Last Possible Time to Ride

[Brian845]

I am an inveterate planner, and I'm trying to come up with a plan to get in a few rides at Animal Kingdom on the first day of our trip. Most of the day will be taken up by travel, but I'm hoping to actually get to the park by about 4:30PM or so. One of the rides I'd like to get in is Expedition Everest, since it was the one thrill ride we did not do last time. If the park closes at 8PM, what's the last time they'll let you join the queue for a ride like Everest?

Brian

[Amy]

I am an inveterate planner, and I'm trying to come up with a plan to get in a few rides at Animal Kingdom on the first day of our trip. Most of the day will be taken up by travel, but I'm hoping to actually get to the park by about 4:30PM or so. One of the rides I'd like to get in is Expedition Everest, since it was the one thrill ride we did not do last time. If the park closes at 8PM, what's the last time they'll let you join the queue for a ride like Everest?

Brian

It probably depends on how long the queue actually is. Some attractions it seems as though you can join the queue right as the park is closing, other attractions seem to start shutting down a bit before park closing so the queue is cleared out by the time the park closes. Not sure where EE falls in that spectrum. I would think if you are getting to the park 3 hours before it closes, you shouldn't have a problem getting a ride or two in on EE. Are you going at a slower or busier time of year?

[Brian845]

It probably depends on how long the queue actually is. Some attractions it seems as though you can join the queue right as the park is closing, other attractions seem to start shutting down a bit before park closing so the queue is cleared out by the time the park closes. Not sure where EE falls in that spectrum. I would think if you are getting to the park 3 hours before it closes, you shouldn't have a problem getting a ride or two in on EE. Are you going at a slower or busier time of year?

This particular Saturday is listed as regular season. I'd actually like to do Dinosaur, Triceratops Spin, Primeval Whirl, and Everest in the span of about 3 hours. Dinner at Restaurantosaurus will also be involved at some point. Doable?

Brian

[theBIGyowski]

This Saturday (6/1) AK is supposed to close at 7:00 PM. It has Morning EMH...so there is a chance most people will leave after lunch...thus the crowds may be lighter towards the end of the day.

If you got there at 4:30...and could make it to an attraction no later than 5:00 PM...you would have 2 hours to do whatever you wanted. Here are the estimated wait times in the last few hours of park operation:

Dinosaur: 14 min
Triceratops Spin: 6 min
Primeval Whirl: 13 min
Everest: 22 min

Of course...the closer you get to park closing...the shorter the wait times should be because people are leaving to go back to their resorts/dinner. I think you could ride everything you want and then grab dinner...just do the Dinoland USA stuff last so you will be there at Restaurantosaurus.

[Brian845]

This Saturday (6/1) AK is supposed to close at 7:00 PM. It has Morning EMH...so there is a chance most people will leave after lunch...thus the crowds may be lighter towards the end of the day.

If you got there at 4:30...and could make it to an attraction no later than 5:00 PM...you would have 2 hours to do whatever you wanted. Here are the estimated wait times in the last few hours of park operation:

Dinosaur: 14 min
Triceratops Spin: 6 min
Primeval Whirl: 13 min
Everest: 22 min

Of course...the closer you get to park closing...the shorter the wait times should be because people are leaving to go back to their resorts/dinner. I think you could ride everything you want and then grab dinner...just do the Dinoland USA stuff last so you will be there at Restaurantosaurus.

Heheh, when I said "this Saturday" I meant "this particular Saturday" as in the one in the future, not actually *this* Saturday:). Sorry for the confusion! The one I'm looking at is March 1st. Don't worry, I've renewed my subscription to touringplans as well:).

[Amy]

I would think you should be able to fit that all in three hours. Be careful of the Restaurantosaurus ~ Mom got a burger that was raw in the middle, not just pink, but raw Luckily she always cuts her sandwiches in two so she can pick them up and eat them better. They did offer to replace it, but seemed unconcerned that they were handing out uncooked beef...
And March 1st is my birthday ~ so celebrate for me while you are at WDW!

[Len90]

In all honesty, the last time you can queue for a ride is when the park closes. If the park closes at 8PM, then you can run onto the queue as late at 8PM. I have tested this out with attractions in DHS, MK, and EPCOT and that has been the case. Usually the CM at the entrance to the queue will have the time in front of them and yell out last call.

