Getting around in Animal Kingdom

[MinnieMommyof2]

I didn't post this in Transportation because I'm talking about moving around, once you're inside the park. We are going for the first time next weekend (holy crap I can't believe it!!!) and I'm trying to finalize some plans. When I look at our FPs and what lands we will be in, etc, they are SOOO far apart. We have some wiggle room in between FPs for travel, but I'm wondering if there is a train or another method of getting from land to land within this huge park, other than walking? We are young and active and don't mind pushing the stroller if that's the only option, I just thought I better ask just in case I'm missing a very handy feature. I saw the train that goes from Harambe to Rafiki but I don't think that goes from say Africa to Asia then over to Pandora. Wishful thinking perhaps? Ha!

 

[ElsasFan]

It doesn't take that long to get from land to land. Generally speaking, they are not that far apart. Pandora is a little bit of a hike, but the others feel comparable to other parks to me.

 

[only hope]

I think Rafikis planet watch is temporarily closed now, so no train. No, its just your feet. It’s basically a big circle. I would arrange my day so that there is a little to no backtracking.

 

[siren0119]

Yeah it's not nearly as bad as it feels when you're mapping things out! There isn't any transport from one part of the park to another (the train to Rafiki's literally only went from the entrance of the train to Rafiki's and back, nowhere else in the park), but as long as you maintain your bearings it's not bad, just a big circle. And if little ones get tired there's a LOT to see in between the main ride areas!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

For me/us - especially when we first started going - AK was (and I'll be honest, still is) the hardest park the navigate efficiently. We'd find ourselves criss-crossing the park a lot, even sometimes getting turned around. It took several years and multiple visits to finally have my "ah ha" moment when it comes to getting around that park.

I know that sounds sort of silly and it's really not 'that hard' - but for whatever reason that park challenged my sense of direction at first.

 

[BrianL]

For me/us - especially when we first started going - AK was the hardest park the navigate efficiently. We'd find ourselves criss-crossing the park a lot, even sometimes getting turned around. It took several years and multiple visits to finally have my "ah ha" moment when it comes to getting around that park.

I know that sounds sort of silly and it's really not 'that hard' - but for whatever reason that park challenged my sense of direction at first.

I still get turned around at AK. For some reason, I can't seem to stop envisioning Dinoland "upside-down" from what it really is.

 

[siren0119]

I still get turned around at AK. For some reason, I can't seem to stop envisioning Dinoland "upside-down" from what it really is.

LOL yep! And I always forget that Discovery Island is really the center of the park - I always imagine it's right at the entrance and forget that the path to DI is its own thing. So I also forget that each area has a bridge back to Discovery Island and end up just walking the circle lol

 

[BrianL]

LOL yep! And I always forget that Discovery Island is really the center of the park - I always imagine it's right at the entrance and forget that the path to DI is its own thing. So I also forget that each area has a bridge back to Discovery Island and end up just walking the circle lol

Yes. This is exactly how I see it. As you pass the Theater in the Wild toward Dinoland you feel like you turn back toward the center too. but you only kinda do that, then under the big dinosaur is actually South, but it feels like West to me, with the Dino Institute past that. That is not what it looks like on map. I think it is because the paths are so "wavy" there.

 

[NH-to-FL]

We are going for the first time next weekend

Wonderful! Wishing you a visit!

but I'm wondering if there is a train or another method of getting from land to land within this huge park, other than walking? We are young and active and don't mind pushing the stroller if that's the only option, I just thought I better ask just in case I'm missing a very handy feature.

Sorry, no train around the park. Grease your stroller wheels, tighten your shoelaces, and get ready to put on some miles.

Seriously, as the previous posters have noted it is not too bad. Take a few minutes to study the park map and remember that Discovery Island with the Tree of Life is the center of the park. You enter the park, walk through the Oasis and cross over the bridge to Discovery Island. Think walking up Main Street to the Castle at the Magic Kingdom.

I admit that to really explore all of the little corners of the park does take some walking as there are a lot of trails to wander. But if you are focused on going between the major attractions I haven't felt like it was too much walking.

I still get turned around at AK.

It took me a couple of visits to get my bearings but I kept studying the map and, more importantly, started to pay attention to the signs at each of the major pathway intersections and it all started to make sense.

If you look at the map of Discovery Island there is a big U shaped major pathway from which the paths to each of the four lands branch off. In addition, on the other side of the Discovery River, there is a partial circle path that connects the four lands. Once you get this basic outline in your head you won't get lost.

