Animal Kingdom a major Flop!

[kathy884]

The great thing about Orlando is that there are so many wonderful World Class theme parks to choose from, and different parks appeal to different people. Obviously, if Animal Kingdom doesn't appeal to you, you'll probably want to skip in on your next visit. There are some parks that many people love in the area that don't appeal to me at all too.

I think, though, you will find many people who find Animal Kingdom very appealing and magical. I'm one of those people.

My fourteen year old son and I visited Animal Kingdom this last October and had the best day. We, though, are really into animals and were blown away by the wonderful animal exibits, especially the Maharaja jungle trek. We were there in the morning early right after getting an Expedition Everest fast pass and had a cast member all to ourselves to answer our questions and give us additional information. This was one of the highlights of our overall great day. I think this is a stunning park visually. I've heard that they really have the theming down for an African Village too from people I know who have visited Africa. Add the general attractions that you mention, and to me that's a great theme park day.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

how many times does it have to be said so people will get it? AK IS NOT A ZOO!

Thank you! You are so correct.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

It seems that people are now coming up with small reasons as to why they don't like AK....

No straws, balloons, it smells.....seriously?

The park has many animals in it. In my opinion, they do a excellent job keeping up...and a few missing straws and balloons won't keep me away from the wonderful attractions and walk thru's.
I just don't understand how these minor things can keep people from visiting.

 

[ols386]

It seems that people are now coming up with small reasons as to why they don't like AK....

No straws, balloons, it smells.....seriously?

The park has many animals in it. In my opinion, they do a excellent job keeping up...and a few missing straws and balloons won't keep me away from the wonderful attractions and walk thru's.
I just don't understand how these minor things can keep people from visiting.

People like or dislike things for their very own personal reasons. And as mentioned before, I don't DISLIKE AK, I just like the other parks better.

The bottom line is that it comes down to personal likes and dislikes. It seems as though it really bothers you that some may not like AK.

 

[aspen37]

Animal Kingdom needs some major help. There are only 5 attractions that have general appeal to everyone. Expedition Everest, It’s Tough to be a Bug, Kilimanjaro Safari, The Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical. 2 of its major attractions: Dinosaur and Kali River Rapids are not good at all. Dinosaur is okay the first time you ride it, though gets old, very old after that. Kili River Rapids is horrible. Very few like to get completely drenched on a ride. Even without the drenching, it’s just not that good of a ride. The County Fair Area – Triceratops spin etc. are the most un-Disney like attractions in all of WDW. Disney did nothing, but add new attractions without spending money. Disney needs to spend some major bucks on this park not only adding, but re-imagineering a large number of the existing attractions.

Wow your on a roll with starting threads that get people worked up.
The way you worded this thread you make it sound like it is a fact. A lot of people don't enjoy AK as much as other people do, but that is an opinion only. Here is my opinion, I personally like AK. I enjoy walking all the trails and seeing the animals. You do walk alot in AK but I take my time in this park. It is a relaxed park day for me.
I love EE but I know other people who don't. I like Kali River rapids. My first visit we rode it 5 times in a row. I enjoy Dinosaur too, it can be a little loud but other than that it is a good ride. I like Indiana Jones better out in DL, same concept better theming in my opinion. If you don't like that park you don't have to go. Lots of Disney people don't like Universal so they don't go. Spend your time in the parks you like. I personally don't spend very much time at DHS. I only enjoy a few attraction in that park, so I do the attractions I like and then leave. Everyone if different so we all don't like the same thing that's what makes the world go round.

As for balloons, and straws I can live without them for the safety of the animals. I stayed at AKL in December and we ate at Sanaa for lunch and we couldn't have a plastic straw. The person I was with went without a straw because she doesn't like the paper ones, as for me I don't mind. Do people freak out and say I'm not eating at Sanaa because I can't have a plastic straw and can only use the paper straw?

 

[luvthemouse71]

The thing is, they call it Animal Kingdom for a reason..Animals are the focus and hey, animals have a smell to them. What, Disney is supposed to hose them down with scented pixie dust so they don't offend sensitive noses? I'm not trying to be mean, I'm not. It's just that I got a real funny visual of the poor CM who would be expected to rub the Wildebeasts, Gorillas etc down with deodorant. Give me that animal smell anyday over tourist BO.

As far as the lack of balloons and straws..I think people need to get over that. They've determined that many of us humans are slobs and this is safest thing for the animals. And the heat? You're in Florida. Go for a ride on KRR..works every time.

