Kevin Baxter's 'Inside Scoop' on Disney's Animal Kingdom
Kevin Baxter offers his advice for getting the most out of day (okay, part of a day) at Disney World's Animal Kingdom
My suggestions for a day at Walt Disney World's
Animal Kingdom (of course you plan on getting there before the park opens):
1st - Kilimanjaro Safaris... everyone will be doing this also.
2nd - Kali River Rapids... you won't get very wet this early.
3rd - Dinosaur.
There! You've done all the biggies. At this point you have three choices. You can either head into Dino-Rama and ride the new lame rides there. You could see It's Tough to Be a Bug. Or you can check out showtimes. By this time, Festival of the Lion King will have already had one showing. So pick between that or Tarzan Rocks since you are in the area.
My suggestion would be to ride Primeval Whirl right after Dinosaur since you are right there. If someone has to ride TriceraTop Spin, then now is probably the best time for that also. If a Tarzan show is about to start, go to that. Then check out the next time for the Lion King show. If it is a ways off, see Bug on your way there. Get to Lion King at least a half hour early. After this you really will have gotten every biggie out of the way.
Things to do in the afternoon or when lines get long - Maharajah Jungle Trek and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail (both of these are good if you are waiting on a FastPass time for a nearby attraction), Discovery Island Trails, Oasis animals.
Things to skip if necessary - Cretaceous Trail, Dinosaur Jubilee, Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends, Conservation Station (this is a MUST-SKIP!), Character Trails (they are usually all over this park since there isn't anything else to do here!)
As for FastPasses, there are only five to get here: the Safari, the Rapids, Bug, Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl. If you get all these done early, then you can use your first FP for something you want to do again. The first one you get MUST be for the Safari. Then whichever you desire.
Helful hint - Not only does this park close early, but you will be done long before it actually does close. I suggest using this day, if you are buying a Park Hopper, to head over to Disney/MGM for dinner and Fantasmic. That park has too many fun restaurants to save for just one day and waiting for Fantasmic can eat a huge portion of that day.
Also, the McDonald's at AK opens before the park does for a non-McDonald's character breakfast. If you don't mind breakfast staples served buffet-style, then this is a good way to get some characters (Mickey, Goofy, Pluto and Donald... not sure about Minnie) out of the way without wasting much time later on.
Any other suggestions?
RELATED LINK:
Animal Kingdom Ratings and Reviews
From Anonymous
Posted June 6, 2003 at 11:47 AM
What about Rainforest Cafe? Is it worth making a PS to eat there?
From Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2003 at 12:29 AM
HELLO FRIENDS next month I will be going to all 4 theme parks is there a best way to do all four I will be there 4 days Thank You
From Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2003 at 2:59 PM
Regarding going to all four parks. If you don't want to be in crowds do not go to the park that is doing a Early morning. For example on Mondays and Friday Animal Kingdom has there early day. Mondays are the most busy for that day. Also don't worry about the parade at Magic Kingdom, its not good at all. If you can see Mickey's Jamin Jungle parade, and Animal Kingdom, I think its the best. Studios is good too.
From Anonymous
Posted October 13, 2003 at 7:56 AM
Hi. I'm planning a trip to Disney in early December, 2003. What do others think about the Extra Hour? Are the crowds really heavier at those parks on their extra hour day? Since I am staying at a Disney hotel, should I take advantage of the Extra hour or go to another park instead? Are crowds light enough in early December that it won't matter which I choose? I will only be there 3 days and will not have a park hopper pass, so I can't leave at noon if crowds get heavy.Another question. Has anybody been to Mickey's Very Magic Christmas Party? Are these hard ticketed events worth the extra money. I am going with my 7 year old son.
Thanks for your advice and a great website.
