[BonnieBluEyes]

We've made it down to only 4 weeks left until our big trip to the happiest place on earth! I'm so excited!!! Now with EE at AK, what would be the best way to get on all the big rides early without much of a wait? I'm getting us out of bed and at the park so we'll have a head start on the crowds. Should we fastpass EE or ride it first? We want to hit Dinosaur, Kali and Kilimanjaro Safaris and then check out some of the other attractions too. I need a plan of attack. Also, where's a good spot for lunch? Thanks for the help.

[WishUponAStar]

Well, when we've gotten to AK near opening we always booked it over to Kilamanjaro Safaris b/c there always seems to be more animals out that early and most people do Dinoland and "Tough to Be a Bug" first. We would THEN backtrack, get a FP for Dinosaur if necassary, do Tough to be a Bug, then Kali River Rapids. Ususally we are ready for an early lunch by then so we head over to Tusker House (BEST counter service in WDW). After that we usually enjoy the nice train ride over to Conservation Station and mingle there for a bit.

We have NOT visited AK since the opening on EE so I don't know how this will effect our normal "touring plan" although, I DO think it's always a great idea to do Kilamanjaro early

[llama]

We just did Everest last week - we were there at rope drop and headed straight for it. When we got there the line looked formidable, but it was moving so fast - we were on within 5 minutes! And when we got off we headed straight for the Safari - with Everest funneling people away from the Safari first thing in the morning, we got right on to the Safari too, no fast pass needed. The second time we did Everest we did the same thing - but stopped to get a fastpass on our way out - so we did it twice within the hour. It's fantastic! You're going to LOVE it!

[BuzzLightyear]

Originally Posted by llama

We just did Everest last week - we were there at rope drop and headed straight for it. When we got there the line looked formidable, but it was moving so fast - we were on within 5 minutes! And when we got off we headed straight for the Safari - with Everest funneling people away from the Safari first thing in the morning, we got right on to the Safari too, no fast pass needed. The second time we did Everest we did the same thing - but stopped to get a fastpass on our way out - so we did it twice within the hour. It's fantastic! You're going to LOVE it!

That sounds like the new way to hit AK and get on the big rides.
No more running to the safari first.

[EmpressJenny]

It's important to do the Safari as early in the morning as possible. Not only will people be running for Everest, but the animals are most active in the early morning.

[bali]

Originally Posted by llama

We just did Everest last week - we were there at rope drop and headed straight for it. When we got there the line looked formidable, but it was moving so fast - we were on within 5 minutes! And when we got off we headed straight for the Safari - with Everest funneling people away from the Safari first thing in the morning, we got right on to the Safari too, no fast pass needed. The second time we did Everest we did the same thing - but stopped to get a fastpass on our way out - so we did it twice within the hour. It's fantastic! You're going to LOVE it!

Llama!!! Welcome home!!!

Here's my plan for visiting AK in May (based mostly on our January trip):
--Enter the park and veer to the RIGHT!! headed for Asia (you can either go through Dinoland or around it--it takes about the same amount of time)
--Grab fastpasses for and/or ride EE first
--Head for Harambe (past the backpackers hostel)
--Stop at the tea cart for Vanilla tea
--Grab fastpasses for the Safari
--Tusker House breakfast
--Ride the Safari
--Get fastpasses for Kali and ride Everest
--Get fastpasses for Dinosaur and ride Primeval Whirl
--Do everything else (LotLK, ITtbaB, Maharaja, Pangani, etc.)
--Ride Dinosaur
--Ride Kali and go home to change!

How does that sound?

[EmpressJenny]

Wooo hooo bali you are a COMMANDO!!!!

[CathysCAT]

Bali: That sounds like a great plan. So you wouldn't eat breakfast before EE? We were thinking of Donald's Restaurantasaurus at 8am so we'd already be inside Dinoland to make it over to EE quickly. Do you think that's a good thing to do? We're doing AK our 2nd day, and again possibly for EMH at night, then back again for a few hours later in the week (we're there for 10 days). I was curious if there was a new bridge from Dinoland over to Asia. It doesn't show up on the existing maps online. But I just got the new DVD and it has a new map!!! There is a new bridge. If you do the breakfast, do they rope off that bridge and then let you pass thru at 9am?

