Animal Kingdom – Disney Adults – One Day Standard
A ection Section
Conservation Station
Wildlife Express Ra ki’s Train Planet Watch Habitat Habit
Pangani Maharajah Forest Jungle Trek Trail
Wildlife Express Train KALI RIVER KILIMANJARO SAFARIS Harambe RAPIDS Kusafari Fruit Flights of Co ee Tusker Tamu Wonder Tamu Yak House & Yeti Refresh TS QS Dawa Bar EXPEDITION 1. Kilimanjaro Safaris - Obtain FASTPASS EVEREST 2. Kilimanjaro Safaris Baby Tree 3. Expedition Everest Care of Life 4. Expedition Everest - Obtain FASTPASS and Flame Tree It’s Tough BBQ to be a Bug Finding 5. Primeval Whirl Nemo 6. Dinosaur Musical Pizzafari The 7. TriceraTop Spin Boneyard 8. It's Tough To Be A Bug 9. Kali River Rapids - Obtain FASTPASS PRIMEVAL 10. Finding Nemo the Musical -11:30am - 11:45am WHIRL Restaurant- Tricera 11. Lunch Greeting Oasis asaurus -Top Trails Spin 12. Expedition Everest - With FASTPASS Festival of the 13. Kali River Rapids - With FASTPASS Lion King Camp Fire Guest 14. Maharajah Jungle Trek Treats Services 15. Flights of Wonder - 2pm - 2:30pm 16. Kilimanjaro Safaris - With FASTPASS DINOSAUR Rainforest 17. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail Cafe 18. Parade - 3:45pm 19. Festival of the Lion King - 4:15pm - 4:45pm 20. Open Resort Bus Stop 21. Exit 22. Open 23. Open 24. Open 25. Open 1. ______
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25. ______Animal Kingdom – Disney Adults – One Day Standard
This easyPlan is designed for Disney adults (groups made up of people tall enough to ride the thrill rides) who plan to spend a full day at Animal Kingdom. It visits all of the major shows and rides, including two rides on Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom’s two most popular attractions.
Variable Show Times and Deviation From the Plan
More so than Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom’s shows run on a variable schedule with different show times throughout the year. For example, the late morning Finding Nemo the Musical may begin at 11:30am or 11:45am. An afternoon Flights of Wonder show could begin at 2:00pm or 2:30pm. Generally speaking, we plan to see the major stage shows in the late morning and afternoon, after we get through the time sensitive attractions in the morning. Because of this, you can easily switch around major stage shows, Jungle Treks, and returns to major attractions with FATPASS in order to accommodate variable show times. For example, we’re planning to see Maharajah Jungle Trek in Step 14 and Flights of Wonder in Step 15. You can easily see Flights of Wonder first in Step 14 if that’s how the show times line up and then visit Maharajah Jungle Trek as Step 15 afterward. Basically, you just need to switch the two attractions around and then continue as normal. Once you get through the headliners and DinoLand in the morning, there’s little to worry about for the rest of the day other than getting to the stage shows on time and returning to the major attractions with FASTPASS.
Variable Closing Time and Extending the Day
Animal Kingdom’s operating hours may run anywhere from 9am – 5pm to 8am – 9pm. The most common operating hours are 9am – 5pm or 9am – 6pm in Value/Regular Seasons and 9am – 7pm or 9am – 8pm during Peak and Holiday Seasons. During extremely busy times, we may see 8am – 8pm or 8am – 9pm operating hours, but this is only during about 20 dates throughout the year. This easyPlan runs from 9am – 5pm or so. If Animal Kingdom is open later, you can extend the day by adding a return visit to attractions you particularly enjoyed or add a trip out to Rafiki’s Planet Watch via the Wildlife Express Train. Crowds at Animal Kingdom dissipate shortly after the 3:45pm Parade. The last 60 to 90 minutes of operation is usually a great time to return to the major attractions with short waits. Hold off on returning to Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris until the very end of the day. If you’re planning to return to Kilimanjaro Safaris near Park close, make sure you check your Times Guide to see when the last Safari leaves – it may be about 30 minutes before Park close.
Kali River Rapids in Winter and Summer
Kali River Rapids, Animal Kingdom’s principle flume ride, has wait times that fluctuate enormously based on weather. When it’s hot, FASTPASSes may run out before Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris and standby waits may be longer than either headliner. This is due to a lower capacity and slower loading/unloading times. If you’re visiting in summer, you may want to ride Kali River Rapids in the standby line after Expedition Everest in the morning, before heading over to DinoLand USA. On the other hand, you can safely keep the schedule as written. Keep in mind that you will likely get soaking wet without a poncho or other protection. In winter, Kali River Rapids has much shorter waits because fewer people want to get wet. You may want to skip the attraction altogether if the temperature is below 70 degrees or you don’t want to get wet.
