Early Theme Park Entry is offered for on-site resort friends at Walt Disney World, and we’ve taken benefit of the perk a number of instances for every park. This Animal Kingdom photograph report provides step-by-step “speedrunning” technique for conducting each trip with minimal waits throughout the morning hours within the park.
While this Early Entry at Disney’s Animal Kingdom report is predicated on a single expertise, it’s the end result of a number of instances doing EE at DAK. We’ve taken benefit of the morning Extra Magic Hours alternative a number of instances, following the ideas & methods right here, roughly. In essence, that is the refinement of all the pieces we’ve discovered, avoiding errors & pitfalls, whereas additionally getting fortunate with zero trip breakdowns.
The very first thing it’s good to know is that Park Hours at Animal Kingdom can differ. In a nutshell, there are some days when the park opens at 8 am, and a few days when it opens at 9 am. For this technique to work, an 8 am opening time is important. It’s attainable that Animal Kingdom will open at 8 am on on daily basis of your journey. Even when you’re visited throughout a reasonably busy time of yr, the park usually formally opens at 8 am on Fridays by Sundays. If you need this to work, do DAK on these days!
Moving from a 9 am opening time to eight am may appear to be an enormous trouble for an insignificant achieve. It’s really big and that’s exactly as a result of it’s a trouble. That hour earlier within the morning is an enormous deal as a result of it shrinks the pool of potential friends who’re prepared and capable of rise up early on trip. When park opening is at 8 am, which means Early Entry is at 7:30 am. For most Walt Disney World friends, that’s merely too early.
When park opening is at 9 am, there are a ton of individuals partaking within the 8:30 am Early Entry as a result of it’s comparatively simple to be out the door and to Animal Kingdom by that point. It’s a special story fully when transferring that ahead by an hour–particularly for the households with young children.
This isn’t simply conjecture or hypothesis. We’ve examined this repeatedly in a number of parks, and it’s all the time the case that an earlier Early Entry is extra fruitful as a result of fewer friends can and can reap the benefits of it. Suffice to say, the 7:30 am Early Entry at Animal Kingdom is a sport changer. Very few friends have the need and dedication to be out their lodge room door by 6:30 am, which is just about what’s essential to arrive at DAK in time for the beginning of Early Entry.
For today in DAK, I stayed at All Star Sports Resort and left my room shortly after 6:30 am for the principle bus cease. My aim with Early Entry at Animal Kingdom is to catch the bus earlier than 7 am; I’ve discovered that normally buses start working from most resorts at round 6:45 am for the 7:30 am Early Entry.
With a get up name at this ridiculous hour, I’ve discovered that I’m usually the primary one on the bus cease and generally the one individual on the primary bus to the park. Neither have been the case on this specific day, nevertheless it was additionally the height of spring break season and my lodge was internet hosting a pair main youth sporting occasions. Our bus was pretty full, which is a rarity–and gave me some pause that my plan won’t work.
Lots of people prefer to knock the All Stars, however there’s one plain optimistic that they provide: proximity to Animal Kingdom. Probably not a factor most friends prioritize when rating resorts, however nonetheless. It turns out to be useful on days like this.
Thanks to that, our bus was among the many first dozen or so to be dropped off at Animal Kingdom. I packed mild on this specific day so my digicam bag wouldn’t flag me for extra screening, and breezed by safety consequently.
This was the scene on the park entrance as of seven:07 am.
Inevitably, when individuals are “this far back” regardless of getting up on the break of day, they’re anxious and irritated. That plus sleep deprivation and minus caffeine are a harmful mixture. Tensions are sometimes working excessive. However, I can guarantee you that it is a superb spot. It could appear like lots of people, however diluted throughout a complete theme park (or on this case, extra realistically, a single land), it’s not a lot in any respect.
Cast Members began admitting friends into Animal Kingdom at round 7:20 am.
