Helping planning one day at AK please :)

[mom2mikel]

We are going to AK for the first time in several years on our upcoming May trip. We will be going on a normal day (non early entry). Which rides should we use our fastpasses on and how long in between should we schedule them? I was thinking Yeti, Safari and FOP. Are general lines normally pretty long for other rides like Dinosaur and the rapids? Is there a better path we should follow (ie - go left or right at entrance)?

It's been so long!!

Thanks!

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Just checking- by "Yeti" you mean Expedition Everest? Also has your FP booking window opened already?

I would FP Expedition Everest, Safari, and FoP. The timing depends on what else you want to do. Same with heading left or right at the entrance.

Kali River Rapids has shorter waits in the morning and then they tend to get longer in the afternoon so if that's a must-do, I would go when it opens (it seems to be opening at 10 when the park opens at 9, check the schedule for the day you're going) but then you are walking around wet, so that's something to consider.

I've usually been able to get Dinosaur as a 4th FP, or ride with a 20 minute standby time. I usually plan for a 45 minute wait for anything I may have to ride standby after 11 AM and then I can only be pleasantly surprised when it's shorter than that.

Which path depends on what you want to do first.

 

[gharter]

Do you plan to be there for RD? That has an impact on what you plan as well as what FPs you can get.
I would get FoP, if you can't, then Navi.
Then I would also have safari and EE as the other FPs. Most everything else can be gotten the day of as extra FPs.
During the afternoon, Dinosaur and Kali are usually under 30 minutes. Safari and EE will get long. FoP and Navi will easily be 120+ minutes.

 

[Sara_H]

When we went to had FPs for FoP, Safari and Everest. We got to the park and they let people into Pandora about 30-40 minutes before park opening. The masses ran to FoP but since we had a later fastpass, we walked right onto Na'vi (I was disappointed but we didn't wait in line at all so no big deal). From there we walked around Pandora a little, then headed over to Dinosaur and rode that twice with no line. We then rode the Dumbo-like ride in the dino area twice, then Primeval Whirl at least twice before heading over to Everest which we rode twice, once with a FP and once by waiting in line for 20 minutes.

 

[mom2mikel]

Thanks for the replies! Haha...yeah I don't know why I call EE by "Yeti" - it's something that has just stuck in our family for years!

Right now, we are planning on Tuesday May 21st, so our window hasn't opened yet since we are staying off site. We will definitely be there at RD, unless we can't get a FP for FOP -- then we may try to get there an hour or so before park opening in the hopes we can get in/on early!

Can't wait!

Thanks again

 

[b5sgqueen]

FOP will not be aviable when your window opens up. I

 

[b5sgqueen]

I would look for FP for safari, EE, and RJ.

 

[mom2mikel]

Thanks! So I'm guessing we'll plan to arrive extra early to the park that day!

 

[dragonfly57005]

FOP will not be aviable when your window opens up. I

Why do you say that?

I just booked my fast passes - and I was able to get one FOP.

 

[b5sgqueen]

Why do you say that?

I just booked my fast passes - and I was able to get one FOP.

OP is staying off site so her window won't open until 30 days beforehand. At that point, FOP won't be available. It's possible that keeping watch will open something up, but they will all have been taken at 30 days.

Do you have a 60 window? If not, you got extremely lucky!

 

[GeneralTso]

FOP opens up a lot. Don't worry. We've checked and got same day FP for it.
I read a lot here about people not getting FP for duration of their stays, but stuff does shift. Keep checking.