Additional FASTPASSes
This easyPlan specifically calls for you to collect one set of FASTPASSes each for Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, and Kali River Rapids. You’re welcome to collect additional FASTPASSes if you’d like, but you’ll either need to substitute return rides with other attractions or ride with FASTPASS after 5pm if Animal Kingdom is open until 6pm or later. As it stands, we’re riding Kilimanjaro Safaris and Expedition Everest twice during the day and Kali River Rapids once in the afternoon when temperatures are highest. DINOSAUR and Primeval Whirl also offer FASTPASS, but it isn’t usually necessary to collect them unless you want to ride between 12pm and 3pm.
The Attractions in Order:
Arrival: Arrive at Animal Kingdom’s turnstiles at least 15 minutes prior to opening. Have one person from your party collect all theme park tickets and move to the front of the pack on the left side of the rope drop area (this person is known as the FASTPASS runner). A brief preshow should begin about ten minutes prior to Park opening and then you will be let into the Park to line up for the ride of your choice.
1. Have the FASTPASS runner head straight to Kilimanjaro Safaris to collect FASTPASSes. Most of the people in line will be headed in the same direction. Continue up to the Tree of Life, where there will be one path to the left and one path to the right. Take the left path up into Africa. The Kilimanjaro Safaris FASTPASS machines are located directly to the right of the standby entrance underneath a hut-like area. Collect FASTPASSes for everyone in the group. Alternatively, everyone can stick together and collect their own FASTPASSes.
2. Everyone else in the group should follow the same path, continuing up toward the Tree of Life and taking the left path into Africa. Meet the FASTPASS runner outside of the standby entrance and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris in the standby line as quickly as possible.
3. Exit Kilimanjaro Safaris and walk back out to the front of the attraction. Continue back the way you came toward the Tree of Life until right before you get to the bridge that takes you back to Discovery Island. Take the path to your left that connects Africa with Asia. You’ll see Tamu Tamu Refreshments (not much more than a building with a couple of order windows) to your left and drums and the Tree of Life on the right as you continue down this path. Continue walking along this path until you arrive at Expedition Everest, which is about an eight minute walk away. Ride Expedition Everest in the standby line.
4. Collect FASTPASSes for Expedition Everest. The FASTPASS machines are located in a covered nook directly to the left as you stand in front of the standby entrance.
5. Continue walking in the same direction you were previously toward DinoLand USA. You’ll pass the large Finding Nemo Theater to your left on your way. Ride Primeval Whirl in the standby line. It’s located in the middle of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, across from TriceraTop Spin.
6. Ride DINOSAUR in the standby line. It’s located down the path to the left of Restaurantosaurus, in what looks like a dead end. As you walk toward the standby entrance from Restaurantosaurus, you’ll see the FASTPASS machines to the right, sort of hidden up through a walkway, if you’re looking for them later.
7. Ride TriceraTop Spin if it holds interest with your group. There shouldn’t be much of a wait this early in the morning. It’s located back in the middle of Chester and Hester’s Dino- Rama, across from Primeval Whirl.
8. See It’s Tough to Be a Bug. The theater is located inside the Tree of Life. We’ll want to exit DinoLand USA through the pathway to the left of the entrance to the Boneyard Playground. Continue past Flame Tree Barbecue, which will be located on your right, until you arrive at the entrance to It’s Tough to Be a Bug. It should be right across the way. It’s one of the lesser obvious entrances, but there’s a sign and a cast member out front.
9. Exit It’s Tough to Be a Bug to your right and continue back out toward the entrance to the attraction. Take the path up to your left that leads to Asia. Take a right at the end of this path, continue walking toward Asia, and then take a left after you pass the seating area for Yak & Yeti Quick Service, which will also be on your left. The FASTPASS machines for Kali River Rapids are directly in front of you. Collect FASTPASSes for Kali River Rapids now.
10. Walk back the way you came and take a left back toward Expedition Everest. Continue walking past Expedition Everest toward DinoLand USA as you did earlier, only enter the Finding Nemo Theater to see Finding Nemo the Musical. The entrance will be on your left side. The show should begin around 11:30am-11:45am.
