1 day in Animal Kindom

[tiggerlvr]

In August our family of 5, my husband, myself, 14, 9 and 4 year old daughters, are going to be coming to WDW for 8 days. We are planning our day at Animal Kingdom and this is what we have come up with so far, based on what I've read here, other forum and different articles. Obviously all of this will be determined by whether or not we will get the dining reservations and fast passes that we want. This will be our first trip and my first time planning a trip of this size. Any input is appreciated. I'm just wondering if this seems doable, or if I am forgetting something major. I have redone this plan about a bajillion times, and will probably change it a dozen more times...lol. This is not set in stone and I plan to loosely follow any plan I make while at the park anyhow. If we see something we want to stop for, we will, even if it's not on our list.

Animal Kingdom​

7:45am -arrive for breakfast reservations at TH
8:45- In line for Flight Of Passage

• Na’vi River Journey
• FP Festival of the Lion King (9:30-10:30)
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails
• FP – Kilimanjaro Safari (10:30-11:30)
• Kali River Rapids

Rest of Day-

• Lunch (Flame Tree BBQ – Discovery Island, Yak&Yeti - Asia)
• TriceraTops Spin
• Boneyard
• DINOSAUR
• Finding Nemo – Musical
• Wildlife Express Train
• FP -River’s of Light (7:45)
• Meet Doc McStuffins in Conservation Station
• Burudika (Africa,
• Discovery Island Carnivale
• Expedition Everest

 

[graphite1326]

I have never needed FP for Lion KIng. Maybe use it for EE. Just a suggestion.
Other than that as long as you have somewhat of a plan to follow it looks good.

 

[21stamps]

My only suggestion is to spend a couple of hours in Africa. It’s my favorite section of the park.. great performers there, the kids can join in and dance as well.

 

[nickys]

In August our family of 5, my husband, myself, 14, 9 and 4 year old daughters, are going to be coming to WDW for 8 days. We are planning our day at Animal Kingdom and this is what we have come up with so far, based on what I've read here, other forum and different articles. Obviously all of this will be determined by whether or not we will get the dining reservations and fast passes that we want. This will be our first trip and my first time planning a trip of this size. Any input is appreciated. I'm just wondering if this seems doable, or if I am forgetting something major. I have redone this plan about a bajillion times, and will probably change it a dozen more times...lol. This is not set in stone and I plan to loosely follow any plan I make while at the park anyhow. If we see something we want to stop for, we will, even if it's not on our list.

Animal Kingdom​

7:45am -arrive for breakfast reservations at TH
8:45- In line for Flight Of Passage

• Na’vi River Journey
• FP Festival of the Lion King (9:30-10:30)
• Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails
• FP – Kilimanjaro Safari (10:30-11:30)
• Kali River Rapids

Rest of Day-

• Lunch (Flame Tree BBQ – Discovery Island, Yak&Yeti - Asia)
• TriceraTops Spin
• Boneyard
• DINOSAUR
• Finding Nemo – Musical
• Wildlife Express Train
• FP -River’s of Light (7:45)
• Meet Doc McStuffins in Conservation Station
• Burudika (Africa,
• Discovery Island Carnivale
• Expedition Everest

I honestly don't think you'll off FoP in time for The Lion King. At 8:45 you'll be at the back of a long line of people who were at the gate over an hour before. They usually open the doors and walk them to Pandora before official opening. And you won't be able to use the bridge into Pandora at that time in the morning. The line could easily be over an hour already.

If you are there for 8 days, you will be able to get an FP for FoP as long as you plan AK for your 4th Day or later of your trip.


I notice you don't have the Maharajah trail down. The baby tigers are out on view now, so you might want to add that.

And I don't know how realistic it is to do all of this in a day. How long will the kids want to play in the Boneyard for instance. I found it hard to get mine out when they were little in less than an hour!

 

[LAKid53]

You will be spending a good part of your morning waiting to ride FoP. @nickys is correct - the standby time for FoP can go from 0 to 130 minutes within minutes of park opening. Same with Nav'i - while wait times never match FoP, they usually range 80-90 minutes throughout the day.

