Touring plan advice for AK WITHOUT EE

[marshallandcartersmo]

Thanks in advance for your opinions.........

We'll (DH, myself, 2DS's 5 & 2, DM, DDad, DBrother, DB's girlfriend and DBG's 3y/o son) be heading to WDW 4/22, plan on hitting AK first on 4/23, and getting there @ opening. What kind of touring plan do we need if riding EE isn't very high on our priority list?? Don't think we're going to attempt Dinosaur either........since this is day 1 of our boys very first trip to WDW, I don't want the pants scared off them!! I have the Unoffical Guide, but they aren't very specific about AK touring........

If time allows, and after we ride/do all the "young kid friendly" exhibits, the adults would like to do EE, but we all understand our priority this trip is the kids.

thanks!!

 

[MJMcBride]

I'm not a thrill ride guy but I love Dinosaur. Still, the kids seem a little young and might not make the height requirement anyway.

Definately do the Safari first then Lion King, then the Bug movie. That pretty much covers the heavy attendance stuff sans EE, Dinosaur, and the River Rapids. Go meet the characters. Do Triceratops spin. (maybe Dinosaur if you're up to it).

I would eat at the Flame Tree BBQ. Check out the other shows like Pocohontas and Flights of Wonder. Go to Rafiki Planet Watch. They can see vets at work and pet animals.

Save the River Rapids for the end if you can. You get soaked.

Have a blast. I love DAK

 

[WDWfor5]

We just came back and the kids liked Animal Kingdom but it doesn't need a full day for younger kids. Ours are DD 6, DS 4 and DS 2.We opened the park, ate a quickish breakfast at Tusker House and then headed to Kilamanjaro Safaris which they really enjoyed and then did the walking trail. They loved the Boneyard Playground and could have spent forever there. We did the Chester Hester Tricerotops Spin which was fine, Dinosaur scared my 6 yo and she **hated** primeval whirl. My DH didn't want to get wet so I don't know about Kali River Rapids but there's a 38" height restriction so that might not work for all of you.

You definetely have time for EE if you can do baby swap and to see the characters. Also make sure to see the parade - it was incredible and the kids just loved it.

Have fun

 

[MommyPoppins]

While everyone else will tell you to do the Safari first, I say, don't. Last year when we went we went into Dinoland first. Our reasons were simple, if you don't go there first the lines are super long and it is blazing hot. We child swapped Dinosaur because we had 2 kids who wanted to ride and 2 who were too little, while DH rode first with the boys I played with the little ones at the HUGE and super cool playground in Dinoland. I'd get someone to grap FP's for Safari and then go to Dinoland and do the dino dumbo ride, which my littles ones love, but it gets a long line later on. Then I would do ITTBAB on my way to my Safari FP. As soon as your next FP window opens gets FPs for EE, your return time will probably be several hours do to popularity, so you'll have time to spare in between. When your next FP window opens get Kali FP's so you can ride before you leave. Check show times for Lion King and check out the trails, we have never gone on the train thing to the petting zoo because you have to leave your stroller and I've heard it's a long hot walk once you get off the train. Maybe when all our kids can walk without complaining we'll try it out. Everyone always says to do the Safari first thing in the AM, but our best Safari ride was in the early afternoon. More animals were out cooling off in the shade of the trees and the elephants were all playing in the water holes cooling off, spraying water on eachother. If you do Dinoland first, you'll have the place to yourself, it's great!

 

[dizenthusiast]

I was going to write up my recommended "game plan," but it's so similar to MommyPoppins' that it's SCARY!

I think if the main group can head straight to the Dinosaur area and do the kiddie rides while one of you runs to Safari to get that first FP, that will work out GREAT!

It's amazing how short the lines for those Dinosaur rides are first thing in the morning (and equally amazing how many people head straight to the Safari, though those crowds will now be split with EE).

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

thanks for the advice...........sounds like hitting Dinoland first is the way to go! I'll send DDad to Safari for FPs!! I'm hoping we're arriving right when the spring breakers will be leaving, and our crowds will be low too!

Mommypoppins---did your older kids like Dinosaur?? My DS5 loves Dinosaurs, but doesn't like loud noises or to be scared.

Are there other things to do Dinosaur related besides the ride and the dig site? thanks!

 

[BAST]

We usually go to Dinoland first - it is really empty for at least 30-45 minutes. We then head to the safari, get a FP and eat breakfast at Tsuker House. Has worked great several times.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Mommypoppins---did your older kids like Dinosaur?? My DS5 loves Dinosaurs, but doesn't like loud noises or to be scared.
QUOTE]

My boys loved it and they were only 4 and 5. We talked about how it is just pretend and nothing to be afraid of. They went on first with DH and then wanted to ride again with me. Our picture was SOOOOOO funny. Both of my boys are looking right at the dinosaur with expressionless faces and I am cowering away and covering my face. If your kids understand real and pretend then I would think they would like it. I always say that if they want to ride something and aren't acting afraid, try it once. You never know.