Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

We are going to be arriving at Disney on a Wednesday at 8:45 am (at the airport). Right now I have Animal Kingdom set for that day. Is that a good plan since it is the smaller of the parks?

I figure we'll get to Disney and go right to the Animal Kingdom while our luggage gets held by the hotel since we can't check in anyway. Can this be done?

Message edited 1/10/2012 1:49:32 PM.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

absolutely! If your plane lands at 8:45, with no delays, you'll be at the hotel by 10:30 - 11.

Have fun.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Depends. What day of the week and what time of year. AK is the 1st park to close. In the slow season I think that can be as early as 5 or as late as about 7. If you go on an EMH evening one it stays open for up to 3 hours after closing time. If you get in around 845 (are you doing ME?) - you won't get to your hotel until probably close to 11 sometimes earlier, sometimes later.

Then you have to allow for check in time (say 15-45 mins depending on lines etc). Then you have to commute to the park - if you take a bus it could take much longer (not sure where you are staying). You will have to check in to get your tickets (unless you don't have a package and are getting tickets in the park or bought them in advance). Your room might not be ready for a while but you will have to check in.

You might not get to the parks until 12 or 1. Of course you might get there sooner but I think that 12-1 is a more conservative estimate. Then figure you will probably also want to eat lunch at some point.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

I agree, you'll get to the parl by 12 or 1. I personally would NOT pick AK for arrival day since as PP stated, it often closes hours before the other parks. If it isn't your only day at AK, and you just want a slow start, it's ok, but I would usually not do that. If I'm going to do AK in a half day, it has to be from rope-drop--> Lunch. It gets more crowded at lunch time and then the head kicks in, plus the parade makes it very hard to navigate from like 3;30-4:15.

I usually choose a late closing park for my arrival day, or the park with EMH.
This time DHS had EMH so we started at EPCOT, got lunch there, did a few rides, and then took the friendship boats to DHS for the EMH there. I like to see some evening entertainment the first night and of course there is none at AK.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Also, AK is not really smaller. I would say to get headliners done, except TSMM, DHS is the quickest and it's pretty small. DAK is HUGE and very spread out. It also depends on how you tour. I used to spend half a day at AK, from 8 or 9 to 1 then lunch and leave, but now I'll easily spend a day and a half there.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Well, we are not doing a park hopper, but I will have tickets in advance. We'll be there for 8 days, so once we're at a park, we'll stay there. We're getting there in the middle of the week on a Wed, so I figured check in lines might be smaller. (End of May)

My kids are small, will be almost 4 and 2 when we go, so they will not be going on the large rides. So I will most likely go on the roller coasters while DH and MIL bring them on tamer rides while they wait for me.

We'll be there on a day that AK is open till 7, but we have dinner reservations at Chef Mickey's at 7ish.

So I planned on getting to the park at 11:30 ish, having lunch at 12:45, then leaving around 6 to get to dinner at 7.

If I don't do AK on this day, would doing a water park that day be better?

Message edited 1/10/2012 3:55:01 PM.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

If you are there for 8 days, I wouldn't do any parks on arrival day. I would relax, enjoy the hotel and have dinner at Downtown Disney. You have a lot of walking and line waiting ahead of you. Use that day to rest up.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

I think it's ok. I'm a fan of parkhopping and I am Disney only. If I'm there for 8 days., I'm at Disney parlks for 8 days, except for some time this year finally trying Uni/Ioa.

So I'm not an expert on the other parks and I'm not really into the waterparks, but based on what you've told me that's a good plan.

If you tell me your exact dates I can check the crowd calendar for you to verify your park choices.

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Ok.. I'm new at this Disney planning.. And I am SOO Lost with all of the abbreviations!!

If someone has time or if you don't mind.. Can someone translate some of the abbreviations for me... I know this is a strange request, but I'm a newbie !

Re: Animal Kingdom good for arrival day at Disney?

Posted by Gina674

Ok.. I'm new at this Disney planning.. And I am SOO Lost with all of the abbreviations!!

If someone has time or if you don't mind.. Can someone translate some of the abbreviations for me... I know this is a strange request, but I'm a newbie !