Is this Animal Kingdom plan possible?

[Kris78]

I am planning a trip for my parents, my aunt, and my two cousins who are a 7 and 10 year old boy and girl. I have them going to AK on July 6th. Park is open from 9am-6pm. Here is the plan:


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Have Lunch 11:30-12:15
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK
See 3:45 pm Flights of Wonder

My main concern is them being able to make the 1:00 Nemo and 3:00 FOLTK. Is there enough time based upon how busy the park will be? Thank you.

 

[minnie mum]

Personally I wouldn't want to get soaked on Kali and then sit in an air conditioned theatre for over half an hour. Can you make the FP for the end of the afternoon? They should have ample of time to do EE and still make it to FOTLK.

 

[Garretsoccer2]

I think your plan is very ambitious. Hitting three major attractions just after park opening may be more difficult than you'd expect considering how busy the parks are during your visit. With that being said, you'll also be needing to get in line for FOTLK before 3PM. Which having just watched Nemo and wanting to do EE before then, I honestly don't think you'll find the time to fit it all in.

 

[Jennytoon]

I think your plan is doable. But I have some suggestions.

Assume gates open promptly at 9 -- they might be a bit early, but the worst case is often best for planning.

1. If you start @ safaris you will be off (assuming all goes well with arrival, loading etc.) ~ 9:35.
2. The lines for Kali will not start building really high until 10AM or so, and it will be on the way to EE. I would take a ride on Kali next, with no FP. The actual start of queue to exit time should be about 10 minutes.
3. Move on to EE -- arriving ~10AM, finish ~ 10:20.
4. Ride whichever of Dinosaur / PW has the shortest wait.
5. Ride the other one. It will now be ~11:15, or if lucky closer to 11.
6. Eat lunch.
7. Adventurer's Outpost -- if you arrive noon or shortly after, you'll be done in plenty of time to make
8. Nemo @ 1PM - finish ~1:40
9. Triceratop Spin
10. EE w/ FP
11. Arrive a little after 2:30 for FOTLK @ 3PM
12. Book it to Flights of Wonder @ 3:45 -- may arrive a few minutes after start but due to venue this should be OK.

A couple notes:

-- I like Kali early b/c if you get wet the AC in EE / Dinosaur is not so much that you will be unhappy about it

-- Lunch is critical. It's like the rush hour thing where you leave your house five minutes later and it takes you an extra half hour to get to work. Lines at the food counters build quickly, and you can end up wasting time looking for a place to sit when it's really crowded. I would really try to get there around 11. In fact, I would take the FP freed up from Kali and put it to Dinosaur or PW. It might only save you 10 or 15 minutes in the queue, but it will be saving you both the time in the queue and the time at lunch by making sure you get there closer to 11. If you turn out not to need it you can always try to change it up for something else ... Kali after FOW? You'll be right there ...

-- I know it seems odd to skip Triceratops Spin when you're right there at PW, but again, you really need that time to make sure lunch is early. If you look at the map, I think you'll see that with an hour or so between Nemo and FOTLK, there's plenty of time to ride both TS and EE w FP, and it's geographically effective as well.

 

[karly05]

My only comment is, you may well get drenched, soaked, wetter than you could imagine on Kali, so just keep that in mind.

 

[JZCubed]

Thank you.

I think your plan is doable. But I have some suggestions.

Assume gates open promptly at 9 -- they might be a bit early, but the worst case is often best for planning.

1. If you start @ safaris you will be off (assuming all goes well with arrival, loading etc.) ~ 9:35.
2. The lines for Kali will not start building really high until 10AM or so, and it will be on the way to EE. I would take a ride on Kali next, with no FP. The actual start of queue to exit time should be about 10 minutes.
3. Move on to EE -- arriving ~10AM, finish ~ 10:20.
4. Ride whichever of Dinosaur / PW has the shortest wait.
5. Ride the other one. It will now be ~11:15, or if lucky closer to 11.
6. Eat lunch.
7. Adventurer's Outpost -- if you arrive noon or shortly after, you'll be done in plenty of time to make
8. Nemo @ 1PM - finish ~1:40
9. Triceratop Spin
10. EE w/ FP
11. Arrive a little after 2:30 for FOTLK @ 3PM
12. Book it to Flights of Wonder @ 3:45 -- may arrive a few minutes after start but due to venue this should be OK.

