AK 2/7 My observations

[Kohara]

This post may seem negative because I am contradicting some information that I've been reading on this board, but we had a great time and can't wait to go back.

TamuTamu didn't have a DoleWhip they had pineapple soft serve and it was nothing special.
AK is NOT a half day park. The park usually closes at 5 and it took us that long to do everything.
If your kids don't love memo or know who Nemo is, SKIP IT! Torture!!!!!
Crowd calendar said it was a level 5, it was busy! Rides had 45 minute waits without fast passes.
I loved fastpass! We did have to rush a bit was skipping those lines made it so worth it.
We tried to eat lunch at 2 and the line was out the door so we went on another ride and came back an hour later to emptiness.
Construction did not bother me. Didn't notice it, didn't takeaway the beauty, didn't ruin my experience. I actually never saw construction near the tree of life.
Everest didn't have child swap. They told me to wait outside until he was done.
Dinosaur did not make any of the kids it our party cry (5,7) and I didn't hear any other kids crying either. So give it a chance.

That's all I can remember for now. I don't understand when some people say AK is the park they skip I thought it was wonderful!

 

[ZoZo]

So glad you liked AK - it's my favorite park, and I usually spend at least two full days there (not sure why so many people call it a "half day park" either!). I think lots of folks hit the main attractions (safari ride, Everest, Dinosaur) then leave - they're not interested in the shows or animals. But things like the Flights of Wonder show and Lion King show are so good - and the animal exhibits and trails are wonderful.

FYI, when people refer to "Dole Whips", they're usually talking about the pineapple flavor of the soft serve. They do make other flavors (orange and vanilla). So if that's what you had, you did, indeed, have a Dole Whip! I really like it, myself, but it's not for everyone. I find it very refreshing!

 

[ArwenMarie]

We love AK.

How are the walls looking? Are they everywhere or not that noticeable?

 

[automaticsoap]

We love AK.

How are the walls looking? Are they everywhere or not that noticeable?

When I was at AK last Tuesday, the walls were everywhere and very noticeable. It didn't ruin my experience, but they're definitely there!

 

[Kohara]

The only walls I noticed were by Everest, honestly people had me thinking it looked horrendous when that is not the case.

 

[RogueKnits]

AK is NOT a half day park. The park usually closes at 5 and it took us that long to do everything.

AGREED! I have yet to do everything at AK in a single day. I guess some people don't get as "distracted" by watching the animals as I do?

 

[IBLarsen]

So happy to hear about your kids experience with Dinosaur! It's on our agenda for March for the first time.

 

[mom2rtk]

According to this Disney Blog entry, walls around the tree of life came down just 3 days ago.

OP, you had a different view than those visiting last week.

 

[mggeary]

This post may seem negative because I am contradicting some information that I've been reading on this board, but we had a great time and can't wait to go back.

TamuTamu didn't have a DoleWhip they had pineapple soft serve and it was nothing special.
AK is NOT a half day park. The park usually closes at 5 and it took us that long to do everything.
If your kids don't love memo or know who Nemo is, SKIP IT! Torture!!!!!
Crowd calendar said it was a level 5, it was busy! Rides had 45 minute waits without fast passes.
I loved fastpass! We did have to rush a bit was skipping those lines made it so worth it.
We tried to eat lunch at 2 and the line was out the door so we went on another ride and came back an hour later to emptiness.
Construction did not bother me. Didn't notice it, didn't takeaway the beauty, didn't ruin my experience. I actually never saw construction near the tree of life.
Everest didn't have child swap. They told me to wait outside until he was done.
Dinosaur did not make any of the kids it our party cry (5,7) and I didn't hear any other kids crying either. So give it a chance.

That's all I can remember for now. I don't understand when some people say AK is the park they skip I thought it was wonderful!

Many rides now often "run out" of paper child swap passes since they print them in bunches for the whole month. We were given paper child swaps for EE a few weeks ago, but barnstormer had run out. Ther perk is that they remain good for the whole calander month.

 

[L&Lfan]

I totally agree with your assessment of Nemo. Once was definitely enough with that show. I find it painfully loud and am unable to understand much of the lyrics. I only go to it when I'm with someone for whom it's a must do.

I enjoy Dinosaur but it definitely needs some love to get it back in 100% working order.

Where did you try to have lunch? I don't think you mentioned the place.

