FP+ needed for Safari to make 1st FOTLK show?

[Kanga&TwoRoos]

I'm wondering if our group will be able to make it through Kilimanjaro Safari at rope drop in time for the first FOTLK show.

Should we get Safari Fastpasses to be safe or is it pretty easy to get through quickly without them?

We are a group of 9 including two toddlers. My MIL has a bad knee so I'm trying to minimize walking.

 

[MNDisneyMommy]

We tried to do early breakfast at Tusker, then Safari with no FP, and then FOTLK. We didn't make it to FOTLK but that was mostly because Tusker took WAY too long (group of 10, two sets of grandparents and two under 4s). We didn't exit together, we had to wait for some restroom trips, then the 1 year old got super excited about the drummers, so we waited for that, and by the time we got in line it had to be at least 30 minutes post-drop. It was our first morning and my first chance to remind myself it would be different with a big group and to just relax!

I wish I had FP Safari because we did end up waiting in line quite a bit, probably another 15-20 minutes. (and don't forget it's a 20 minute ride too). It's not like there are lots of competing demands on your FP allocation so I could have done it and still gotten the big ones for thrill riders (Everest, Dinosaur).

I think without the breakfast we would have possibly made it - but the other thing I didn't expect was that it was the first time there for some people, so they wanted to take pictures, and then see everything on the entire walk up...which is a long walk....so - is your group REALLY going to be waiting there early, and then walk briskly directly to the ride at rope drop or not? Will they want a nice pic at the base of the tree, then maybe to watch a few of the birds on the walk up, and then slow down to look back at the tree as they cross the bridge...ooh, is that Everest? You get the drift.

Given your group composition - depending on how new people are - I'd probably get it. It's a highlight of the park and one of the few things your entire group will be able to do. And its not like you need to save FP for other things there...

 

[BigAlsGal]

We did AK rope drop. Went straight to safari. After we got off stopped at dawa bar and enjoyed a Bloody Mary and had plenty of time to get to FotLK. That was a 9am rope drop with 10:00 FotLK.

 

[Kanga&TwoRoos]

Thanks for the responses. I guess we'll have to figure out our touring style.

 

[NH-to-FL]

Be at the AK entrance before 8:30am. Earlier is better as it gets you closer to the front of the line. We are usually there around 8:15. They have been dropping the rope between 8:30 and 8:40am. Head towards Africa where they will hold the crowd with a line of CM's at the Tree of Life until about 8:50am. If you are near the front of this line you might get a chance to chat with the CM's. After a brief welcome show you will then walk behind the cast members up into Africa. There is occasionally a short wait at the entrance to the Safari until just before 9am when they start letting folks into the que.

Depending on how close you are to the start of the line and how long your safari takes you might even have a chance for a quick walk through the Pangani trail after your Safari before heading over to the FoLK.

If you want to minimize the walking for your MIL, then head right from the safari to the standby line for the show.

This has always worked for us.

 

[g-dad66]

I don't think you need rope drop FP+ for Safari. We have done Safari at rope drop, followed by 10:00 Lion King show, more than once, and it has always worked out. And that was when the Lion King theatre was a lot farther from the Safari than it is now.

In fact, once I even ran for Everest FP- (remember the old-fashioned paper variety?) between the Safari and the Lion King show. Just barely made that one. It was not a great idea....but it did work.