Safari better in morning or evening

[temple4]

During the hot, crowded summer months, is the Safari at Animal Kingdom better first thing in the morning or is better at around 5 in the evening? Is that where everyone heads at rope drop?

 

[Gillian]

Either time is good. It does get very busy first thing, but if the line is too long when you arrive, you can grab a fastpass. If it's not long you can still get a fastpass, ride & then ride again.

We also like to ride after the parade. The animals are often active at that time too.

 

[Kali]

If you're asking about the length of the line, yes, everybody does flock there first thing in the morning. Still, if you're there when the park first opens and go with the crowd you might walk right on or just wait a short while. Then again, the lines also are pretty short towards the end of the day too.

If you were asking because you've heard that the animals are more active in the morning or in the evening rather than noon, I'm not sure that applies anymore. By the time the park opens the sun's been out for a few hours and it will be around for a few more hours after it closes.

So my suggestion is that if you're there when the park opens to go the other way. Hit Dinoland and Asia which will be empty and then just grab a FastPass for the Safari when you get to Africa. Depending on your return time you should have time to take the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch or possibly catch a Festival of the Lion King Show.

 

[gshoemate]

I've heard that they feed the animals around 3:30 and they are out and about. They are also vary active right after it rains.

 

[harperwi]

While I tend to agree with the suggestion of going "the other way," by maybe heading to Dinosaur while everyone else races to Africa (that's a strange visual - everyone racing to Africa)...I wanted to point out that the Dinosaur alternative isn't possible if you're there during the Extra Magic Hour. Dino don't open 'til 9, I believe.

I'd definitely take my chances with the "safari mad dash" at 8:00 when EMH starts - and ride twice with a fastpass.

Jon

 

[momof2sons]

We just returned from WDW. We went to dinoland first. Dinosaure ride was down do to tech difficulties but we got to ride the primeval whirl 3 times and triceious top spin 6 times no wait. Then went to see It's a bug life and back to the dinosaure ride and it was open with 10 min wait standby line more like 5 min wait. We then had lunch and left do to hot and getting crowded. We returned on Saturday afternoon to finish rest of park only stood in line for 10 min to ride safari ride. Most of the animals where out and about even seen the new baby hippo.