ANIMAL KINGDOM AGENDA a40
See Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and head from there to the Magic Kingdom for dinner and the evening parade and fireworks.
As a Walt Disney World resort hotel guest, you can stay at the Magic Kingdom up until 2am tonight! However, tomorrow is a long day…so consider leaving 30 minutes or so after the fireworks.
FIRST THINGS
- Get up early and eat breakfast in your room
- Pack spare clothes in a plastic bag (because on one of the rides, Kali River Rapids, you will get soaked!)
- Be at the hotel Animal Kingdom bus stop by 7:50 am
AT THE PARK
- Arrive at the Animal Kingdom park by 8:30 am
- Get in line and await the opening
- After the 9:00 opening, ask a cast member if the combined experimental fastpass station is operating, and pick up a Times Guide and park map.
- If the combined experimental fastpass station is operating, head straight there (just beyond It’s Tough to be a Bug) and fastpass Expedition Everest. Then go to Africa, and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
- If it is not open, head straight to Africa and ride Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Go to Camp Minnie Mickey, and while walking there, double check the show schedules against this itinerary. See the first Festival of the Lion King
- Return to Africa and stroll through the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail just outside the Safari exit
- Head to Asia, and, if you have not already, fastpass Expedition Everest. Ride it when your fastpass is ready.
- Go to Dinoland USA, and ride Dinosaur
- Ride Primeval Whirl and Triceratops Spin if time permits
- In Asia, see the 11:30 Flights of Wonder
- Return to Discovery Island and see It’s Tough to Be a Bug’s, or fastpass it if the lines are too long
- Juggle lunch (Flame Tree Barbecue, counter credit), your fastpass return to Expedition Everest, and the Wildlife Express Train to Conservation Station, so that you can be in line (between Dinoland and Asia) for the 3:15 pm Finding Nemo show by 2:30 pm. If time presses, skip the train/Conservation Station
- See the 3:15 Finding Nemo show
- Go back to the bridge next to Flights of Wonder and watch the 3:45p parade from the Everest side of the path
- Stroll through the Maharajah Jungle Trek
- Ride Kali River Rapids if the day is warm enough: you will get soaked!!! Change into your spare clothes
- Head by 6p for the bus stop to catch the bus to the Magic Kingdom, and take it there. If you have plenty of time, before then, re-ride your Animal Kingdom favorites; don’t worry if you missed the Wildlife Express Train
- Explore the exhibits in the Oasis as you leave
- Be at the Magic Kingdom by 6.45p
- Make your 7p Character Dinner at the Crystal Palace (table credit)
- By 8.30p, find a spot on Main Street to see the 9p evening parade
- After the parade, make your way closer to the front of the Castle to position yourself to see the 10p fireworks show Wishes. The best spot is about halfway between the end of Main Street and the Castle, with the Castle directly in front of you, and Main Street directly behind you
- While as a Walt Disney Resort hotel guest you can stay as late as 2a, tomorrow is a long day. Head back to your hotel when you are ready, but wait at least half an hour after the fireworks for the crowds at the bus/monorail stops to thin out. Souvenir browsing in the Main Street shops is a good way to spend this time
- Pop guests return to the bus stop and catch the bus back to Pop Century; Poly guests can take whichever monorail has the shorter line. (The resort monorail will take you directly back to the Polynesian, but after two stops; the express monorail takes you to the Transportation and Ticketing Center, from which you can walk to the Polynesian—bear right as you leave the monorail exit walkway to find the walkway to the Polynesian
Note: Bring The Comprehensive Guide to Rides and Rides that Might be Skipped in case your day gets too intense!
LINKS TO DAILY GUIDANCE BY ARRIVAL DATE
11/21/09: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
11/28, 12/5, 12/12/09: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
12/19/09: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
12/26/09:Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
1/2 and 1/9/2010: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
1/16/10: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
1/23-3/20/2010: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
3/27 and 4/3/2010: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
4/10/2010: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
4/17 and 4/24/2010: Summary To-Do List Sat Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun
ITINERARY LINKS
- For itinerary design goals and the basic December Itinerary, see this
- For shorter and longer itineraries targeted at the same December week, see this
- For itineraries covering all the other parts of the year, see this
- To design your own itinerary, see this
- For rides that might be skipped, see this
- For a comprehensive guide to rides and attractions, see this
LINKS FOR WHEN TO GO
- For when to go, see this
- For next best dates, see this
- For 2009 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For 2010 weeks to visit, ranked in order, see this
- For forecasting crowds at Walt Disney World, see this
- For 2009 price seasons, see this
- For 2010 price seasons, see this
- For projected 2011 price seasons, see this
- For weather at Walt Disney World, see this