How do YOU tour AK?

[3littlecuties]

Every time we go to AK, I think "this is my least favorite park" and I think that has to do with the crowds. It seems that no matter what we do, we end up in massive crowds where we can barely move the stroller. We have been in the busy summer months and even on spring break (right by Easter) and we manage to navigate the other 3 parks just fine. I always start with touringplans to get an idea of what we want to do and then I revise from there (usually to make it so that we're not criss-crossing around so much). Then we follow that plan and it goes well. For some reason, that doesn't work for us at AK. We have usually started with the safari and then Lion King and then rotated clockwise. (We haven't been since Pandora opened). It seems that everyone else must do this because there is always a major bottleneck and traffic.

Maybe it is the way the park is set up? I don't know. For whatever reason, I can't figure out the trick to this park! Any suggestions?

P.S. For our next trip, we'll be interested in riding FOP, Navi River, EE, Safaris, and Primeval Whirl. We want to see Lion King, Nemo, Tough to be a Bug, and Rivers of Light.

 

[Klayfish]

Until recently, I would say we felt was the easiest as far as crowds go. Just 18 months ago, Pandora didn't exist, and AK closed around 5pm. We always found it the least crowded park. But now with evening hours and Pandora just opening, it's definitely more crowded. Having said that, I think it's a great thing. I am very impressed with the entire "vibe" they have created at AK in the evening, I think it's really cool.

We feel the same way about how it's set up. Maybe it's just perception, but AK doesn't feel as logically laid out as the other parks do. Again, that could just be 100% perception on my part and not reality, but that's how it feels. It's not a traffic or bottleneck issue for us, we just don't really run into that, but just feel the attractions are more scattered. We're not planning people anyway, we're wing it people, but this applies most at AK. Yes, we wind up crisscrossing that park more often than we'd want at times, but that's just how it goes. Obviously, if you can do FOP and Navi at the same time, do it.

Sorry I don't have a better answer, I can just empathize with you in the layout issue.

 

[DaisyJ]

The park is laid out badly. It doesn't make logistical sense like MK or Epcot does, the rides are spaced much too far apart and the paths are very narrow and bottleneck pretty much everywhere.

 

[Hootch]

With the addition of Pandora and the Awakining at DAK, it has improved quite a bit.

Our typical plan is to hit Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl a couple of times - or three or for since my daughter likes them. The Crazy Mouse ride at the fair usually has an hour wait. No FP is necessary if you go at rope drop.

Then we hit Expedition Everest wit a FP and may ride single rider a couple of times.

FP for Kiliamanri

FP for Kali

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I like AK. I want to like it more than I do. I want to enjoy my time there but for me it's the heat and the walking. The rides are far apart, the blacktop makes it even hotter, the hills, it's narrow. We also always have an issue finding a snack in the morning. Maybe it's me and I'm not planning well.

Years ago we did PM EMH and I absolutely loved it. The temps were cooler and the vibe was great. I'm looking forward to AK at night and instead of planning one morning at AK for our next trip I'm going to plan onw morning and one evening. Maybe even two evenings if they open up the rest of the park.

 

[ucfknight]

With Pandora open I rope drop the two Avatar rides, then head counter-clockwise around the park from there starting in Dinoland. Typically make FP+ back-to-back for Everest, Kali, and Safari in that order. Dinoland still has relatively short lines early in the day, so we can ride those rides (CTX and Primeval Whirl) without much wait. We then hit our Everest FP+ right at the end of the window, so as soon as we get off that we use Kali FP+ towards the beginning of that window. Getting off Kali we'll do the jungle trek to look at some animals, then head over towards the Safari to use that FP+. Getting off Safari we'll do Gorilla Falls to look at more animals. We typically do quick service restaurants and stop and eat whenever we feel like it (typically prior to Safari). If anyone feels like it will hit Festival of the Lion King at that point. If not, it is off to the park exit.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Step 1: Dino land
Step 2: Safari
Step 3: Everest
Step 4: Kali
Step 5: Lunch
Step 6: Go back to the hotel and find something else to do for the rest of the day


(insert "looking at animals" an any point before step 5 based on times for fast passes)

 

[Klayfish]

With Pandora open I rope drop the two Avatar rides, then head counter-clockwise around the park from there starting in Dinoland. Typically make FP+ back-to-back for Everest, Kali, and Safari in that order. Dinoland still has relatively short lines early in the day, so we can ride those rides (CTX and Primeval Whirl) without much wait. We then hit our Everest FP+ right at the end of the window, so as soon as we get off that we use Kali FP+ towards the beginning of that window. Getting off Kali we'll do the jungle trek to look at some animals, then head over towards the Safari to use that FP+. Getting off Safari we'll do Gorilla Falls to look at more animals. We typically do quick service restaurants and stop and eat whenever we feel like it (typically prior to Safari). If anyone feels like it will hit Festival of the Lion King at that point. If not, it is off to the park exit.

