Does this seem doable? AK plan with husband arriving later

[redheadk]

We are glomming onto my husband's conference in early October and plan to visit AK on his last conference day (a half day). DD (6) and I will arrive at AK around 10:30; we are doing the MK Fireworks Dessert Party the night before and she is not an early riser, so hoping to do a later start. There are a few things DH wants to do with us so I'm trying to plan in a way that means we aren't backtracking needlessly but hitting the timing so that he can do the things he wants to do with us.

We last went to WDW when DD was 2, so the trip was very different, especially in AK. She will do some rides now but none of the big ones like EE and definitely will not do FOP, so we will be skipping that since DH and I don't care enough to do it one at a time.

Arrive by 10:30

Meet Mickey & Minnie with a FP+ (11am-12pm window)
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Pocahontas (ends at 1:10?)

Triceratop Spin
Dinosaur
Boneyard (skippable but if we have time)

Lunch at Flame Tree BBQ

Up! A Great Bird Adventure (1:30-1:50)

Train to Rafiki's Planet Watch (Planet Watch area skippable if we are running behind, we will do trails instead)
Doc McStuffins
Conservation Station
Train back to Africa

(DH ARRIVES AROUND 3:00)

Kilamanjaro Safaris with a FP+ (3:45-4:45 window, arrive at beginning of window)

FOTLK (5:00-5:30 show)

Dinner at Satuli Canteen

Na'vi River Journey with a FP+ (7-8pm window)


I'm definitely concerned about making it to FOTLK to get in line by 4:45 but figure we can each the atmosphere and get a drink if we are just running too late then catch the 6:00 show, doing Na'vi towards the end of our FP window.



Any thoughts or advice is appreciated! I'm much better with timing the other parks but I'm at a loss on how long to allow for everything at AK. We mainly just did animal stuff last time plus FOTLK and the safari because DD was too small/timid for everything else.

 

[Alesia]

Are you sure about Dinosaur? That ride scared the absolute crap out of my daughter when she was 9. She was definitely not a timid child. It is the only ride that ever scared her.

 

[redheadk]

Then definitely no on Dinosaur! She isn't nearly as timid now at 6 but I didn't realize it was scary. We will cross that off the list.

 

[deedeezee]

The only thing I would say is that looks like a pretty long day. For some reason, AK wipes our family out (adults and kids!), so be prepared to adjust as necessary and perhaps cut the day shorter than expected. And agreed on Dinosaur, scared my DD (but DS loved it, go figure).

 

[MomOTwins]

Any reason you skipped Kali River Rapids? My twins are 6 and they are obsessed with it.

Just FYI, UP is an outdoor show, so 1:30pm sounds like a brutal time to see it. Maybe you should switch and do tough to be a bug then, and UP shortly after you arrive.

 

[annadreamsofdisneyworld]

To me it seems overly ambitious. I don't know if you'll be able to fit everything in. Sometimes you even have to wait a while to go through the fastpass line. I feel like your 10:30-1:30 time seems tight. Just be prepared to skip something if necessary. Also I would suggest definitely doing the boneyard. My kids do much better at the parks all day if they have time to freely run around, which the play areas provide. We went to the Boneyard twice in the same day last time because my kids liked it so much!

 

[erinch]

Have you seen ITTBB?

Will she be okay with the spiders?

If it were me, I would take more of a break, and eat at Tusker House, amd see some characters.

What about Nemo? My kids adored that show.

 

[gharter]

I would rethink dinosaur. Watch the videos of the new bird show. Personally, I would skip it and do Nemo instead ( amuch better show).
When our kids were young, they loved the boneyard. I wouldn't skip it, it is shaded and can be a fun break for both of you.

 

[redheadk]

Well, now DH has said the only thing he wants to do is the bird show that we did last time then head over to Epcot around 5. Which is ok with me but I'm going to have to really think about what we really want to do and drop some things. I think I need to decide our must-dos, schedule those, then do what we can around it. Pocahontas, the Safari, FOTLK, the bird show, and (I guess, though I'm not sold on it) Na'vi are our only must-dos for the park.

