Touring plan for AK w/Breakfastosaurus

[jamstew]

I'm hoping someone has experience with this!

I'm trying to figure out how to negotiate AK around an early character breakfast (no later than 8:15 if possible), assuming AK on a Sunday in May with a projected crowd level of 5 and park hours 9-6. The kids will be 4, 5 and 6. They're all adventurous and we plan to ride Dinosaur but not EE.

Dinosaur is so close to Restaurantosaurus, it seems to me like it would make sense to go ahead and do DinoLand first, but that totally turns the UG touring plan around, and I'm afraid we'll miss Kilimanjaro Safari.

Since the park isn't open late, we won't be taking a rest break but would like to leave after the parade unless we've missed something important. What makes sense?

Another issue is with the breakfast time. We won't have a car so will be taking the bus from WL to AK. It's my understanding that the buses don't start running until 8:00 for a 9:00 park opening, which wouldn't allow an early breakfast. I've considered taking a cab, but there are 7 of us. Do the cab companies use vans, or just regular cars? Would I need to arrange this ahead of time? HELP!

 

[pospisil]

I'm no good at touring plans, but I wanted to answer the question about the buses. They do have buses that start running a lot earlier to get you to your breakfast on time, don't worry about that at all. Ask at the concierge desk at your hotel and they can tell you exactly when they start. We went in Sept 2005 and had an 8:15 ADR at breakfastosaurus, and had no problems.

Also, we went directly to Dinosaur after breakfast, and were the first ones to ride that day. They let us ride by ourselves, and gave us a free ride photo. My 4 year old didn't like that ride at all, though. He said it was too dark and scary. In the picture, he's hunkered down between DH and myself with a VERY worried look on his face.

 

[yettimedic]

My wife and I went to the breakfastosaurus the bus starts early for just this reason i would recomend getting the earliest reservation you can so that you are done before the park opens, not that i am saying you should hurry because this was the best breakfast my wife and i had on the trip with the atmosphere and the characters. but once they open the park people will start running from the entrance my suggestion would be to either go to the Everest ride if anyone in you party wants to do this ride and get a fast pass then go to Dinosaur and ride

 

[Robo]

I'm hoping someone has experience with this!

I'm trying to figure out how to negotiate AK around an early character breakfast (no later than 8:15 if possible), assuming AK on a Sunday in May with a projected crowd level of 5 and park hours 9-6. The kids will be 4, 5 and 6. They're all adventurous and we plan to ride Dinosaur but not EE.

Dinosaur is so close to Restaurantosaurus, it seems to me like it would make sense to go ahead and do DinoLand first, but that totally turns the UG touring plan around, and I'm afraid we'll miss Kilimanjaro Safari.

Since the park isn't open late, we won't be taking a rest break but would like to leave after the parade unless we've missed something important. What makes sense?

Another issue is with the breakfast time. We won't have a car so will be taking the bus from WL to AK. It's my understanding that the buses don't start running until 8:00 for a 9:00 park opening, which wouldn't allow an early breakfast. I've considered taking a cab, but there are 7 of us. Do the cab companies use vans, or just regular cars? Would I need to arrange this ahead of time? HELP!

Buses to parks start running every day at about 6:40am. (Ignore the 1 hour before... its a myth.)

IMO, EE is a MUCH "gentler" ride than Dinosaur.

NOTE: Dinosaur is, by far, the roughest, loudest, "jump-out-and-scare-you" ride at WDW.
Its PURPOSE is to "scare" the heck out of you!
I love Dino, but its not for "little kids," and might ruin the day for them (especially that early.)

After breakfast, all guests will be held inside Dinoland until the guests at the main rope-drop are released.

Then, you (like nearly everyone else from rope-drop) may go to EE (I highly recommend EE) or Safari (if not EE, first-thing... go directly to Safari after they release you.)

Dinosaur, Kali, Tough to Be a Bug will all have less lines than Safari and EE.

Its Tough to Be a Bug is a VERY frightening attraction for many kids, too.
Great fun, if you know its all "pretend"... but things come right AT you (physically, as well as the 3D), "things" actually poke and tickle you (physically) and there is a point where the whole theater is ENGULFED in a heavy "bug spray" FOG in a matter of seconds.
If you are a kid, it can be overwhelming!

OTOH, don't miss, at some point, Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo, the Musical.

 

[mommagoofof4]

I didn't ask the orignal question but got some great info! Thank you!!

 

[jamstew]

I'm no good at touring plans, but I wanted to answer the question about the buses. They do have buses that start running a lot earlier to get you to your breakfast on time, don't worry about that at all. Ask at the concierge desk at your hotel and they can tell you exactly when they start. We went in Sept 2005 and had an 8:15 ADR at breakfastosaurus, and had no problems.

