Boneyard while one parent runs back for the Fastpasses. Or do the Pangini trail. When your fastpass time comes around, get on the safari. The animals tend to be most active in the morning and the last few rides on the evening - cooler weather is better. Then go see FoTLK.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We do the Safari first and usually wind up with FOTLK around lunch time. It hasn't been bad and the animals seem more active early in the morning.

 

[POB14]

We did Safari first. The tendency is for the animals to be more active early in the morning, so the earlier you go, the more animals you see. We then went to Camp Minnie-Mickey and met the characters as soon as they started (10:00) -- minimal waits to see Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy -- and saw the second show of Lion King. This was on November 4, and LK did not fill up -- no wait.

 

[firen'ice]

You might also want to check if they are having a night time safari, They do these every so often and don't advertise well. they "sell" out quick! so ask as soon as you get to the world and plan a few day ahead. These are way better than any other time!

 

[bedgraynexl]

Definately Fast Pass Safari. I made that mistake last time. I was alone with DS5 and DD3. DW was in meetings. We saw Lion King, all the characters in Camp Mickey Minne went to lunch played in the Bone Yard, saw Pooh and Eyeore and Lilo and Stitch then decided to go get in line for Safari. Fast Passes were gone for the day so we waited in line for about an hour. Then we did Rafiki's trail.
Headed back to hotel to meet with DW to rest then hit EMH at Magic Kingdom.

Don't make my mistake and get your FP early. From what I understand they always go fast.

 

[dreamalittledream]

Does going in December / January in the cooler weather change any of the advice? Are the animals more active for a longer span in the mornings? I like the idea of getting the FP for the Safari and doing something else for a while.

 

[Rae&familyxmas05]

thank you for the advice, will definitely FP safari and play the rest by ear.

 

[jann1033]

we went last time in Jan and the animals were active when we went first thing on an emh day. i'd do that again as the other times we went ( afternoon ) they were much less active. if it isn't a long wait when you first get there go then

 

[jtlover]

When we went even the disney people recommended first thing or last thing as that is the best time to see the animals as it is cooler for them.

 

[jenniferma]

We have been there twice-- once in 2003 and once in 2004-- we did the Safari first thing in the morning and then headed straight for the Lion King Show afterward. If I remember correctly, the Camp Mickey and Minnie opens up at 10--it is cool to get there first to do the character lines and Lion King show at the same time.

have a great trip!

 

[Armadillo4]

When we went even the disney people recommended first thing or last thing as that is the best time to see the animals as it is cooler for them.

Generally speaking--and as evidenced by the various posts here as well as in the guidebooks--early morning is when the animals are usually most active. However, this is a generalization. I remember riding the safari in the middle of the afternoon a couple years ago and being treated to seeing the lion standing and roaring up on that rock. And the giraffes were out in force in the savannah as well. At the end of the safari, the driver made a comment that it was especially active that afternoon. Regardless of when you actually ride the safari, you will be in for a treat.