AK late afternoons??

[jenluvswdw]

Hope you can help me with this one. I am visiting the World this Aug. I know very hot. This will be our 3rd Late Aug. trip. We always tour AK in the mornings. I am wondering if it is worth going late afternoon. We only can only do one morning there and I am hoping to bring back my DSs for an afternoon 3:30 till 7 closing. (The other adults are not fans of AK) Am I nuts? Do the crowds thin out? Do the CMs rush you out at closing? Thanks for your help and suggestions!

 

[englanddg]

I don't think you are nuts, cause the kid and I have done several afternoon jaunts to AK. However, I don't know about the crowds thinning out. In my observation, they get a bit worse around the rides.

However, I do notice an outflux after the Parade.

Two things you can plan on are that it will most likely rain and that it will be HOT! <grin>

 

[jjnshane]

My daughter and I love going to AK in the afternoons! The animals are not as active, but the crows definitely thin out. At one point near the end of the night my Daughter just kept glinting on Everest, get off, jump back in line! Once the park closed we very leisurely meandered the long way to the exit, taking pictures as we went. We weren't rushed out (in fact saw very few cast members) and the lights are awesome!
You will most likely have a late afternoon rainstorm to contend with, but if it passes the park will be nearly empty. Try to catch Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo the Musical if it starts to rain.

 

[RedDad]

We have rarely stayed in AK past early afternoon, but plan on doing so next month. I've heard from many people that the crowds thin out considerably after the parade, so we're going to make an effort to stay and check it out this time.

 

[Hot Lava]

Ok, this may mean nothing for your time frame, but i will give the info anyway. I have recently put the touringplans app on my phone and now I obsessively check in the see the wait times in the parks whenever I think about it (my husband is starting to give me the stink eye about it ).

I have noticed that later in the day, the lines seem crazy short at AK. My assumption was b/c most people know if you want to see the animals, you need to go first thing. But I have been very surprised looking at the wait times (or lack thereof) after 4pm or so.

 

[luv]

No, you aren't nuts. No, they don't rush you out.

Do the crowds thin? They do a bit, more on some days. They used to REALLY clear out!! It was so great!!! THAT was disney's best kept secret, lol. But they don't clear out like they once did. And more people have started coming for the last few hours, too. I think the secret got out.

If you're expecting a practically empty park, you may be disappointed. You may get lucky, too! It des still happen...but not like it once did. Can't count on it any longer.

 

[Susan Savia]

We have always gone first thing in the moring and usually leave AK by about 11:00 am and notice the influx of people coming in to be quite heavy.

 

[jenluvswdw]

Thanks everyone! So helpful as always!

 

[jenluvswdw]

Ok, this may mean nothing for your time frame, but i will give the info anyway. I have recently put the touringplans app on my phone and now I obsessively check in the see the wait times in the parks whenever I think about it (my husband is starting to give me the stink eye about it ).

I have noticed that later in the day, the lines seem crazy short at AK. My assumption was b/c most people know if you want to see the animals, you need to go first thing. But I have been very surprised looking at the wait times (or lack thereof) after 4pm or so.

Ha, ha! I'm going to start checking out times too! Thanks!

 

[DisneyDaver]

When I was there late afternoon last October, the lines for the rides were very short. We rode Dinosaur multiple times with an under 5 minute wait.