Avoid "Magic Hour" parks unless you're actually staying on-site. If you are staying in a Disney hotel, take full advantage of the "magic hour," and after mid-day, if you want, switch to another park. The "Magic Hour" parks will ALWAYS be more crowded, because most on-site guests will stay in the "Magic Hour" park all day. Spend the extra money and buy a park hopper, since the days NEVER expire. You can buy a 7 day pass, use 3 days now, and you have 4 more days to use at any time.The first week of Decemeber I have heard is one of the best times to visit Disneyworld. I have gone in the middle of November the past 2 years, and the parks are nearly empty. Mission:Space may make EPCOT a little more crowded than it has been the past few years, but I wouldn't expect any challenge to being able to see most of the large attractions in each park in a single day. Most of the holiday attractions are up, and the park does not start getting holiday crowds until the second or third week of December through the first week of January. The only drawback this year is that the Osbourne Lights at MGM will probably not be displayed because of the construction of the new auto stunt show.
Rainforest Cafe. Skip it. There are plenty of better places to eat at WDW. If you want the familiar mall experience, why go to Walt Disney World.
Again I would like to point out to those who have not visited AK before. This is one of the best theme park experences anywhere! If you are like mr. baxter and are only intrested in the rides than yes there is only a few things to do. If you are like me and love to take in the ambence and wonderful anamal exibits that AK offers, than there is absulutly a full days worth of entertainment.
I have been to wdw twice during the first week of Dec. and it is a GREAT time to go!!!! Both times i stayed on site and i would highly recommend going to the park for early entry(and as stated if you can afford it get a park hopper pass) . With the small crowds and great x-mas decorations and events like the Candlelight Processional/Mickeys x-mas party/tree lightings etc it is a greatg time to be in the parks and to get into a great x-mas mood(but the closing of the osborne lights is a major setback as they were great). If you like the rides in the Magic kingdom/fanastyland the early entry is great because rides like Peter Pan/Winnie the Pooh have small capacity so the early entry is great, and also as MGM as you can ride RNRC/TOT alot of times before the park is open.
I went one time to Mickeys x-mas party and found it to be great!!! They have a excellant x-mas parade twice/excellant x-mas shows a great fireworks show(best ive ever seen at wdw where the fireworks are shot in a 360 edgree pattern that is awesome). The crowds can be busy if you go on a weekend but we went on a weekday and arrived early and was able to do all our favorites anmd see the shows/parade/fireworks and saw the last castle show which was a great day to end the day as the crowd was pretty much gone so you didnt have to wait, could easily see things on stage and as you left the pretty much deserted park snow flakes(well not real ones but these are easier to handle than what i deal with in Wisc.) fell over MAin St so it was a great way to end a excellant evening. So i wopuld recommend the show and i found it well worth the price of admission.
Cant wait for my visit next Dec.!!!!
Re: Mickey's Very Merry Xmas Party,
What we have done in the past is schedule that for our day of arrival, and don't waste a day of your park-hopper pass on that day. Also it's a great way to get the kids into MK right away, since that's the Icon-thing they've always seen. I don't know if it would be worthwhile to do on a day when you're using a pass- but for a travel day it's a perfect way to end the day, and gives you plenty of time to settle into your hotel, and maybe have dinner at downtown disney. It's also kind of fun (more so for Floridians , I'm sure) to see the snow on Main Street, of course for those of us from the frozen North (Chicago here) it's kind of grim reminder of the days ahead LOL.
Why do you say to skip Rainforest at AK??
The last showing of the Lion King is usually right after the afternoon parade. Stake your claim to a piece of ground by the entrace trail to Camp Minnie-Mickey, then after the parade, just turn around and head to the show.If you find that you can't get close to the trail-head, then just jump in behind the end of the parade and follow it to Camp Minnie-Mickey!
Pizzafari wasn't too bad for a quick/cheap lunch. Eat a little later to avoid low blood-sugar kids.
I'm looking for some inside information. In the AK parade I noticed that towards the end of the parade is a float with a real family in it. How do you get into that parade?
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