Best time to do safari at Animal Kingdom?

[marriedmarylander]

I heard it was best to do it in the morning..and that in the morning when the park opens there is a rush to get safari tickets... Is this true? I was wondering because there are days the park opens 1 hour early. We didn't book oru vacation yet, but our dates were set for may 8-14... Then I realized the magic hour for animal kingdom is the 8th and 14th (our arrival/departure dates). Would it be better to shift our vacation from the 9th to 15th so we can take advantage of the extra morning hour for Animal Kingdom? We really want to see the animals and would hate to miss it. So I was thinking if it's a rush maybe the extra magic hour would be beneficial so we can book the safari before the normal crowds enter.

The 14th is a Saturday... if we didn't go on the 14th we'd go on a weekday (probably doesn't really make a difference)

 

[Tinkim]

I know a lot of people like to do the safari in the morning but we have had good luck doing it in the afternoon also. We just never seem to get over there first thing in the morning for some reason. One of the best safaris we ever had was in the afternoon. There was a giraffe in the road that didn't want to move and the ride lasted about 20 minutes. The giraffe was so close you could have touched it. There were lots of other animals out that day as well. Last week when we did the safari in the afternoon there weren't as many animals out but it was still great. I think luck is a factor but if you don't get there first thing in the a.m. by all means head over to Africa when you get a chance and get the FP. I don't think you'd be disappointed with an afternoon sarfari.

 

[44disney]

When we went to AK October 2003 on an early entry day, the park was extremely crowded immediately. We left after a few hours and came back on a non-early entry day and it was much better. If you do the safari 1st thing, early entry or not, your wait will be minimal. We have also found that by 4pm there is very little wait -- twice we have literally walked onto the ride at that time of the day.

 

[Queenie]

I agree, afternoons are good. We went on what must have been the last departure before the park closed and it was fantastic, every animal you can imagine was there, I don't think there was a single species we missed. We just walked onto the ride as well. I was with some friends who had done it at other times of day and said they had never seen anything like that number of animals before.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Oh okay then. We won't worry too much about being there first thing in the morning on an early park day. I'm not much of a morning person anyways!!!

 

[cudworth]

The best safari we ever had was in the rain last year at easter. We have done the early morning and the last at nite but we saw more animal and closer in the rain.

 

[debaudrn]

If you are there during the summer do early morning. It is too hot in the afternoon and all the animals are sluggish. You will be sluggish (and cranky0 too. When we go in August we have to get to AK for early morning and are leaving by 12, just too hot there.
Debbie

 

[Nuculer]

First thing in the morning. As soon as the gates open we head to Africa and get a fast pass and then go through the line once regular and again on the fast pass. The animals are still active in the morning. Later in the day, many of the animals are resting due to the heat.

BTW, we have done the sunrise safari twice now and it is fun to see the animals as they are being brought out to the viewing areas.

 

[tae1218]

It gets so hot so early during the summer months, I would suggest doing it earlier in the day. We usually grab a fast pass for the safari and go catch the first show of the Lion King. I take DD and go get seats while DH walks up to get fastpasses for the safari. After the show, it is still early and the animals are still active on the safari. BTW we usually don't go to AK on EMH day.

 

[Disneyonmymind]

We beat the crowds and saw lots of animals.

Jackie

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Morning is good. Little crowds and its cooler!

Matt