#11 Place to Avoid = Animal Kingdom??

[mking624]

Ok I'm sorry but AK is not worth what they charge for a 1 day ticket i happen to agree. You can see more animals at other places and since it only takes a half day to see everything there including Everest twice I really do think AK really isn't worth the price of admission.

Yes you can more animals at other places...they're called zoos. AK is not a zoo. It's purpose is to promote nature conservation....which was something Walt had wanted. If you only want to go see animals and lots of them, then yeah, you might as well go to a zoo.
As far as it only taking half a day to do it all, I disagree. DH and I usually only stay for half a day, and that's only doing select things we want to do. Usually the safari, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, and lunch. If you did every last thing there...ALL the rides, the shows, and the parade, it's going to take you longer than half a day.

Disney is my favorite place but they really don't need to charge that much money for AK.

The price isn't just about what rides you can go on and what shows you can see....it's also about the fact they have several living animals they need to care for. That expense, alone, must be astronomical.

Disney needs to Lower prices not keep increasing them. Them parks and attractions will be pointless as families won't be able to afford to see them.

Lower prices? Ok, I would love to see you take a look at all the expenses they have and tell me how they can realistically lower prices. This isn't just about AK, it's about economics.

 

[DisneyDork712]

Teehee... I bet alot of people aren't paying $67/day for Animal Kingdom, because they've done their research and they KNOW that MYW makes it much cheaper per day at Disney. Besides, does the Central Florida Zoo have Hidden Mickeys, Lucky the Dinosaur, Goofy, a safari, a Yeti, Kali, a boneyard, a Jamin' Jungle parade and real-life, honest-to-goodness Disney Magic??? I think not!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Great! This will mean fewer lines and better options for us AK lovers. Let them trash the place, I know better.

 

[mking624]

Teehee... I bet alot of people aren't paying $67/day for Animal Kingdom, because they've done their research and they KNOW that MYW makes it much cheaper per day at Disney. Besides, does the Central Florida Zoo have Hidden Mickeys, Lucky the Dinosaur, Goofy, a safari, a Yeti, Kali, a boneyard, a Jamin' Jungle parade and real-life, honest-to-goodness Disney Magic??? I think not!!!

FYI...Lucky the Dinosaur is no longer at AK.

But I agree with you...it's most like that the majority of the people are not paying for 1 single day ticket...they are probably spending less than that by using one day of the MYW ticket. Which, of course, makes this guy pretty sad in terms of his research...he could have made mention that Disney does offer discounted pricing options once you start getting into multi-day tickets.

 

[erock]

"Dinosaur" is one of my favorite rides. I ride it at least two times per visit to AK. Unfortunately for me, each visit to AK has been about 4 hours max. (That my change when I finally get to experience EE next year.) There just isn't much for my family to keep us interested. I will never do "It's Tough to be a Bug" again after my first experience with it. Waiting in the tree to get into the theatre was a horrifying experience for me. I am tall and felt extremely claustrophobic with the low clearance and all the guests packed like sardines.
Just my two cents. Not a huge fan of AK, but go every trip for a few hours because it's "Disney".

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Honestly, I have purchased a one day ticket. We had been given free 2 day parkhoppers and we purchased one day ticket to extend our long weekend. So, not all people that purchase a one day tickets are morons.

I love AK don't get me wrong. For my family of 3 it would cost $225.00 for a one day pass to a themepark, so honestly I don't think AK is worth $225.00. But, I think the park is a good addition to the Disney experience and we do enjoy visiting. But as a stand alone experience, not so much.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Ok I'm sorry but AK is not worth what they charge for a 1 day ticket i happen to agree. You can see more animals at other places and since it only takes a half day to see everything there including Everest twice I really do think AK really isn't worth the price of admission.

The article doesn't say don't pay $70 to get in. If he had said that, then mentioned the other ticketing options, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it.
It's an article where the premise is avoid these places completely and as one of his reasons, puts up the one day price tag. That's a complete red-herring. It isn't $70 to get in for the vast majority of us. For AP holders, the incremental price to get into AK is zero. For many on MYW tickets the incremental cost of an extra day's ticket is less than 5 bucks. You'll find that 5 bucks is cheaper than that zoo he mentioned. And if one has hoppers, one can go there for as long as they wish, then hop to another park. By not doing his homework, he does a great disservice to his readers.

Disney is my favorite place but they really don't need to charge that much money for AK.

But the reality is they aren't charging that much for the vast majority of situations.

Disney needs to Lower prices not keep increasing them. Them parks and attractions will be pointless as families won't be able to afford to see them.

I don't like price increases either, but last year our 10 day trip came out to about $1600 during free dining. That's about $40 per person, per day and ours was a 3 adult one child party. That included hotel, tickets, and free dining. That's less than a major league baseball game in some parts. Now granted, there are vacation packages that cost all but signing over your first born in blood. But one doesn't have to purchase them and Disney does offer several options for those on a budget.

 

[blondeheroine]

Wow. Some of the responses here are a bit harsh. I'm not in agreement with the original poster, but I don't see any reason to call him or her stupid.

ETA: I just realized that I mistook the article for being the OP's opinion. My mistake!

In response of the zoo, I live in an area where we have one the supposedly best zoos in the country, but the animals look miserable. They don't have quite the free range that they have at AK. I was in amazement when I went on the Safari that the giraffes could simply walk right up to our car and cross our path. It was like being in a completely different world.