As for Everest, the best time to do it is at rope drop. You should be able to get in multiple rides within the first 30 minutes.

[Brian845]

In all honesty, the last time you can queue for a ride is when the park closes. If the park closes at 8PM, then you can run onto the queue as late at 8PM. I have tested this out with attractions in DHS, MK, and EPCOT and that has been the case. Usually the CM at the entrance to the queue will have the time in front of them and yell out last call.

As for Everest, the best time to do it is at rope drop. You should be able to get in multiple rides within the first 30 minutes.

Ok, that's good to know...I'm going to try to convince my son to go for rope drop on an EMH morning so we can get a couple of rides in, and then hit another park. This will make my wife and other son happy too, because they'll get to sleep a bit late, and meet us later.

[Chuckus95]

In all honesty, the last time you can queue for a ride is when the park closes. If the park closes at 8PM, then you can run onto the queue as late at 8PM. I have tested this out with attractions in DHS, MK, and EPCOT and that has been the case. Usually the CM at the entrance to the queue will have the time in front of them and yell out last call.

I second this. I've always been able to get in line until closing time. I will find out next week if the policy has changed.

[Len90]

In all honesty, the last time you can queue for a ride is when the park closes. If the park closes at 8PM, then you can run onto the queue as late at 8PM. I have tested this out with attractions in DHS, MK, and EPCOT and that has been the case. Usually the CM at the entrance to the queue will have the time in front of them and yell out last call.

I second this. I've always been able to get in line until closing time. I will find out next week if the policy has changed.

It was the case in MK during this past May and I did it on more than one occasion.

Ok, that's good to know...I'm going to try to convince my son to go for rope drop on an EMH morning so we can get a couple of rides in, and then hit another park. This will make my wife and other son happy too, because they'll get to sleep a bit late, and meet us later.

I went on a non EMH morning and it was still really empty. Probably one of the best things I did. The key is to get near the RFID entrance, go to the right through Discovery Island so you are at the right side of the rope in the Oasis. Then you will run to the CMs who hold a rope and walk you down. Quickly snag a fastpass and you should still be able to make the first or second train taking guests. I got off the attraction for my fifth time at 9:40 after a 9AM park opening. I had a fastpass for 9:40-10:40 and ended up never using it since 5 was more than enough for me. First bus to the park should be at your resort between 8AM and 8:15AM.

[Brian845]

In all honesty, the last time you can queue for a ride is when the park closes. If the park closes at 8PM, then you can run onto the queue as late at 8PM. I have tested this out with attractions in DHS, MK, and EPCOT and that has been the case. Usually the CM at the entrance to the queue will have the time in front of them and yell out last call.

I second this. I've always been able to get in line until closing time. I will find out next week if the policy has changed.

It was the case in MK during this past May and I did it on more than one occasion.

Ok, that's good to know...I'm going to try to convince my son to go for rope drop on an EMH morning so we can get a couple of rides in, and then hit another park. This will make my wife and other son happy too, because they'll get to sleep a bit late, and meet us later.

I went on a non EMH morning and it was still really empty. Probably one of the best things I did. The key is to get near the RFID entrance, go to the right through Discovery Island so you are at the right side of the rope in the Oasis. Then you will run to the CMs who hold a rope and walk you down. Quickly snag a fastpass and you should still be able to make the first or second train taking guests. I got off the attraction for my fifth time at 9:40 after a 9AM park opening. I had a fastpass for 9:40-10:40 and ended up never using it since 5 was more than enough for me. First bus to the park should be at your resort between 8AM and 8:15AM.

We'd probably just ride it once or twice, then head over to MK, so we can do all 4 mountains in one day:).

[Len90]

I actually tried doing that and would have succeeded but Splash was temperamental on my last vacation. Kept breaking down and having evacs.

[horizons1]

When I go to WDW it is usually for only a few hours in the evening during a work trip, so what you propose for AK is totally doable.

[Cardinals314]

We'd probably just ride it once or twice, then head over to MK, so we can do all 4 mountains in one day:).[/quote]

Well with The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train coming to Magic Kingdom in early 2014, you could try and to 5 mountains in one day lol