A couple notes:

-- I like Kali early b/c if you get wet the AC in EE / Dinosaur is not so much that you will be unhappy about it

-- Lunch is critical. It's like the rush hour thing where you leave your house five minutes later and it takes you an extra half hour to get to work. Lines at the food counters build quickly, and you can end up wasting time looking for a place to sit when it's really crowded. I would really try to get there around 11. In fact, I would take the FP freed up from Kali and put it to Dinosaur or PW. It might only save you 10 or 15 minutes in the queue, but it will be saving you both the time in the queue and the time at lunch by making sure you get there closer to 11. If you turn out not to need it you can always try to change it up for something else ... Kali after FOW? You'll be right there ...

-- I know it seems odd to skip Triceratops Spin when you're right there at PW, but again, you really need that time to make sure lunch is early. If you look at the map, I think you'll see that with an hour or so between Nemo and FOTLK, there's plenty of time to ride both TS and EE w FP, and it's geographically effective as well.

Excellent analysis.

My two cents:
-- I agree, getting on Kali early can save a FP+ for later.

-- I agree, eating lunch at 11am saves 30 minutes (Step #6). I'd utilize FP+ for Characters at Outpost (Step #7)

-- Drop TriceraTops Spin (Step #9) - waste of time with 7 & 10 y.o.'s. Doable, yes, but the one item that can be skipped. Explain to the 7 y.o. TricareaTops or Primeval Whirl/Dinosaurs. It's also outdoors in July, so skipping TriceraTops makes some added sense. But if you find a few minutes after PW/D, TriceraTops can be completed.

-- Switch Steps #12 & #11 - go from EE FP+ (step #10) to Flights of Wonder (show at 2:45pm) and then to Lion King last. There are fewer options for Flights, so I'd do it first, then have more options for Lion King. Also, it stops the need to 'book it' and going back-n-forth. My child is a bit young still (6 y.o.), but I'm not certain she'd stand and wait on standby line for 3 shows (Lion, Nemo & Flights).

-- And if you still have time, Bug's Life 3-d movie is indoors and amusing.

 

[mshanson3121]

I am planning a trip for my parents, my aunt, and my two cousins who are a 7 and 10 year old boy and girl. I have them going to AK on July 6th. Park is open from 9am-6pm. Here is the plan:


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Have Lunch 11:30-12:15
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK
See 3:45 pm Flights of Wonder

My main concern is them being able to make the 1:00 Nemo and 3:00 FOLTK. Is there enough time based upon how busy the park will be? Thank you.

I have a Touring Plans subscription, so I just ran it through their program. It works, and in fact in between Nemo and EE and EE and FOTLK you would have 15-20 minutes free time to explore a trail and see some animals. So I would do Maharajah after Nemo and Pangani after EE. The only thing that *may* not work is Flights of Wonder. By the time FOTLK gets out and you walk back up, the show may already have started, so I don't know if they'll let you in or not.

So I ran another option through and this is what seemed to work well:

Whirl
Spin
Dinosaur
Kali (no FP needed since lines won't be backed up this early)
Maharaah Jungle Trek (15-20 minutes there)
FP+ Meet Disney Pals
EE
Lunch
Pangani Forest Trail
1:00 FOTLK
Safari (see if you can FP+ this instead of Kali)
2:45 Flights of Wonder
EE (see if you can get your FP+ switched to a bit later, maybe a 2:30 or 3:00 FP+)
4:00 Nemo

If you can't switch FP times this plan works without them. Also this plan has you doing lunch earlier around 11:15.

 

[mshanson3121]

Excellent analysis.

