How much time at AKL?

[aubeone]

Have I planned for enough time if we visit AKL from 12pm-7pm on a Friday.(AKL is open until 8pm that day) We arrive extremely late the night before. Thought we would have a late breakfast and then head to AKL. We are staying at WL and plan to use Disney transportation.

 

[hezreck]

I'm assuming you mean Animal Kingdom and not Animal Kingdom Lodge. And the answer depends on who is going with you and what you want to see. We have a DD who loves to spend at least an hour in the Boneyard and has to meet characters, so we usually plan a whole day at AK and sometimes half of another. If you just want to see the main attractions and not spend a lot of time doing the animal trails you should have plenty of time.

Don't miss Festival of the Lion King, It's Tough to be a Bug, Kilamanjaro Safari, and Dinosaur. Try Everest if it is open, and play the rest my ear.
That would be my opinion. Also, the parade at AK is one of the best ones, so make sure you catch it. Have a great time!

 

[zookeeper]

Don't miss Festival of the Lion King, It's Tough to be a Bug, Kilamanjaro Safari, and Dinosaur. Try Everest if it is open, and play the rest my ear.


I'd be careful of It's Tough to Be a Bug depending on the age of any kids that might be with you. It can be very scary for some little ones. My DD5 screamed from start to finish and once the lights are out you can't get out. It was terrible. After that, it was very hard to get her to go into any theatre for a show. I'd read the warnings before we went, but assumed it couldn't be as scary as everyone said (afterall, it's Disney right ), but I was wrong!!!

All said,though, AK was my boys' (7 & 8) favourite park !!! My DH did take them back another day because they needed more time to see everything. It's a very spread-out park, lots of walking so it can take time.

 

[johnvree]

That is definitely enough time to hit the major attractions at DAK. But, sadly, you will miss some of the detail of the park and smaller exhibits. For example, you can breeze through the Maharajah Jungle Trek is about 20 minutes. But you could easily spend an hour or more walking through the attraction soaking it all in. We usually plan two partial days at DAK, but we take long trips so we can afford the extra day.

Just a couple of suggestions. 12-7 is a lot of time, but the park will be its busiest between 12 and 3. That's OK because a lot of visitors leave around 3. However, make sure you are not visiting on DAK's EMH evening. If you do, you will get the worst of two worlds: (1) you will have missed the slower morning hours and (2) it will be busy between 12 and 3, and instead of slowing up after 3, the EMH people will start to roll in for their evening touring keeping it busy all day.

Don't miss the afternoon parade; it is one of the best at WDW. It starts at 4:00.

If you are looking for a character breakfast, try Donald's Breakfasaurus right in DAK. Good food and character interaction.

When you get into the park, if Expedition Everest is open, go get fastpasses immediately. They will be running out pretty early.

 

[jann1033]

Have I planned for enough time if we visit AKL from 12pm-7pm on a Friday.(AKL is open until 8pm that day) We arrive extremely late the night before. Thought we would have a late breakfast and then head to AKL. We are staying at WL and plan to use Disney transportation.

just an additional thought to the others...don't do the safari mid day. the best for animal activity is first thing in the morning but you will get there too late for that. when we went around 3 ( in Jan) everyone was sleeping so it was not nearly as good...we didn't even see the lions or the elephants playing like we did in the am. maybe try it as late as possible then since maybe they perk up again when they are getting ready to go in for the night( just guessing from other zoo experience )??

and if you are the person i think posted about meals, make sure you allow a good hr, maybe even a little more to get to your dinner adr just in case you miss the first bus or something( learn from my dumbness !)