Animal Kingdom a major Flop!

[kaytieeldr]

What is it? They didn't mention it on my WbD tour (which I also highly recommend).

Oh, I don't know! If I did, I'd at least have told Tinkerbelle 325 (and now you) via PM! I don't recall seeing the sign... but now I WANT to know

It's not technically a behind-the-scenes tour though--it's all onstage. But it was definitely the highlight of our trip anyway.

Mine was amazing! Thetour itself was fascinating - after watching the History Channel Special on park secrets, I simply HAD to know more about Animal Kingdom (and before the tour, it turns out someone who'd WORKED ON BUILDING THE PARK was a fellow Guest and smoker at Pop Century - so I knew even more ).

When I got to Animal Kingdom that morning, there were, eventually, about fifiteen of us waiting for Tour Guides. Four came out - a woman and three men. She was apparently some type of lead, since she had the clipboard with the list of names. She was going around the group asking our names, and when she got to me, she flipped to page two.

MINE WAS THE ONLY NAME ON THE PAGE!!!! That's right - for the simple, standard cost of the WbD tour, I had my own private, relatively VIP tour!!!! Awesome!

Ahem. I take back what I said before. I DON'T recommend this tour to ANYONE going in late September/early October. While I'm at it, I don't recommend Lunch with an ImaginEar during the same time period

And now, back to your regularly scheduled disagreement.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Oh, I don't know! If I did, I'd at least have told Tinkerbelle 325 (and now you) via PM! I don't recall seeing the sign... but now I WANT to know

I'll post the pic tonight and we can all speculate I'll ask on my next visit to AK in 28 days

 

[hookedonears]

Oh! Somebody must have snuck in post number 417 when nobody was looking!

Uuuuuuuuuuuh, there were 416 before I made the post and I think I made the 417th post.

 

[irishdadx4]

Our family loves AK, what a great park.....beautiful, fun, educating, and so many enjoyable things tucked into the corners, requiring you to explore to find them. My favorite thing at AK, well that would have to be "Guitar Dan" over at Camp Minny Mickey outside the FOTLK show. We love that guy

 

[WDSearcher]

Uuuuuuuuuuuh, there were 416 before I made the post and I think I made the 417th post.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, I think kaytieeldr knew that and was joking with you.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

My favorite thing at AK, well that would have to be "Guitar Dan" over at Camp Minny Mickey outside the FOTLK show. We love that guy

Oh yes, Guitar Dan! I love that guy too . He sang us a song for our wedding day which we videoed. I would upload it to YouTube or similar but I'm not technically minded that way

 

[kaytieeldr]

Uuuuuuuuuuuh, there were 416 before I made the post and I think I made the 417th post.

Nope. 418 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35548836&postcount=418

But I don't get the ration 417 to 420, when there were only 417 posts

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Nope. 418 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35548836&postcount=418

But I don't get the ration 417 to 420, when there were only 417 posts

I agree, I was confused as to what hookedonears was saying. How is there a ratio of 417 (liking AK) and 427 (disliking AK) when only 417 posts had been made

 

[Lawshark]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawshark
THAT is an easy one...because anyone who thinks that AK stinks or isn't enjoyable MUST have been dropped on their head as an infant. Multiple times.

Sheesh. Is that so hard for people to understand?

It's not hard for anyone to understand. (We're all quite clever, actually.) But for those who love Animal Kingdom (or even for those who don't love it, but do appreciate it), they enjoy voicing their opinion as much as the folks who DON'T like Animal Kingdom.

Sheesh. Is that so hard for you to understand?

Oops. I meant to say that anyone who thinks that AK is great or is enjoyable MUST have been dropped on their head as an infant. Multiple times.

Sheesh. Is that so hard for people to understand?

 

[DLKT]

I'm not a fan of Animal Kingdom either.
Least favorite Park actually.

I'm not a big fan of zoos in general though.
It depresses me no matter how "natural" it is for the animals.

Kali is a joke, everyone gets wet not because of the bumping and jarring and splashing of the ride (which I would love!) but because of the giant bucket of water that is dumped over the raft at the very beginning.
Dumb.
EE is good but for some reason I have no connection to it.
Whereas I can easily rave about RR and even Space Mountain.

So over all AK just bores me to tears.
Although my family likes it so I go and try to have fun.

I do like Dinosaur though.
But I LOVE dinosaurs, lol.

Nice to see that any negative Disney comments are still dismissed or attacked on Disboards though.

I find that I can also learn from what others dislike about the Parks.

 

[Texas Rob]

I love AK. I like all the parks equally. I really like AK's animal and nature appeal. If you watch any of the tv specials behind the scenes at AK, you know it is not disney's attempt to make a zoo, but to make a place were people can learn about nature.

