Hello, Laura!
From one
Annual Passholder to another, welcome to planDisney! I'm happy to talk through the logistics for your visit this weekend.
As an Annual Passholder, you enjoy tons of perks from discounts on select dining and merchandise, complimentary theme park parking, and the ability to hop between parks (subject to capacity). You'll need a
theme park reservation to visit the parks on most days, except on Good to Go days or weekday visits
after 2 pm. While you can typically enter EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom after 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays without a theme park reservation, you will need one for weekend visits to Magic Kingdom Park, regardless of the time of day.
I'm not sure what time you plan to get your day started, but assuming you'll be arriving before 2 pm and have already secured a theme park reservation for Animal Kingdom, you will not need to make an additional reservation for Magic Kingdom once you scan in to Animal Kingdom. If you are not planning to visit Animal Kingdom before 2 pm, I recommend securing a theme park reservation as soon as possible, as you'll need to enter one of the parks with a valid reservation before visiting Magic Kingdom on a Saturday or Sunday. There appears to be plenty of reservation availability on the
admission calendar at the time of my writing. Barring any unexpected capacity issues or closures, plan to hop to Magic Kingdom after enjoying your time at Animal Kingdom via
complimentary bus transportation between the parks, which typically begins operating at 10 am.
I often like to get an early start at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and squeeze in a few rides on
Expedition Everest and a quick hello to the animals on
Kilimanjaro Safaris before the crowds start to roll in. I visited with a friend a few weeks ago, and we were shocked at all the animal activity as we toured the savanna just before 9 am. The lions were standing at full alert, the rhinos were up and eating, and the cheetahs were stalking their area instead of napping (as I've witnessed on many past trips). I also finally fulfilled my dream of seeing the baby elephant prancing along with the rest of the group, and my heart was just about ready to bust from the cuteness. It was a cooler day, which definitely seemed to help get everyone moving, but I'm crossing my fingers you'll enjoy a similar experience.
Pro tip: I never leave Animal Kingdom without making a pit stop at
Nomad Lounge, which usually opens at 10:30 am. I've "rope dropped" this peaceful oasis on many occasions because the churros, the cocktails, and the vibes are so worth it. The Annapurna Zing is my go-to order, but you'll find plenty of options on the menu to please your palate before continuing your trek on to Magic Kingdom.
Laura, I hope this clears up any confusion on reservations and park hopping. If you need additional guidance, please come back and let us know.
Magic and memories,
Amy