The park that still gets me lost is DHS.

 

[djc9699]

For me/us - especially when we first started going - AK was (and I'll be honest, still is) the hardest park the navigate efficiently. We'd find ourselves criss-crossing the park a lot, even sometimes getting turned around. It took several years and multiple visits to finally have my "ah ha" moment when it comes to getting around that park.

I know that sounds sort of silly and it's really not 'that hard' - but for whatever reason that park challenged my sense of direction at first.

I agree. We finally got our bearings for this park 2 trips ago. I am directionally challenged anyway. I think the theming is so well done it is hard to see from one land to the next and determine which direction to go.

 

[FastPasser.]

For me, AK was the most challenging park to learn. Fortunately I had a condensed pocket guide which at a glance clearly showed all of the major points of interest at AK.

 

[cassie58]

As others have mentioned, it is not as spread out as it seems, and being young and active you will be fine! I know you already have FP and possibly ADR, but if you want to share your plans for the day, we might be able to help point out some ways to navigate things that provide less backtracking.

 

[Skippyboo]

Don’t forget the MDE app on your phone has map features that will show you how to get to the various attractions the estimated time to get there. Plus stuff like restrooms too.

 

[goofyernmost]

It is a big park, but, the majority of that space is taken up by the Safari and you ride through that. It really isn't as big as far as lands are concerned as Epcot, but, it just seems bigger.

 

[kniquy]

What takes long is if there are crowds - you maybe quick and active BUT there might be slow people or a whole family blocking the entire walk way -- you get the point. The best way to plot our your park days so that you are not back tracking would be to print out maps of each park -- easy wdw has them - then with this you can visually see what rides you want to do or meals and those locations in the park. I usually try and create a flow to help limit back tracking and essentially wasting time just walking. You should do this for each park. If you can see if there are any FP available to move your plans around - obviously the impossible to get FP (FOP, SDD or 7DMT) you don't want to mess with but most other rides might have a better time slot to switch to.

 

[MinnieMommyof2]

For me/us - especially when we first started going - AK was (and I'll be honest, still is) the hardest park the navigate efficiently. We'd find ourselves criss-crossing the park a lot, even sometimes getting turned around. It took several years and multiple visits to finally have my "ah ha" moment when it comes to getting around that park.

I know that sounds sort of silly and it's really not 'that hard' - but for whatever reason that park challenged my sense of direction at first.

That’s what I’m afraid of- wasting time with a double stroller back tracking. Ahh!!

 

[MinnieMommyof2]

As others have mentioned, it is not as spread out as it seems, and being young and active you will be fine! I know you already have FP and possibly ADR, but if you want to share your plans for the day, we might be able to help point out some ways to navigate things that provide less backtracking.

I will do that below. Thank you!! Great tip.

 

[MinnieMommyof2]

Don’t forget the MDE app on your phone has map features that will show you how to get to the various attractions the estimated time to get there. Plus stuff like restrooms too.

Oh I didn’t realize it gave you estimates travel times! That’s great! That will be a big help!

 

[MinnieMommyof2]

What takes long is if there are crowds - you maybe quick and active BUT there might be slow people or a whole family blocking the entire walk way -- you get the point. The best way to plot our your park days so that you are not back tracking would be to print out maps of each park -- easy wdw has them - then with this you can visually see what rides you want to do or meals and those locations in the park. I usually try and create a flow to help limit back tracking and essentially wasting time just walking. You should do this for each park. If you can see if there are any FP available to move your plans around - obviously the impossible to get FP (FOP, SDD or 7DMT) you don't want to mess with but most other rides might have a better time slot to switch to.

Thank you. Yes, I’ve been thinking about factoring in large crowds and not being able to walk at maybe a certain “Speed” and of course we’ll be at the mercy of the little ladies (5 and 2) so there will be little hiccups im sure- but initially looking at that big map (probably including the safari like PP said) it was very overwhelming.
I don’t want to leave the park at the end of the day feeling like we missed so much because we were going back and forth l.
All of the feedback and input here has been so helpful and has made me feel better about our AK day!

 

[unrequited23]

Not sure if you have checked this out yet, but touring plans has a free section where you can make your own personalized plans. It gives an estimate of how many minutes it takes to walk between attractions and you can adjust walking speed. We found the level just below moderate to be accurate for traveling with a stroller and two kids that walked part of the time too.