Best time for Safari Fast Pass?

[KateMW]

Going in December on a day with EMH in the AM if that matters. But really wondering what part of the day do we have the chance of seeing the most animals. My son loves animals, so this will be a big thing for him and if he doesn't grow, one of the only things at AK!

 

[FCDub]

There are animals out all day. Some people SWEAR by first thing in the morning. Others say it doesn't matter when you go.

Ultimately, it's impossible to predict when they'll be most active because they're animals

Good news is there are plenty of other animals exhibits and walking trails outside of the safari itself.

 

[rentayenta]

OP, I was wondering this as well. I ended up booking the most convenient time for our plans.

 

[CAS239]

All times of the day as long as there's still the sun out. My experience lions are most active around 4/5pm

If you ride when it's fully dark out you won't see many animals as they'd have to be right to near the truck to spot them

 

[TinkSassy]

We did one of the after dark safaris last trip and it was completely different activity - soooo much fun. I'd do morning and evening if you can. Morning is a lot of the gazelles and other savannah animals as well as the elephants (they like the cooler temps). After dark, the lions were all roaming around, the wildebeast were actually running and the rhinos were moving. I have found you see animals all day long but the cooler the temp the more they are moving.

 

[Disfan454]

If you want it to be one of your initial three FPs for the park for the day, try to get it as early as possible as the lions may still be active. You may miss them if you get a FP for it late morning or early afternoon but you’ll see plenty of other animals. I just wouldn’t schedule it as one of my initial three FPs for the day at 5:00 PMish as you are waistline to much time before you can get your fourth FP from a kiosk.

 

[Tomh]

I'd say first thing in the morning, and if possible, ride again at dusk. We did both last year, and they were completely different experiences.

 

[Klayfish]

It truly makes no difference whatsoever. We've been on the Safari countless times, at all different times of the days. We've had experiences where we saw a ton of animals in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening. Then we've had some where we saw far less animals. It really is quite random.

I do agree that doing it in total darkness is an issue, simply because you can't see.

 

[soccermom54]

We have had the best luck seeing the most animals in the mornings. Perhaps it is just luck of the draw but our afternoon safari rides have resulted in fewer animal sightings and several of the ones we saw were napping.

 

[gharter]

We like mid morning and late afternoon or early evening. While the animals are out all day, they seemed to be more active then. Have not tried an after dark or dusk ride yet. Some areas are set up for the animals to be in specific areas to be seen.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with the "luck of the ride" theory. I love the KS ride, and spent one day riding it over and over all day. This was back in the day of the paper Fps, so I just alternated stand-by and FP. The most active time that day? Noontime! I find 4:00-5:00 to be the least active time-that's about when some animals start going to the barns, and some of them are already walking to the barns, out of sight.

 

[maltdizzy]

We see animals all day long but the animals always seem to be far more active when we do it in the morning, which is much the way they would be in the wild, most active at sun-up and sun-down.

 

[AngieInOH]

All times of the day as long as there's still the sun out. My experience lions are most active around 4/5pm

If you ride when it's fully dark out you won't see many animals as they'd have to be right to near the truck to spot them

We had the same experience around 4/5 the lions were up on rocks walking around, one was even roaring. It was amazing and magical!!