RD at AK . . . Everest or Safari first?

[wdwrule]

We mainly want to do these 2 rides in AK during the morning hours then head over to HS in the afternoon to use Fp+ there. Which one would you suggest hitting first at RD in stand-by lines: Everest or Safari? Thanks!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I'd do Safari first, then use the single rider line at Everest and you'll be done with both by 10am.

 

[popgfd]

Do the safari b/c the animals generally are out of the bushes and closer to the roads. The food for the animals is laid out in specific locations and the animals wait patiently for it.

In the afternoon the animals go for the shade and not so many are visible.

Pop

 

[lugnut33]

AK is more than a half day park.

 

[winthropf]

I like the safari first because the animals are more active earlier in the day.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

AK is more than a half day park.

Every....single.....AK......thread.....

 

[ajwolfe]

I would do safari first. Lines always seem longer for it and the animals are more active in the morning hours.

 

[wdwrule]

Thanks for the replies! It sounds like it will be safari first! That makes sense, too, with the animals being out early. As for the half day in AK, this will be fine as we've done this every year for the past 6 or so years. We mainly only visit that park for those couple of rides. Thanks again!

 

[ArielDreams]

I will take the opposite opinion then! We have had no problem running straight to Everest right at rope drop and being able to ride it at least twice with no line. Then we head to the safari for a FP (if it's even needed), walk around Africa and then return for our time.

 

[LaurenT]

I will take the opposite opinion then! We have had no problem running straight to Everest right at rope drop and being able to ride it at least twice with no line. Then we head to the safari for a FP (if it's even needed), walk around Africa and then return for our time.

Problem with this is that they will be doin FP at another park. They won't be using any at AK.
I would also do Safari first. In my experience, during less than peak days, EE actually has a pretty short line during the first hour - and if you find a long line, single rider is usually a good option as long as stand by is 40 minutes or less (it just seems that when wait times top 40 more people head to the single rider line and it winds up being just or almost as long)

 

[wareagle57]

Let me make a case for EE first. I will always do it first for 2 reasons.

1. I like to ride it more than once and that's easy to do at rope drop even without the single rider line

2. EE is a short experience while Safari you are looking at at least 30 minutes. That means you aren't getting to EE until around 9:40, which is plenty of time for that line to build. But if you hit EE first, you can get to the Safari by 9:15 and the wait time won't be impacted that much. I don't see how 15 minutes would make much difference in the animal's locations either.

If you only want to ride EE once though, it's probably a toss up.

 

[amym2]

Let me make a case for EE first. I will always do it first for 2 reasons.

1. I like to ride it more than once and that's easy to do at rope drop even without the single rider line

2. EE is a short experience while Safari you are looking at at least 30 minutes. That means you aren't getting to EE until around 9:40, which is plenty of time for that line to build. But if you hit EE first, you can get to the Safari by 9:15 and the wait time won't be impacted that much. I don't see how 15 minutes would make much difference in the animal's locations either.

If you only want to ride EE once though, it's probably a toss up.

This is what we're planning to do. Last visit I think we rode EE 4 or 5 times and then headed to the safari. I think we waited 30-40min in the safari line.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Safari first then EE.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

I like the safari first because the animals are more active earlier in the day.

I have seen people say this all the time, but I always then find stories that say it isn't true. I am not singling you out either I just have read several times that Disney has practices in place to keep the animals active through out the day.
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...r-favorite-animals-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Every....single.....AK......thread.....

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Pemba78]

Glad to see this discussion - I wanted to get on the Safari *first thing* this Sept but the 1st avail FP time is 10:30.... I also feel like it's best to hit the safari first thing due to animals and their routine & meals... I bet if we just head that way we will be able to ride prior to that time? We are due at Tusker at 11:35....

 

[Mad Hattered]

Glad to see this discussion - I wanted to get on the Safari *first thing* this Sept but the 1st avail FP time is 10:30.... I also feel like it's best to hit the safari first thing due to animals and their routine & meals... I bet if we just head that way we will be able to ride prior to that time? We are due at Tusker at 11:35....

If you get there at RD and head straight to the Safari then you will have a minimal wait. Even if you use a FP at 10:30 you should have plenty of time to get to Tusker house (which is really close by). Now, if those pesky giraffes stand in the middle of the road for 20 minutes then you may be cutting it close.

 

[Pemba78]

What is RD? I'm catching most abbreviations but there are so many here! Hehehe...

 

[Mad Hattered]

What is RD? I'm catching most abbreviations but there are so many here! Hehehe...

Sorry about that. RD is rope drop. Get there around 30 minutes before the park opens.

 

[Kat913]

What is RD? I'm catching most abbreviations but there are so many here! Hehehe...

Rope Drop.