Is it a pain to leave animal kingdom for Sanaa then have to return to AK?

[Bmh4796]

we have Sanaa reservations at 1pm. We are a fam of 7. The younger two kids are 3 and 7. We are going to try and do rope drop to get to avatar. I was only able to get the FP+ for Na’vi. So after we wait for avatar and then ride Na’vi and other things, we will leave for Sanaa for the 1pm reservations. We will return to do more at animal kingdom, and we have dinner at tiffins at 640 to see the river of lights.
Should I cancel Sanaa? I’d also like to get safari in there. Is the kilimanjaro Safari entrance near Sanaa? That would make me feel more like it’s worth leaving the park if so.

Thanks!

 

[wendlle]

Sanaa is wonderful, we love the food there. As AKL is close to AK it won't take that long on the bus to get there and back BUT you may be waiting for an actual bus, then you have to get off the main bus at Jambo House and either walk to Kidani Village or get the internal bus. You're going to have to allow time for this.
If it was me, I'd take an Uber or a Minnie Van. That way you can get right to Kidani Village from AK.
I do think that dining at Sanaa is worth it because I love the food there and at Lunch it is nice to see the animals out the windows.

 

[BebopBaloo]

That's a recipe for feeling super stressed. I'm not trying to be discouraging...just going through the line up so I can explain why this seems super stressful. Rope drop can be stressful because of the mass of people all heading for the same thing. If you are waiting for FOP before you go to Na'vi be prepared to have over two hours blocked off to wait before the start of your Na'vi pass just in case there is still a massive wait at rope drop. Be prepared for your kids to bail before getting on to FOP. I have seen it happen more than once. The queue made the 'experience' seem very real to some younger ones who decided they just really didn't want to be linked to an avatar. Your kids may love it. Just warning because it kind of surprised me when I saw how it impacted them. If you have reservations for Sanaa at 1pm, you'll need to be at the bus stop no later than 12:20. The Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom is wonderful. I'm not sure what a jungle safari is at AKL, but I would probably skip it, esp. if it is an extra expense and time consuming. There is so much to enjoy at Animal Kingdom itself and you have to be back for Tiffins, too.

 

[rlk]

We've stayed at AKV Kidni several times. The bus service and had great bus service to every park except Animal Kingdom. For some reason, the wait for an AK bus took much longer. As Wendle said, take Uber.

 

[Carolynleanne]

I don't think it's a big deal. Thanks to the longer AK hours, we always take an afternoon break and head back to our Resort for pool time.

 

[iheartglaciers]

Sanaa is wonderful, we love the food there. As AKL is close to AK it won't take that long on the bus to get there and back BUT you may be waiting for an actual bus, then you have to get off the main bus at Jambo House and either walk to Kidani Village or get the internal bus. You're going to have to allow time for this.
If it was me, I'd take an Uber or a Minnie Van. That way you can get right to Kidani Village from AK.
I do think that dining at Sanaa is worth it because I love the food there and at Lunch it is nice to see the animals out the windows.

You don't need to transfer and take the internal bus to Kidani. If you take the bus from AK to AKL, Kidani should be the first stop. The bus ride itself is very quick, but you may have to wait a little while for a bus to come. I've done it before and it's not bad. Sanaa and AKL can be a nice break from the park.

However, since you already have a sit down meal at Tiffins, I would skip going to Sanaa. For me, doing two sit down meals in one day is a lot. Plus it'll take up a lot of park time.

 

[Bmh4796]

ok so I’ll uber then.

Beebopbeloo, so think ripe drop and the wait to get on avatar is too stressful or going to Sanaa? I’m thinking we should pick one of the 2. I guess I’d rather die for time taking an Uber to and from Sanaa than waiting in a 2 hour line.

