Animal Kingdom a major Flop!

[bicker]

I think there is as strong an argument to be made that the "overall image" is just fine, and that some folks are simply negatively inclined toward what Animal Kingdom is deliberately intending to provide. You can't improve an "overall image" in the minds of folks for whom the image you're aiming to project is not something that they personally like.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Some very good points. Although we really enjoy going to AK, I agree that something needs to be done to improve its overall image. The only problem, it takes money.

Respectfully, it seems more reasonable that the 'something' which needs to be done is for Guests to slow down, not rush from ride to show to attraction, and to notice (and ideally appreciate/enjoy) everything the park has to offer.
Stroll the trails; visit Conservation Station; check out the animals in Discovery Island (hey, it's not called that for nothing!).
Splurge - take one or both of the behind-the-scenes tours open to everyone. No way to guarantee, but the time I went on Wild by Design, ALL the other Guests there for tours were going on the Backstage Safari. Yep, that's right - for the price of a 'standard' tour, I got a private one

Learn to appreciate the park for what it is and what it offers.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

As far as I am concerned, I go to AK to ride EE, see animals, and have a frozen chai. That's it.

Although I haven't ridden Kali River Rapids yet, but I am pretty sure I will like it once I try it.

 

[WDSearcher]

Okay, out of the 1250 people who view this board on a regular basis, the 125 people who like the park have come out of the wood work. G R E A T.

And still ... you have not answered my questions. :: sigh ::

 

[bicker]

Respectfully, it seems more reasonable that the 'something' which needs to be done is for Guests to slow down, not rush from ride to show to attraction, and to notice (and ideally appreciate/enjoy) everything the park has to offer. ... Learn to appreciate the park for what it is and what it offers.

This is actually one of the broader life-lessons that we all could stand to learn a bit better. The deflection away from intended purpose pervades our consumerist society, in many respect, with people substituting their own personal desires for the specification of what is being offered by the products and services that they purchase. That's not to say that we shouldn't want what we want, but rather we shouldn't expect something not offered.

What this means it is incumbent on us, in all circumstances, to learn about what it is we're buying before we buy it. In terms of Animal Kingdom, that means learning what the experts at enjoying that park do that makes them experts at enjoying the park. If you cannot see yourself enjoying the park the way the experts at enjoying that park do, then it makes sense that you shouldn't be aiming visit that park. (Therefore, the purchasing of admission to WDW in general becomes a value proposition with regard to the other three parks.)

 

[WDSearcher]

As far as I am concerned, I go to AK to ride EE, see animals, and have a frozen chai. That's it.

Although I haven't ridden Kali River Rapids yet, but I am pretty sure I will like it once I try it.

You might also want to try the shows. They're pretty spectacular.

Sarcasm noted. Not appreciated, but noted.

Heh.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I think there is as strong an argument to be made that the "overall image" is just fine, and that some folks are simply negatively inclined toward what Animal Kingdom is deliberately intending to provide. You can't improve an "overall image" in the minds of folks for whom the image you're aiming to project is not something that they personally like.

Isn't this just what happened to Future World? We lost World of Motion and Hoirizons and got a dumbed-down Universe of Energy and Nemo to alter an overall image that many of us loved. We can't let that happen at AK just because those same people just don't get it.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

The great thing about Walt Disney World is that there is so much going on, something is bound to appeal to one person more than another based on personal taste. I suggest, instead of planting a thread trying to get people to agree with your bitter assesment of AK, you instead just don't go back and subject yourself to the total flop of a park.

Personally, I enjoyed AK. I'm hoping that when we go this fall, I will be able to take it a little slower and really see the park, the exhibits, and the things we missed when we were rushing from ride to another.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Respectfully, it seems more reasonable that the 'something' which needs to be done is for Guests to slow down, not rush from ride to show to attraction, and to notice (and ideally appreciate/enjoy) everything the park has to offer.
Stroll the trails; visit Conservation Station; check out the animals in Discovery Island (hey, it's not called that for nothing!).
Splurge - take one or both of the behind-the-scenes tours open to everyone. No way to guarantee, but the time I went on Wild by Design, ALL the other Guests there for tours were going on the Backstage Safari. Yep, that's right - for the price of a 'standard' tour, I got a private one

Learn to appreciate the park for what it is and what it offers.

 

[Planogirl]

Respectfully, it seems more reasonable that the 'something' which needs to be done is for Guests to slow down, not rush from ride to show to attraction, and to notice (and ideally appreciate/enjoy) everything the park has to offer.
Stroll the trails; visit Conservation Station; check out the animals in Discovery Island (hey, it's not called that for nothing!).
Splurge - take one or both of the behind-the-scenes tours open to everyone. No way to guarantee, but the time I went on Wild by Design, ALL the other Guests there for tours were going on the Backstage Safari. Yep, that's right - for the price of a 'standard' tour, I got a private one

Learn to appreciate the park for what it is and what it offers.