I'm not a fan of using a FP for an evening show or parade, as it prevents you from getting additional FPs once the initial 3 are used. If your budget can afford it, do the RoL dining package for breakfast at TH. There is a separate viewing area for those guests, over by the Nemo theatre.

You need FPs for Everest, the Safari, Kali, Nav'i and FoP. Frankly, I would pick a mid week day for Animal Kingdom (to avoid the weekend local visitors). Get a FP for FoP in the afternoon. With the insanity that is FoP, many rides may have shorter standby times that you can take advantage of right after breakfast. I'd head to the Safari after eating, then over to Asia for Kali and Everest, using 2 FP for those rides. Kali is very popular during the August heat. And it will be hot.

We did an all day at AK during last August. Started with a 9:00 am breakfast at TH and ended with the 9:15 RoL. We were exhausted by the end of the evening. Will your 4 year old be able to handle 10 hours in the Florida heat and the August crowds without a break? You might get lucky and your trip is shortly after Toy Story land opens and pulls crowds from the other parks.

This is your first trip to WDW. In August. With crowds and the Florida heat. You need to plan breaks. Trying to do all of a park in one day is exhausting. You've got an 8 day trip. I'd schedule 2 days each for MK, AK and Hollywood Studios if you arrive after Toy Story opens. That way you're not limited by the parks that have tiered FP (one from Group A and 2 from Group B).

 

[correcaminos]

I agree if you want to ride FoP you need a FP for it or expect a 2 hour wait give or take. Lion King and ROL really do not require a FP and they would be better used for something else (Avatar ride or Expedition Everest as an example). With you trying to do everything I would do 3 early morning FP and then keep trying to add as your day goes on. It's not really a good use of a FP to do a night time one to start with.

I also think that waiting until mid day to do Kilimanjaro in August is not a wise idea as the animals start hiding. Wait until evening or try early in the morning. I find Avatar at night to be quite pretty.

 

[tiggerlvr]

I'm sorry, I was under the impression by our travel planner that if you have a breakfast reservation inside the park, you do not have to exit the park to get in line to wait for park opening. We were told we would be able to leave the restaurant at 8:45 and head to get in line for rides. That's why I was thinking we would at least get in one Pandora ride before the lines got long.
As for it being a long day, my kids are used to long days. However, like I said before this is a loose plan. If someone gets tired or cranky, my husband or I will take said child to rest, and everyone else can either go with, or continue at the park.
Thank you for the tip on not needing a FP for Lion King! I don't want to waste one.
Illuminations is one thing that EVERYONE in my family really wants to see. We love seeing different fireworks, and light shows. It's kind of our thing. Will we be able to get a FP for illuminations after using our initial 3?
We have already decided we are not doing HS. Nothing there interests us much and I'm not gonna waste a park day to just to Toy Story. Maybe next time!
Thank you so much for all the input! This is why I love these message boards. It's great how helpful everyone is!

 

[LAKid53]

I'm sorry, I was under the impression by our travel planner that if you have a breakfast reservation inside the park, you do not have to exit the park to get in line to wait for park opening. We were told we would be able to leave the restaurant at 8:45 and head to get in line for rides. That's why I was thinking we would at least get in one Pandora ride before the lines got long.
As for it being a long day, my kids are used to long days. However, like I said before this is a loose plan. If someone gets tired or cranky, my husband or I will take said child to rest, and everyone else can either go with, or continue at the park.
Thank you for the tip on not needing a FP for Lion King! I don't want to waste one.
Illuminations is one thing that EVERYONE in my family really wants to see. We love seeing different fireworks, and light shows. It's kind of our thing. Will we be able to get a FP for illuminations after using our initial 3?
We have already decided we are not doing HS. Nothing there interests us much and I'm not gonna waste a park day to just to Toy Story. Maybe next time!
Thank you so much for all the input! This is why I love these message boards. It's great how helpful everyone is!

