Help me pick an AK touring plan!

[Neverbeast]

Planning a first time trip for mid sept, our first day is AK. Me, DH, my mom, 6yo and 2.75yo dds.

My DH isn't excited about going so I'd love day one to be smooth and stress free As possible so we can get off on a good foot BUT of course I couldn't get a good time for FoP FP so my original plan might not work. Help me decide!

We're planning to use rider swap, so I assume each of our FP might take us around 45 mins to get both groups through.

Option 1: the clock wise path!
Pandora
- grab some breakfast pods
- 9:30 FP for NRJ for nana and toddler
- try to move FP FoP for others to morning or rope drop it (is that even possible to get an early am one at this point? Is it going to be more stressful to start the day with a wait or rope drop pushing than just changing the plan?!?!) this is really the problem point...

Africa
- explore trails
- maybe train to see animal vets
- 12:10 Tusker House
- 1:30 FP safari for everyone
-maybe 3pm lion king?

Asia
- 3:20FP for kali river (w/rider swap)
- 4:30 FP for Everest (w/rider swap)
-trails for whoever is waiting for rider swap

Dinoland
-boneyard
-maybe triceratops spin?

7:30 Grab dinner from flame tree and some drinks and head to dining package seating for RoL at 8:45

.....OR.....


Option 2: criss cross
Dinoland (AM)
- Boneyard before it's too hot
- Dinosaur for grown ups on standby w/riderswap while kids boneyard
- Triceratops spin

Africa (early afternoon)
- same as above
Asia (late afternoon)
- same as above

5:30 head to Pandora (evening)
- standby for NRJ all together
- 6:30 FP for FoP w rider swap
- grab dinner and drinks and head all the way back to RoL

Thoughts on whether there's any chance I'll pull off a FoP am FP to make option 1 possible? Or is option 2 just too much evening walking for hot tired family?

Other things I'm overlooking?

 

[Danimal]

Clockwise path will be WAY less stressful than running pell mell all over the park. If you're hoping for your DH to be as lightly stressed as possible, I'd plan on following that route. That being said, a couple of thoughts:

--Not sure how early in the window you want to hit that 9:30 FP, but grabbing breakfast in the park will push your time on the ride past 10 AM, depending on how close to rope drop you plan on hitting the park.

--Look into the showtimes for Flight of Wonder. I took my 7 year old, 5 year old, and 2 year old to AK a couple of years back and it is still the thing from the park they talk about the most. Super fun for kids and adults!

--The park does seem to get hotter than the other Disney parks. Plan a couple of shows during the day to give everyone's feet a break. Lion King is amazing as well.

--Even with Rider Swap I'd plan on closer to a half an hour for each FP ride you use it on. The Boneyard might actually be a great place to park your kids while the adults hit EE. It's not a terrible hike and will keep your kids happy and entertained.

Have fun!!!!!

 

[rangerxenos]

Another recommendation for Flights of Wonder, it's a must do for us each trip.

 

[JackOliva07013]

My kids would not "survive" full day in the park especially AK where its "hot" - I would do 1/2 day and pick my battle - either morning or evening. My kids are 7 and 5.

 

[Neverbeast]

My kids would not "survive" full day in the park especially AK where its "hot" - I would do 1/2 day and pick my battle - either morning or evening. My kids are 7 and 5.

So maybe just start the day with our tusker house lunch at noon and do the pandora rides in the evening and skip dinoland?

We're doing a split stay and it's also our move day, so we'll probably be room-less from 11-3 so no naps and pool option that day.

 

[Cinderella94]

So maybe just start the day with our tusker house lunch at noon and do the pandora rides in the evening and skip dinoland?

We're doing a split stay and it's also our move day, so we'll probably be room-less from 11-3 so no naps and pool option that day.

This isn't what you asked and may not be possible with your plan, but I'll throw my $.02 in since you mentioned it.We are big fans of split stays. We always make them a non-park day. We wake up, check out of resort 1, go to resort 2, leave our carry on bags with bell services (we let Disney move our checked bags entirely) and spend all day by the pool at resort 2. Very relaxing, no stress. We are rope drop people and trying to go to a park after checking out of our first resort would be very stressful and the timing wouldn't work with how we do our park days. Just another option to consider

 

[JackOliva07013]

for our August trip - I decided to start at AK around 3pm with early dinner. than FP for 3 rides and 1-2 shows.

We did AK 2 yrs ago with kids being 5 and 3 during May trip and honestly by 1pm - we were all tired from the heat and humidity. right after Nemo show at noon we went back to the hotel and we did rope drop.

I know its easier on some of us to comment since its not our first trip and its not like we must do "all" rides - to be honest we plan so we all have good times. tired kids are miserable to deal with. I want no tantrums. and if I have to give up 1-2 rides or 1-2 shows - so be it. I would rather have everyone smile.

Epcot is another park where you have plan in a smart way with kids.

So maybe just start the day with our tusker house lunch at noon and do the pandora rides in the evening and skip dinoland?

We're doing a split stay and it's also our move day, so we'll probably be room-less from 11-3 so no naps and pool option that day.

 

[Neverbeast]

I hear that. no one likes a cranky husband either... that's my main consideration in trying to have a well planned first day.

I was hoping since we'll have a whole down day at resort 1 the day before and it's our first day in the parks and first trip energy that we could do a little more, but it's good to hear a reality check! We do have afternoon rests planned every other day and two other est days planned in.

Since I can't change park days or split stay choices at this stage, what if we sleep in and at 1st resort and swim, hit tusker house at noon, try to do mostly shows in the afternoon and be open to skipping RoL and heading to 2nd resort earlier?

 

[Disneybiginner]

I hear that. no one likes a cranky husband either... that's my main consideration in trying to have a well planned first day.

I was hoping since we'll have a whole down day at resort 1 the day before and it's our first day in the parks and first trip energy that we could do a little more, but it's good to hear a reality check! We do have afternoon rests planned every other day and two other est days planned in.

Since I can't change park days or split stay choices at this stage, what if we sleep in and at 1st resort and swim, hit tusker house at noon, try to do mostly shows in the afternoon and be open to skipping RoL and heading to 2nd resort earlier?

IMHO, as long as you have low expectations and not planning to do them all, you will be fine. We are the first timer as well, I have heard how awesome the pandora is, how great the ROL is, how fun the shows are, however, with 2 little kids, it is tough to do them all. We plan to do so, but won't be terribly disappointed if we only see pandora at night, miss out ROL, or only see one show. To us, what we haven't done this trip will be the reason to plan next one. The bottom line, don't stress out, be flexible, go with the flow, and have a wonderful time!