[bali]

Originally Posted by CathysCAT

Bali: That sounds like a great plan. So you wouldn't eat breakfast before EE? We were thinking of Donald's Restaurantasaurus at 8am so we'd already be inside Dinoland to make it over to EE quickly. Do you think that's a good thing to do? We're doing AK our 2nd day, and again possibly for EMH at night, then back again for a few hours later in the week (we're there for 10 days). I was curious if there was a new bridge from Dinoland over to Asia. It doesn't show up on the existing maps online. But I just got the new DVD and it has a new map!!! There is a new bridge. If you do the breakfast, do they rope off that bridge and then let you pass thru at 9am?

That's a great idea!!! There is indeed a new bridge, and I think you're right that they'll rope off passage over to Asia before 9:00 (maybe some folks that have just been will be able to confirm). But if you're in the park early to eat, you'll be the first ones at the rope!

[CathysCAT]

Originally Posted by bali

That's a great idea!!! There is indeed a new bridge, and I think you're right that they'll rope off passage over to Asia before 9:00 (maybe some folks that have just been will be able to confirm). But if you're in the park early to eat, you'll be the first ones at the rope!

We had an 8am breakfast last year and they wouldn't let us past the "old" bridge until 9am. We dashed around the Tree and over to the Safari in really good time. Got right on in about 5 minutes.

Yes, maybe someone who recently had early breakfast before rope drop can tell us for sure if they let you over the new bridge to get to Asia. Or maybe we'll have to wait until the official opening of EE to really know.

[bali]

Originally Posted by EmpressJenny

Wooo hooo bali you are a COMMANDO!!!!

That's funny--I always feel the most relaxed when I'm at AK! Maybe I wasn't accurate when representing my plans . I should have mentioned that after getting tea at the tea cart, we stroll over to get those Safari fastpasses; then we amble over to the Tusker House where we relax over our huge breakfasts while we peacefully people watch for an hour or so. Then, of course, later in the afternoon we usually end up checking in with our favorite bartenders over at the Dawa Bar for an Oasis or two. It's still possible to fit everything in (especially when you're just two adult-type people--with no kid-type people--and you don't mind a liquid lunch while at WDW!).

[BonnieBluEyes]

Going to EE first and then over to the safai sounds like a good plan. It's good to get on early to see the animals and hopefully the crowds will still be back by EE. I didn't know there was a new bridge from Dinoland to Asia. That'll be good when we're running to get all those fastpasses!

[llama]

Originally Posted by BonnieBluEyes

Going to EE first and then over to the safai sounds like a good plan. It's good to get on early to see the animals and hopefully the crowds will still be back by EE. I didn't know there was a new bridge from Dinoland to Asia. That'll be good when we're running to get all those fastpasses!

Granted we were there at a relatively low-crowd time - but we had no problem getting on EE first thing in the morning - and then we went straight on the Safari. Didn't need a fastpass for either. The second time we went on EE we did grab a fastpass on our way out - and the return time was within the hour.

[Dana]

The very best way to tour any park and hit the headliners is to be on hand for the rope drop and haul butt. I would go straight to EE and then head over the the safari. From the safari go on ITTBAB abd then see the shows that you want. That should work out.

[Boss Mouse]

We are not real safari people. So our plan is to max the rides. We have a character breakfast so we will:
Obtain FP for E Everest/Breakfastosaurus 9:10
Come out and Ride: Dinosaur
Head to right (Asia)
Obtain FP for Kali Rapids
Ride: EE
Ride: Kali Rapids
Obtain FP for EE
Go to Camp Minnie-Mickey for Character pics (back towards entrance)
See Lion King

Go to Africa see Acrobats @ Tusker House (to the left)
Check times to see eligibility for another EE Fast Pass

FP Bugs Life
Ride EE

See: Bugs Life
Ride EE