How long will AK take?

[Capang]

we want to go to AK but have limited time to spend. We want to arrive in the morning and do the safari and EE. Then we will hop to HS and have to be in line for A&E sing along FP by 2:30. How much time might it take to do AK and then travel to HS? Thanks in advance!

 

[Dano13]

Even when I try to manufacture excitement over AK, we never stay more than 3 hours. We got there at 9 last year and had FP's for Kilamanjaro, Kali, and Dinosaur and we were done by 11:30 and practically sprinting to the car. Too much "dead" areas for my liking not to mention seemingly no place to sit. Even most counter serves are outdoors. If it weren't for Kilamanjaro I don't know if we would even go.

We use a rental car so I can't give any insight into the commute time to DHS.

 

[spiderann]

DH and I are skipping AK this year because last time we went, we got there for RD and rode everything we wanted, ate lunch, and left. skipped only a few things, but obviously could have spent more time. for us, it's a half day park

 

[minnie mum]

If you only want those2 rides, then you could be finished well before 11:00. It takes us all day for AK, and that usually still means skipping Conservation Station.

 

[twodogs]

Safari and EE are not super close to each other and both are far from the entrance. That said, if you get there at RD, you'll be done in 60-90 minutes with these two things if you don't stop to look around, meet characters etc. We LOVE AK so we spend a whole day. We love the shows, especially Festival of the Lion King which is amazing! We love the original songs composed on the spot about you by Guitar Dan. We love the animals, the sights, the food. But you can
get those things done and be out in 90 minutes and then walk to bus to DHS. Not sure if there is a direct bus, but I think there is. Add at least 30-45 minutes total travel time between parks, including waiting on bus up to 20 minutes if you just miss one. Then you will have to walk from bus to enter DHS and walk to Sing Along, which is another 20 minutes or more, depending on walking speed.

 

[twodogs]

Also are you eating lunch in there? Need to budget time for the too.

 

[siskaren]

Even when I try to manufacture excitement over AK, we never stay more than 3 hours. We got there at 9 last year and had FP's for Kilamanjaro, Kali, and Dinosaur and we were done by 11:30 and practically sprinting to the car. Too much "dead" areas for my liking not to mention seemingly no place to sit. Even most counter serves are outdoors. If it weren't for Kilamanjaro I don't know if we would even go.

We use a rental car so I can't give any insight into the commute time to DHS.

DH and I are skipping AK this year because last time we went, we got there for RD and rode everything we wanted, ate lunch, and left. skipped only a few things, but obviously could have spent more time. for us, it's a half day park

It sounds like both of you think that the only things worth doing at AK are the rides, when there's so much more to the park than that.

 

[JZCubed]

we want to go to AK but have limited time to spend. We want to arrive in the morning and do the safari and EE. Then we will hop to HS and have to be in line for A&E sing along FP by 2:30. How much time might it take to do AK and then travel to HS? Thanks in advance!

If you're only planning a few rides, your plan is workable.

However, with that plan you'd be skipping the shows that really make the price of admission worth it.

My family has that problem in Hollywood Studios...unless all the show times are added, not enough rides.

Given a choice between the lovely theming in AK vs. HS, we prefer to spend more time in AK.

Different strokes, as they say.

 

[ArmyVet80]

My wife and I usually only spend 3 hours at AK and see everything that we want to see and ride everything we want to ride. We hit the Safari first, walk through and see the gorillas (her favorite) and ride EE in the first hour and a half. The rest of the time is leisurely spent walking around. Not much going on at AK for us. Epcot on the other hand... We spend days there with the shops, food, few rides, etc..

As for the bus to HS... I would recommend taking the bus to Yacht/Beach club and walking to HS. It is a pretty quick process. If that is a burden, take a bus to the AKL and pick up a bus to HS there as the ride from AK to AKL isn't that long. The only problem is if you get to AKL and a bus has just left you may be waiting an extra 20 minutes or so.

 

[LaurenT]

If you only want those2 rides, then you could be finished well before 11:00. It takes us all day for AK, and that usually still means skipping Conservation Station.

This! I love AK and couldn't disagree more with the first responder, but that's not what you asked. Given what you want to do, you'll have plenty of time to get to the Frozen singalong. (Oh, and there's tons of seating in AK, and two large indoor CS restaurants)

 

[mshanson3121]

we want to go to AK but have limited time to spend. We want to arrive in the morning and do the safari and EE. Then we will hop to HS and have to be in line for A&E sing along FP by 2:30. How much time might it take to do AK and then travel to HS? Thanks in advance!