My two cents:
-- I agree, getting on Kali early can save a FP+ for later.

-- I agree, eating lunch at 11am saves 30 minutes (Step #6). I'd utilize FP+ for Characters at Outpost (Step #7)

-- Drop TriceraTops Spin (Step #9) - waste of time with 7 & 10 y.o.'s. Doable, yes, but the one item that can be skipped. Explain to the 7 y.o. TricareaTops or Primeval Whirl/Dinosaurs. It's also outdoors in July, so skipping TriceraTops makes some added sense. But if you find a few minutes after PW/D, TriceraTops can be completed.

-- Switch Steps #12 & #11 - go from EE FP+ (step #10) to Flights of Wonder (show at 2:45pm) and then to Lion King last. There are fewer options for Flights, so I'd do it first, then have more options for Lion King. Also, it stops the need to 'book it' and going back-n-forth. My child is a bit young still (6 y.o.), but I'm not certain she'd stand and wait on standby line for 3 shows (Lion, Nemo & Flights).

-- And if you still have time, Bug's Life 3-d movie is indoors and amusing.

Only problem with this is, depending on the height of the 7 year old, he/she may not be able to ride Whirl.

 

[JZCubed]

Only problem with this is, depending on the height of the 7 year old, he/she may not be able to ride Whirl.

48" - one of two rides my 6.y.o. cannot yet ride (Rock'n'Coaster is the other).

Then split the adults and children - one each at TricerTops and Primeval. You're not missing much if you skip either/both.

If only one adult - let 10 y.o. ride Primeval alone while you ride with/escort 7 y.o. on TriceraTop.

 

[srauseo]

I agree this is doable. I did something very similar in mid-August with no problem. We were on the Safari ride at 9am. Went straight to Everest. Then went to Dinoland and it was deserted. Went to Flame Tree for lunch right when they opened. I agree that early lunch is key. Went to Nemo after lunch. Then over to Conservation Station. Saw FotLK after that (we had a FP but didn't need it). Explored the trails. Rode Everest again with FP. Then did Kali with FP. I personally like to save Kali for last. If I get soaked, I don't mind, because I'm leaving anyway. Weren't rushed. Had time to explore and for my niece to participate in the little badge collecting activity.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I agree about Kali. I have never been on it where I was not the one who got doused the most. It's definitely doable because I've done it before, but I would consider moving Kali to the end of the day or to where you won't be in air condition right after.

 

[To the honeypots]

48" - one of two rides my 6.y.o. cannot yet ride (Rock'n'Coaster is the other).

Then split the adults and children - one each at TricerTops and Primeval. You're not missing much if you skip either/both.

If only one adult - let 10 y.o. ride Primeval alone while you ride with/escort 7 y.o. on TriceraTop.

Even if you miss triceratops spin, you are not missing much. Dumbo is much better if you have that on your agenda. And honestly, triceratops spin has to be the hottest ride in all of wdw. It's normally sitting on that ride when I think I may succumb to heat stroke. Ok, a little exaggerated but seriously waiting for that one to start is HOT

 

[SJSloan]

I am planning a trip for my parents, my aunt, and my two cousins who are a 7 and 10 year old boy and girl. I have them going to AK on July 6th. Park is open from 9am-6pm. Here is the plan:


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Have Lunch 11:30-12:15
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK
See 3:45 pm Flights of Wonder

My main concern is them being able to make the 1:00 Nemo and 3:00 FOLTK. Is there enough time based upon how busy the park will be? Thank you.

We just returned from a Disney trip and my schedule AK day looked something like yours, however it DID NOT go as planned.