Is Flametree BBQ any good? We almost never eat in the parks, but every time I walk by that place, the smell is amazing. Is it worth the money?

The temps were cooler and the vibe was great. I'm looking forward to AK at night and instead of planning one morning at AK for our next trip I'm going to plan onw morning and one evening. Maybe even two evenings if they open up the rest of the park.

It is definitely a much different vibe than it was a few years ago. All the rides are now open until 10 or 11pm, with Pandora open later. Walking around the park from 7pm on is really cool. Figuratively and literally.

 

[3littlecuties]

The park is laid out badly. It doesn't make logistical sense like MK or Epcot does, the rides are spaced much too far apart and the paths are very narrow and bottleneck pretty much everywhere.

Yes! You summarized exactly what I was trying to say! This is why this park frustrates me. It is hard to criss-cross back and forth in this park because it can bottleneck in places and that makes it take so long! We have 3 kids (1 with special needs who needs a large special needs stroller) and it makes it very difficult to navigate this park. I want to like this park more but I feel like I need to figure out how to do that! Maybe it will be better on our next trip because we are going in December. It won't be July/Aug temps like we've had in the past!

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

Is Flametree BBQ any good? We almost never eat in the parks, but every time I walk by that place, the smell is amazing. Is it worth the money?


I have only had it one time but it was really good for a CS meal

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

AK is a must-do park for me, I LOVE IT!!!

I ARRIVE EARY or rope drop if possible! I've usually gotten to do FoTLK, Kilimanjaro Safari and Expedition Everest before lunch. I see that as a positive!!
Anything else in the afternoon is at my leisure and as I always visit the park at least twice, so it works for me.

It's been a few years since my last visit, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

To the PP, Flametree BBQ has always been good.

 

[jpeterson]

Is Flametree BBQ any good? We almost never eat in the parks, but every time I walk by that place, the smell is amazing. Is it worth the money?

The pulled pork fries are really good! Especially if you are on the dining plan as they count as a snack credit.

 

[Bullseye]

Is Flametree BBQ any good? We almost never eat in the parks, but every time I walk by that place, the smell is amazing. Is it worth the money?

We've always wanted to eat there too because it does smell great. But the thing that always puts us off is the dining area is outdoors. We always go in June and by lunchtime I need that 45 minutes of respite to be in the AC.

 

[bootlord9000]

We haven't mastered staying away from the heat in that park, so we usually ride a few rides and go to a different park. It's just SO HOT and the walks seem SO LONG.
We have 1 and 1/2 days planned there for the fall, but unless FOP is absolutely mind-blowing, we'll probably switch the 1/2 day to something else.

Hoping some of the other comments will shed some light on how to not melt at AK.

 

[ucfknight]

Hoping some of the other comments will shed some light on how to not melt at AK.

The only one I've found is to go in January or February.

 

[Klayfish]

Hoping some of the other comments will shed some light on how to not melt at AK.

It's a hot park during summer afternoons, no doubt about it.

The BEST way to avoid melting is to do evenings. I'm telling you, summer evenings there are awesome. If you're there during the daytime, best tips I have are saving midday rides for things like Dino, Bugs Life, Nemo, Lion King and even Kali. Do Everest, safari, etc...early or late.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We leave by the park by 12 because it gets sooooooo hot.

 

[bookgirl]

AK is the park that I always plan to Rope Drop. I usually would hit it at RD, go ride EE 2 or 3 times. Go on the Sarfari. Then maybe do another hour or so and then transfer to a park where I had made FP+.

Last trip I also planned to go back one evening and I did Sunset Safari and then stayed to watch the Jungle Book show that was happening while they waited for RoL

With Pandora I'm not sure how my AK tour plans will change.

I do know that I plan to try and FP+ at least one Pandora ride and I would also like to go to Rivers of Light. I have a few months to figure out the inbetween.