What is open during early magic hours at AK?

[abbyandangel]

We are going to AK the morning after a Halloween party. We are not interested in Pandora but want to do the safari as soon as possible. Will the safari be running during 7 AM EMH? What will be open? Are the tigers and gorillas out? I would like to avoid standing in line for 90 min before park opening. Have already done that enough on previous trip. Worked well for Pandora but not sure it's necessary this time. Thanks for any info.

 

[Robo]

We are going to AK the morning after a Halloween party. We are not interested in Pandora but want to do the safari as soon as possible.
1. Will the safari be running during 7 AM EMH?
2. What will be open?
3. Are the tigers and gorillas out?
4. I would like to avoid standing in line for 90 min before park opening. Have already done that enough on previous trip. Worked well for Pandora but not sure it's necessary this time. Thanks for any info.

1. Unlikely. As we move into fall and winter, it is far less likely that they will open Safari early.
2.
· Avatar Flight of Passage
· DINOSAUR
· Expedition Everest
· It's Tough to Be a Bug!
· Na'vi River Journey
· Oasis Exhibits
· TriceraTop Spin

3. Unlikely, but you can check, day-of.
4. Sorry, but as the parks get busier and busier, the more reliable time-proven plan is to arrive early.
That's why it worked for you in the past.
Arriving later will yield longer lines for everything... as those who DID arrive early are now out of the "biggie attractions" and are now heading to the (generally) more accessible rides.
Also, Disney knows that the preponderance of guests arriving early (and for AM EMH) are there for Pandora.
Staffing many of the other attractions that early would be more costly with less necessity.

 

[abbyandangel]

Thanks Robo. So if I want to do the Safari when the park opens at 8, would arriving at 7 be early enough? Doesn't sound like there will be much open during EMH that interests us. We are really planning on seeing the animals not riding the rides except for the Safari. We want to do that as many times as possible. We burn the rides up when DD is with us. This is just a 2 day trip tacked on to the end of a professional conference. This trip will be about seeing the animals. I did not tell her I bought party tickets. This will be the first time DH and I have every been to Disney without her. She is away in college. Truth is I will really miss her. We always do Everest together multiple times. My husband is not a fan. Gotta get used to the empty nest thing.

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo.
1. So if I want to do the Safari when the park opens at 8,
2. would arriving at 7 be early enough? Doesn't sound like there will be much open during EMH that interests us. We are really planning on seeing the animals not riding the rides except for the Safari. We want to do that as many times as possible. We burn the rides up when DD is with us. This is just a 2 day trip tacked on to the end of a professional conference. This trip will be about seeing the animals. I did not tell her I bought party tickets. This will be the first time DH and I have every been to Disney without her. She is away in college. Truth is I will really miss her. We always do Everest together multiple times. My husband is not a fan. Gotta get used to the empty nest thing.

1. I'm not so sure that Safari will, in fact, be open at 8AM this time of year. (The "normal" time for the animals' routine would be 9AM. And, as the weather gets cooler and the sunlight arrives later, it MIGHT be that they'd not begin Safari even at 8AM.) I just don't know.
2. In general (not necessarily for these early opening times,) arriving "an hour before" would be good.
But, with Flights of Passage still in full-on "must-ride" mode, all bets are off.
Early guests can sometimes see that H-U-G-E line at FoP and decide at that time to peel off and head to
other attractions, throwing off others' well-calculated timing.
Same goes for the VERY early arrivers who will likely be finished with Pandora (which tends to open even earlier) and
those folks will be waiting for Safari (etc.) too.
So always... always... "Arriving far too early beats arriving one minute too late."
Hope your plans work out. Have fun!

 

[georgina]

Last week on Monday the Maharaja Jungle Trek did not open until 10 AM, so you may not get on the trails early.

 

[Delirium]

No need to get there super early if you are not headed to Pandora. Everest to Dinoland would probably be the most effective approach.

I would FP Safari, and not rope drop it, as it's:

1. Not really close to anything else other than Pandora
2. A long ride, which then helps make lines at everything else longer.