 

[DisneyFive]

AK is NOT a half day park. The park usually closes at 5 and it took us that long to do everything.
Crowd calendar said it was a level 5, it was busy! Rides had 45 minute waits without fast passes.
Everest didn't have child swap. They told me to wait outside until he was done.
I don't understand when some people say AK is the park they skip I thought it was wonderful!

Glad you like AK so much. It was our second favorite park behind MK our first year.

I agree that AK is not a half day park, ESPECIALLY for your first visit. AK already has short hours, and we tend to use them up. I can say, after going there for four separate trips, we are spending less time there each stay. It may have now swapped with Epcot for our least fav, but we still very much enjoy it.

We have found that 5 and above for crowd levels are where we notice it to feel busy. I'm sure you found this out during your stay, but 45 minutes isn't unusual for standby wait times. It can be way worse, even during the slowest time of the year when we go in September.

I've noticed the child swap at Everest can be weird too. One year, we had foreigners ask (in hand gestures, didn't speak English) if we could have their little girl go with us on the ride (she was about 6), so that they could wait back with their younger child. It all happened spur of the moment. You could tell that they were really hoping we said o.k. for their daughter's sake. We said yes since we didn't want the girl to miss out. It was weird though, I was praying they were there when we got off the ride. They were.

Dan

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it's a half-day park when you are not seeing any of the shows. If you are seeing all of the shows, plus walking the trails, then it's a full-day park or more. I guess you could say the same for DHS really.

 

[Kohara]

I totally agree with your assessment of Nemo. Once was definitely enough with that show. I find it painfully loud and am unable to understand much of the lyrics. I only go to it when I'm with someone for whom it's a must do.

I enjoy Dinosaur but it definitely needs some love to get it back in 100% working order.

Where did you try to have lunch? I don't think you mentioned the place.

Restaurantasaurus- I knew going in the food wasn't anything special, but I can't grasp the concept of backtracking to go eat at a better restaurant that the kids won't even notice. The burgers were dry and a bit burnt, but we didn't care. After lots of advice on here I knew we had to eat at off peak times to get a table together (8) but at 2pm the lines were still ridiculous. We rode dinosaur came back zero lines and lots of empty tables. Pack enough snacks and drinks to last until 3pm.

 

[siskaren]

TamuTamu didn't have a DoleWhip they had pineapple soft serve and it was nothing special.

They don't call it a Dole Whip there for some reason, but that's what a Dole Whip is.

 

[mel373]

Weird about child swap. I hope it was just that they ran out of tickets. I am going with a 2 year old and while my husband rides with the older kids I was planning on taking her to see some animals. Did you have to stand right there where they could see you?

 

[Kohara]

]

They don't call it a Dole Whip there for some reason, but that's what a Dole Whip is.

But I wanted the vanilla soft serve in pineapple juice, and I thought with a Dole whip you get to choose flavor and get the juice

 

[mom2rtk]

But I wanted the vanilla soft serve in pineapple juice, and I thought with a Dole whip you get to choose flavor and get the juice

The soft serve in the juice is the Dole Whip float.

 

[nkereina]

Pineapple softserve IS a Dole Whip. It's called a Dole Whip at Aloha Isle in MK because Aloha Isle is sponsored by Dole. Tamu Tamu is not, which is why it's not called that there. I believe the name is trademarked and only used at Aloha Isle and at the Dole Plantation in Hawaii.

A true Dole Whip is pineapple softserve but there are variations of it now with different flavors, and the vanilla soft serve in pineapple juice which is called a float.

FWIW, we had the pineapple soft serve with rum at Tamu Tamu and it was great

 

[Kohara]

Weird about child swap. I hope it was just that they ran out of tickets. I am going with a 2 year old and while my husband rides with the older kids I was planning on taking her to see some animals. Did you have to stand right there where they could see you?

Let me elaborate on my experience with the child swap. My son is two also and we had fast passes for it so we all went through the fastpass together got right up until your about to board and I was still holding my son. I asked where to we go for the child swap and the said to go wait in the gift shop. I was under the impression there was a room we sit in like at islands of adventure. So we walk totally out from the the ride and go sit in the gift swap by where people exit the ride and were told you can't sit there. I tried explaining that we were told to come here for child swap and she said no that you wait outside and when the other member of your party is done and comes to get you then you go through fastpass line, but I had already used my fastpass to enter the ride the first time. Anyway I gave up and left. The cast member standing at the entrance never stopped me while I entered holding my 2 year old so I still don't understand what really went wrong.

 

[RustManFan]

I think people that think it is a half day park only go for the rides and not to view the animals or see any shows. What a shame!