Some people have done that and they STILL don't care for the park. And that's OK because we all have different ideas of what is fun and those who don't like AK also have the right to say so.

Maybe the OP should have said that AK was a flop for him or herself rather than just calling it a flop.

 

[bicker]

Isn't this just what happened to Future World? We lost World of Motion and Hoirizons and got a dumbed-down Universe of Energy and Nemo to alter an overall image that many of us loved. We can't let that happen at AK just because those same people just don't get it.

Who can't let what?

You're looking at it solely from your own personal perspective. While I enjoyed Horizons, I think that Mission: Space is a superior attraction that Horizons in the hearts of many guests, including our little Nathan. And I think that goes double for how much better Test Track is than World of Motion -- not just little Nathan but I feel that way too.

So you see these changes as both negative. I see a neutral and a positive, and a net-positive. Other folks will see it as two positives and a big net-positive.

They may even need to change Animal Kingdom a bit, to make it better appreciated by more people, and actually they have. (See separate threads about the changes to AK over the years.) The point, though, is that right now Animal Kingdom is what it is, and so you go to appreciate what it is today, because, so far, you can only travel in the present.

 

[Planogirl]

Who can't let what?

You're looking at it solely from your own personal perspective. While I enjoyed Horizons, I think that Mission: Space is a superior attraction that Horizons in the hearts of many guests, including our little Nathan. And I think that goes double for how much better Test Track is than World of Motion -- not just little Nathan but I feel that way too.

So you see these changes as both negative. I see a neutral and a positive, and a net-positive. Other folks will see it as two positives and a big net-positive.

They may even need to change Animal Kingdom a bit, to make it better appreciated by more people, and actually they have. (See separate threads about the changes to AK over the years.) The point, though, is that right now Animal Kingdom is what it is, and so you go to appreciate what it is today, because, so far, you can only travel in the present.

I would agree that you can only travel in the present. But it's still OK to hope that Animal Kingdom improves if it's not your thing in its present state.

By the way, I strongly disagree that Mission Space is superior to Horizons in any way but that's off topic.

 

[bicker]

But it's still OK to hope

It's always okay to hope...

By the way, I strongly disagree that Mission Space is superior to Horizons in any way but that's off topic.

Yes, way off-topic. I also believe that The Living Seas is now far better than it was originally, and Soarin' is a fantastic addition to The Land. I would like to see them replace the Universe of Energy completely.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, okayyyyyyy.... but I still miss "Food Rocks"!

 

[bicker]

I remember Pita Gabriel.

 

[readytogo]

Okay, out of the 1250 people who view this board on a regular basis, the 125 people who like the park have come out of the wood work. G R E A T.

Sorry if this has been stated already, but I don't think it's the like/dislike AK subject matter of this thread as it's been beaten to death many times already on these boards, but it's more the 'tone' of your posts. They are very condesending and seem to discount both past and future contrary opinions. It's almost as if you are taunting people and daring them to come out fighting by insulting AK, making fun of them and forcing them to defend themselves for actually liking AK.

As has been said many, many times before, everyone is entitled to their AK opinion, but yours is more of a combative, challenging stance and that's what ultimately brings out the worst in people.

There is a right and wrong way to express your displeasure about anything Disney but you have to tread very lightly here and choose your words carefully.

 

[lorraine31]

Okay, out of the 1250 people who view this board on a regular basis, the 125 people who like the park have come out of the wood work. G R E A T.

Wow!! looks like someone has major issues with being disagreed with. If you don't want people to disgaree with you, why post controversial comments about a disney park on a forum designed for people who love Disney. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that people just might actually like AK and be willing to disagree.

This may not be my favourite park, but it has a lot to offer and I love spending time here, as do the other thousands of people who visit this park annually. Clearly they don't think that's it's a flop.

And for the record, I don't consider myself to have come out of any woodwork. Isn't the point of the forum to share and discuss ideas. Clearly you should have put in the title, don't bother looking if you share a different opinion because I am the only one entitled to an opinion.

 

[TillyMarigold]

You honestly think it's better not to be able to see the second-largest aquarium tank in the world?

I mean, it needed an update, and Nemo was a natural, but they covered up the tank!

 

[PAcpl]

So if I would have said that AK was just OK, though needed a little work, do you think I would have gotten the responses I got with this one? There's no doubt that Disney watches these boards and with the responses that I completely expected, Disney also sees the passion that its loyal fans have for the park. I hope that Disney also sees and knows that its work is not nearly done and much more needs to be done to make the park the quality that we all know and expect from Disney.

Was that seriously the basis for this post? So that some Disney executive would see it and invest millions into the AK? Do you think this is the first AK post like this on these boards?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I remember Pita Gabriel.

I can respect that - but Chubby Cheddar stands out in my mind