The particular instances differ from everyday, and there are a number of factors at which friends are held, so don’t get too discouraged when you enter the park later or earlier. Seriously, there’s zero trigger for stress. Keep the vibe mild and optimistic–it’s going to be an impressive morning. And if it’s not, that gained’t be due to any variables that you could change.
That first stopping level is fairly near the park entrance; the following one is on the bridge to Pandora: The World of Avatar.
Of course, that assumes that you simply’re prioritizing Pandora: The World of Avatar. If you’re selecting to start out your day in one other land, uh, you must’ve slept in one other hour or so.
From this level, Cast Members slowly lead the herd of friends into Pandora.
If you’re heading to Na’vi River Journey, you may go left and run, moonwalk, or nevertheless you select to maneuver to that. Everyone else is slowly shuffled to Avatar Flight of Passage by the lengthy route. It may sound tedious, nevertheless it’s environment friendly and simple. Most importantly, you don’t must battle with fellow friends or jockey for a spot ~17 seconds earlier in line.
At first, it’ll seem that the Avatar Flight of Passage line extends all through the queue.
This could be very disconcerting for anybody who has ever achieved this attraction; a walk-on continues to be a ~10 minute wait as a result of that’s about how lengthy it takes to stroll by the prolonged line.
In actuality, it simply takes a while for folks to make their method by the road.
None of the switchbacks inside Avatar Flight of Passage are in use at this hour, which means that you simply, uh, fly by the queue and have a minimal wait.
I used to be within the first pre-show by 7:44 am.
Delays are frequent with Avatar Flight of Passage, and I skilled a number of throughout my morning. Nothing main, however they added about 5 minutes to my speedrun. Still significantly better than Flight of Passage being down, and being denied the chance to, uh, fly as a part of this superb ceremony of passage.
After Flight of Passage, it was on to Na’vi River Journey.
The posted wait time for this was quarter-hour, which was really decrease than anticipated provided that I used to be arriving ~13 minutes after park opening. No matter what the posted wait time, this must be your second cease. The posted time is normally inflated and unsuitable, regardless.
My precise watch for Na’vi River Journey was about 5 minutes or so.
Even on busier days, lower than quarter-hour is fairly near par for the course. Almost everybody arriving for normal rope drop does Avatar Flight of Passage first and Genie+ doesn’t promote as nicely at Animal Kingdom, so Na’vi River Journey’s line takes longer to construct.
From there, it was on to Kilimanjaro Safaris.
There are two faculties of thought right here. One is to cross the whole park and knock out Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids, and Dinosaur in fast succession. Depending upon the day, you may doubtlessly do a number of rides on Expedition Everest (when you so need) as a walk-on. All of those rides mixed have a shorter whole period than the safari, so knocking them out first will be savvy.
I opted to go the straightforward route and do Kilimanjaro Safaris first. It’s nearer to Pandora, and I like seeing the wildlife very first thing within the morning after they’re most energetic.
Really, although, both method will work. If you bounce to the opposite facet of the park, you’re extra prone to encounter an extended line upon returning to the safari, nevertheless it nonetheless must be manageable.
From begin to end, Kilimanjaro Safaris was a virtually 45 minute dedication.
That was regardless of the posted 35 minute wait time being nearer to 10 minutes, and was largely courtesy of some massive chicken (not the Big Bird…or Kevin) standing in our automobile’s path for what felt like an hour.
Following that, it was off to Asia and Dinoland.
The final of those points of interest that I did was Dinosaur and, nicely, I feel the on-ride photograph speaks for itself by way of the “wait times” (air quotes) that I encountered for these points of interest. In equity, I solely did Expedition Everest as soon as. Had I reversed the order, I’m fairly assured I may’ve achieved Expedition Everest thrice and nonetheless arrived at Kilimanjaro Safaris with an precise wait time beneath half-hour.
All in all, I used to be achieved with each trip for adults earlier than 10:30 am.
