I pulled up Steve Soares website and the page for Animal Kingdom states "Arrive 45 minutes prior to show" for the following shows:

Festival of the Lion King
Finding Nemo - The Musical

Do we really need to be there that far in advance of showtime?

Barb

Both shows I have been able to get into within about 15 mins before it starts. However, that was cutting it really close, from what I was able to tell.
During certain times of the year, though, 45 mins prior to the show may not even be enough. It really depends on the crowds on that day. In short 30-45 mins for these shows may be a good rule of thumb but do remain flexible. If you see a window of opportunity, you may want to go for it.

Last Easter I don't think 45 minutes would have gotten you into Nemo. (But that is a busy time of the year)

The 45 minutes is what they publish on the Times Guide. Your best bet would be to ask the CMs at the entrance area to each of the shows, but, as GusMan said, be flexible.

We are going to be at AK on Tuesday, June 10th.

I am using the Unofficial Guide touring plan for the 1 day at AK.

From 9am to 12pm we are hoping to...
Pick Up FastPass for "Expedition Everest"
Ride Primeval Whirl
Ride Dinosaur
Ride Kali River Rapids
Walk Maharaja Jungle Trek
See Flights Of Wonder (11:00am show)
Ride Expedition Everest with FastPass
Pick up FastPass for Kilamanjaro Safari

From 12pm to 1pm we planned to...
Eat lunch

Do you think we could catch the 1pm Nemo, if I send hubby and kids to get in line at Nemo when we get off Everest, while I run and grab FastPasses for Kilamanjaro and then join them at Nemo? Maybe, on my way back withthe FastPasses, I could grab some lunch "to go" to eat while we stand in line at Nemo?

Once Nemo is over, do you think we would be able to make the 2pm Festival of the Lion King? Or should we shoot for the 3:00pm Festival and try to fit in It's Tough to Be a Bug between the two shows?

Thanks,
Barb

You have a very aggressive plan. The main thing I can see is that you want to eat your lunch when everyone else in the park will be having the same idea. The lines are going to be very long.

Also, Everest is right next to Nemo so that's not a problem. But you running all the way over to Africa for FastPasses for the Safari and then all the way back to Nemo is a problem. That's about the furtherest distance you can go in that park. And you'd be doing it twice and having to deal with crowds.

Remember that Nemo is at the opposite end of the park from the Lion King so you would have to hustle out of Nemo, cross over the entire park, and then try to make the 2:00 show. I don't think that is going to work.

One note on your schedule. For Flights of Wonder, you don't need to be there very early for that one. You can still find seats (all on long benches) right before show time. Best place is in the middle of the right section towards the back of the level seats (not on the bleachers).

Do you think we could catch the 1pm Nemo, if I send hubby and kids to get in line at Nemo when we get off Everest, while I run and grab FastPasses for Kilamanjaro and then join them at Nemo? Maybe, on my way back withthe FastPasses, I could grab some lunch "to go" to eat while we stand in line at Nemo?

Barb

Barb, even by commando touring standards that looks like a challenge to me, but good luck anyway! Personally I'd suggest you might want a bit of a rest by then and sit down for lunch and then assess the Nemo/Lion King situation. You might be able to do TTBAB with a fast pass also depending on your KMS return time. We got into Lion King last easter by joining the end of the line as it had started to enter the theatre. It was a risk but it did work out fine so I'm prepared to risk it again....

I agree. I think that would be hard to complete before the 1pm show. Yes, 45 minutes seems to be a realistic amount of time. Now that doesn't mean that you can't just hit it right and pretty much walk in, but that's the exception in my experience. In fact, last trip, we couldn't time it right to see EITHER FotLK or Nemo. That was a HUGE bummer, and an accident that we will NOT repeat.

Now that doesn't mean that you can't just hit it right and pretty much walk in, but that's the exception in my experience. In fact, last trip, we couldn't time it right to see EITHER FotLK or Nemo. That was a HUGE bummer, and an accident that we will NOT repeat.

Ok, I'm now bowing to experience :) Maybe I'm not prepared to risk it again after all.... Still haven't seen Nemo so will make sure we are prepared to queue for that.

Do you think we could catch the 1pm Nemo, if I send hubby and kids to get in line at Nemo when we get off Everest, while I run and grab FastPasses for Kilamanjaro and then join them at Nemo? Maybe, on my way back withthe FastPasses, I could grab some lunch "to go" to eat while we stand in line at Nemo?

Hi Barb,
Oooh, I don't know about that sending hubby and kids to get in line at Nemo and joining them later. When we did it during the first week of December 2007 (very light crowds), there was a CM walking up and down the line, making sure there was no "cutting". They were treating the show line as they would a ride line. We got on line 45 minutes before show time, and a CM cut off the line about 3 or 4 families behind us.

This is a very 'best case scenario' setup you have going. :D

Hopefully you have a PLAN B for most/all of these if something goes wrong and adjustments have to be made.

To be honest....I used to do the Commando style approach and we have totally ditched that now. We absolutely try to do some strategizing as far as which attractions/shows we MUST go to and when we'd like to get to them. But, we keep it WAY open because we know that crowds can get in your way or things change as you go.

I would have everyone sit and discuss which attractions/shows they DEFINITELY want to go on and then do a 'commando' itinerary and a 'must do' itinerary.

As far as resorts go, the Beach Club is a wonderful location and Stormalong Bay is great! IF you're going to spend lots of time at the resort, then I would definitely suggest that location. You are within walking distance of EPCOT and less than 10 minute ferry ride away from the Studios.

If you have little ones and are going to hit Magic Kingdom several times, then I would suggest Wilderness Lodge. The kids love the 'feel' of the place, Whispering Canyon Cafe is great and you can just take the strollers right onto the ferry boat at the back of the resort and be at the gates of the Magic Kingdom within 10 minutes. :D

If you want to be able to stretch out and have a peaceful time at the resort then I would suggest Old Key West. That resort was the first DVC resort built and the sizes of the units are much bigger than the others. Plus, you can park right in front of your own until which is wonderful.

No matter what you do...have a great time! :D

It truly depends on where you want to sit . . . my husband did theater for 2 years and i am of the belief that ALMOST any seat in a theater is a great one. . . minus those behind poles and really tall people (i'm short :P). . .

I've run into lion king 2 minutes before and been seated, nemo i havn't seen yet so i can't help. . . . sorry

but thats mythoughts! :)

Nemo is a huge theater, so even if it is close to show time, you can probably get a seat. However, you might have trouble if you are a large group and want to sit together. Of course during busy times of year this may not be the case, especially if a lot of people have queued up 1 hour or more in advance. I have never waited longer than 15 minutes to get into the show in the 3 times I've seen it, but all were during lower attendance times (October and January).

We are just two adults, I wouldn't recommend doing this with kids in tow.

We grab one counter service meal to split between the two of us, something portable like a burger plate, and then eat in the line for Nemo or FotLK. No food allowed in the theaters, but we're often done before we get to the entrance. We end up using line time for mealtime, not very restful I admit, but it keeps us from "wasting" time if the lines are very long and our park time is short. Also, if we get to the counter service locations before, say, 11:45am there are never any lines.