Thanks, that's great to know. I've been trying to plan dining without park breakfasts because of the transportation issue

Also, we went directly to Dinosaur after breakfast, and were the first ones to ride that day. They let us ride by ourselves, and gave us a free ride photo. My 4 year old didn't like that ride at all, though. He said it was too dark and scary. In the picture, he's hunkered down between DH and myself with a VERY worried look on his face.

We've taken the kids on the rides they were tall enough for at SeaWorld, but we may play this one by ear or use child swap if it's available.

My wife and I went to the breakfastosaurus the bus starts early for just this reason i would recomend getting the earliest reservation you can so that you are done before the park opens, not that i am saying you should hurry because this was the best breakfast my wife and i had on the trip with the atmosphere and the characters. but once they open the park people will start running from the entrance my suggestion would be to either go to the Everest ride if anyone in you party wants to do this ride and get a fast pass then go to Dinosaur and ride

I'm definitely going to try to get something early, not only because of the rope drop dash, but because they'll be starving! I'm pretty sure that none of the kids will be tall enough for EE (they're all WAY above average height but we'll have to see if that holds), but I imagine my adult kids will want to do it. I was thinking I'd just hang out with the kids at the Boneyard or let them ride Tricera Top Spin while the adults do EE. If I decide I want to do it, too, I don't know how that will work if they don't have child swap Maybe I could grab the FPs for Dinosaur while they're doing EE...

 

[Joanna71985]

I don't know when you are having breakfast at the AK, but Donald's Breakfastosaurus is closing soon. The character meal is moving to Tusker House.

 

[jamstew]

Buses to parks start running every day at about 6:40am. (Ignore the 1 hour before... its a myth.)

I have no idea where I saw it, but I'm certainly glad it's not true!

IMO, EE is a MUCH "gentler" ride than Dinosaur.

NOTE: Dinosaur is, by far, the roughest, loudest, "jump-out-and-scare-you" ride at WDW.
Its PURPOSE is to "scare" the heck out of you!
I love Dino, but its not for "little kids," and might ruin the day for them (especially that early.)

Hmmm, I'm going to have to think about that one. All but the girl are totally fearless, which is scary in itself

Dinosaur, Kali, Tough to Be a Bug will all have less lines than Safari and EE.

I'm thinking we could send someone ahead to get FPs for Safari and meet up somewhere in between. With strollers and toddlers, we aren't going to be going anywhere very fast However, I'm seriously considering an ECV for Epcot and AK, so I may be the official FP retriever.

Its Tough to Be a Bug is a VERY frightening attraction for many kids, too. Great fun, if you know its all "pretend"... but things come right AT you (physically, as well as the 3D), "things" actually poke and tickle you (physically) and there is a point where the whole theater is ENGULFED in a heavy "bug spray" FOG in a matter of seconds. If you are a kid, it can be overwhelming!

I know it scared the bejesus out of me and I'm not sure we'll do this one.

OTOH, don't miss, at some point, Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo, the Musical.

I definitely wouldn't skip either of these since I haven't seen them before. I think the kids will enjoy them more than the rides, but I could be wrong and frequently am.

 

[BabaGanoush]

Just as a previous poster has said, Tusker House Restaurant is closing in about a week to go under refurbishment and be converted to a full service buffet. When it opens (in November), it will be the NEW location for Donald's breakfast. Thus, if you are planning on having breakfast after mid-November, you should plan to be in the Africa portion of the park when the park opens. I am not sure how they plan on holding people at the restaurant until the rope drop has passed but that will be the new set up. You can still plan on touring Asia/DinoLand, but it would be to your advantage to do the Safari first thing since you will already be there.

 

[skater]

I have the same issues with Breakfastosaurus, but I'm thinking EE might be a little sickening after a big breakfast!

 

[GinnyFavers]

Your breakfast will be at Tusker House in Africa, next May, for sure. So you can follow the UG plan you have in hand if you like, you'll be right there at Kilimanjaro Safaris!

Ask at your hotel's front desk the day before your ADR about a bus for character meals early in the morning, and do what they tell you to do, you'll be fine.

Be aware that when you get to the Animal Kingdom turnstiles, you should look for the ones designated for that morning's character meal diners. They'll check for your name and then they may hold you for a few minutes, and will walk you back to the restaurant with a whole group of other diners. This can be very upsetting to people who are already running a few minutes late, but rest assured, the restaurant knows what's going on, and you'll be fine.

Have fun!

 

[Robo]

I have the same issues with Breakfastosaurus, but I'm thinking EE might be a little sickening after a big breakfast!

Just want to say that we have done EE several times, right after breakfast and had no problems.

As always, your mileage (and tummy) may vary.