Is it possible to tour Animal Kingdom in a 1/2 day?

[fairytinkerbell]

After just reviewing the MAP to Animal Kingdom (on allears.net)
I am worried that since the 3 things we were going to do are so far apart (on the map, anyway) that we won't be able to get it all done in 1/2 a day!

SAT = arrival day - get to Animal Kingdom by 11:00 AM.

I figured we could grab a bite to eat at Flame Tree BBQ first, then head over to
either Dinosaur, or Safari, then last go to the Kali Rapids, in case we get wet.

Then we were going to go to hotel, check in and unpack and head out again
to Magic Kingdom, see a little of Main Street, maybe ride Dumbo, and then
eat at Liberty Tree Tavern for 8:00 PM.

Is this feasible? I don't even know if MK will be open by 6pm!! What do you all think?

 

[Anxious in BR]

I would love to know the answer to this one too. Sounds similiar to what we have planned.

 

[ugadog99]

Will this be your only day at AK?

 

[kparc]

Unless you are planning on going in October.

 

[LovesHauntedMansion]

I would check out the Safari first. You may need to get a fast pass, do other things, then go back to Safari. I have never ridden on the Safari any time except for first thing in the morning so I am not sure what the lines are during the day. The Safari is something you defintely don't want to miss. Also, the Dinosaur ride jerks you around alot. I wouldn't ride this immediately after eating, but it may not bother some people. Note: Flame Tree is a good distance from the Safari, but it is close to Dinosaur.

 

[MouseClubMom]

Get to the Animal Kingdom when it OPENS and immediately do the SAFARI then grab a fastpass for Kali then ride Dinosaur and see Tough to be a Bug while you wait. After riding Kali then have an early lunch and catch the Lion King show. That will take about half a day! You can do it but only if you get there EARLY!

Have fun!
MCMom

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

We did Animal Kingdom from 9:30 to 3:00. Camp Minnie-Mickey (say Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Bears from Brother Bear), Tough to be a Bug, Kilimanjaro Safari, Lunch at Pizzafari, watched DeVine for a while, Festival of the Lion King, talked to the pin trading lady for a while, checked out Expedition Everest and Dinoland (Dinosaur was closed ) and shopped for a while. (NOT IN THIS ORDER!!)

 

[Aimeedyan]

I can do AK in about 3 hours tops, but we skip the safari. If you want to do that, I think you'll be hardpressed to do it all arriving at the time you are going. PLUS, I have no children, and there are several areas in which children can play, look at animals, etc. That makes a big difference.

If thats all the time you have, then go, get done what you can, and maybe you can return early one morning later in yuor trip to hit things you missed. =) SOMEtime is better than NOtime =)

 

[jcemom]

I think you may be able to finish those three things in AK, but I don't think you'll get anything done at MK, especially not Dumbo. I would say to get to AK as early as you can, try to send someone for a FastPass before having lunch, then play it by ear. AK should be open until 5:00. My guess would be that you will get to MK just in time to check in for your dinner PS. (It will probably take longer than you think to head to your hotel, check in, change clothes/unpack/freshen up, and head back to MK.)

 

[babybunrab]

I think you could manage the rides (depending on what time of year you're going) but I'm sure I wouldn't be able to see all of the animals, eat at a leisurely pace, see the "kid stops" (can't remember what they're called at AK) and see the parade.

On the other hand, if you're not interested in doing the walking animal tours (which I, personally, really love) maybe you could do it following one of the plans mentioned above.

Whatever you decide, don't make yourself crazy and have fun!

 

[720L]

I agree with jcemom, you won't be able to ride Dumbo--the only way you could get on that without an hour wait is to get there at opening. Same thing for everything else in Fantasyland, except for the rides with Fastpasses. AK safari ride is best in the morning (IMO). I would guess you probably could get 2 things done at AK. If you're going during busy time, you'll want to FP every ride I would think. And if you're going during hot weather, I would just go to MK the first day and head to AK when you can get there early.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

To answer your question, we're going in October ..
October 9th

and we have no kids and don't want to look at the animals except for the safari.

Yes, this is the only day we're going to AK.

Great tips - i never thought about dinosaur might make me sick after eating -- epecially w/ my stomach! haha

We are only going to do : safari, dinosaur and rapids. Should I eat, then get fast pass for safari, then go to rapids, then dinosaur, the safari??

