Starting early morning at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is more than an idea to think about, it’s a concept that you’ll want to plan around. Rope Drop is integral for the opportunity to experience a living and breathing theme park that needs to be explored without thousands of people around you.
Remember, the strategy is simple….be one with Nature and know that your vacation will be better when you have time to wander:)
Top Disney’s Animal Kingdom Attractions To Do BEFORE 10am
HOURS OF OPERATION
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom has turned into a full-day theme park. This means that the daily hours will change day to day.
STARTING AT PANDORA: THE WORLD OF AVATAR
FLIGHT OF PASSAGE
I’ve been a fan of the Flight of Passage since the first time that I rode it. In fact, the number of times that I said “wow” only rivals the first day of my contract on the Walt Disney World International Program.
The attraction itself is an awesome experience, but when you add in the queue and pre-show, you’ll be transported into the world of Avatar like you’ve read about.
The goal for your morning is to do as much as possible before 10am, so the hope is that you’re able to get an Individual Lightning Lane reservation anytime and then plan your day around that.
NA’VI RIVER JOURNEY
After spending way too much time waiting for this attraction, my recommendation is to do it first thing in the morning OR if you see a huge group of guests rope-dropping it…skip it. If you’re looking at riding this without an issue, evenings (after 6 or 7pm) are great!
You should be prepared that everyone will be going to Pandora: The World of Avatar. Plan around that and you’ll be able to get a ton of stuff done before 10am:)
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THE BEST OF THE REST
KILIMANJARO SAFARIS
Walking to the back of the park allows you to get ahead of families and folks who don’t have the fitness level to speed walk. Your goal is to be out on safari during the morning feeding routine before the animals get sleepy and settled into their afternoon of relaxation.
I absolutely love experiencing Kilimanjaro Safaris first thing in the morning, especially when the majority of folks will be heading to Pandora: The world of Avatar and leaving the rest of the park til later in the day.
DINOSAUR
Enjoy the details of the pre-show, the queue line and the amazing atmosphere of the attraction. Probably one of my favorite experiences in a park that’s slowly moving towards character-driven experiences.
EXPEDITION EVEREST
Front row on Expedition Everest is one of the best experiences at Walt Disney World, in line with Rock N Rollercoaster! That being said, there are other priorities that you should do before 10am…especially the outdoor animal activities.
I’ve walked onto Everest as late in the morning as 11am, so knowing where the crowds are will definitely help!
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**MORNING ROPE DROP TIP**
If you’re planning on being at DAK during Early Entry, keep in mind that there are only a select number of attractions that are actually worth getting up early for. Personally, when we do Early Entry, our goal is to do two attractions (Flight of Passage and being ahead of the regular day-guests for Kilimanjaro Safaris) then go for lunch at Satuli Canteen before figuring out what do to with the day.
Why? It’s all about using the time to our advantage without over-doing the expectation for a park that gets incredibly crowded AND hot during the midday hours.
WHAT’S THE BEST TOURING PLAN FOR ROPE DROP?
- Flight of Passage
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Expedition Everest
ONCE THE PARK GETS BUSY-ISH
- Dinosaur
- Lunch @ Satuli Canteen
GENIE+ RESERVATIONS TO GET ON THIS DAY
- Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Expedition Everest
- Na’vi River Journey
Do you have any tips? Share them with us on social media @StepstoMagic!