Is this possible?

[jester125]

Whats your opinion?
My family and I (2 adults 2 kids, ages 3 & 7) will be going to WDW in a week and we are staying at the Caribbean Resort from the 29th to the 5th. We made reservations for Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet Character Breakfast at the Contemporary for Saturday at 8:50 am. On the same Saturday Animal Kingdom opens at 7am for the Morning Extra Magic Hour. Is it possible to get the family up early and go to Animal Kingdom, do JUST the Kilimanjaro Safari and get back to the Contemporary for the breakfast at 8:50am or should we just try another day to do the Safari? I really want to do the Safari first thing in the morning because I've heard from quite a few people that to see the animals you've got to be there as early as possible before they go and hide in the shade. My wife thinks its possible but after talking to a few people at work I really don't. What do you think?
Thanks, Chris

 

[zurgswife]

If you get up and get one of the first busses to AK...get right in ....head to Kali and get on quickly ....That could take close to over an hour which would leave you less then 45mins to get a bus back to Contemporary...It could work but you would have to be sprinting the entire time...

Remember entry to the parks has slowed down considerably due to almost all guest having to do the biometric measuring of fingers....the waits are quite long at time..

 

[Bob P]

Jester,

It's definitely possible, but you'll be cutting it close!

Good luck!

Bob

 

[WDSearcher]

Nope. You won't make it. Even if you do manage to get on the very first safari and then leave immediately, it takes a while to get through the park, to your car, and then over to the Contemporary. (And if you're taking Disney transportation, forget it ... the bus ride is longer than the car ride.) DAK and the Contemporary aren't at all close to each other. You won't enjoy the safari, because you'll be watching the clock, and you'll be literally running out of DAK, which means by the time you make your breakfast time, you'll be tired and sweaty.

You do not need to be on the safari first thing in the morning to see the most animals, and the week you're going it's not nearly hot and humid enough yet to affect their behavior. Remember ... these animals are indigenous to AFRICA. It's hot there too, y'know?

I always take the last safari of the day, and I've never been disappointed with the number of animals I saw. Even on the hottest days of August, the last safari of the day was always great.

 

[Pixiedusttravel]

It's possible. But, IMHO (which I will probably get flamed for) I would not stress myself out trying to be at AK for EMH. The thing about the animals being out first thing in the morning makes the lines for the Safari an hour+ long when the Park opens.

I've been on AK's Safari a lot of times, and to be honest, I've seen more animals in the mid-afternoon. Also, in all those times, the line has never been more than 10 minutes in the mid-afternoon either.

My advice: Take your time, and enjoy your breakfast.

 

[mommystieg]

A good rule of thumb for traveling between parks, between resorts or from a park to a resort is to allow at least an hour for travel time--especially if you are using Disney transportation. I had the same type of idea last year--I wanted to try and catch the 4:00 pm parade at AK and then go to our 5:00 pm PS for 1900 Park Fare. We use our own car but everyone here still said it would pretty much be impossible...We have done the Safari a little later in the day and still have seen lots of animals.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Whats your opinion?
My family and I (2 adults 2 kids, ages 3 & 7) will be going to WDW in a week and we are staying at the Caribbean Resort from the 29th to the 5th. We made reservations for Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet Character Breakfast at the Contemporary for Saturday at 8:50 am. On the same Saturday Animal Kingdom opens at 7am for the Morning Extra Magic Hour. Is it possible to get the family up early and go to Animal Kingdom, do JUST the Kilimanjaro Safari and get back to the Contemporary for the breakfast at 8:50am or should we just try another day to do the Safari? I really want to do the Safari first thing in the morning because I've heard from quite a few people that to see the animals you've got to be there as early as possible before they go and hide in the shade. My wife thinks its possible but after talking to a few people at work I really don't. What do you think?
Thanks, Chris

First off, I do not recommend AK on an EMH morning. It's absolutely nuts! We did this too and just did the safari and almost didn't make it back to Boma for a 9:00 am ps for breakfast. However, we arrived just before 8:00 am and we were far back in the line and not right at the entrance so we weren't the first ones in. It's a long walk back to the safari and then a long way back to the bus stop. I think you would be stressed to the max to get to Chef Mickey's.

I would try doing the safari on a different morning...non EMH morning too. I do recommend that you do the safari early though. It is much better early in the day.

 

[pixie08]

IMHO it is possible but maybe you will be too frantic to enjoy it!!!! I would wait until your planned AK day. Enter the park (be waiting for it to open)...quickly grab a FastPass to bugs life..then head over to KS! It will still be more than early enough to view the animals and there shouldn't be TOO much of a wait...This is JMHO...I like to have a plan but not be running around like a chicken w/out a head!!!!

 

[jester125]

Thanks all, I guess we will do the AK Safari on another day. My wife and I really want to enjoy the breakfast with the kids.
Chris

 

[minmate]

By the way, we've been on the first Kilamanjaro Safari twice now and I was not overly impressed with the number of animals we saw. Don't get me wrong, we did see many, but not really anything more impressive than we saw midday... maybe the AK EMH would work for you if there is one when you're there... once it cools off later in the day, I've heard that can be a good time too!

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Whats your opinion?
My family and I (2 adults 2 kids, ages 3 & 7) will be going to WDW in a week and we are staying at the Caribbean Resort from the 29th to the 5th. We made reservations for Chef Mickey's Fun Time Buffet Character Breakfast at the Contemporary for Saturday at 8:50 am. On the same Saturday Animal Kingdom opens at 7am for the Morning Extra Magic Hour. Is it possible to get the family up early and go to Animal Kingdom, do JUST the Kilimanjaro Safari and get back to the Contemporary for the breakfast at 8:50am or should we just try another day to do the Safari? I really want to do the Safari first thing in the morning because I've heard from quite a few people that to see the animals you've got to be there as early as possible before they go and hide in the shade. My wife thinks its possible but after talking to a few people at work I really don't. What do you think?
Thanks, Chris

ok here's the deal. Assuming the park opens when you say it opens then yes it is very doable - HOWEVER - You have to have YOUR OWN CAR !!!! And you need to show up 30 minutes early to AK. I am trying to imagine AK opening at 7am but asssuming it does. IF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN CAR ... you arrive way early. That means you will be parking very close to the front gate. Last time we went we drove to AK from the contemporary. It is 20 minutes max. Not only were we early for the gate opening at the turnstiles...we also were there before they would even allow cars into the parking lot. When you are there that early you park very close to the front gate so getting to your car after you are done with a quick safari is no problem.

But if you do not have your own car? and you don't get up very early? Hey ...forget it... schedule the PS for some other time or go to AK on a different day.