EHH!

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by fairytinkerbell
Should I eat, then get fast pass for safari, then go to rapids, then dinosaur, the safari??

I would get a FastPass BEFORE eating, it will only take a few minutes. Are you going to be absolutely starving? What if you:
1. Got FastPass for Safari
2. Rode Dinosaur
3. Enjoyed lunch at Flame Tree...which is on your way to...
4. Kali
5. Back to Safari with your FastPass which hopefully will be time to use

 

[wendyl]

We just got back 2 weeks ago, and we spend 4 hours at Animal Kingdom--here's what we were able to do: It's tough to be a bug, Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, ride and play in Dinoland, lunch at Rainforest Cafe, watching Devine, and a little shopping. This was during busy season (June 20th). Now, I would like to go back and spend time really checking out the Tree of Life, and focusing more on the animals at the park -- but if you only have half a day--you can do it. We only used fast passes for Dinosaur.

I just read you are going in October--you will have no problem getting everything done!!!!

 

[fairytinkerbell]

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!
WOW! i wrote down my new plan for AK and am happy that i can get it done!

Now i just hope that MK closes LATE that nite! The projected hours are it closes at 6pm, pretty early for a sat nite!

What time do you guys eat dinner?

 

[jcemom]

With adults only, I'd probably have dinner around 8:00 when possible. I think the MK will be open later than 6:00 -- pretty sure it was open 'til 10:00 on Saturdays last year in October!

 

[Planogirl]

We normally only spend a half day at AK but we only go to see the Safari, Dinosaur, ITTBAB and the Maharajah Jungle Trek (WONDERFUL theming!). We stayed longer during our last trip to see the excellent parade and also enjoyed the Festival of the Lion King.

 

[Alice28]

Yes, but obviously you can't see it all. Both times I have been to the AK we were done by 1:30 or 2. This is what we did.

Trip#1:
In park at 9:30
FP Safari
Walked Pangani Trail
Went on Safari
Went on Kali River Rapids
Lunch
Grandparents did tiger walk; we took kids to Boneyard and Triceratops Spin. If kids were older we would have gone on Dinosaur at this point.
Festival of the Lion King
Left park right after Lion King show

Trip #2
In park at 9:30 (were at gates at 8:50---the lines at gate literally took 40 minutes to get through!!!!!ARGH!)
Went to first Lion King show at 9:45
Went in stand by line at safari (about a 30 minute wait)
Got FP for Kali
Did Tiger Trek
Went on Kali
Grabbed lunch
Went on Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur
Left park around 2 (we were not in any hurry this day at all...we lolly-gagged around quite a bit in DinoLand).

For Trip #3 I am hoping to stay until 3 and include the Lion King, Safari, Kali, Tarzan (for the 1st time), Tough to be a Bug (another 1st time), Dinosaur and maybe the animal trails. I know it can be done, esp if we can actually get in the park at 9!!

 

[pfc123]

You can definately do this (with the chances of such substantially rising the earlier you can get there). My suggested path would be this...

11:00-get KS fastpass
11:30-ride dinosaur
12:15-eat
1:00-time for another FP (get Kali cause it gets crowded midday, although this may not be the case in October?!?)
1:30-ride KS
2:00-ride Kali
2:30-leave

there is a couple backtracking moments, just a suggestion of course. Any chance of you making it to AK by 9am opening? you could easily add lion king, ittbab, primeval whirl, walking trails, and shopping.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I am also going in Oct. and I figured that the projected hours are probably based on last years hours for those dates. I doubt very seriously the MK will close at 6pm on a Saturday. Most Likely it will close at 9 or 10 and possibly later since that is Columbus Day Weekend. Being a holiday weekend means that it will most likely be a bit more crowded than average for October though. MK on a Saturday and a holiday weekend equals long lines, especially in Fantasyland, so expect very long lines for rides. We were there last year on a Thursday night the week of all of the press events for Wishes and Philharmagic and it was a nightmare. 90 minute waits for almost everythng and wall to wall people everywhere. Just be prepared for crowds, even thought a lot of people say October isn't that crowded, in my experience it was.
All of that said, have a magical trip!