best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

how annoying am I? lol - my apologies - however I just booked our trip for October and I am a big planner....

I apologize for all the questions I am asking...




... for a day with a 5 year old DD..

what are the must sees, what are the don't bothers - any hints to make the best of the day.......

best counter service restaurant? best snack??

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

This all seems like stuff your Travel Agent should be helping you with

The Unofficial Guide has some good itineraries if your TA isn't doing this for you. I'm happy to answer questions!

Message edited 5/23/2012 12:21:55 AM.

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

I would recommend buying or borrowing both the Unofficial and the Official Guide to Walt Disney World.

Our library had the 2012 books so I borrowed both. The itineraries were a must! We did not follow them exactly but it was a great starting point.

We went straight to the Safari and then headed to Dinoland. DS had a blast in Dinoland. They have a similar ride to the dumbo ride at magic kingdom but there was no wait. The Nemo show was fantastic.

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

You can find all the answers you ever wanted to know on Disboards.com. and allearsnet.com, I have been a dozen times, never used a travel agent.

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

I created a excel spreadsheet of al this and our 3 meals a day all from advice on Disboards.com forums and the unofficial guide book..both were EXTREMELY helpful!

i was on that forum almost as much as I am on this board for the year leading up to our visit...and everything we did and saw and ate was bec of them and it all worked out real well! I def rec. joining and buying/borrowing that book!

GO to Donald's safari breakfast(1 or our top favs in all of WDW) first thing in the morning (before rope drop) and then head right to the safari first..the animals are more likely to be out and about the earlier you go

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

Hey Jen! How are you!

Both times we went we only did half day at AK so i don't think we ate there but I hear good things about tusker house!

If she likes animals take her on the train to rifiki island. Chris loves petting zoos and he loved that area. Also the safari of course. And i happen to like the bugs life 3d show.

My ils like the lion king show too but we haven't seen it yet.

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

You have to be careful with Disboards. There's some bad info on there (and worse attitudes).

At AK I'd run to the safari to ride, then explore the trails a bit. Try to get a FP for Kali for a hotter part of the day or really for a LO the safari is going to be the main attraction so you can get a FP to ride again. Do Rafiki's Planet Watch. IF you are doing It's Tough to be a bug, ride that first and backtrack to Rafiki's since it is rarely crowded. I say IF because it's tough to be a bug is VERY intense. You're shrunken down to bug size so all of the 3D bugs loOk huuuuuge and even if you take the 3D glasses off there is a 6 foot tall animatronic hopper and spiders that come down from the ceiling. You also get "stung" by your seat. It's not all bad but what I just described is part of a sequence when you're essentially being attacked by bugs. Most kids can handle it but I will say in the half dozen or so times I've seen it, I've never NOT seen at least one child being taken out screaming. Don't let it be the first 4D show you take DD to and follow the rule - when in doubt, watch it on YouTube.

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

Re: best itinerary for a day at Animal Kingdom???

Oh yes! Definitely check the schedule and see Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo. Those shows are both amazing!!!!