Which touring plan for Animal Kingdom?

[mshanson3121]

Which one looks best to you? Our main goal is seeing animals over anything else. My kids are too small for EE and I think the Bug show would scare them. I'm not even sure DS will be able to handle Dinosaur, but he wants to try it. The Dino playground isn't a must-do in plan 1, we could always sub that for the Lion King, but I do know they would really enjoy it (they're 8 & 5).

Plan a:

http://touringplans.com/plans/print?id=1404659

Plan b:

http://touringplans.com/plans/print?id=1394443

 

[Alesia]

Rafiki's Planet Watch is a waste of time if you go too late to see the veterinary procedures, so I'd probably go with option 2.

Festival of the Lion King is the best show in WDW. It should not be missed.

 

[nat8199]

My kids loved Affection Station, we went two days in a row and never saw a procedure. I have to agree, though, that Lion King is amazing. This is why we are planning two days in AK, we never got to see Nemo or Flights of Wonder last time, even with two days there. I am going to try to talk the kids into affection station just one time.

 

[Lucius Best]

Sorry, but I don't really like either of your plans. If your main goal is to see animals, you should go straight to the Kilimanjaro Safari. That's the headliner, and you will want to ride it multiple times if you can, because every ride is different, you might see the Rhinos, Cheetahs, Giraffes on one ride but not the next. The standby line will be quickest at rope drop, and theoretically the animals will be more active in the morning.

I would say go straight to the Safari in Africa in the back of the park, then work your way through Asia to Dinoland. I'm leaving out the shows, because focus is animals. For example:
9:00 Safari standby (make sure to check out back of gorilla exhibit on right when done)
9:30 Rafiki's Planet Watch
11:00 Safari with FP
11:30 Pangani Forest Trail
(other options: 9:30 Pangani/10:00 Rafiki/11:30 Safari FP, or 9:30 Pangani/10:00 Safari FP/10:30 Rafiki)
12:00 Maharajah Jungle Trek
(depending on time, short Discovery Island Trail and Gibbons exhibit in Asia before or after lunch)
12:40 Tusker House ADR
2:15 Kali River Rapids with FP
2:45 Flights of Wonder (usually there is pre-show with birds outside theater)
3:30 Dinosaur with FP, Dinoland
On the way out, check out trails/animals in front of Tree of Life and Oasis.

 

[nat8199]

Sorry, but I don't really like either of your plans. If your main goal is to see animals, you should go straight to the Kilimanjaro Safari. That's the headliner, and you will want to ride it multiple times if you can, because every ride is different, you might see the Rhinos, Cheetahs, Giraffes on one ride but not the next. The standby line will be quickest at rope drop, and theoretically the animals will be more active in the morning.

I would say go straight to the Safari in Africa in the back of the park, then work your way through Asia to Dinoland. I'm leaving out the shows, because focus is animals. For example:
9:00 Safari standby (make sure to check out back of gorilla exhibit on right when done)
9:30 Rafiki's Planet Watch
11:00 Safari with FP
11:30 Pangani Forest Trail
(other options: 9:30 Pangani/10:00 Rafiki/11:30 Safari FP, or 9:30 Pangani/10:00 Safari FP/10:30 Rafiki)
12:00 Maharajah Jungle Trek
(depending on time, short Discovery Island Trail and Gibbons exhibit in Asia before or after lunch)
12:40 Tusker House ADR
2:15 Kali River Rapids with FP
2:45 Flights of Wonder (usually there is pre-show with birds outside theater)
3:30 Dinosaur with FP, Dinoland
On the way out, check out trails/animals in front of Tree of Life and Oasis.

I really like this plan, except that I would push the Jungle Trek to after dinner. Walking over there from Africa and then back for Tusker House and then back for Kali would be a lot of extra walking.

 

[Lucius Best]

I really like this plan, except that I would push the Jungle Trek to after dinner. Walking over there from Africa and then back for Tusker House and then back for Kali would be a lot of extra walking.

