Never been to AK and wanting tips!

[PreeningPixie]

I finally got some tickets and have decided that this time I want to try Animal Kingdom since I've never been before! However, since I'm so unfamiliar with the park, I don't know all the little tips and tricks, what to do, what not to do, etc like I do with the other Disney parks.

So, this post is for anyone who's been out there enough times to know some of the good tips! I'd imagine that I should get something like Expedition Everest and Dinosaur done in the morning before it starts getting packed in the afternoon. What about the other things? I'm very anxious to go on their Safari ride...does it matter what time I we decide to get on that? Is that pretty fast or will there usually be a long wait?

Any other tips you think might be usful for someone visiting AK for the first time, please share. Thanks

 

[jerseyboy00]

When you get to the tree, take a left and go get a fast pass for the Safari than go ride Everest. If you are there in the morning, you could ride Everest 2 - 3 times with little wait, by the time your safari pass is good.

 

[PreeningPixie]

Thanks, I'll remember that!

 

[Safari Queen]

JerseyBoy has it exactly right. Fast passes are often gone by lunch time. Get a new fast pass every time you're eligible and you'll be able to do the Safari, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, etc. It's a lot of walking but makes it possible to do everything with little waiting. In between you can walk through the two animal trails in Africa and Asia, see It's Tough to be a Bug (a big theater, so it's rarely a long wait) and the fabulous shows, Festival of the Lion King and Nemo. Flights of WOnder is also fun. The shows are not to be missed! Something some people miss: when you go from Africa to Asia, past the drums, look for Devine, an amazing plant woman!

 

[Disneydd2]

Both "The Festival of the Lion King" and "The Finding Nemo Show" are really good shows. If you're looking for a great place to catch a bite, try Flame Tree Barbeque- the chicken was deliscious and quite generously portioned. Have a great time!

 

[HonnyDipp]

These are great tips guys, thanks!

 

[swankybeth]

Another tip is to use the "secret entrance" inside the Rainforest Cafe gift shop. They open it up around 8:45 am and there is never anyone else there. We use it every time we go to AK and there is maybe one family behind us, max.

 

[t_catt11]

Make sure to catch Festival of the Lion King... it's my family's favorite show in all of Disney. Don't get discouraged if the line seems long, the theater holds a TON of people.

Pay attention to the parade times and routes; if you are on the wrong side of a parade when you are trying to get somewhere (and don't get me wrong, I love the parades), you may be out of luck. Animal Kingdom can be one of the hardest parks to get around parades.

 

[jerseyboy00]

Also, Lion King and Flights of Wonder are cant miss shows.

 

[IUHoosiers]

As you've already heard...don't miss the Lion King show. Awesome!

We were there this past Sunday. We got a FP for the Safari around 11:00AM. When we returned around 12:30 PM for our FP time, I noticed a sign that there were no more FP available for the day. Definitely get your FP early!

Have a good trip!

 

[CarolA]

IMHO this park is unique.

Therefore try not to treat it like the MK where you are RACING from ride to ride... Slow down "smell the roses" take the animal trails, go over to Planet Watch and see if they are doing surgery on anything....

If you go racing from ride to ride, you come back with

"It's hot and I walked too much."


When you could have been watching Tigers or Gorillas play!


Also, if you are there at closing take a LAST Safari. Practically no lines after the parade in my experience and if you get one of the very last ones you can see some COOL stuff. THe animals are out moving towards the barn and it's fun to watch!

 

[cissy]

I concur with the previous posters; Lion King, Nemo and Flights are must see shows. Safari and Everest are must ride attractions.

We went in December and saw everything we wanted in one day but I wish we had spent two days at this wonderful park. We followed the UG plan fairly closely and it was perfect and right on target. However, as stated, we went in early December so I am sure that it was a lot easier to follow the guide.

Good luck!

 

[PreeningPixie]

Thanks everyone, I will definitely remember to get a fast pass for the Safari early on, and all the other interest tips. And I do know what you mean about rushing through the parks. It's always so much easier when I go out to the MK or MGM because I've been out there so many times, I know what I want to do and what I can pass up...with a new park I'm trying to make sure I don't try and take on too much at once cause you spend so much time rushing around to get things done you hardly have time to enjoy it!

 

[tinkandpan]

I second DEF get those safari passes in the am- we were there the slowest week in January and by 1:00 they were out of passes and the wait was 80 minutes. I'm not a coaster person so we didn't do EE. What I really wanted to see last time was Lion King so we went and did the first show and THEN got passes for Safari. In the meantime we took the train out to the conservation station (you could probably skip this unless you have someone really interested in either trains or animal science.
I have to suggest TUSKER house for lunch- it's right next to the safari and it was a terrific meal.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Get there early and just stroll. Don't race around, even if you wanna ride everest.

Walk around the different animal trails, and just appreciate the decore of everything. Btw, I'm addicted to Kali River Rapids, it's great for those hot days when you want nothing else than to bathe in ice water.

 

[iluvdiznee]

If you go on a morning EMH, would the same strategy apply? We have never been but I was thinking of doing the Safari first thing hoping the animals were fresh, frisky, and ready for the day. Please tell me if I need to do EE first and get the FP for the Safari. Thanks!

 

[froggygrrrl]

Before EE, the Safari would be our first ride/fastpass for the day. We have always enjoyed the Safari, but have loved it even more in the past few trips since EE has been open. Why? Well, EE now gets our first FP, right when the park opens. (We also use the "secret" RC entrance, although I think the jig is up, because when we were there 2 weeks ago we stood in a line to enter the park there!)

The last few trips we have been getting FPs mid to late morning for the Safari, with a return time of early afternoon (one o'clock hour-ish). Those safaris have been the BEST! So, if you are not visiting during peak season, don't immediately assume that the Safari must be the first thing you do.

I adore AK. I know a lot of people bypass it or think that it is inferior to the other Disney parks, but I disagree. It is definitely just as good, or better, than the other parks on property; it just has a bit of a different flair.

Enjoy!

 

[floridawannabe]

When we went in Aug 06, we did the Safari right away and then got Everest fastpasses, but by that time (~9:45AM) the fastpasses were for ~2:15PM. Don't wait too long. We enjoy the Safari ride, I loved Everest, and we really liked Flights of Wonder.

As for food, we were there on an extremely crowded day, all the restaurants were packed. My family went back to the hotel so I picked up a Turkey leg and a bottle of water, found a shady area along a trail by The Tree of Life exit way and sat down and ate my lunch. Most of the kids who saw me thought I was nuts though their parents thought I had the right idea.

 

[wdwfann]

So what's the consensus? Ride Safari first and get a fastpass for Everest? Or Ride Everest and get a fast pass for Safari?

 

[WDWguru]

IMHO this park is unique.

Therefore try not to treat it like the MK where you are RACING from ride to ride... Slow down "smell the roses" take the animal trails, go over to Planet Watch and see if they are doing surgery on anything....

If you go racing from ride to ride, you come back with

"It's hot and I walked too much."


When you could have been watching Tigers or Gorillas play!


Also, if you are there at closing take a LAST Safari. Practically no lines after the parade in my experience and if you get one of the very last ones you can see some COOL stuff. THe animals are out moving towards the barn and it's fun to watch!

I just have to second EVERYTHING Carol said here. DO NOT COMMANDO THIS PARK! It's an entirely different experience and a lot of people miss that by attacking it like the rest of MK. Take it easy, take it in, and you'll love it!