How crowded is AK on extended evening hours?

[maryj11]

Trying figure out some plans. If Disney has extended evening hours the same day in November as last year it may fall on a day we are there. For anyone who has been to AK for extended evening hours how were the crowds during the day and at the event?

 

[BillFromCT]

Trying figure out some plans. If Disney has extended evening hours the same day in November as last year it may fall on a day we are there. For anyone who has been to AK for extended evening hours how were the crowds during the day and at the event?

The problem with extended evening hours at AK is that there are only 4 attractions open (Everest, Dinosaur, FOP, and NRJ). Everest and Dinosaur are walk ons before extended hours even start. Everyone that's there gets in line for FOP. Everyone. You end up with a 45/50 minute wait.

 

[kylenne]

The problem with extended evening hours at AK is that there are only 4 attractions open (Everest, Dinosaur, FOP, and NRJ). Everest and Dinosaur are walk ons before extended hours even start. Everyone that's there gets in line for FOP. Everyone. You end up with a 45/50 minute wait.

None of this is actually a problem unless you’re one of the silly people who beelines for FOP at the beginning of it. And tbqh it's always a bad idea to beeline for the headliners at the start of EEH regardless of which park you’re at if only because day guests who jumped in line just before park close are still cycling through (Epcot is the exception because those waits are elevated basically all night). The sweet spot if you want the absolute shortest wait for them ime is about halfway through the evening. You beat that initial rush of people but you miss the people saving it for last. Though saving it for last isn’t bad.

AK is almost always a ghost town in the afternoons because the overwhelming majority of people rope drop it and then leave midday. That doesn’t change on EEH days. I attended the first AK EEH this summer, I hopped over from Epcot and got there at exactly 6pm and it was basically dead. Everyone was at FoP so I did Everest back to back walk ons (could have done it 3 times but physically I couldn’t), Dinosaur x 2, then ended the night at Pandora with NRJ and FOP. At one point at around 7pm FOP was a posted 15 minute wait. It was posted 35 by the time I ended up there at the end of the night, but in reality it was like a 10 minute wait if that. FOP’s wait times drop precipitously after the first 30-45 minutes I suspect not just because of the day guests cycling out, but I think folk get into their heads that they’re going to ride FOP over and over again all night but realize it’s not feasible after the first time because of how long the preshow is, so they go do other things after that.

Personally, I think EEH at AK is actually better than Epcot’s from a time saving perspective. At the moment there’s only 4 rides, but they’re all very reliable ones with high capacity. I also suspect that people take a look at the short hours and lack of attractions compared to MK and think AK EEH isn’t “worth it”, and don’t bother. Which is a mistake, but one I was happy to take advantage of. I actually got more done at AK EEH the other week than I did at MK EEH in May, and that was down to crowds. The other benefit for AK EEH is that the park is just more pleasant to walk around in the early evening than during the day.

 

[japanese maple]

We loved our extra hours at AK last year! We rode Everest, Navi and Dinosaur and then spent the rest of time walking around a pretty empty park, just really looking at the details and taking it all in.

It's a great time to marvel at an amazing park and take pictures with hardly anyone around!

 

[kylenne]

We loved our extra hours at AK last year! We rode Everest, Navi and Dinosaur and then spent the rest of time walking around a pretty empty park, just really looking at the details and taking it all in.

It's a great time to marvel at an amazing park and take pictures with hardly anyone around!

This is a super underrated thing, I think. I got some amazing pics with lands near deserted. Even with all the rides I got in I was still able to slow down and really appreciate the details with so few people around.

 

[PoppyJ]

We were there in July for EEH at AK. We got there around 5ish. Had dinner at Flame Tree. Went to Nomad Lounge right before 6. They let us sit at the bar to order churros.

We left Nomad Lounge maybe around 6:30 pm. Went straight to Navi River, walked on. From there, we went to Avatar. The line stopped right where you are assigned to a room. We waited maybe 10 minutes to be assigned.

Then we rode Everest, walk on, and Dinosaur, walk on. We were done well before 8. I thought it was a great value for not having to pay for a LL for Avatar and not having to rope drop it (not a morning person).

 

[maryj11]

We were there in July for EEH at AK. We got there around 5ish. Had dinner at Flame Tree. Went to Nomad Lounge right before 6. They let us sit at the bar to order churros.

We left Nomad Lounge maybe around 6:30 pm. Went straight to Navi River, walked on. From there, we went to Avatar. The line stopped right where you are assigned to a room. We waited maybe 10 minutes to be assigned.

Then we rode Everest, walk on, and Dinosaur, walk on. We were done well before 8. I thought it was a great value for not having to pay for a LL for Avatar and not having to rope drop it (not a morning person).

Sounds great! Wonder if it will be the same in November

 

[Simba's Mom]

Pandora is absolutely amazing after dark! It's so sad that they spent all that money on the beautiful luminous features when 99% of the time the park closes before it's dark. One of the reasons I go to Disney in late January or early February is the hope that AK will be open until 7:00 at least one night. With early sunset, I'll get at least 1/2 hour of Pandora after dark.

 

[Mtraynom]

We did EEH the first week of December 2023, and it was a ghost town. We walked from Yak and Yeti to Pandora, and didn't see another person until we got to Pandora, which is where most people congregate. Pandora is beautiful at night, it's a shame it isn't open later more often.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Pandora is absolutely amazing after dark! It's so sad that they spent all that money on the beautiful luminous features when 99% of the time the park closes before it's dark. One of the reasons I go to Disney in late January or early February is the hope that AK will be open until 7:00 at least one night. With early sunset, I'll get at least 1/2 hour of Pandora after dark.

AK after dark in Jan/Feb is something we need to keep secret!!! Pandora at night and the projections on the Tree of Life are amazing!

 

[Simba's Mom]

AK after dark in Jan/Feb is something we need to keep secret!!! Pandora at night and the projections on the Tree of Life are amazing!