11. It’s time for lunch. As written, we’re headed to Flame Tree Barbecue, which serves some of the best barbecue in Disney World. You’re also free to visit one of the other quick services if you so choose. Restaurantosaurus has plenty of indoor seating and offers a lot of your standard Disney burger/nugget/salad fare. Pizzafari also offers a lot of air-conditioned seating and serves Disney pizza, salad, and a Hot Italian Sandwich. Yak & Yeti Quick Service, also known as Anandupar Local Food Cafes, serves Asian-inspired dishes, salads, and sandwiches. 12. Ride Expedition Everest with the FASTPASSes collected earlier in the day. If you’re not in the mood for it right after lunch, you can walk the nearby Maharajah Jungle Trek first or Kali River Rapids, which is a gentle, if not soaking wet, water ride.
13. Ride Kali River Rapids with the FASTPASSes collected earlier in the day.
14. Check your Times Guide for the start time of Flights of Wonder, the bird-themed show in Asia. If it’s within 15 minutes, head to the theater now. If you have 30 or more minutes before it begins, walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The entrance to Maharajah Jungle Trek is located up to the left of the Kali River Rapid FASTPASS machines. The entrance will also be in front of you as you exit Kali.
15. See Flights of Wonder. The entrance to the theater is located on the walkway that connects Asia with Africa that we’ve walked a couple of times today. As you walk towards Africa from Asia, you’ll see the entrance on the right side, just after you pass Yak & Yeti Table Service. If you saw Flights of Wonder in Step 14, walk the Maharajah Jungle Trek now.
16. Exit Flights of Wonder and continue walking back to Africa. Ride Kilimanjaro Safaris with the FASTPASSes collected earlier in the day. The FASTPASS return line is located to the right of the standby entrance, a ways down. It’s further away from the standby entrance than most FASTPASS return lines.
17. Check the time. If it’s already 3:30pm, it’s time to take your places for the 3:45pm Parade if you’re interested in seeing it. If you’re not interested in the Parade or it’s 3:15pm or earlier, head to Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. You’ll see the entrance as you disembark Kilimanjaro Safaris and there will be signs throughout Africa pointing to it.
18. See the 3:45pm Parade. If you’re running behind, the Parade returns to Africa around 4:05pm, so stick around in Africa until then to see it return back the way it came. It’s the only Parade that loops back around like that. Check the Times Guide to see when you’ll have an opportunity to see Festival of the Lion King. The show should start between 4:15pm and 4:45pm. If the show begins at 4:15pm, you’ll want to find a Parade viewing location near Pizzafari, on the Pizzafari side so we can head to Festival of the Lion King right after the Parade passes with the least possible trouble. If it doesn’t begin until 4:45pm or later, you can find a viewing location wherever you like. You’ll be able to see the Parade go by twice in Africa if you want to wait the 15-20 minutes or so that it takes to return. Otherwise, the area around Flights of Wonder is usually the least crowded.
19. See Festival of the Lion King. The theater is located in the very back of Camp Minnie Mickey, which is accessible down the path near Pizzafari and across from the Tree of Life in Discovery Island. Note that food is not allowed in the theater, even though it’s sold all over. 20. It should be around 5pm, which is where our easyPlan officially ends. If Animal Kingdom is open later, it’s a good time to return to any attractions you previously enjoyed or previously skipped. Consider heading over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch if the Wildlife Trains are still operating or head back over to DinoLand USA or Asia to check out additional attractions. If you’re ready to leave or Animal Kingdom is closing, take some time to shop a bit and head toward the exit.
21. Exit Animal Kingdom.
Skipped Attractions and How to Fit Them In
Boneyard – This is a playground designed for children between the ages of three and nine or so. It doesn’t hold a lot of value for adults, but you’re welcome to take a peek inside if you’d like to see what it’s all about.
Character Trails – This is a Meet and Greet area in Campe Minnie-Mickey with various characters, many of which are relatively common. Because lines are long in the afternoon, we don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of time here. If character Meet and Greets are important to your group, head here early in the morning. Lines are longest after Festival of the Lion King shows. Try to visit right as the first Festival of the Lion King show is beginning or any time before that as lines will be shorter.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch – This is a nice air-conditioned diversion to visit in the afternoon, but there isn’t a whole lot here for most adults. Head out if you have an hour to kill in the afternoon or if some of the exhibits or attractions are of interest, but most people will prefer to spend their time elsewhere. The easiest way to fit it in to a 9am – 5pm day would be to skip one of the stage shows and the Parade or the afternoon ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Rafiki’s Planet Watch is only accessible via the slow-moving Wildlife “Express,” which takes about ten minutes each way, including the wait for the train to arrive.