Really, though. If people don't care for AK, it really doesn't matter..we all have our likes and dislikes.I do think the title and tone of the OP was a little pushy and assumed that everyone feels the same..but he/she is allowed to post whatever they want, just like others are allowed to disagree.

 

[aspen37]

The thing is, they call it Animal Kingdom for a reason..Animals are the focus and hey, animals have a smell to them. What, Disney is supposed to hose them down with scented pixie dust so they don't offend sensitive noses? I'm not trying to be mean, I'm not. It's just that I got a real funny visual of the poor CM who would be expected to rub the Wildebeasts, Gorillas etc down with deodorant. Give me that animal smell anyday over tourist BO.

As far as the lack of balloons and straws..I think people need to get over that. They've determined that many of us humans are slobs and this is safest thing for the animals. And the heat? You're in Florida. Go for a ride on KRR..works every time.

Really, though. If people don't care for AK, it really doesn't matter..we all have our likes and dislikes.I do think the title and tone of the OP was a little pushy and assumed that everyone feels the same..but he/she is allowed to post whatever they want, just like others are allowed to disagree.

 

[bdiddy]

I will put myself out there and say I *sort* of agree with you. While our family enjoys Animal Kingdom it is by far at the bottom of the list. If we ever had to go and cut a park out that would be the first with no second thoughts.

I am also going to say that Animal Kingdom is very similar to our local zoo here. It is a very small zoo but the architecture and thought they put into it is amazing. You truly feel like you are in the different countries, the landscaping is amazing and it really is the best zoo I have ever been to. With that said, no you cannot go on a "safari" at our zoo and the rides of course and it obviously isn't as big or have the tree of life of but it does have quite a few similarities - and those similarities are enough to us to make it our bottom park and the one we would skip if we had to.

 

[melly]

how many times does it have to be said so people will get it? AK IS NOT A ZOO!

quite correct. Zoo's have more animals in them.....by far.

 

[Jblust524]

The OP is not THAT far off. My take upon my first visit to AK was...wow...this is really a zoo with a few rides, and very average rides at best. Now, this was before EE and I'm surprised by how the additon of EE changed my whole outlook on the park. But I definately could see how people think it's a big zoo (despite the 'not a zoo' Disney promotion) Disney obviously knew that AK had a zoo-like feeling to it, otherwise there would not have been the previously mentioned promotion. I really do with they had or would make the beastly kingdom portion....might then strike a better balance between zoo and theme park.

 

[WDSearcher]

quite correct. Zoo's have more animals in them.....by far.

Nice try, but so not correct. I'd love to know where you got that info (or if it's just another dig at DAK). Animal Kingdom has more animals than average for a zoo -- fewer overall than some of the big ones (like San Diego Animal Park), but far more than most. It's just that in zoos, the animals are generally given less space to roam, or they're in easily viewable cages. This makes it seem like more simply because they're closer together and the population seems more dense. At DAK, the animals are allowed a large roaming space, which means that even if you see the entire herd of zebras who are there, they will look small against the amount of space. There's more land, so the population density of the animals is lower.

Do a bit of research. The AZA has zoo names and animal counts on record, and you can then compare those to the number of animals that DAK has.

 

[melly]

Nice try, but so not correct. I'd love to know where you got that info (or if it's just another dig at DAK). Animal Kingdom has more animals than average for a zoo -- fewer overall than some of the big ones (like San Diego Animal Park), but far more than most. It's just that in zoos, the animals are generally given less space to roam, or they're in easily viewable cages. This makes it seem like more simply because they're closer together and the population seems more dense. At DAK, the animals are allowed a large roaming space, which means that even if you see the entire herd of zebras who are there, they will look small against the amount of space. There's more land, so the population density of the animals is lower.

Do a bit of research. The AZA has zoo names and animal counts on record, and you can then compare those to the number of animals that DAK has.

Its completely true.

DAK claims to have ~1700 animals from 250 different species. Over here in the UK Chester zoo has over 7000 animals spanning 450 different species.
In the UK we have become accustomed to everything in the US being much bigger so when you roll up to the AK and it has several fold less animals than in a bog standard UK zoo it is somewhat underwhelming.

And that is the whole issue for me at AK. It is proclaimed that it is "all about the animals" which is fine but when there are a lot less animals you begin to wonder. To me it looks like a theme park with not enough rides and a zoo with not enough animals....basically, the worst of both worlds.

