Brown's Last Hurrah Day3- a perfect day at AK!!!

[susy]

Cast:

Susy-myself, 36
Mike-DH, 32
Marcus- DS, 4
Joey, nephew, 16
Melanie-niece, 13


sunday- AK

We were up very early. My niece and I went to the food court to get breakfast, while everyone else was still sleeping. We brought back cereal and Mickey Waffles (yum). After breakfast we got dressed, packed up the van and were on our way to AK at 8:15am. Were in line by 8:30 and the line was already out to the ticket booth. Well, before they opened, the lines were out past the security check point. Opening here is always great- with the characters and little animals. Got to see a tarantula up close and find out that their bite is not poisonous- good to know!

We have a new strategy at AK that I would like to pass on to Bob Sehlinger (author of the Unofficial Guide). It has worked really well the last few trips- especially with little kids.

We rented a stroller-which took about 5 seconds- and headed to Dinoland first.

Mike and marcus rode triceratops spin, while Joey, Melanie and I rode Primeval Whirl- both walk ons.

We got off and Marcus wanted to ride TS one more time - Mike got off, I got on -total of 4 times for Marcus. Mike , Joey, and Melanie went to ride Dinosaur- we would meet up at the boneyard.

Marcus and I went to the Boneyard. There were just a few children there and it is always cool and shady there in the morning. He knows that when daddy gets there, we leave. He is used to this routine . It sets a time limit for the boneyard, so no problems there.

When they got back (Melanie did think Dinosaur was scary and she rides EVERYTHING!) we headed to Tough to Be a Bug- right up the path from Dinoland. This show was great. Even Marcus loved it! Again, it was a walk on- no wait at all. After exiting TTBAB, we turned left and went to Asia and rode Kali- no wait again. I got DRENCHED on the first time, but the rest rode a total of 3 times! Marcus did have his poncho on, since he was getting over a cold.

At this point we headed to Africa. The wait for the safari was 20 mniutes, but we decided (I decided) it was better to get a FP and enjoy the Pangani Forest trail while we wait. We had gotten a couple of pretzels and sodas by this time (yummy pretzels!). The forest trail was great and Marcus really surprised me- he remembered something that a cast member had said on our Labor Day trip. It was about the little animal (I think it is a meerkat) that stands "guard" and warns the others about predators. Marcus relayed this info to my nephew. When we got off the trail it was 11 and we were starving . Our FP were good until 12:15, so we decided to go to lunch first. We like to eat when the restaurants first open because they are usually EMPTY. Tusker House was the best!!! We usually do Pizzafari. The kids and I had the turkey wraps with grapes and corn chowder. Mike had the chicken salad and Marcus had the uncrustable -pb&j. We then walked right on to the Safari. This was the best safari yet!! When we got to the the giraffes, they were all right by the road!!!!!! They were just a few feet from us and the driver stopped, so we could get good pictures.

After the safari we decided to call it a day. It was getting even more crowded and we had to drive home. We saw Mike's friend from work on the way out and stopped to chat for a while and then it was time to leave.....

hopefully we will be back in May.....

 

[Marla Hellwig]

Thanks for the tips on doing AK - sounds like a great way to end your adventure - thanks for posting!

 

[jennymouse]

Sounds like a fun trip. I think I'll try your AK strategy next time. Twice we've been to AK and never got to Asia or Kali Rapids at all before we got hot & tired. I don't know what it is about that park that wears me out so much. I love it and want to spend lots of time there but can't seem to for some reason. Thanks for sharing, susy!

 

[susy]

I think the problem with heading to the safari first, is that it is a long ride. By the time you get off, it will have taken a half hour. And you are then pretty far from the other attractions (kali would be closest)

You can do Primeval whirl in two minutes, then Dinosaur (maybe 10 at most) and be on your way to tough to be bug - which is at the opening to dinoland. Exit left right into asia- do kali, then head to africa and get a fp for the safari. This plan is based on the assumption that you are there before opening. We were even able to do the forest trail and eat lunch right there at tusker house(restaurants open at 11) before our fp time was up, so no time was wasted at all. If we had stayed later, I would have planned my afternoon around the shows and parade, since all the rides were done. So, basically we got ALL rides (plus TTBAB), the boneyard, lunch and the pangani forest trail done by 12:30- not bad for a weekend that was supposed to be mobbed.

On our first visit, which happened to be on Veteran's Day a year ago, we did the safari first, then the Lion King show and camp minnie mickey. What a mob scene!!! We then had lunch and did the boneyard , which was crowded by this time and left at 1pm , feeling like we hadn't gotten much done at all!