I wasn’t prepared with itineraries on the day fastpasses opened up to us and this is the first time I’ve done the online Fastpass
thing. I didn’t realize they filled up so quickly, so I put it off.! I know‍‍‍
Dumb dumb dumb. Even though i was late, i was able to get fastpasses for all the “hot rides” throughout Disney EXCEPT Soarin, avatar, 7dwarves train, and slinky dog- i think that’s what it was called. So i will keep trying to get fastpasses for those during our trip as we use the others each day. I’m annoyed that we bought park hoppers because I can’t even see if there’s an availability for avatar at night on the days we will be doing other parks. I figured - well since we have park hoppers and don’t normally stay til closing every night at whichever park we did for the day, then I’ll just book whichever nighttime Fastpass is available. But it won’t let me book in anothef Park.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Sanaa is lovely, but not worth the amount of time it's going to take you to get back and forth from AK. Especially since you are going to Tiffin's later. If you are referring to Kilimanjaro Safaris in AK, it's nowhere near Sanaa. Kilimanjaro Safaris is as far back in the Africa section of AK that you can get. If your choice is going to Sanaa or going on the safari, safari would be my choice. If it were me, I would try to move your Tiffins ROL package to lunch time and use that as a midday break and then just do QS for dinner. Or if you want another TS, do Y&Y inside AK. It's not as good as Sanaa, but doesn't require traveling with two small children and having to go through security twice.

As far as getting evening FP+, when you are done in your first park and you've used at least your first 3 FP+, simply start looking for available FP+ in other parks for later in the day. I've gotten same day FP+ for FOP, and all the tier 1 rides in EP, so there is hope.

 

[BebopBaloo]

I was saying that trying to do both the rope drop standby plus get other attractions in before going to Sanaa and then worrying about other things before dinner at 6:40 that it could all add up to be stressful because you would constantly feel rushed. Depending on the time of year you are going it could all work out super smooth.

Fastpass advice: As soon as you use that 3rd FP start looking for the 4th one. You can only book the 4th after the first 3 are used up and you can only book in a different park after you have used up the first three.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Also... mentioning because you said it's your first time using the online FP system. If you want to change the times of the FP you have booked, you can try searching for different times or modifying which attraction. You can do this at any time. I very often find better times for my passes after I book them and then go back in and modify them.

 

[cgattis]

A few other things to think about. I agree that I wouldn’t take the bus; too many variables and could easily eat up a ton of time. On the plus of leaving though, if the littles need a nap or down time, AKL lobby is an amazing place for that. Also, they can see lots of animals outside Jambo and Kidani, and they can watch as long as they want. Safari is more like “oh look, oooh, ok let’s roll!” Granted there are not lions and elephants at the hotel, but giraffes, okapi—lots of cool stuff. And while I love Sana’a, the menu is very limited, and we adore Boma, so if I was going all the way to AKL to eat, I’d do Boma instead, for any meal. Don’t know what time your FP are for, but you could even catch a late breakfast if you wanted.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Beebopbeloo, so think ripe drop and the wait to get on avatar is too stressful or going to Sanaa? I’m thinking we should pick one of the 2. I guess I’d rather die for time taking an Uber to and from Sanaa than waiting in a 2 hour line.

Probably not going to work. You would need two Übers each way, one with a car seat.

 

[Bmh4796]

ok so I’ll uber then.

Beebopbeloo, so think ripe drop and the wait to get on avatar is too stressful or going to Sanaa? I’m thinking we should pick one of the 2. I guess I’d rather die for time taking an Uber to and from Sanaa than waiting in a 2 hour line.

I wasn’t prepared with itineraries on the day fastpasses opened up to us and this is the first time I’ve done the online Fastpass
thing. I didn’t realize they filled up so quickly, so I put it off.! I know‍‍‍
Dumb dumb dumb. Even though i was late, i was able to get fastpasses for all the “hot rides” throughout Disney EXCEPT Soarin, avatar, 7dwarves train, and slinky dog- i think that’s what it was called. So i will keep trying to get fastpasses for those during our trip as we use the others each day. I’m annoyed that we bought park hoppers because I can’t even see if there’s an availability for avatar at night on the days we will be doing other parks. I figured - well since we have park hoppers and don’t normally stay til closing every night at whichever park we did for the day, then I’ll just book whichever nighttime Fastpass is available. But it won’t let me book in anothef Park.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. Sanaa is lovely, but not worth the amount of time it's going to take you to get back and forth from AK. Especially since you are going to Tiffin's later. If you are referring to Kilimanjaro Safaris in AK, it's nowhere near Sanaa. Kilimanjaro Safaris is as far back in the Africa section of AK that you can get. If your choice is going to Sanaa or going on the safari, safari would be my choice. If it were me, I would try to move your Tiffins ROL package to lunch time and use that as a midday break and then just do QS for dinner. Or if you want another TS, do Y&Y inside AK. It's not as good as Sanaa, but doesn't require traveling with two small children and having to go through security twice.

