Hours adjusted for Wilderness Explorers at AK

[rteetz]

Wilderness Explorers Operating Hours to Be Adjusted at Animal Kingdom

"Guests visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom should be aware that all the Wilderness Explorers activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting June 2, 2019. In the past, Guests were able to enjoy this interactive adventure starting from 9 a.m. on select dates (including from May 24 -June 1, 2019)."

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Bummer. We liked hitting WE right away on our way in. Made the flow of touring work well.

 

[ErinAlb]

That's a bummer. I was really excited about this. My daughter is a big NPS Junior Ranger collector, so this seemed right up her alley. And this was kind of our Animal Kingdom Plan B if late buses/unforeseen crowds/unknown October attraction schedules/poor FPs/delayed ADRs flummoxed our itinerary. Well OK, more like Plan Q, factoring in all the contingency plans for the aforementioned variables.

But with these 7 a.m. EMHs, a lot of our time to do the activities will be before they're available, unless we backtrack all over the park. All the shows begin at 10 a.m., too, which is probably all the kids will have energy for after getting to a bus stop by 6 a.m. (4 a.m. for us with time change) to make that early EMH.

Oh, well.

 

[cyclonemama]

I’m disappointed in change of times. I was planning on doing it for the first time, but like the previous poster said it means backtracking to certain stations when you hit early morning attractions. It’s disruptive to a touring plan.

 

[ErinAlb]

I don't know what all is in the activities — but is it possible to get ahold of the booklets before we arrive at the park and do the activities as we go? Then we could swing by the "ranger stations" later to pick up the stickers. Or do we need cast member "rangers" on duty to even do the activities? NPS Junior Ranger has stuff like nature scavenger hunt/bingo worksheets or "draw an 'X' on the people in this picture who are doing things that could hurt wildlife." We could do those kinds of activities without a cast member.

I'd be happy to swing by the AK gate on my first night if a cast member could provide a booklet for me so we can do activities from 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. But, like, I don't want to repeat the Gorilla Trail during our one day at AK just to get an Explorer badge.

If it's a staffing issue, maybe they could make more of the tasks more independent, so you can do them from what you learn in the park. This just seems like such a low-investment, high-reward attraction when you have all these animals and habitats RIGHT THERE.

 

[mshanson3121]

Wilderness Explorers Operating Hours to Be Adjusted at Animal Kingdom

"Guests visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom should be aware that all the Wilderness Explorers activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily starting June 2, 2019. In the past, Guests were able to enjoy this interactive adventure starting from 9 a.m. on select dates (including from May 24 -June 1, 2019)."

Yes, this was in place last week. And honestly, it pretty much ruined WE for us. By the time they opened we were at the back of the park and didn't want to backtrack. When we did make our way back there, it had a long line up. So we signed up when we came back from our afternoon break, but then they only had an hour before it ended, so they only got 2 badges.

It would be nice if they would have multiple sign up locations, or even move it more towards the back, where most people/activities are.

 

[ErinAlb]

Yes, this was in place last week. And honestly, it pretty much ruined WE for us. By the time they opened we were at the back of the park and didn't want to backtrack. When we did make our way back there, it had a long line up. So we signed up when we came back from our afternoon break, but then they only had an hour before it ended, so they only got 2 badges.

It would be nice if they would have multiple sign up locations, or even move it more towards the back, where most people/activities are.

If we can get ahold of the book ahead of time, are any of the activities doable without the cast members?

 

[mshanson3121]

If we can get ahold of the book ahead of time, are any of the activities doable without the cast members?

No, as you get the completion stickers from the CMs. They're not activities as much as seeing certain animals/stations, then talking to a CM to learn, then you're given a sticker.