Hoiw to secure a Safari ride around 5:30 pm in AK ?

[pooh2001]

I know KILIMANJARO SAFARIS rides have FP's

We would like to ride around 5:30 pm - before we eat at RFC at 7 pm.
Hoping to see some animals lateer in the day.

When should we try to get FP's for time slot around 5:30 ?
We will be at AK in June - when it is a busy time at WDW

Thanks

 

[CheshireVal]

Crowds generally start thinning out at AK late in the afternoon, probably because there isn't a ton to do there so people leave after half a day. I don't really know the answer to your FP question, but I can tell you that when I was there in June, we were able to walk right on the safari around 5pm with no line at all.

 

[shellybaxter]

I know that in the winter month the safari ride closes before 5:30 because it is getting dark. What month are you going

 

[travelin' tigger]

According to the June hours posted on wdwinfo.com, AK is open until 7pm at the beginning of the month and 8pm later in the month so you should have no problem riding. I don't know what part of June you are going, but as the month progresses, the busier it'll get - I'd get FPs as soon as you get to the park in case they run out.

HTH!!!

 

[Robo]

I'd get FPs as soon as you get to the park in case they run out.

Yes, THAT is the best solution.

What the original question asked is basically "what time should I try to PICK UP a FP with a 5:30 ride window?"

There are two answers:

1. You'd have to stand there in front of the FP Distribution area for Safari and WATCH the digital display to know for sure (NOT A GOOD SOLUTION).

2. Just pick up a FP ANYTIME earlier in that SAME DAY.
Its common knowledge that a FP can NOT be used EARLIER than the printed time window begins... BUT it CAN be used ANYTIME LATER THAT DAY (regardless of the "end time" printed).

Sooo...
Pick up your FP's to Safari early and hold on to them until your're ready to STOP THOSE POACHERS!

 

[pooh2001]

Wow - I thought FP's had to be used within the time limited printed...
How many times in the past did we just throw them away because we missed the times listed - eeek

Good fact to know about FP's - I guess I was one who did not know.
We will get a Safari FP when we arrive a little after 1 pm.

We are going at the end of June - so I think AK is open till 8pm.
We will need AK to be open that late - or we will have to taxi back to our resort after eating at RFC.

I think AK is also open late (EE night) on Monday's in late June.

 

[buckylarue]

While many people have reported using FastPasses beyond their printed expiry time, several other people have experienced/seen people being turned away because their FP's were past the time frame indicated. I would not personally recommend getting them first thing in the morning and saving them for later in the day, because I wouldn't want to risk being turned away at the entrance.

That being said, we were there the first few days of June last year, and there was less than a 10 minute wait in the standby line for the Safari in the late afternoon, so I don't think you'll even need the FP's.

 

[Robo]

While many people have reported using FastPasses beyond their printed expiry time, several other people have experienced/seen people being turned away because their FP's were past the time frame indicated.

That's not the norm.
It might happen on a ride like SOARIN' where ALL lines are filled to overflowing, so to keep things running smoother the CM's might not let "expired" FP in.
I could see this being the case with the new EE, but not for certain there either.

In virtually all other cases (including RnRC, TT, and, yes, Safari) there have been few reports (if any) of expired FP being refused by the CM's.
(In fact, quite the contrary.)

Soooo, ESPECIALLY if the Standby line is short ANYWAY... there would be ZERO problems "trying" to use the expired FP.
You'd be no worse off in any way.

Don't sweat it.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Depending on sunset, Safaris may close earlier than the rest of the park. Also, as you get closer to closing time, some animals start to become less visible, because they know when dinner time is, and they may start "gate hugging" near their exits.

 

[TnTsParty]

In June you should have no problem with the ride shutting down early due to sunset. The summer has the longest days and it doesn't get dark until close to 8PM. If you were going in the winter then I would be worried.

 

[shellybaxter]

That's not the norm.
It might happen on a ride like SOARIN' where ALL lines are filled to overflowing, so to keep things running smoother the CM's might not let "expired" FP in.
I could see this being the case with the new EE, but not for certain there either.

I'm not sure whether it is the "norm" or not, but I've seen expired Fast Passes be turned away - not at Soarin, not at Tower of Terror, but at Peter Pan. It was a family with two young children. The father looked really embarassed, but the mom was really angry. She argued with the CM for a few minutes, but the CM flat out refused to let them in so she finally walked away. Not that I think it matters, but there was a 70 minute wait.

I don't think I'd try it. I wouldn't want to get the one CM that flat out refuses to except them after their time.

As for the OPs question. I'm not sure how to get an answer. We go in low attendence seasons, so if we wanted to ride at a certain time, we would go and get a FP about an hour to an hour and a half before. I'm not sure what time to try in June though, which is higher attendence than I'm used to.

Shelly