AKL disappointment

[DRDISNEYMD]

I kind of figured on most of these responses.

But, AK has been my favorite park as I love animals. We visit every other month.

I am by profession a landscaper and I can tell you the scope of upkeep over the entire park is being held to a different standard than before, including the safari region.

The walkway animal exhibits are either overgrown or have had plants die and not been replaced. A lot of the animals either have total coverage from guests view or are no longer there. Either way the focus on a quality habitat is not what it once was.

Horace, I agree that AKL seems relatively the same regarding upkeep and that is a good and interesting point.

Re: the zebras, I was simply pointing out there is still nothing there.

As to AK vs.SW, Sea World is amazing at showcasing their sea animals. There are a lot of areas to view them from many perspectives that were well thought out, executed and maintained. JMO.

It's ok for everyone to disagree and enjoy AKL. But at some point in time those rose colored glasses will slip down your nose a bit and you'll notice something amiss. I certainly don't want to bash AK. I want to love it as I have in the past but IMO it is in lousy shape at this point of time.

~Great post!!!

EVERYone is inferior to The Avengers!

Can I be the Hulk?

~OMG, again?!? I see you, already. *sigh*.... I'm laughing and crying at the same time, that's not good.

Sorry for sounding insulting but when I posted here regularly with the now long gone gang "rose colored glasses" was simply a term used to describe one side of the debate and believe it or not I was one of the top "rose colored glasses" posters.

Times have changed but I never took offense to being called that because it was true, I was a Disney defender But I always listened to the other side as it made me question my beliefs (a good thing) and yes disney eventually did things that were beyond my personal breaking point and then some of the other issues I'd argued so hard against really seemed to have merit...it was a very confusing time.

I think my time too has come to back away from these discussions as I don't seem to be civil enough for this group plus Lockedoutlogiclogic always says what I think much better than me!

~Oh no, my dear sweet grumpy pirate! I *love* your grumpy posts -- every single word! I really appreciate you sharing your very recent experience at AK, and I was not offended in the least. I don't want you to leave or ever change. I would be miserable if Rumors became overrun with a bunch of happy go lucky pixie dusters! I've got the pixie dust on lock or so I'm told, lol, but I'll be that! This is Rumors, and you are one of the few old timers nice enough to stick around. I have learned so much from reading your posts, and you bring a such unique perspective along with some of the most charismatic, eloquent writing that I have *ever* seen. I can't wait for your return!!!

 

[CtinaDitty]

yeah...i get that alot too

listen...we all have our ups and down days...pete is like the "kingda ka" of ups and downs (current world record holder)...

But i usually agree with what i believe to be his principle: Disney...especially at WDW...has GOT to be held accountable moving forward for the mistakes and bad taste decisions they are starting to make with more regularity...just as they have ALWAYS gotten the benefit of the doubt from past good deeds and dedication principles that were axed in a cost accounting move years ago...

No really...the problem with "i'm sure it will be GREAT! only 641 days till Art of Animation with DD, DW, DH, DMV, and DOA!"
...is...that disney has really jacked prices and been very strategically squeezing people into their "streamlined" vacation policies to maximize profits over the last ten years in particular...and they use the "happy thoughts" as a massive PR shield to do some really low class, corporatist type stuff.

The dining plan is really offensive to me as an example of this...the new "booking" of minute by minute schedules in amusement parks (for gods sakes) that they are as we speak starting to roll out is going to build on this and go way over to the bad side...

And its not just WDW that has the issues for me. Disney (along with Apple) has gone "all in" in China and they get way too much of a pass on this. Which i don't believe is in any way to bring the chinese people into the fold as they would have you think it. Its about favorable trade deals for sweatshop junk that they ship to their parks and buddies at target and walmart around the world.

I mean...i know its a global thing now and i'm spitting in the wind...but being brought up as an American can i REALLY support this? I mean isn't it really against our fiber and whats left that we have deep down in our core?