As far as getting evening FP+, when you are done in your first park and you've used at least your first 3 FP+, simply start looking for available FP+ in other parks for later in the day. I've gotten same day FP+ for FOP, and all the tier 1 rides in EP, so there is hope.

really good to know you got those passes. I’m going to keep checking everyday and if avatar comes up I’ll cancel Na’vi and then Try to get Na’vi once we use the flight of passage. (I keep calling it avatar. I’m trying to break the habit and call it FOP now that i see that’s what it’s real name is

I do think illnakdo cancel Sanaa and keep tiffins for dinner where we will watch the river of lights show. We will do a QS for lunch instead. And go on the Kilimanjaro Safari.

Does that sound like a better plan?

 

[Bmh4796]

Also... mentioning because you said it's your first time using the online FP system. If you want to change the times of the FP you have booked, you can try searching for different times or modifying which attraction. You can do this at any time. I very often find better times for my passes after I book them and then go back in and modify them.

Oh yes. I’ve been modifying all day from the app. The kids are like mom what’s dinner and I’m like uhhhhh right now I’ve got only fastpasses on the Brain. If you want a fun Disney trip, it’s ham sandwiches tonight

 

[Bmh4796]

I was saying that trying to do both the rope drop standby plus get other attractions in before going to Sanaa and then worrying about other things before dinner at 6:40 that it could all add up to be stressful because you would constantly feel rushed. Depending on the time of year you are going it could all work out super smooth.

Fastpass advice: As soon as you use that 3rd FP start looking for the 4th one. You can only book the 4th after the first 3 are used up and you can only book in a different park after you have used up the first three.

And i forgot to say thanks to everyone. I really appreciate all the opinions and advice. I’m a very indecisive person so it helps to have input. I think subconsciously i put off booking fastpasses because I was so overwhelmed booking dining that I knew it would be ankther overwhelming experience booking fastpasses. Now that the times of things are more limited, it’s actually a little less overwhelming than the dining reservations were. Or maybe I’m just making excuses because i feel guilty for not having FOP

 

[Samantha Morgan]

It was super easy! We didn’t wait long for the bus to or from.

 

[vinotinto]

I'm a big fan of Sanaa, but that sounds like a rather tiring day with a 3 and a 7 year old. I would probably head back to the resort instead, grab a quick lunch and have some downtime before returning for Tiffin's and ROL.

 

[Bmh4796]

It was super easy! We didn’t wait long for the bus to or from.

I guess i can keep Sanaa then and decide the day before if we think we are up for 2 sit downs that day. Our 3 year old is wild and difficult at most restaurants. I’m thinking the animals at Sanaa May keep him entertained and the river of lights at tiffins May keep him occupied as well. Decisions decisions decisions
I can never decide. You should see the notebook i have with itineraries all over the place

 

[Chris Jensen]

We loved visiting Sanaa! You should be pretty full after eating Sanaa, so with the time being so close to your dinner reservation at Tiffins, there is a good chance that you will not get to enjoy Tiffins as much. You asked if the entrance to Sanaa is close to Kilimanjaro Safaris, and the answer to this is no. The safari is near the far back left side of the park.

 

[vinotinto]

I guess i can keep Sanaa then and decide the day before if we think we are up for 2 sit downs that day. Our 3 year old is wild and difficult at most restaurants. I’m thinking the animals at Sanaa May keep him entertained and the river of lights at tiffins May keep him occupied as well. Decisions decisions decisions
I can never decide. You should see the notebook i have with itineraries all over the place

So, just to be very clear, there is no entertainment at Tiffin's at all. The rivers of light package simply gets you into the seating for that show in the reserved section. The restaurant itself doesn't have any views of the show or anything like that. It's a rather subdued restaurant with some interesting artwork, but nothing particularly appealing for a little one. Perhaps a better option is to change Tiffin's for Sanaa?

Also the animals at Sanaa can be in the distance. And the larger booths that would accommodate 7, if I recall correctly, are opposite from the windows. The ones by the window seat 4. So, with a group of 7, you may be rather far away from the animals. You can view them very well from the viewing areas though, either before or after the meal.

Kilimanjaro Safari is nowhere near Sanaa. It's in Animal Kingdom park. The closest restaurant to Kilimanjaro is Tusker House. That may be a better option with your group. It has characters and it's a buffet.

HTH!