Animal Kingdom Exit Strategy: Getting Out After Nighttime Shows
Today we continue our series on exit strategies - that is, how to get out of each park after the nighttime show. This week features Disney's Animal Kingdom.
If you are unfamiliar with how these posts go, or missed a few, check out our Magic Kingdom exit strategies and our EPCOT exit strategies from previous weeks.
Use the following tactics as only one, or combine them into a strategy. Most importantly, though, do what works for you. And before I break down the tactics for the Animal Kingdom, the most important tactic I can recommend applies to all parks. Ready for it?
Primary Tactic: Mentally Prepare
Resign yourself to the fact that it's not going to be a good time after park closing. Discard any dreams of walking freely out of an almost empty park to your waiting bus and sitting down to rest your tired feet while you arrive at your resort within a half hour of leaving the park. Can this happen? Yes. Is it likely? No. Prepare for the worst. Prepare for crowds, lines, and standing on your mode of transportation (OR... and this is very important... advocating for yourself if you or your family member cannot stand due to age or a physical issue by asking someone to give up their seat. If you do not advocate, some people will not do it, so ask ask ask).
Now that you are mentally prepared, here are some other tactics you may choose to deploy at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Tactic 1: Position yourself for success
If you are going to be watching Tree of Life Awakenings until park closing, position yourself near the bridge to the Oasis. If you will be watching Rivers of Light, position yourself toward the back left of the theater to exit via Dinoland and have the shortest route through Discovery Island to the Oasis and exit. If you are in Pandora... well.. you're honestly pretty embedded if you are in Pandora.
Tactic 2: Exit Rivers of Light the right (left) way
Say you've watched Rivers of Light and it's just ended. There is a correct way to exit the theater, if you are able to push your way through the crowds opposite the direction they are going. If there is a Cast Member directing you, or if the crowds are too think to push through, do not try this. But consider instead of going up and out at the exit nearest you, going down to the front row, then walking left as you face the show to the end of the theater before making your way up. Why? Because most people turn around and work their way directly up to the exits, which puts them out on a pathway that runs between Asia and Dinoland. Once on this pathway, everyone must turn toward the park exit. At this point, people have a choice to go to Dinoland or Asia, but if they exit via Asia, they will run into the Dinoland crowds again and be further back on Discovery Island. If they exit via Dinoland, they will be closer to the park exit. The plan here is to use the vast theater itself to get as close to Dinoland as possible before exiting onto the pathway that everyone else will be crowding.
Tactic 3: Either move fast or bring entertainment
Here's the rough thing about my favorite of all parks: It is served ONLY by buses. So everyone going to every resort must wait for a bus. There are simply no other options. If you move quickly, you can beat most of the crowd and ideally be toward the front of the hordes waiting for buses. If you do not move quickly, though, you will wait. I'm sorry, it's true. Empty your bladder before leaving the park if this is the case, and bring some trivia cards or something along for entertainment because you will likely wait.
Tactic 4: Know where the bus is
This is important even if you do move fast. I've seen plenty of fast moving people walk the entirely wrong direction, but Animal Kingdom has three major peninsulas of pathway upon exiting the Oasis. One (furthers to the left) takes you to the parking lot. Then there are two bus banks. There is a sign as you approach the bus banks with a list of resorts and the number and location of your stop. Do not wait until after park closing to read this sign. Everyone else will be reading this sign too. Instead, try to inspect the sign when you arrive at the park, so you have a good idea exactly where to go when the park closes and don't miss a step being the first to your stop.
And so concludes our tips for exiting the Animal Kingdom with as little hassle as possible at closing time. Have you tried these tips and did they work for you? Do you have any other tips to share with our community? Leave a comment on this post or on our Facebook page, and until next week...