I don't know...maybe (well for me DEFINITELY) we over think this kinda stuff sometimes? I blame Pittsburgh

Haha, Pittsburgh's fault it is then! I do agree that Disney does need to be held accountable for mistakes. There are some things that I think Disney needs to shape up on, but I just visited AK this past summer (I know, almost a year ago it seems) and did the Wild Africa Trek. We were out in the animal area and everything looked fine to me. Yes, I do think AK needs to do something to really make the park POP. I never spend more than a morning/early afternoon there. However, I think the grounds were fine while I visited last. Maybe they've become worse, though according to some posters who visited more recently than me, they haven't. Maybe it was just a bad week when Peter when, who knows? I do think Disney is spending money on things they don't necessarily need to when they already have so many existing things they could make better or update. I've spoken to Disney about a very bad trip I took last year, not due to the parks at all, but due to the resort I stayed at. I did receive a response.

Peter, maybe you should write to Disney. I'm being serious here. Tell them what you witnessed and maybe they'll do something to correct it! They sure got back to me fast when I told them how unhappy I was. Disney doesn't like bad press. They might take your concerns seriously!

 

[Disneyfreak001]

Note: I notice my title is incorrect! I meant Animal Kingdom, not the lodge.

Went to AK this weekend and I left totally deflated. I think the animal areas are being totally ignored.

Many, many areas supposedly animal holding areas seemed empty. Most of the animal areas seemed very dirty or neglected, landscaping wise, in comparison to years gone by.

There were no zebras in the 'little red' area. Embarrassing.

I did talk to a nice and knowledgable CM in the gorilla area (though she wasn't very optimistic as to AK's future) and I was happy to see the abundance of the primates on view. But overall this park, once my favorite, is going downhill fast. Sea World now gets my vote as best wildlife park easily.

In closing I have to say that Avatarland is very, very (very, very) important to the success of this park.

I could not agree less. AK is an awesome park. You wanna know why they didn't keep the zebras? They were gonna kill each other. and lets face t little red got boring the 10th time through. And no way are the animals neglected, AK takes pride in keeping animals safe, well fed, and clean. And you can't have all the animals out all the time due to weather or noctornal animals or feeding. And i really hope Disney doesn't do Avatarworld cuz that would be so stupid! Avatar is not Disney!

 

[rluey29]

We were there on Sat. did the Safari twice and it was 2 of the better rides we have ever had on the safari. Animals were out and about. I love the ride when they are active. Didn't notice any areas that had been lacking attention.

 

[Minnies Boy Toy]

AK has always been my least favorite Disney park for some of the reasons mentioned. The layout seems claustrophobic to me. I suppose maybe that fits in with the wildlife and jungle theme, but even in the wild you sometimes get broad vistas on occasion - and AK is woefully lacking in that kind of atmosphere, IMO. In the meantime, if you're a wild animal lover, there are countless other zoo options available with better design features for both the animals and the viewers... not trying to be a downer as much as critiquing what I wish Disney would address sometime in the future.

 

[bearloch]

Was there Sat as well and did they Safari too saw many healthy happy looking animals and when I saw happy! they were eating, soaking in the water just plain looking good! the baby Elephants were out playing as was the animals replacing the zebras.. as far as overgrown plants last time I looked the theme of this park was to be in a Jungle where everything is overgrown it all looked as wonderfull as usual to me! but what do I know Im only at Disney 3xs a month! as a former Busch Gardens passholder and tampa zoo this park is no where near a zoo its much better than both the other parks but like everything today you can't make everyone happy all thetime!

 

[darrius1st]

I Think one of the best ways to boost AK is to have rides that fit the animals in specific areas, for example where the tigers are have big and thrilling ride the were the are a lot of birds have a Soarin type to give you the experience if you had wings. Things of that nature so it ties into the animal concept and to keep it Disney have the Disney characters that are those specific animals as the mascot for the ride. Because as I have said many times this is the worst park in Orlando, and that includes FUNspot.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~Dear Mr. Pirate, I just changed my mind -- on second thought, maybe you should just run & hide! WTH? It's getting way too weird.

 

[JG02865]

Just wanted to jump in and correct some of the statements on this board. For one the Zebras had to go because they were uncomfortable in the area they were placed. The first potential solution was to remake the entire landscape so the reason you thought it looked bad may have been because all of the grass and plants were taken out. That didnt work so the zebras were replaced all together with the desert antelope Addax. In regards to them ignoring the landscape... they just remade the entire Okapi/ Yellow backed Duiker area in the little Ituri forest

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I completely disagree. I visited both in February and April and did not notice anything neglected.

 

[tbia]

I visited on Sunday, and actually saw zebras on the KS. They were way up the hill in a little opening, and the guide said nothing about them.

I was very surprised.