DD doesn't care about half the characters and this will be our 6th day at WDW so we'll have met most of who we want to meet by the time we hit AK.

 

[redheadk]

No Kali River Rapids, I have no interest in being soaked or walking around with my hair looking insane (and it will...think Merida) if it gets all wet.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

No Kali River Rapids, I have no interest in being soaked or walking around with my hair looking insane (and it will...think Merida) if it gets all wet.

If it matters, I rode Kali River with my 4 year old son a few weeks ago. He loved it, and I thought the splashes had really been toned down. I was fully expecting to get soaking wet and leave the park right after (it was our last fast pass before a planned break). I hadn’t ridden since 2015, but I remember getting completely soaked, and this year it didn’t seem like anyone on our raft got more than a light splash.

 

[gharter]

Depending on when you went last, they changed the bird show in April 2018. Watch it online to see if you want to do it. I have not seen it, but reviews so far have not been good. You may have a different opinion. Reports are more host dialogue and less birds.

 

[Tiggerish]

Just so your husband knows, the current bird show is different than the one he saw before.

 

[WDWAurora]

Are you sure about skipping FOP? My almost 6yo son who freaked out (as in I had to carry his crying self out) at Soarin’ LOVED it. Immediately asked to ride again. Now, he got braver and rode Soarin’ on our last day, but FOP he didn’t really have much anxiety over and just really enjoyed.

 

[Thing 1]

I think your original plan looked just fine except for dinosaur for a timid child. It’s very scary. We plan very detailed and I think it allows you to do sooo much more. Just know your park well enough that you can easily make adjustments if you need to.

 

[maccagerl]

The bird show has changed- it's a whole new show. The old one was much much better. I saw the new show last month and was ready to leave 1/2 way through it - I stayed to the end but will definitely not be going back.

 

[redheadk]

If it matters, I rode Kali River with my 4 year old son a few weeks ago. He loved it, and I thought the splashes had really been toned down. I was fully expecting to get soaking wet and leave the park right after (it was our last fast pass before a planned break). I hadn’t ridden since 2015, but I remember getting completely soaked, and this year it didn’t seem like anyone on our raft got more than a light splash.

Oh, that's good to know. We may check it out from the bridge or the exit to see how wet people are and try for a FP if we have time.

 

[redheadk]

Are you sure about skipping FOP? My almost 6yo son who freaked out (as in I had to carry his crying self out) at Soarin’ LOVED it. Immediately asked to ride again. Now, he got braver and rode Soarin’ on our last day, but FOP he didn’t really have much anxiety over and just really enjoyed.

I'm not sure but the hard thing is that I won't really know until we get there. Sometimes we go to something and she's ALL about the rides and rollercoasters and then other times she's just not into it. I did just look at a Youtube video and it appears I could hold her hand if necessary?

 

[redheadk]

Updated tentative plan:

Arrive at AK by 10.
10:30ish FP+ for FOP or Na'vi
Pocahontas
In Dinoland by 12 (Pluto, Goofy, Triceratop Spin, Boneyard)
Late lunch at Flame Tree, finish eating by 2:30
3:00 FP+ for FOTLK
3:30-4:30ish FP+ for Safari (not ideal for animal viewing but that's the earliest DH can arrive, DD and I will arrive closer to the middle/end of the window)
5:00 Up! A great bird adventure

 

[WDWAurora]

I'm not sure but the hard thing is that I won't really know until we get there. Sometimes we go to something and she's ALL about the rides and rollercoasters and then other times she's just not into it. I did just look at a Youtube video and it appears I could hold her hand if necessary?

Mine preferred to hold on, and I held his arm the first time. Holding on to the ride makes him feel more secure, but it was definitely possible to hold hands. You would stand a better chance of walking on Na’vi River Journey than FOP, if that helps the fp decision.