So many wonderful answers already. I'll see if I have anything more to add since the AK is our family's favorite park!!!
1. I know that the animals on the safari are most active first thing in the morning... how late is too late? We are going to be at AK on Oct. 1 if that helps any.
We always take 2 safari trips per day. One in the morning, and then one later in the day. Since they are free-roaming animals, it is a different experience every time! You'll see things in the afternoon that you won't see in the morning, and vice versa. Mornings are best, but don't sweat it if you can't be the first ones out.
3. Where are your favorite seats for Nemo and Lion King? Honestly, you don't get to choose. They try to pack the theaters, so the CM's dictate which row you go in, and make you fill in all available seats. For Nemo, the theater is so large that it really doesn't matter. For the Lion King, each of the 4 sections are themed (Giraffe, Elephant, Warthog, and Lion). It is "theater in the round," so they are all good sections. They just have different roles when you are interacting with the show. It's all good.
4. Do the lines for the characters at camp minnie-mickey get backed if you don't hit them first thing in the morning?
The longest lines form immediately as soon as the Lion King show ends. A thousand people pour out the doors of the theater and go directly to the character greetings. A good strategy would be to go to Camp Minnie-Mickey when there is a show starting, or before any of the shows start.
5. Does anything open late or close early? I am talking jungle trek or rafiki's planet watch or anything like that.
Shows don't start until later. But if you get there early, you'll have the time to truly discover what the Animal Kingdom is all about! Explore the hidden trails around the Tree of Life where there are live animals and amazing wood carvings in the tree.
6. We are having dinner at Tusker House at close to closing time and I hate backtracking a bunch to get to dinner... what would you suggest for an order to tour the "lands" with such a reservation?
You'll probably be bouncing all around the park as you'll be chasing showtimes or using FastPasses. Camp Minnie-Mickey and DinoLand will be the farthest away. If you can be in Africa or Asia at the end of the day, that would probably make it easier.
7. What is a must see on your list?
The key to the Animal Kingdom is to stop and take your time to truly experience everything there. Most people run from the entrance to EE or Dinosaur for a Fastpass. They totally miss one of the amazing parts of the AK, and that's the Oasis at the entrance. Take the time to explore the Oasis and talk to the CM's. Many will be holding animals and have the knowledge to talk to you and tell you more about them. Here are some other favorites:
- Do the Safari twice
- If you go to Rafiki's Planet Watch, try to go before 10am, and you might get to see a Vet giving a Tiger an exam (or other medical procedure). Also while at Planet Watch, stay and listen to any of the CM's who are putting on a show about animals.
- Explore the hidden trails around the Tree of Life
- Flights of Wonder is an amazing show that most people miss.
- Play area at Dinoland (the Boneyard) is the best kid's play area in any park.
- If you drink alcohol, the Dawa Bar in Harambe (Africa) has great cocktails and a wide selection of beers, including my favorite: the Safari Amber.
- See if you can find the "hidden Jafar" on the Pangani Forest trail. It's pretty big, but hard to find. Ask a CM for help (hint - it's near the end in the gorilla section).
- Awesome food at Flametree BBQ.
- Tough to be a bug show is really fun!
- Best daytime parade in any park is the Jammin' Jungle Parade. Lots of interaction with the characters and the fans lined up along the street. Many families chosen to be in the parade. If you want to try to be selected, talk to a CM in the Africa section early in the day and see what time the family is chosen. You may be the ones!
- Great souvenirs at the Island Mercantile shop (really unique stuff).
- Kali Rapids is great fun. If you don't want to get wet, then at least check out the queue and stop on the bridge to shoot the water cannons at the people on the boats below.
- On the Maharajah Jungle Trek, the bird area is really neat. Most people just walk through here really quickly. Take your time, get a bird map, and see if you can find them. It takes a little time, but is a really neat way to cool off and spend some time.
- Kid's Discovery Club is free, and a neat way to have your kids explore and learn in each of the lands. They get a stamp for completing a task or project.
- AND there's so much more that I don't have time to write about!! Have a great time, and when you get back please post about your experiences at the AK.