Honestly.. if those two things are the only reason you're going - I wouldn't waste your money. Why blow a day's ticket on two rides? You'll have more than enough time to do those two rides, have a meal and get to HS by 1:30ish (you want to be in line by 2:00 or so, and need to plan on 20/30 minutes to get off the bus, get through the entrance, get to the attraction etc).

However, if you want to do more, you'd still have time for a trail or two, maybe a show as well, get you a little more for your money.

 

[Lucius Best]

AK is my second favorite park, but even so, on our last trip, we were out of there by 2pm both days. On the second day with low crowds, we got in 6 rides on Everest, 2 Safari, Dinosaur, Tough to be a Bug, walked both the gorilla (Africa) and tiger (Asia) trails, saw the bird show, ate lunch at Pizzafari (which has tons of indoor seating with AC) and hit Conservation Station. So depending on the crowds, you can definitely get a lot done in a half day. However, if you're planning on seeing the Lion King and/or Nemo shows, it's pretty much impossible to see everything in a half day.

Last time I was there, there was definitely a bus running between AK and HS. As far as taking a bus to YC/BC (or Boardwalk, or Swan/Dolphin), you can definitely do that, depending on which resort, it would then be 10-15 minute walk to HS.

 

[Praying Colonel]

we want to go to AK but have limited time to spend. We want to arrive in the morning and do the safari and EE. Then we will hop to HS and have to be in line for A&E sing along FP by 2:30. How much time might it take to do AK and then travel to HS? Thanks in advance!

If you're only doing those 2 attractions, you can be finished in 60-90 minutes. Be there at RD, do Everest standby (about a 10-20 minute wait at RD) and FP+ Safaris. You should be walking out by 10-10:30.

We also like to do Primeval Whirl, DINOSAUR, Festival of the Lion King, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Flights of Wonder--if you did all those, plus ate lunch (mmmm, Flame Tree), you'd be out by about 1.

 

[JessiMommy]

I know different strokes for different folks BUT... How do you leave AK without seeing Festival of the Lion King AND Finding Nemo the Musical? Aghghghg! Two of the best shows on Disney property! Lol! Seriously though, you'll have plenty of time to do both your desired attractions more than once.

 

[MillauFr]

I know different strokes for different folks BUT... How do you leave AK without seeing Festival of the Lion King AND Finding Nemo the Musical? Aghghghg! Two of the best shows on Disney property! Lol! Seriously though, you'll have plenty of time to do both your desired attractions more than once.

Agreed. The rides other than Everest and Safari are nothing special. Our favorite thing at AK was the shows and the theme.

 

[mkla2015]

I agree, you'll have enough time to do those 2 rides and head over to HS. I would also suggest seeing the Lion King show- we don't care for many shows but this one is amazing!!

 

[larandtra1990]

Even at a slow pace, seeing shows, and walking through the various trails looking at animals. If you are there at RD and have FPs booked, you can see Nemo, Lion King, Birds, and do Safari, EE, Dinosaur, ITTBAB, & Khali and be out of the park by at the latest 3. Its just a very slow park and easy to work your schedule so you dont miss anything. Doing just two rides would not take any time if you are there at rope drop

 

[once]

If you know for sure that you'll only do EE and Safari, there'd be plenty of time, even if you do them more than once. If you want to take in the sights and sounds then it'd take longer but 2:30pm singalong should still be fine. I agree with seeing The Lion King. I only intended to see it once but ended up seeing it 5 times in a row at AK

 

[suzimar57]

The most we've ever spent at AK was about 4 hours - including lunch....

 

[bumbershoot]

If you only want those2 rides, then you could be finished well before 11:00. It takes us all day for AK, and that usually still means skipping Conservation Station.

Yes to both.

However, with that plan you'd be skipping the shows that really make the price of admission worth it.

My family has that problem in Hollywood Studios...unless all the show times are added, not enough rides.

Terrific point and comparison.

Even at a slow pace, seeing shows, and walking through the various trails looking at animals. If you are there at RD and have FPs booked, you can see Nemo, Lion King, Birds, and do Safari, EE, Dinosaur, ITTBAB, & Khali and be out of the park by at the latest 3.

You can but I can't!

We still haven't seen the bird show or really spent time at cons station. We've seen Nemo once (not interested in I again though, not my thing) and the same with lion king (I did like that and would see it again).

But we are people who will spend over half an hour just watching the American Crocodile to see if he'll move while we are there, so obviously the park is a time investment for us.