Should I skip Animal Kingdom Park?

[lovemy2girls4eva]

I made breakfast reservations at Tusker House for 9:10 breakfast to see some characters plus I heard the food is good. I didn't realize that I have to travel 30 mins by bus from my hotel-The Contemporary. I am worried because I have a 2 yr old and a 7 month old and not sure if they will behave on the bus for that period of time. Will they really enjoy AK or do you think I should just skip it? J know my DD will love to see Daisy and Donald! Not sure what to do!

[chris31997]

For us, Animal Park is one of the most do's We are animal lovers and it is fun to see and do. There is a kid thing that you can do around the park but your kids might be young for it.

I would say go and enjoy it. Nothing says you have to be there the whole day.

[Kristian]

Originally Posted by chris31997

For us, Animal Park is one of the most do's We are animal lovers and it is fun to see and do. There is a kid thing that you can do around the park but your kids might be young for it.

I would say go and enjoy it. Nothing says you have to be there the whole day.

I wouldn't skip Animal Kingdom at all. My dd (3) loves animals. Since you are staying at the Contemporary, you'll have to travel to both the Ak and HS. I wouldn't worry about the bus, just allow yourself enough time to get to the park. If your worried about making your dining ressie's because they are earlier in the morning, you can always change your reservation time or even choose to do the Tusker House character lunch. Bring along a small toy or two for the kiddos to play with.

[danceintherain]

It probably won't take 30 minutes on the bus. I think it would be worth it.
I have a 2 year old, and he LOVES buses, trains, boats - whatever. It's so different from car travel that it keeps him entertained for over an hour every time. In the car, he gets so offended that I'm sitting up in the front driving that he loses his patience much more quickly. I imagine it would be the waiting for the transportation to arrive that would bother him the most.

If you're that concerned about Disney transportation, then you probably should rent a car. The rides to Epcot and Hollywood Studios aren't that much shorter than that to the Animal Kingdom. Even the monorail ride from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom takes over 15 minutes. Of course you can walk in 10...

[nadira36]

I don't know your kids - but I've never seen anyone having issues - we had a 5 yr old a 3.5 yr old and an 8 month old last trip traveling fromt eh Poly to AK - we had 2 adults and a double buggy. No concerns. But we know our children are happy to enjoy the novelty of looking out a window, riding a bus, and they LOVE animals and the NEmo show is awesome - I'd go to AK just for that by itself.

But AK is one of our favorite parks I'd say don't sweat it, go, enjoy.

Oh and we find there's usually someone else next to us on the bus who loves Children and isn't traveling with any so tends to spend time talking to ours. The bus rides aren't as bad as you expect.

[Nanu57v]

AK is also our favorite park (DD3 and 7 now). And the 26 min ride doesn't feel that long usually. Don't skip it.

[Marionnette]

Originally Posted by lovemy2girls4eva

I made breakfast reservations at Tusker House for 9:10 breakfast to see some characters plus I heard the food is good. I didn't realize that I have to travel 30 mins by bus from my hotel-The Contemporary. I am worried because I have a 2 yr old and a 7 month old and not sure if they will behave on the bus for that period of time. Will they really enjoy AK or do you think I should just skip it? J know my DD will love to see Daisy and Donald! Not sure what to do!

It may very well take 30 mins by bus if the bus also loops to other resorts. Many families with young kids do this trip every day and they manage. It's not as if there is room on the bus to run screaming up and down the aisles.

However, I would not spend all that time on a bus and a day's park admission just to go to a character breakfast. Are there other attractions at AK that you're interested in? I'll admit that it is the least favorite of all of the parks but I still enjoy it. You might want to take a look at the list of attractions and shows to determine whether you think it is a "must do" for you.

[jillianjigs7]

Our DD who is 2.5 now, LOVES Animal Kingdom. She has been going there since she was 4 months old, and I would have to say that is one of her favorite parks besides Magic. She LOVES all of the animals. The bus rides may be long, but they aren't too bad. Maybe just bring a new toy to keep them occupied. But honestly, I think they would be fine and love the park!

