Safari - ride first or FP?

[Jenny]

we were at rope drop last nov. 05 at AK & we couldn't believe how everyone went right to the safari...it said 10 min. for the standby line but it seemed like more people & more of a wait than that so we decided to get a fp....we ended up waiting in line when we returned in the FP line for almost 25 min. b/c there was reportedly a giraffe on the path.

are the standby minutes-to-wait signs accurate? we just assumed that it was more than a 10 min. wait b/c of all of the people. what do you think?

 

[bleeps]

There's no question that *everyone* seems to be in on the guidebook tip and stampedes to the safari first thing! The little secret that worked for us last week was to go to the safari at about 9:20 or so (AK opened at 9 that day, and we'd gotten in at 8 for breakfast at Restaurantosaurus). The initial rush had gotten through and we essentially walked on (just had to queue up for our "jeep" at the very end, where they sort you into your rows). What we witnessed was that the standyby wait time STARTED at 30 minutes (can't say this for a fact, but it appeared that CMs now expect this rush and start the day out with a 30 minute wait posted) -- but, as I say, by about 9:20 it was down to less than 5 minutes.

You can certainly grab a FP, but if you'd rather save that for another ride, or don't want to have to walk back and forth, just plan to arrive roughly 20 minutes or so after park opening and I do think you'll be all right. (BTW, if you haven't seen Flights of Wonder yet, which is the live bird show in AK, be sure to see it!).

On your final point, we found that our wait times (12/3 to 12/10 -- last week) were always either right on the money or the wait was shorter than the estimate posted -- but we NEVER get in a line that's posted for more than a 20-minute wait. Hope that helps!

 

[Jenny]

good to know that the initial rush dies down within the first 1/2 hr. that's what it was - a huge rush to the safari at 9 a.m. when the park opened. like you said, the secret is out.

also good to know that the wait signs are accurate. i guess what we'll do is to set a policy - if the standby sign is 15-20 min or less (the most we'd normally wait in a fastpass line) then we'll wait.

we'll see - we could also get a FP & walk the Pangani Trail while waiting. last time, we got a FP then went to ITTBB - a little too much back & forth for us.

we're going in late jan so hopefully it won't be too crowded anyway.

 

[jcriket]

On your final point, we found that our wait times (12/3 to 12/10 -- last week) were always either right on the money or the wait was shorter than the estimate posted -- but we NEVER get in a line that's posted for more than a 20-minute wait. Hope that helps!

Yep thats true, although sometimes they can be longer, once while waiting for SM it said 20 minutes and it we waited forever. Well once we got off the ride the wait time said 90 minutes!
Sometimes if the line seems longer or shorter than the time indicated you can ask the CM and they can kinda tell how long it might actually take.

And I agree with bleeps the wait does die down after a half hour, just take your time walking over there and by the time you get there you should be able to get on in a short amount of time.

 

[jennypenny]

Get a fast pass (which should be a very early time) and go in and see the gorillas. They feed them first thing in the morning so you get a good look at them. By the time you get through the pagani trail your fp should be up.

 

[bleeps]

once while waiting for SM it said 20 minutes and it we waited forever. Well once we got off the ride the wait time said 90 minutes!

We were amazed, just amazed, last week at how often SM either broke down or was stopped, for whatever reason (maybe they need to stop the whole ride in order to load/unload wheelchair/disabled riders)? I think with some rides, like Splash, it is very possible (even likely) that something outside the control of the CMs slows or stops ride loading progress -- and if you're deep within that line inside, waiting to ride SM, you'd never know what the hold up was.... That would be outside the realm of the ride time estimates, indeed.