Website design By BotEap.comFastPass is absolutely required at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. It’s home to Disney’s best roller coaster, Expedition Everest, its scariest ride, Dinosaur, and an African safari. With so much to do and see, you’ll want to spend as little time online as possible, and FastPass can help you do that. Add a little planning ahead, and not only will you hit all the major attractions multiple times, but you’ll also have plenty of time to visit the minor attractions and catch a show or two.
Website design By BotEap.comThe next time you go to the Animal Kingdom, here’s how to optimize your FastPass.
Website design By BotEap.comFirst, you need to have a plan. The night before going to Animal Kingdom, pick up a park map in your hotel lobby to familiarize yourself with the attractions and their locations. So ask yourself:
- Do I want to go on the Everest Expedition? (Of course yes!)
- Do I want to mount it more than once?
- What other attractions do I want to do in that park?
- What is the best way to get there from Expedition Everest?
- If you are traveling with a group (family), will everyone go on the same trip?
Website design By BotEap.comAnswer these questions and your plan is ready. Then you’ll see how easy it is to get from one attraction to another with minimal waiting time in line.
Website design By BotEap.comExpedition Everest is a combination of Space Mountain (it’s partially in the dark), Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster (it’s fast), and Tower of Terror (it drops sharply and goes backwards). Add a 22-foot-tall Yeti and you’ll know why once the park opens, everyone heads to Asia (the section of the park where Everest is located).
Website design By BotEap.comLike Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom opens its main doors before its scheduled opening. Then everyone stops at the bridge to Discovery Island, where Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy open up the park. Try to get as close to the front as possible. Once you cross the main bridge and reach Discovery Island, the vast majority of the crowd will follow the Cast Members (who walk slowly and are not allowed to run past, this avoids pushing, shoving, falling and getting hurt) and head on the right, around the island towards Asia. Instead, take a quick right onto Dinoland. As soon as you cross the bridge into Dinoland (before you get to the Boneyard, check your map), take a quick left and follow the path along the Discovery River towards Finding Nemo – The Musical. Skip past Nemo and head towards the bridge to Asia, where you’ll likely run into a different set of cast members making sure no one is running around. Expedition Everest will be in front of you on the right. The FastPass distribution is to the left of the entrance, so you will have to walk slightly against traffic to get there.
Website design By BotEap.comI recommend that you get your FastPass first and then head straight through the park to Africa and Kilimanjaro Safari. This is a must see attraction and while it is also a FastPass attraction, you must see it in the morning when the animals are most active and virtually all visible. If you’re in a group, hand one person everyone’s park tickets and send them up Everest to get the FastPasses while everyone else heads to the Safari entrance. Have the group wait in the boarding area, where there is plenty of room to stand aside and let others pass.
Website design By BotEap.comIf you are at the Animal Kingdom for Expedition Everest only, please get your FastPass and go directly to the Stand By entrance. You may be able to get a second ride before your FastPass return time. While you’re waiting, I recommend asking for a front seat. The view from the top of Everest is spectacular and you can see several of the other parks and tourist areas.
Website design By BotEap.comOnce the Safari is over, head to Everest, get over the Yeti and get another FastPass for later. This will give you time to take a dip in the Kali River Rapids (and GET WET) or head to Camp Minnie-Mickey for character photos and autographs. Depending on your FastPass return time, try to catch the Festival of the Lion King, which is an exceptional live show, at Camp Minnie Mickey.
Website design By BotEap.comOn your way back up Everest for your second Yeti encounter, stop by DinoLand USA and get a FastPass to Dinosaur (an insanely terrifying journey back 65 million years to save the last dinosaur) or Primeval Whirl. Primeval Whirl is a relatively unknown gem of a roller coaster. The car will first ride like a normal roller coaster car, then it will ‘unlock’ and spin (turn actually) for you to turn as you go up, down and around the tracks. It is highly entertaining and they will laugh hysterically as they spin around and smash into each other. This is one ride you’ll definitely want to try before lunch.
Website design By BotEap.comAfter your second run past the Yeti, you’ve now been to all the main attractions in the park (take another FastPass for Everest) and then go to lunch (love the flaming tree barbecue). Now you have the afternoon free to shop, catch a few shows (Finding Nemo is a quality Broadway show), or enjoy a few more FastPass rides.
Website design By BotEap.comAlthough there is a lot of walking to do as you make your way through the Animal Kingdom theme park, by the time lunch rolls around you will have done more in one morning than you could have done in an entire day without the FastPass.