Maybe not. By the time you finish your initial selection, they may all be gone. Best way to tell? See if you can snag one for the day you want when your 60 day window opens.

With regards to Lion King. You don't even have to stand in the standby line. Just walk up about 10 minutes before the show starts. You'll get seats - the CMs direct you.

 

[nickys]

You won't have to exit the park to get in line for FoP. But the crowds heading to FoP have been insane since it opened. So people start arriving around 90 minutes before park opening, and the CMs lead them at walking pace to the entrance to Pandora. I think it's about 30 minutes before the opening time that they start taking the line into the park, simply to avoid the mayhem that would ensue outside otherwise. The ride often starts maybe 10 minutes or so before the official park opening.

Whereas a year ago, a PPO (pre park opening) ADR at Tusker House would give you an advantage for any AK ride, for Pandora this is simply not the case. If anything, because the line will already be so long at the official park opening time, you could find at least an hour's wait to ride.

 

[correcaminos]

I'm sorry, I was under the impression by our travel planner that if you have a breakfast reservation inside the park, you do not have to exit the park to get in line to wait for park opening. We were told we would be able to leave the restaurant at 8:45 and head to get in line for rides. That's why I was thinking we would at least get in one Pandora ride before the lines got long.
As for it being a long day, my kids are used to long days. However, like I said before this is a loose plan. If someone gets tired or cranky, my husband or I will take said child to rest, and everyone else can either go with, or continue at the park.
Thank you for the tip on not needing a FP for Lion King! I don't want to waste one.
Illuminations is one thing that EVERYONE in my family really wants to see. We love seeing different fireworks, and light shows. It's kind of our thing. Will we be able to get a FP for illuminations after using our initial 3?
We have already decided we are not doing HS. Nothing there interests us much and I'm not gonna waste a park day to just to Toy Story. Maybe next time!
Thank you so much for all the input! This is why I love these message boards. It's great how helpful everyone is!

No you won't have to exit, but one hour for breakfast could be pushing it and the walk back to Pandora where they have already let others in the park. It's 2 hours even at opening though the line could get through earlier. If you really want to get FoP without a FP, then you need to be at the entrance long before opening and wait in the line there. I think your planner is overly ambitious with the 1 hour for breakfast given it's a character breakfast. Likely will rush it to get in and out in an hour.

I would get a FP for FoP and do standby on NRJ (unless kids are too small for FoP). I would try to get Kilimanjaro before 10 am if possible too. I also would do the FP for EE. Those would be my 3 if you want to do them. I also would do them as early in the morning as possible so you can pick FP up for other rides (we've done that a lot there).

Illuminations is at Epcot - you're mixing parks here You will be able to view the AK nighttime show (though it isn't all like a fireworks show, and not even like a lot of "light shows" I've seen) with or without a fast pass. It's truly wasteful to get one and tie up the others.

 

[tiggerlvr]

Ok, so if we went from Breakfast to Kilimanjaro Safari instead and tried to get fastpasses for FoP later in the morning would that work? Is that too early for the animals to be out and about? I've read conflicting information on this.

 

[RememberWhen]

On a hot day in August I would try to do the safari early. As the day gets hotter the animals tend to sleep in the shade and are hard to see. When you come out of TH the safari is right there.

Have a great trip!

 

[KaliSplash]

I'd eat early at the hotel. Get a FP for FOP for whenever in the day is available (be right online at 7 a.m. on day T-60. We were able to get FP for FOP for midafternoon and while everyone was racing to FOP that morning, we almost walked onto River NaVi. Then headed to Africa for safari and Lion King. across the park for Dinosaur and went from there. Kali River Rapids will soak everyone, I'd do that right before going back to hotel for lunch break or bring a change of clothes and rent a locker. Your schedule does look ambitious. For an 8-day trip, 1 day and a half or 2 might be better here. But you WILL have fun, you are AT Walt Disney World. Whatever you are able to do and see will likely be better than a day at work or school back home!