RD at HS & Afternoon at AK w/out FP...will it work?!

Disneymom1126

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DD(7) and I are going in October and I'm trying to fit both AK & HS in on the same day, but then go to MK for MSEP & Wishes since the other days we are there it's MNSSHP...

HS has an 8am EMH and I think we can do quite a bit at AK in the last few hours and then save our fastpasses for MSEP & Wishes so we don't have to fight the crowds. Has anyone done something similar? How'd it go for you?

We'd plan to head straight to TSMM at rope drop (right now no fastpasses are available for our date anyway) then hit Tower of Terror and Star Tours, then see the Frozen show and head to AK for lunch - see the 3:00 Nemo show then hit up a few rides and leave the park when it closes at 6 and head to MK...doable?
 
DD(7) and I are going in October and I'm trying to fit both AK & HS in on the same day, but then go to MK for MSEP & Wishes since the other days we are there it's MNSSHP...

HS has an 8am EMH and I think we can do quite a bit at AK in the last few hours and then save our fastpasses for MSEP & Wishes so we don't have to fight the crowds. Has anyone done something similar? How'd it go for you?

We'd plan to head straight to TSMM at rope drop (right now no fastpasses are available for our date anyway) then hit Tower of Terror and Star Tours, then see the Frozen show and head to AK for lunch - see the 3:00 Nemo show then hit up a few rides and leave the park when it closes at 6 and head to MK...doable?

Yup.
(Although I'd leave DAK by 5:15-5:30, or so.)
 
Personally I'd avoid the EMH. Id go to AK when the animals are more active in the morning and then go to HS after. That's just me. I think AK is the hottest park there is!! You could have FPs for HS, hit Kilimanjaro rope drop and single rider Everest if needed, hit Dino or a show and then hop to HS.

Thats how we do it. But its a free country, you can swap if you want. I think EMH is pretty tough lately. (Like everyone on property goes THERE that day, the same time and reason you do! All the resorts start in one park unlike spreading out the possibilities of four parks instead....)
 
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We went to Animal Kingdom first of June with about 3 hours left until park closing. We had used our 3 fastpasses at our morning park. We did Kilimanjaro Safari (posted wait was 40 minutes but it took about 20), Kali River rapids (we did get a fastpass for this once we got to the park), Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest. There was no time for extra things like enjoying the park itself, but we don't care about that. We do like some of the carnival type rides but ran out of time for those. Besides the Safari and Kali, posted waits were about 15 minutes. I'm sure Kali wait time in October won't be as bad. It worked for us.
 

We went to Animal Kingdom first of June with about 3 hours left until park closing. We had used our 3 fastpasses at our morning park. We did Kilimanjaro Safari (posted wait was 40 minutes but it took about 20), Kali River rapids (we did get a fastpass for this once we got to the park), Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest. There was no time for extra things like enjoying the park itself, but we don't care about that. We do like some of the carnival type rides but ran out of time for those. Besides the Safari and Kali, posted waits were about 15 minutes. I'm sure Kali wait time in October won't be as bad. It worked for us.

Thanks! This is helpful. We were just there last November for 8 days and this trip is only 3 days so we're really just looking to hit our favorites and some things we haven't done before (i.e. last time we saw the Lion King show so this time we want to see the Nemo show). So the "no time for enjoying the extra things" is okay for us. Last time we even went on the different walking paths throughout the park to see animals...we'll be okay skipping that this trip!
 
Personally I'd avoid the EMH. Id go to AK when the animals are more active in the mkrniy and then go to HS after. That's just me. I think AK is the hottest park there is!! You could have FPs for HS, hit Kilimanjaro rope drop and single rider Everest if needed, hit Dino or a show and then hop to HS.

Thats how we do it. But its a free country, you can swap if you want. I think EMH is pretty tough lately. (Like everyone on property goes THERE that day, the same time and reason you do! All the resorts start in one park unlike spreading out the possibilities of four parks instead....)

I've thought about doing this plan as well...we probably aren't going to do Kilimanjaro and since we are doing MK the day before (till 7) and are only really going there for MSEP and Wishes...and it will be a Saturday with parties the two days before and the day after, I feel like MSEP & Wishes will be extra crowded, so I am hoping saving our FP for those later in the day will help us avoid the insanity of Main Street. The way I'm thinking it through (probably over-thinking it) is that HS will be busier overall that day than AK, so rope drop lines will be shorter at HS than the lines between 3-6pm at HS, but I will probably be okay from 3-6pm at AK with standby wait times...does that make sense? lol
 
I've thought about doing this plan as well...we probably aren't going to do Kilimanjaro and since we are doing MK the day before (till 7) and are only really going there for MSEP and Wishes...and it will be a Saturday with parties the two days before and the day after, I feel like MSEP & Wishes will be extra crowded, so I am hoping saving our FP for those later in the day will help us avoid the insanity of Main Street. The way I'm thinking it through (probably over-thinking it) is that HS will be busier overall that day than AK, so rope drop lines will be shorter at HS than the lines between 3-6pm at HS, but I will probably be okay from 3-6pm at AK with standby wait times...does that make sense? lol

Any reason to assume that HS will be busier than AK?
 
I have never used a FP at AK. I go close to rope drop and head straight to the safari (I'm not a rush in rope drop crowd person). After that I hit EE, then back track to hike the trail. After that I hit whatever shows I want to hit. As far as rides go, I'm done there if I want to be, if I'm in the mood I'll do standby for Dinosaur or hit Nemo. I've been out of the park on some mornings by 11 with no FP and not rushing.

As far as HS, the stand by for ToT can be long but it's kind of fun so I don't bother getting FP for it either, can take or leave TS but if you want that one and don't want to wait, you are most likely going to have to FP it.

No need to FP wishes, there are plenty of places to watch it without one (hint right beside the FP area outside of Casey's if you get there about 15 min. before) not sure about the parade since I'm not a parade person but maybe on the top steps outside the courthouse or whatever it is called where guest services are. You could just follow the parade as it moves on and get your spot for wishes (can you still stand on the top where the train runs? If so, that would be a good place to watch both the parade and wishes)
 
My only concern about a schedule that rigarous is that the kids will get tired and start getting cranky. Otherwise, I think it's possible.
 
Any reason to assume that HS will be busier than AK?

Josh on EasyWDW says so...and he's never steered me wrong before haha...I agree with him though that the EMH at HS will pull some people in and then there will be a lot of people headed to MK because it's one of the only days that week that people can see MSEP and wishes with MNSSHP most other days...and then Epcot will pull in a lot of people because of Food & Wine
 
My only concern about a schedule that rigarous is that the kids will get tired and start getting cranky. Otherwise, I think it's possible.

I agree! I'm hoping because our mid-day is somewhat slow (Frozen show, lunch, nemo show) that will help. I have an unusual 7 year old...when she was 4 she was able to do rope drop to fireworks and didn't use a stroller....but I definitely understand that this would not be possible with many kids!
 
No need to FP wishes, there are plenty of places to watch it without one (hint right beside the FP area outside of Casey's if you get there about 15 min. before) not sure about the parade since I'm not a parade person but maybe on the top steps outside the courthouse or whatever it is called where guest services are. You could just follow the parade as it moves on and get your spot for wishes (can you still stand on the top where the train runs? If so, that would be a good place to watch both the parade and wishes)

Hmm....this is definitely something to consider! I think the top of the steps where the train runs might be closed because the train isn't running right now through I think November...can anyone confirm that?
 
I think the top of the steps where the train runs might be closed because the train isn't running right now through

The upper level the RR station overlooking Main Street will be open, even when the trains are not operating.
 


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