We got to AK around 8:30 which I know is 15 after your plan, and after they started letting people in it took FOREVER to get in the actual park. We headed straight to Safari.
Here is a rough time line of what our day looked like:

9:00-9:30 Safari
9:45 - 10:00 EE (FP+)
10:10 - 10:45 Dinosaur (there was already a 20 minute wait when we arrived)
10:50 - 11:05 Primeval Whirl (10 minute wait)
11:05 - 11:15 TriceraTop Spin
11:15 - 12:15 Lunch (we tried for Restraurantosaurus but didn't like anything there, tried FlameTree but still closed, and ended of at Pizzafari so it added time walking over there)
12:15 - 12:45 It's Tought to be a Bug
12:45 - 1:15 Trail by Kali River Rapids
1:15 - 1:45 Kali River Rapids (took time to change shoes, get a locker, get shoes on after ride, etc.)
1:45 - 2:00 Snack at Tamu Tamu Refreshments
2:10 - 2:40 Safari (FP+)
3:00 FotLK show

I had plans to do so much more, including Finding Nemo and Flights of Wonder, and the other trail it just didn't turn out that way.

I know we had some extra unexpected down time, but I think you may be rushing all over the place. And AK is always hot and muggy! Likes it's own little humid bubble and it takes a toll on us.

 

[Quellman]

What about It's Tough to be a Bug? Is that on your way out of the park?

 

[tink9702]

This is what I'd do below. moved lunch earlier so you don't hit the crowds, moved flights of wonder so not rushing as much from FOTLK, added jungle trail so you can dry off from Kali. keeps all your current FP+ so you don't have to move those around.


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Have Lunch 11:00
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
Maharajah jungle Trail - to dry off from KRR and see some animals
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
See 1:45 pm Flights of Wonder
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK

 

[Kris78]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I appreciate it. I do also want them to do It's Tough to be a Bug but getting the shows in was the priority.

 

[NavyDad]

I am planning a trip for my parents, my aunt, and my two cousins who are a 7 and 10 year old boy and girl. I have them going to AK on July 6th. Park is open from 9am-6pm. Here is the plan:


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Have Lunch 11:30-12:15
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK
See 3:45 pm Flights of Wonder

My main concern is them being able to make the 1:00 Nemo and 3:00 FOLTK. Is there enough time based upon how busy the park will be? Thank you.

Your plan looks very do-able to me. You should not have any problems until you start going to the shows.

I would highly recommend using the 1 day touring plan on Easy WDW. Your plan looks pretty much in sync with his and Josh will give you "benchmarks" to kind of make sure you are on schedule. Very helpful!

 

[JRennie]

I am planning a trip for my parents, my aunt, and my two cousins who are a 7 and 10 year old boy and girl. I have them going to AK on July 6th. Park is open from 9am-6pm. Here is the plan:


Arrive at 8:15am
Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
Ride Expedition Everest
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride TriceraTop Spin
Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost(FP+ 10:40-11:40)
Have Lunch 11:30-12:15
Ride Kali River Rapids(FP+ 11:45-12:45)
See 1:00 pm Finding Nemo Musical
Ride Expedition Everest (FP+ 2:00-3:00)
See 3:00 pm FOLTK
See 3:45 pm Flights of Wonder

My main concern is them being able to make the 1:00 Nemo and 3:00 FOLTK. Is there enough time based upon how busy the park will be? Thank you.

I personally think that it will be challenging to squeeze in all of your planned rides before the FP for M&G. I also agree with PP who said maybe riding Kali then sitting in a freezing cold theater may not be overly enjoyable.

 

[Kris78]

Your plan looks very do-able to me. You should not have any problems until you start going to the shows.

I would highly recommend using the 1 day touring plan on Easy WDW. Your plan looks pretty much in sync with his and Josh will give you "benchmarks" to kind of make sure you are on schedule. Very helpful!

Yes, I used the first part of his plan. I have had success with his plans before. I am now trying to incorporate the shows into the plan.

 

[NavyDad]

I personally think that it will be challenging to squeeze in all of your planned rides before the FP for M&G. I also agree with PP who said maybe riding Kali then sitting in a freezing cold theater may not be overly enjoyable.

There is zero chance they will have any problems doing those rides unless they get to the parks late or one of the rides is broken down. May even be able to ride EE a couple of times...