If you don't like so be it. But millions must because that place is always packed when I go there!

 

[luvthemouse71]

At the risk of being berated by the naysayers next time you go, if you have time, take the Wild by Design behind-the-scenes tour. Even if you don't have that much time, or the desire to devote the time/money (excuse me while I prepare for attack...) find a Cast Member near the sign and ASK about it

I'm looking to take one of these in September-out of the two, which did you prefer?

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

I like AK. And here's the scariest part...

I really, really love Chester and Hester's Dinorama.

It's all about the memories, and I have great ones there with my son on our last trip.

Also, the frozen chai is worth the price of admission all by itself. Not to mention Everest, the Safaris, the animals, the theming, and everything mentioned by the myriad of posters on this thread.

Plus, I don't think you can define a park as a flop when it's making so much money for the company that owns it. If it's a failure, why is it so full of people?

 

[hookedonears]

Nope. 418 http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35548836&postcount=418

But I don't get the ration 417 to 420, when there were only 417 posts

First of all, it’s a ratio. Obviously I have nothing better to do but to humor you by responding. There were 2 post, one with 416 responses and the other with 427. My post only had 416 and I want it to catch up with the other. My response made it 417. That's it.

 

[Planogirl]

I still maintain that the attendance numbers don't tell the whole story. People who go to WDW are most likely to get the multi-day passes and they are then likely to visit all the parks even if AK (or DHS or whatever) isn't a particular favorite. This is not to say that AK isn't popular but I think that it's impossible to judge popularity by attendance.

 

[Lifeangel1]

The first time we went to AK, (I think it was in 2001), we too were disappointed. We spent half a day and was ready to get out of there. After all we could do a "zoo" any time. It was after that trip that we discovered this board and we found out how much we had missed and the back stories and the shows. When we went back a few years later, we really got into exploring the park. Now it is one of our favorites and we look forward to our AK days.

 

[SkinsFan76]

We've always liked AK, but it is totally different expierence than the other parks to us. I like the slower pace and we enjoyed it, but it wouldn't be the first or second park we'd pick if we had limited time. I can understand someone not liking it when you compare it with the excitement or rides of the other parks. It is the same reason our son doesn't like Epcot. The World Showcase is just plain boring to him.

My friend took his family to WDW last year and was really disappointed overall at all the parks. He compared everything to Cedar Point and Kings Island, which he enjoyed a lot more. His kids felt differently though.

 

[Planogirl]

My friend took his family to WDW last year and was really disappointed overall at all the parks. He compared everything to Cedar Point and Kings Island, which he enjoyed a lot more. His kids felt differently though.

He must be a coaster fanatic. I imagine that all of the Orlando parks are disappointing to them.

 

[hookedonears]

Our favorite attractions at each of the parks are:

MK) All, except for Stitch and Carousel of Progress.

EPCOT) All, except for Figment and Ellen.

DHS) Rockin Roller Coaster, Toy Storey, Beauty & the Beast, Muppets, Tower of T, Stunt Car.

AK) Everest, Bugs L, Lion King, Safari & Nemo.

We're not big roller coaster people. If we were, we'd go to Universal, or like 6Flags, but we don't.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

Our favorite attractions at each of the parks are:

MK) All, except for Stitch and Carousel of Progress.

EPCOT) All, except for Figment and Ellen.

DHS) Rockin Roller Coaster, Toy Storey, Beauty & the Beast, Muppets, Tower of T, Stunt Car.

AK) Everest, Bugs L, Lion King, Safari & Nemo.

We're not big roller coaster people. If we were, we'd go to Universal, or like 6Flags, but we don't.

So I'm assuming you are trying to compare the parks and therefore still saying you don't like AK compared to the others.....

but You cannot compare AK to the others. In MK, Epcot and DHS you go, enjoy the rides and shows and get as much done as you can.
In AK, you cannot take this approach which is why i feel like you misjudged the park.
It's fun to do the "big stuff" in AK (everest, safari, tough to be a bug, etc), but you probly don't like it because this is all you did there.
Like it has been mentioned, AK is a park to slow down, take in all the little details, enjoy the animals and not rush. You really need to spend more than a day there. This is truly the only way to really enjoy this park. When they created AK, they did not create it the same as they did the other parks....they wanted people to slow down here and I truly believe this is the only way you will truly appreciate this park.
I really don't think people should have a bad opinion of AK unless they really spend quite some time there and if you did and you still don't enjoy it, then that is fine with me. Some people don't like certain things, but unless you have really given it some time, you can't say "its a flop".
I really think had you spent a good amount of time there and really tried to do some other things besides the bigger well known attractions, you might change your mind. You may still not love AK, but you probly won't call it a flop anymore.