Wow, AK long wait times?

[kandb]

We are going to AK next Monday, so I figured I would check out wait times today and they are super high already at 11am. 90 minutes for safari, 105 for FOP, 70 min. for Navi. I am so surprised at 11am they are so long already. Do people buy LL for these rides? Is that is what is adding to the long waits. I better pack my patience for this trip.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Today is a very busy day in the parks. All Park Reservations for all parks are full. I don't believe today is representative of what next Monday will look like.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Those wait times don't seem to be too far out of line with what appears to be a pretty busy week for crowds. Perhaps by next Monday, after the run weekend, the times will improve at all the parks. I doubt the current version of LL is impacting the standby lines anymore than Genie+, FP+, or FP did.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Orange county schools do not go back until tomorrow and lower tier APs were unblocked starting on friday after being blocked for 2 weeks. That plus the upcoming marathon next weekend equals very high crowds. I was at AK yesterday and it was nuts all day. The line for the safari went past Tusker house and towards the bridge leading into Africa.

 

[Dayman99]

Just rope drop.....

 

[traveler9]

Orange county schools do not go back until tomorrow and lower tier APs were unblocked starting on friday after being blocked for 2 weeks. That plus the upcoming marathon next weekend equals very high crowds. I was at AK yesterday and it was nuts all day. The line for the safari went past Tusker house and towards the bridge leading into Africa.

They really should have kept the lower tiers blocked through today if school hasn’t started back yet.

 

[Smugpugmug]

They really should have kept the lower tiers blocked through today if school hasn’t started back yet.

I didn't mention it in my post but there are also a lot and I mean A LOT of international guests in the parks right now so I'm unsure if most of the crowd are APs. I noticed most people using the key cards for park entry and LLs rather than a Magicband. I definitely think it doesn't help that Sorcerer, Pirate and Pixie were all unblocked last friday.

 

[ilovebassets]

This is why we always have Lightning Lanes, even for AK which the bloggers will tell you that you don't need as long as you don't have a good touring plan. I disagree. And the great thing is that it seems very few people buy Lightning Lane at AK, so availability is always wide open (at least in my experience.)

 

[muppets3d]

This is why we always have Lightning Lanes, even for AK which the bloggers will tell you that you don't need as long as you don't have a good touring plan. I disagree. And the great thing is that it seems very few people buy Lightning Lane at AK, so availability is always wide open (at least in my experience.)

You can easily ride all the attractions at Animal Kingdom on the average day without needing to buy lightning lanes. Obviously having them makes it easier, but that doesn't change the fact that they're not necessary.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Just rope drop.....

Exactly! Especially AK because it opens so early. Even if you can't make rope drop get there as early as possible as morning is the best time to do AK. If you aren't rolling in until 11am you should expect full lines at all major attractions. (Not quite this busy, but busy nonetheless.)"

 

[kandb]

Just rope drop.....

Thanks but we aren't really early risers! Will try though!

 

[otten]

Thanks but we aren't really early risers! Will try though!

Unless you’re going to shell out for the premier pass or you’re okay with waiting in some long lines, AK is the park where getting there early is the most important. Early entry starts at 7:30 and general rope drop is 8am so even if you’re arriving at 9, everyone else as had a big head start. At the other parks it can be effective to choose either rope drop or staying late but since AK closes so early the crowds don’t thin out as much in the last few hours.