Agreed, that is more walking. I was trying to find something else to do before the 12:40 Tusker House ADR. Could possibly do Flights of Wonder at 11:45am which is closer. I thought it might be rushed to do both KRR and MJT after lunch before FoW at 2:45pm.

 

[nat8199]

Agreed, that is more walking. I was trying to find something else to do before the 12:40 Tusker House ADR. Could possibly do Flights of Wonder at 11:45am which is closer. I thought it might be rushed to do both KRR and MJT after lunch before FoW at 2:45pm.

That is very true. This dilemma is exactly why my I made my Tusker House lunch ADR at bit early, so that we could get it done while still over in Africa.

 

[mshanson3121]

That is very true. This dilemma is exactly why my I made my Tusker House lunch ADR at bit early, so that we could get it done while still over in Africa.

We had a 10:40 breakfast ADR booked as well (still do), but I realized that it's just too early to really let us get much done (like Conservation Station). There's an 8:00 available, but... lol, I really don't see any of us being willing to be up and out of the house at 7:15 on vacation.

 

[mshanson3121]

My kids loved Affection Station, we went two days in a row and never saw a procedure. I have to agree, though, that Lion King is amazing. This is why we are planning two days in AK, we never got to see Nemo or Flights of Wonder last time, even with two days there. I am going to try to talk the kids into affection station just one time.

I have considered doing two shorter days at AK for this very reason, maybe going in from 9-1 both days. Also, since it would mean we don't have to be in the park during the worst of the heat. But that would mean two longer days at MK, instead of 3 shorter days. So, I'm not sure which is better (as far as heat etc) - doing two 9-4 days in MK and 2 AK days (9-1) or doing 3 MK days (all three being shorter, four hourish days) and 1 day at AK, missing some stuff.

 

[Lucius Best]

I have considered doing two shorter days at AK for this very reason, maybe going in from 9-1 both days. Also, since it would mean we don't have to be in the park during the worst of the heat. But that would mean two longer days at MK, instead of 3 shorter days. So, I'm not sure which is better (as far as heat etc) - doing two 9-4 days in MK and 2 AK days (9-1) or doing 3 MK days (all three being shorter, four hourish days) and 1 day at AK, missing some stuff.

Totally depends on how long the kids will last in the heat and what rides they like. You're going during a hot and busy time, so the mornings are good to get in lots of rides at MK, i.e. with rope drop can do more on three mornings than two longer days.

You can certainly do a long AK day and see almost everything while avoiding the heat. If heat is a problem, you can add the Lion King and/or Nemo shows before and after lunch, that's going to give you more extended time inside. If you add those shows, you'll need to cut down the time in the Pangani and Maharajah trails, but you don't need 30 minutes for those, you can do those in 15-20 minutes and see everything. Note that you don't want to wait too late to do the Maharajah trail, we went ~3pm on last trip, most of the tigers had already left because they were hot/tired/bored.

Other option would be to plan for 3 MK and 1 AK day, but leave the 3rd MK day flexible. Make MK FP+ on the 3rd MK day, the kids want AK instead, you should be able to change your FP+ Safari/Kali on the app.

 

[ghtx]

FYI Dinosaur is WAY scarier than the Tough to be a Bug show (for most kids).

 

[mshanson3121]

My other concern with a long AK day s that... well, it's a loooong day. I really don't know if my kids can pull a 9-5 sort of day, and I know DH definitely doesn't want to. And I know we're going to want probably a couple hours at Conservation station (Affection Section will be 30 minutes alone, guaranteed). I don't want to feel like I have to rush the kids away from a procedure or the petting zoo or rush them along a trail, just so we can "get everything in"

 

[joannamet]

DH made DD ride Dinosaur at 6 years old and she didn't even make it through the queue before she burst into tears. CMs let me take her out. I still get 'I told you so' out of that one. I do not recommend Dino for young ķids.

We love the animals too. We spend a full day at DAK and see all of the animals but we don't do all of the rides or see all of the shows and we eat one QS meal. It's a very walkable park but the paths do get crowded. Plan to take you time on the animal trails and follow the park around the circle rather than criss crossing.