Kilimanjaro Safaris in December

[EpicRain]

Hey, so I may be over thinking this but I wanted to get some other opinions. We're going to Disney this December from the 2nd to the 6th. Just made FP+'s this weekend. Went for a Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ and the earliest time we could get on 12/5 (our planned AK day) was 10:55. I've always been of the mindset that earlier is better with the Safari, as that's when the day is cooler and animals may be more active, so I'm a little bummed by this. However this is December, so maybe it won't be as big of a deal? Do you think I should keep checking in to see if an earlier FP+ becomes available or just be happy with my 10:55 time?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

[Robo]

Hey, so I may be over thinking this but I wanted to get some other opinions. We're going to Disney this December from the 2nd to the 6th. Just made FP+'s this weekend. Went for a Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ and the earliest time we could get on 12/5 (our planned AK day) was 10:55. I've always been of the mindset that earlier is better with the Safari, as that's when the day is cooler and animals may be more active, so I'm a little bummed by this. However this is December, so maybe it won't be as big of a deal? Do you think I should keep checking in to see if an earlier FP+ becomes available or just be happy with my 10:55 time?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

We have ridden KS (again and again) during ALL day-parts.
Different and fun sightings on each and every trip.

A great attraction at any time of day.
(You'd be surprised at which animals are more visible later in the day.)

 

[MataHari22]

I have been on this ride all times of day and there's always animals out. Actually, one of the very best rides I've had, was near close. You should be fine with that time.

 

[greentea]

Our best safari rides were around 2pm and 5pm. I wouldn't stress over the time of day!

 

[Simba's Mom]

We have ridden KS (again and again) during ALL day-parts.
Different and fun sightings on each and every trip.

A great attraction at any time of day.
(You'd be surprised at which animals are more visible later in the day.)

Same here. I'm such a KS fan that one day, pre-FP+, I rode KS all day, alternating between FP and stand-by. My best ride ever (most active animals) was probably around noon one day.

 

[disnut8]

Hey, so I may be over thinking this but I wanted to get some other opinions. We're going to Disney this December from the 2nd to the 6th. Just made FP+'s this weekend. Went for a Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ and the earliest time we could get on 12/5 (our planned AK day) was 10:55. I've always been of the mindset that earlier is better with the Safari, as that's when the day is cooler and animals may be more active, so I'm a little bummed by this. However this is December, so maybe it won't be as big of a deal? Do you think I should keep checking in to see if an earlier FP+ becomes available or just be happy with my 10:55 time?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Agree with all the others. Have been on this attraction at all times during the day, during the rain (and it was fun) so just don't stress about it. Remember that you don't control the animals and they will be out as they please. That will happen on a sunny day, on a wet day, on a cloudy day, at 8 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, noon, 3 PM and 4 PM.

 

[d-train]

My best ride was at 5pm, hands down. Enjoy your time!

If it is really a sticky point for you, and you can't get first thing in the morning, keep your time, then when you arrive first thing, go straight back to it. Ride both times!

 

[EpicRain]

Alright, I'll stop worrying about it. Thanks everyone for the input!

 

[Jimsig]

Remember that you don't control the animals and they will be out as they please.

Wait, you mean they are not animatronic???

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I think that's a great time. We do it first as standby then single rider at Everest a couple times, Dinosaur and maybe Kali River, a trail or two, then the Safari again. We FP it about that time and then catch the noon Lion King Show and are done for the day.

 

[disnut8]

Wait, you mean they are not animatronic???

We did have one woman who said the cheetahs weren't real and I tend to agree with her because while everyone else sees them, I have to have my husband turn my head and point at them because I never see them until the darn jeep is going by. Freaking cheetahs

 

[ruthies12]

I don't have anything to say about the time but wanted to say that I'll be at AK that same day!! You and I must be reading the same crowd calendar

 

[MakiraMarlena]

last December, about that time, had to sit on the darned thing for a half hour because some critters had walked into the road. I would say that they were too active.

 

[NH-to-FL]

We have done that week a couple of times over the years. We did the Safari at rope drop and felt that the typically cool mornings seemed to lower the animal activity. You should be fine with the 10:55 time.

 

[EpicRain]

I don't have anything to say about the time but wanted to say that I'll be at AK that same day!! You and I must be reading the same crowd calendar

Ha, very cool! Seems like it should be a promising day!

last December, about that time, had to sit on the darned thing for a half hour because some critters had walked into the road. I would say that they were too active.

I think that would be so cool! I guess I better be careful what I wish for when it comes to animal activity!

 

[disnut8]

Ha, very cool! Seems like it should be a promising day!



I think that would be so cool! I guess I better be careful what I wish for when it comes to animal activity!

Over the years, we've had an ostrich get, well, a bit animated with a guest on the jeep and stick his/her head into the jeep for a further look. And we had a jeep driver tell us that it wasn't a chicken crossing the road but a rhino crossing the road and we had to wait until he got to the other side. Which took fifteen minutes because the rhino decide to stop and figure out if he really wanted to cross the road. The jeep driver asked us to sing some songs for a while because "we do not interfere with the animals out here, we are smart about that".

 

[revdon64]

I don't have anything to say about the time but wanted to say that I'll be at AK that same day!! You and I must be reading the same crowd calendar

Must be a different crowd calendar from the one I use. We weren't really planning a park that day (resort hopping to see the decorations), but I booked a couple FP+ at EPCOT because it was the most recommended park on my list and wanted to make sure that my son got to ride TT.

 

[LvsTnk]

Best ride hands down was during the absolute pouring down rain.

 

[porterbl1]

Why don't you just go there first from rope drop? That's our plan.

 

[Tennille]

Hey, so I may be over thinking this but I wanted to get some other opinions. We're going to Disney this December from the 2nd to the 6th. Just made FP+'s this weekend. Went for a Kilimanjaro Safaris FP+ and the earliest time we could get on 12/5 (our planned AK day) was 10:55. I've always been of the mindset that earlier is better with the Safari, as that's when the day is cooler and animals may be more active, so I'm a little bummed by this. However this is December, so maybe it won't be as big of a deal? Do you think I should keep checking in to see if an earlier FP+ becomes available or just be happy with my 10:55 time?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Always keep checking, people change their FP up until the last minute