Getting things done at AK morning without FP+

[starryagain]

We are planning on doing a split day of AK and Epcot in mid-September (both recommended parks on the date in question). We wanted to do morning at AK where there is a morning EMH (we are early risers with a toddler), then take a break at the AKL where we are staying, and then return to Epcot around 4 and use our FP+ there.

Like I said, we have a toddler but we also have grandparents tagging along to help, yet we still move slower than a family with older children. Should we be able to get most of the headliners at AK done with minimal waits in the morning utilizing EMH? I think our big ones would be the Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, and Primeval Whirl. Potentially Kali if it is hot...

We will have a "free" park day later in the week to make up anything we want to go back to if this plan seems reasonable. We have never been to AK before.

 

[HM]

We did AK in December without FP (saved them for later at MK).
We only wanted to do Safari, EE, Dinosaur, and Bugs Life and a lunch ADR at Yak & Yeti. We had no problem getting them all done without FP and without long lines. We got to the park just after it opened.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We are planning on doing a split day of AK and Epcot in mid-September (both recommended parks on the date in question). We wanted to do morning at AK where there is a morning EMH (we are early risers with a toddler), then take a break at the AKL where we are staying, and then return to Epcot around 4 and use our FP+ there.

Like I said, we have a toddler but we also have grandparents tagging along to help, yet we still move slower than a family with older children. Should we be able to get most of the headliners at AK done with minimal waits in the morning utilizing EMH? I think our big ones would be the Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, and Primeval Whirl. Potentially Kali if it is hot...

We will have a "free" park day later in the week to make up anything we want to go back to if this plan seems reasonable. We have never been to AK before.

Do the Safari first. The lines at EE are usually not as bad as Safari and you can always use the single rider line. Dinosaur and PW usually do not have long lines either. I think the hardest thing to ride without FP+ might be Kali River Rapids if it's hot. It will have a shorter line earlier in the morning, but I like to ride KRR last since I don't like walking around wet.

 

[shyjade]

Do the Safari first. The lines at EE are usually not as bad as Safari and you can always use the single rider line. Dinosaur and PW usually do not have long lines either. I think the hardest thing to ride without FP+ might be Kali River Rapids if it's hot. It will have a shorter line earlier in the morning, but I like to ride KRR last since I don't like walking around wet.

This is the same advice I was going to give...and the same advice I follow for my family.

 

[bdtracey]

Agreed. Our usual route is Safari, EE, Dinosaur, Triceratop Spin, Kali, bugs life. We can usually get all of that in before lunch and then we peel out of there. On the flip side we have also shown up at 3pm to catch the 3:45 parade and then enjoyed a relativeliy empty park as most people leave right after.

 

[lugnut33]

Be to the park about 20 mins. before rope drop, head to Kilimanjaro Safaris first, then Exp. Everest, then Dino, then Prim. Whiirl. After that your day is free to take in the shows. Definitely check out Flights of Wonder, It Tough to be a Bug, Nemo, and don't miss Fest. of the Lion King.

Ride Kali River last just before you leave if you want to because there's a good chance you'll get soaked.

 

[MrsDuck]

We've found that if we are at AK for rope drop we can get everything we want aside from maybe both shows and Kali done in the morning.

We hit the safari first, then EE, then Dinosaur. Anything after that is icing on the cake.

 

[lugnut33]

Oh, if you have somebody in your party who wants to ride EE more than once, have them go in the Single Rider line. It's normally less than 20 minutes at any time during the day.

 

[ZoZo]

Oh, if you have somebody in your party who wants to ride EE more than once, have them go in the Single Rider line. It's normally less than 20 minutes at any time during the day.

Actually, since the OP is going in mid-September, the single rider line for EE should be a walk-on. I went the last week of February (also a slow week, just like mid-September) and rode three times in a row SRL with no wait at all. I was the only one in the SRL each time!

And OP, in mid-September, you can almost be guaranteed that it will be hot enough for Kali! September is usually very hot and humid - it would be very unusual for it to be cool enough that you wouldn't want to go on Kali.

PS - right now, the Festival of the Lion King show is closed. I don't think there's any plan to reopen it any time in the near future, so that show probably won't be available when you go. Also, I think they have discontinued the Jammin' Jungle parade, too.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Actually, since the OP is going in mid-September, the single rider line for EE should be a walk-on. I went the last week of February (also a slow week, just like mid-September) and rode three times in a row SRL with no wait at all. I was the only one in the SRL each time!

And OP, in mid-September, you can almost be guaranteed that it will be hot enough for Kali! September is usually very hot and humid - it would be very unusual for it to be cool enough that you wouldn't want to go on Kali.

PS - right now, the Festival of the Lion King show is closed. I don't think there's any plan to reopen it any time in the near future, so that show probably won't be available when you go. Also, I think they have discontinued the Jammin' Jungle parade, too.

FOTLK should be open again by then, but the parade is gone. It's not talked about a lot, but the Boneyard in Dinoland is a must do for my kids too.

 

[starryagain]

Thanks so much for the replies! Sounds like a very doable plan is the Safari as a family then divert a grandparent off with the toddler for the Boneyard while the rest of us ride EE, Dinosaur, and Primeval Whirl. We will wait and see about Kali based on our desire to get wet or not

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We are planning on doing a split day of AK and Epcot in mid-September (both recommended parks on the date in question). We wanted to do morning at AK where there is a morning EMH (we are early risers with a toddler), then take a break at the AKL where we are staying, and then return to Epcot around 4 and use our FP+ there.

Like I said, we have a toddler but we also have grandparents tagging along to help, yet we still move slower than a family with older children. Should we be able to get most of the headliners at AK done with minimal waits in the morning utilizing EMH? I think our big ones would be the Safari, Everest, Dinosaur, and Primeval Whirl. Potentially Kali if it is hot...

We will have a "free" park day later in the week to make up anything we want to go back to if this plan seems reasonable. We have never been to AK before.

You should be fine. We love AK. It's a great park to NOT be rushed.... I would ask grandparents to enjoy some things with your toddler -- plenty to see just walking around and watching the animal exhibits. But DS enjoyed Kilmanjaro Safari at age 3, not sure how old your toddler is. It's a bumpy ride in the truck but not too bad... and wonderful to see the animals. We always found crowds at AK to be very low until around 11:30-12noon when everyone rolls in.

 

[JeremysDisney]

Great post!