I did skip TriceraTop Spin, which isn’t as cool as it would sound, each as a result of I’m not a fan and I don’t have the boldness to do kiddie rides on my own as a grown man. However, it was a walk-on after Dinosaur and would’ve put my end time (nonetheless) at round 10:30 am.
At this level, I may have achieved the Minnie & Mickey Mouse at Adventurers Outpost meet & greet with actually zero wait. I poked my head inside, and there was actually nobody there.
Strategy-wise, it is a savvy time for the meet & greet. This finally ends up having one of many highest common wait instances at Animal Kingdom, which is because of a combination of low capability, excessive demand, and overzealous Lightning Lane utilization. If assembly the mice issues to you, do it now.
Another strong possibility is consuming. For one factor, when you have been up at 6:30 am for Early Entry, there’s an excellent likelihood that it’s lunch time for you. For one other factor, each Satu’li Canteen and Flame Tree BBQ are extremely widespread and have lengthy traces or crowds throughout the lunch rush.
The final time I did this, I really rope dropped Nomad Lounge. That’s not open fairly but, however arriving 10 minutes or so earlier than it begins seating friends ensures you a desk and nice service. (If you ask me, that is the underrated possibility amongst all the decisions.)
On a mean day, crowds will begin arriving in full power at Animal Kingdom at round 10 am…however the overwhelming majority of individuals, it doesn’t matter what time they arrive, make a beeline for Pandora: The World of Avatar. Consequently, you normally have about one other hour till the wait instances begin getting unhealthy wherever else.
The flip facet of that is that Animal Kingdom normally begins clearing out in mid-afternoon. Because there are solely 4-6 rides that most individuals care about doing plus 1-2 stage reveals and possibly a little bit of wildlife watching, even those that arrive by 10 am have normally had their fill by 4 pm. Meaning that you could comply with our Animal Kingdom Afternoon Arrival Strategy for probably the most environment friendly itinerary when you’re not a morning individual and need to concentrate on rides. (Spoiler: it’s mainly this, however in reverse.)
Ultimately, Early Entry at Animal Kingdom is superb. I name it speedrunning rides within the title to make me sound tremendous cool (did it work?), however in actuality, there was nothing speedy about this on my finish. I acquired distracted by animals on a number of events, spent an inordinate period of time photographing sunbursts rising under the floating mountains of Pandora, and wandered aimlessly for a couple of minutes attempting to trace down mac & cheese. I left these diversions out of the core itinerary as a result of I don’t suppose doing these issues provides any strategic benefit.
In actuality, my Early Entry run at Animal Kingdom was speedy as a result of it’s speedy. Animal Kingdom is, indisputably, the simplest park at Walt Disney World from a technique perspective. The massive secret is timing. Arrive early or late and keep away from the center of the day. That’s actually about it. This continues to work extremely nicely as a result of so few folks do it.
Like clockwork, they present up at 10 am, head to Pandora on the busiest time of day in that land, and do the remainder of the park inefficiently. Arriving late usually ends in leaving early out of frustration (or “animal fatigue”), so most friends by no means expertise Animal Kingdom effectively. Now you recognize what to do–it’s only a matter of setting that alarm and making it occur. As the Na’vi say, Sivako! Rise to the problem…actually and figuratively!
For extra data and recommendation on this “Extra Magic Half-Hour” within the morning, see our Strategy Guide to Early Entry on the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. We’ll have a number of extra new run-through studies coming quickly, together with EPCOT from the entrance entrance, one other stab on the SDMT Shuffle in Magic Kingdom, and a reprise of RotR at DHS. So keep tuned for all of that!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces it’s good to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on Early Entry at Animal Kingdom with the 7:30 am begin time? Have you skilled this 30 minute jumpstart to the day at DAK? What’s your most popular method to Early Entry and conventional park opening/rope drop at Animal Kingdom? How would you might have achieved issues in a different way? Any different suggestions on arriving early to the Walt Disney World theme parks? Agree or disagree with our recommendation or method? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!