 

[kaytieeldr]

it has several fold less animals than in a bog standard UK zoo it is somewhat underwhelming.

So you're claiming your Chester zoo is a bog standard (i.e. typical of all others) zoo? That for the most part, ALL zoos in the UK have 7,000 animals across 450 species? Then the Chester zoo would not be unusual or outstanding in the UK, nor would it be worthy of specific mention.

If it IS unusual, it's good to know you have something so outstanding over there and won't need to be adding to the heat and the crowded walkways at Animal Kingdom. Enjoy the other Disney parks.

 

[OB1]

What a great thread. As always - everyone has an OPINION. Our is that AK is our favorite park. We love to explore and hang out and watch. Our zoo in Atlanta has a small area for 1 tiger. Lots to watch at AK with the tigers.

Guess what??? We don't care that much for Fantastmic or Illuminations (there, I said it). Those are favs of many people. Great discussion topic though and interesting to see it grow.

 

[melly]

So you're claiming your Chester zoo is a bog standard (i.e. typical of all others) zoo? That for the most part, ALL zoos in the UK have 7,000 animals across 450 species? Then the Chester zoo would not be unusual or outstanding in the UK, nor would it be worthy of specific mention.

If it IS unusual, it's good to know you have something so outstanding over there and won't need to be adding to the heat and the crowded walkways at Animal Kingdom. Enjoy the other Disney parks.

But why should animal kingdom not be compared with something great? If you did a seach on the "best zoo's in the world" or in even just in the states Animal Kingdom would be in that list so its only fair that it is measured up against those zoo's. IMO it doesnt stack up well against them. What the previous poster wanted me to do is agree that AK is great but I had to compare it to a cr@p zoo. I wasnt allowed to compare it to great zoos like San Diego.....how does that work???
The facts remain the same, it has a relatively low number of animals. This isnt population density as the previous poster wanted me to believe, it actually does have a low number of animals compared to other zoos. This is what I base my opinions on, for a zoo it doesnt have enough animals, for a theme park it doesnt have enough good rides. Therefore it isnt relly great at anything, its average.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

What a great thread. As always - everyone has an OPINION. Our is that AK is our favorite park. We love to explore and hang out and watch. Our zoo in Atlanta has a small area for 1 tiger. Lots to watch at AK with the tigers.

Guess what??? We don't care that much for Fantastmic or Illuminations (there, I said it). Those are favs of many people. Great discussion topic though and interesting to see it grow.

I don't like Fantasmic! or Wishes, so I guess we're both weirdos
--

Different strokes for different folks..

Some people prefer art and imagineering, some people prefer thrills, some people prefer Disney characters.

We all go to the parks for different reasons, no one's wrong or right.

 

[waltslostnephew]

Hookedonears, You Sound like a big ball of fun!

 

[ols386]

What a great thread. As always - everyone has an OPINION. Our is that AK is our favorite park. We love to explore and hang out and watch. Our zoo in Atlanta has a small area for 1 tiger. Lots to watch at AK with the tigers.

Guess what??? We don't care that much for Fantastmic or Illuminations (there, I said it). Those are favs of many people. Great discussion topic though and interesting to see it grow.

I liked Fantasmic the first time I saw it, but then when I saw it for the second time, I didn't think it was as good. I mean, it was exactly the same show, but I thought it was one of those things, that once you've seen it, you've seen it.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But why should animal kingdom not be compared with something great?

You stated that Chester Zoo is a "bog standard UK zoo". While I don't know British slang, to me bog standard indicates typical. UK means United Kingdom, and zoo means zoo. This can therefore only mean that Chester Zoo is typical of a United Kingdom Zoo. If that's the case, Chester Zoo isn't great or outstanding, it's the norm. If I'm misunderstanding, then it's Atypical. I'm not going to England to visit a zoo. I'll go to Walt Disney World to visit an animal-centric theme park. I'll go to Tampa for Busch Gardens. I'll even go to - okay, fine, have almost been locked into - the zoo in Washington DC. If "all" I wanted was a zoo, we have two right here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But why should animal kingdom not be compared with something great? If you did a seach on the "best zoo's in the world" or in even just in the states Animal Kingdom would be in that list so its only fair that it is measured up against those zoo's.

There's no reason Animal Kingdom should appear on such a list. It's NOT A ZOO.