That being said, I don't spend a lot of time in AK because I always do MYW or AP and I just hop from park to park. I can't imagine spending $70 for one day in a park. You'll save SO much money be doing either MYW or the APs. That way you can do Everest, the Safari, etc. and then move on to another park.

 

[wingdings]

i have to agree i thought it was way over priced i think every park in disney world except for the magic kindom is over priced compared to mk the rest of the parks are second fiddle and should be second fiddle prices i would recomend spending the money it cost to go to animal kindom and go to universal our sea world much better and cheaper

 

[TinkerbellMama]

To suggest that there is little or no ethical difference between child molestation and journalism is one of the most incredibly offensive things I have ever heard. And one of the most ignorant.

Geez, a guy says he wouldn't pay $67 to go to AK, and he ends up being compared to a child molester. Wow. Talk about lame.

I couldn't agree more! What a sick, sick "joke".
Not only is it horribly offensive towards a legitimate profession (journalism), I can guarantee you no victim of sexual abuse is laughing.
What some people deem appropriate for public message boards is shocking to me. Just...wow. Flame away...I don't care. That was just disgusting and inappropriate.

As for the journalist's opinion, I partly agree. I would never in a million years pay $67 to go to AK. I most certainly have and will continue to go there on a MYW ticket, though, since the cost per park is so much less. I think it is going to be a half-day park for us from now on, too. Seems to me that he was reviewing only from the perspective of a consumer paying full-price for a one-day visit, and is not familiar with everything else AK has to offer. That makes him misinformed and ignorant of the deals to be had...but NOT the worst kind of criminal.

 

[PatriciaH]

I knew people that had gone on safari and payed a ton of money for it. They said they saw more in Animal Kingdom in one day than they had seen on their whole safari Does that mean I don't want to go on safari-no but I'm just saying...

 

[purpliequeen]

We like AK. I like that guy's quote from the OP's post. Hopefully he'll prevent thousands of people going to AK so the people who do like it can enjoy it without the crazy hordes of people. Honestly, if so many people don't like the park and want to avoid it, how come it's busier than Six Flags in MA? Obviously AK is doing something right to keep the park admission level so high.

 

[DisneyHokie]

Well this person on MSN is obviously crazy!

True, I wouldn't spend 67 dollars to go for the day...and most people don't. They are usually using their park hoppers and not paying individually!
(or using their annual pass, like moi)

 

[Denise Thies]

To each his own!

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

AK is fine... Nothign wrong it it, other than it needs more attractions to make it a full day park... However, the one I am truly disturbed about is Yahoo's ranking Universal Studios number 1 vacation spot in Orlando....

 

[aztecgoods]

I couldn't agree more! What a sick, sick "joke".
Not only is it horribly offensive towards a legitimate profession (journalism), I can guarantee you no victim of sexual abuse is laughing.
What some people deem appropriate for public message boards is shocking to me. Just...wow. Flame away...I don't care. That was just disgusting and inappropriate.

I erased it OKAYY! You happy now?!?!?! You and Max, who I am quite positive is a journalist in Arkansas, can go write about who Tom Cruise is sleeping with and why George Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction.

 

[Cutter]

Darn, someone already said its "NAHTAZU"

 

[Robo]

I will never do "It's Tough to be a Bug" again after my first experience with it. Waiting in the tree to get into the theatre was a horrifying experience for me. I am tall and felt extremely claustrophobic with the low clearance and all the guests packed like sardines.

Well, THAT's a first... a guest stating (s)he is NOT going back to an attraction because of the QUEUE.

I've heard plenty of folks who GO to an attraction because they LIKE the queue, just not the other way around.

BTW, you don't HAVE to wait in the middle of the crowd in the "cave" to see the show if you don't want to.
And there are plenty of shows when there are very few folks "sardined" into the space.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I couldn't agree more! What a sick, sick "joke".
Not only is it horribly offensive towards a legitimate profession (journalism), I can guarantee you no victim of sexual abuse is laughing.
What some people deem appropriate for public message boards is shocking to me. Just...wow. Flame away...I don't care. That was just disgusting and inappropriate.

I erased it OKAYY! You happy now?!?!?! You and Max, who I am quite positive is a journalist in Arkansas, can go write about who Tom Cruise is sleeping with and why George Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction.

Yes, I'm happy. You don't have to get mad at ME for YOUR inappropriate comment.

 

[QueenT]

My issue with the MSN review is not because I don't agree with his opinion, there are plenty of people on these boards who aren't big fans of AK. I have an issue with his lack of journalistic integrity.

While a 1-day pass is 67 (or 74, or whatever the new price is now), most people don't go to WDW for one day. If they did, I'm sure the majority WOULD choose MK or Epcot as the park to visit. But the way he presented the information made it sound like you would have to pay 67$ in any circumstance, which is either deliberately slanted for shock value, or he did not do his research, which is lazy at best, and in my opinion irresponsible journalism.

As far as comparing AK to a zoo, well, I love zoos, have been to San Diego, live near Fort Worth, 2 of the top zoos in the country, and enjoy going there. The experience in AK is not the same at all. It is more interactive (on the animal display end), plus has stuff you wouldn't find in a zoo (EE).

I would be curious to know if those who don't like AK as much are zoo fans?