[Nanu57v]

Originally Posted by nadira36

I don't know your kids - but I've never seen anyone having issues - we had a 5 yr old a 3.5 yr old and an 8 month old last trip traveling fromt eh Poly to AK - we had 2 adults and a double buggy. No concerns. But we know our children are happy to enjoy the novelty of looking out a window, riding a bus, and they LOVE animals and the NEmo show is awesome - I'd go to AK just for that by itself.

But AK is one of our favorite parks I'd say don't sweat it, go, enjoy.

Oh and we find there's usually someone else next to us on the bus who loves Children and isn't traveling with any so tends to spend time talking to ours. The bus rides aren't as bad as you expect.

When my oldest was 3, she MEMORIZED this show! We ended up buying the sound track. So cute having her sing with feeling, "Where's...my....dad....?"

[WDW Obsessed]

Originally Posted by Marionnette

It may very well take 30 mins by bus if the bus also loops to other resorts. Many families with young kids do this trip every day and they manage. It's not as if there is room on the bus to run screaming up and down the aisles.

However, I would not spend all that time on a bus and a day's park admission just to go to a character breakfast. Are there other attractions at AK that you're interested in? I'll admit that it is the least favorite of all of the parks but I still enjoy it. You might want to take a look at the list of attractions and shows to determine whether you think it is a "must do" for you.

+1

[Jenny3]

Originally Posted by danceintherain

If you're that concerned about Disney transportation, then you probably should rent a car. The rides to Epcot and Hollywood Studios aren't that much shorter than that to the Animal Kingdom. Even the monorail ride from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom takes over 15 minutes. Of course you can walk in 10...

I agree; you may want to look into car rentals for your stay. That said, my 2.5 son had no issues with the bus and we used Disney Transportation our entire trip

I think AK is worth it; my son loved the Nemo show, Dinosaur playground, the safari and the shows.

[jcemom]

We've been using Disney transportation since DD was one year old. We go once or twice a year, for 8-10 days. We've never stayed at a monorail resort, and we've never had a problem with her on the bus.

That being said, if there isn't anything else you want to do at AK, then don't go there just for breakfast. You can meet characters in every park, and your little ones won't notice their outfits.

Disney Studios is also a bus ride away. Epcot is on the monorail line, but the ride isn't really much shorter than busing to other parks, and you have to change monorails at the TTC (not a big deal, but wanted to mention it in case you didn't know). Magic Kingdom is on the same monorail line as your resort, but you do need to make the entire loop around, and it will be your last stop before the monorail ends up back at the Contemporary. It takes about 20 minutes or so.

I think you should start by checking out all the attractions at each park and seeing what appeals to you. Then you can decide how much time, if any, to allot to each of the parks.

[scdufek]

I know every child is different, but when we last went to Disney, our youngest had just turned two. What he remembers most about our trip was the Disney busses. He would get so excited whenever he saw one, which was pretty often! :0)

[laceemouse]

Originally Posted by scdufek

I know every child is different, but when we last went to Disney, our youngest had just turned two. What he remembers most about our trip was the Disney busses. He would get so excited whenever he saw one, which was pretty often! :0)

Oh my goodness.....THIS!! We have been going to Disney almost every year since our kids were babies. We took our son at 5 months. We love, love, LOVE the Disney buses, boats, trains, and monorail! We have always said that the Disney transporation is part of the vacation, dh and I love not driving and the kids really do enjoy the ride. Like someone else said, they are sitting with you (not strapped in the backseat), looking out the window, talking about what they did the day before and plans for the day, etc.

We love Animal Kingdom too, your oldest especially will love it

[August2010]

My kids (DS5 and DS3) LOVE the Disney buses! Maybe it's a boy thing. They are pretty well behaved on the buses (restaurants are another story!).
We have decided this year though to skip Animal Kingdom and spend an extra day at MK. Other than the safari ride, not much else interested my kids. They were afraid in the Bugs Life show, too small for the dinosaur ride and not really into the rest of the attractions. I would have liked to see the Nemo show but couldn't bare to wait around for the next show after circling around the park a few times.
I can either take or leave the AK but it is a place you have to experience at least once.