Overplanning AK day??

[tabm01]

We are driving to WDW from Louisiana in May with our 4, 3, and 1 year olds, and my MIL is flying there to meet us. The first day we will drive 8 hours and spend the night in Tallahassee. From there we will have 4 hours to go. I'm thinking after showers and breakfast we should be on the road for 8 and get to disney at 12. Check in at OKW, and whether or not our room is ready we will head to AK. This is the only day I can fit AK in bc I want to do 2 MK days. The only things we really want to do are Kilimanjaro Safari, Nemo, and Lion King (but closed). So I'm thinking about scheduling fast passes from 2-5, and then heading to dinner at Boma at 6. If we leave the park at 5 will we make it to our reservation? Do we have to drive to the lodge from the park? If this plan works out then we should get the kids to bed at a decent hour to wake up bright and early for our first MK day

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Yes you will make the dinner reservation. The AKL is about a 12-15 minute ride from park.

Its best to drive from the park because the park sometimes closes as early as 6:00 p.m and you will not get a return bus to the park.

 

[MandiC]

I think your plan sounds good assuming you can get all the right fast passes. Keep in mind AK is a big park, lots of the attractions are very spread out. It really is a park I liked to take my time at and look around but if it's your only day than it's your only day. I agree with taking your own vehicle to AKL, as Animal Kingdom closes early.

 

[hpsalb]

This day sounds overwhelming to me, although I totally get trying to fit everything in I managed to fit all 4 parks into 3 days last year.

We are within driving distance and somewhat on the path you described. 4 hours from Tally is an absolute best case scenario IMO. If it were me, I still might try to fit in some AK time, especially if you could get the FP, but I would do a later dinner or skip the ADR. Or just do the dinner. That is so much rushing in one day and if something takes longer than planned it will mess up everything.

We had ADR's on our drive day last year and it ended up being a hassle to get unpacked and where we needed to be.

 

[uccats97]

Don't forget you are going to need to squeeze lunch in. I would do that either off property before you check in or in the resort quick service. Also, do the kids still nap? Mine were always ready for a nap after lunch. Maybe you could just do AK from 2-6, order a pizza from a chain and have it delivered when you get back to OKW and call it an early night. With 3 FP+ you shouldn't have a problem seeing the majority of AK in 4 hours.

 

[ajwolfe]

I think it's a doable plan. I don't know the hours for AK that day, but is it possible to stay a bit later (if they are open to 6) and then schedule Boma for 7. You would still be back at your resort by a reasonable time and then you would have an extra hour in the park. Just a thought.

 

[cruisingtwins]

You know your kids best but at those ages it really sounds like it's too much. Even for me after a long road trip I would want to take some time to unwind.

 

[caselaw3]

I am not sure about the rest of the family or how many times you have been but you may not want to discount AK for the kiddos...my 3 and 4 year old didn't want to leave - we ended up spending 2 full days there....
there is the Wilderness Explorers - if the kids have watched Up - they might really get into this - - We had to go back for the second day so that they could get more badges....
also - the petting zoo closed early when we were there (4pm) and that was a big part of the fun for the kids at AK....

I think you can definitely get everything done - but I think that it is really worth giving AK a day if you can - or at the very least - do morning - the animals seem much more active after breakfast but before lunch.....and they go in early for dinner.....so you might not get to see all of them