Animal Kingdom Appreciation Thread

[clonetothebone]

There is something neat to discover here each time you go. I could easily spend 2 days just soaking it in. Our one day last trip we got to see and ride nearly everything except the Flights of Wonder and Dinosaur(DS8 chickened out at the last minute). We were even in the Jammin Jungle Parade on the gator float!

We arrived for rope drop and left around 0530 for ADR at Bomo but we could have easliy spent half a day just at Rafiki's Planet Watch instead of the rushed 45 minutes we spent because we had a fast pass for Kilimanjaro.

While I like AK, I would rate it 3rd behind MK and DS. Epcot just doesn't do it for me.

 

[SquirtsMom]

Another family here that loves AK!!! We spent three whole days in the park on our last trip and still didn't see everything we had planned. My kids (23, 11, 9, 7) just wanted to walk the trails and look at the animals. We always find that we slow down and enjoy the park.

 

[Simba22]

I LOVE Animal Kingdom...it's my favorite park! We have spent all day at AK and not ever run out of things to do. Plus we still haven't done everything...we will be doing Flights of Wonder and Festival of the Lion King for the first time when we go in December. Most people rush through it thinking it's "just a zoo" and don't take the time to appreciate everything the park has to offer. We take advantage of the evening EMH hours too and will stay at the park from open to close. The Jammin Jungle parade is my favorite parade and Kilaminjaro Safari's is my favorite ride.

 

[Simba22]

Big DAK fan here. I've been a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo for over 15 years and just love well designed exhibits which Disney has. I hope any future expansion includes state of the art zollogical exhibits along with thrill rides. Hopefully North American animlas are coming soon.

I wish they would add to Rafiki's Planet Watch by "expanding" the Affection Section to include some more uncommon critters....like baby tigers or lion cubs that they are rehabing or something...goats are cool but they always try to eat my park maps! LoL They should also add in a spot to go to take have your picture taken with an animal of some kind...like everyone who goes to Australia can get their picture taken with a Koala...and in The Bahamas almost every restaurant you visit lets you get your picture taken with macaws.

 

[eeyoreali]

I also love the AK!! I think it's my 2nd favorite park...right behind the MK. There's a lot of things to enjoy here...the animals, the rides, the flowers. My favorite thing is trying to see all the animals in the Tree of Life. That in itself is amazing to look at!

 

[kittythepoohbear]

AK is such a lovely park. To me, it really transports you to another time and place, sometimes better than EPCOT and MK. The amount of detail that went into this park is amazing. I have also encountered some of the friendliest CMs at AK. I have enjoyed learning about African culture from the African CMs and once had a very lively discussion about tarantulas with two young CMs at Conservation Station. Best of all, I enjoy how this park encourages guests to slow down and observe the sights around them. You could easily spend 2 days here and still not see everything AK has to offer.

 

[kaybird]

Clearly an intelligent and artistic group!!! Loved AK the minute I set foot in it! Details, details details!! The funny signs, the feeling of the different countries/continents, the thought that went into all the beauty! Even the ques for the rides are a pleasure to walk through. All the shows have been amazing, and I love it more each time we go. Also think the CS ROCKS! can't wait for the new TS next year. The rides are great, and think the parade was very clever.

 

[JennyMominRI]

The AK is my second fav parrk behind Epcot...Love the AK and I'm going on my first trip to the AKL next week

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

AK is my 2nd favorite after Epcot! I love how things are different every time you go- for instance, every time you ride the safari, you see different animals different distances from your truck- the Pirates of the Caribbean never decide to move around the ride! (I hope!) It keeps things fresh each visit.

I probably like it so much because I'm usually solo for around 10 days, so I can take time to really enjoy the park- I like to spend at least half an hour or so just watching the gorillas, no rushing around for me!

 

[lsutigger2]

I also enjoy AK. Last trip spent some time there solo while DH was playing golf and took 90 pics!!!
For those who haven't done so, I would like to recommend the Wild By Design tour at AK. It really does a wonderful job of telling the stories behind the lands and the details. Very good.
Next trip in Nov. my DB and family including my DGN - who loves dogs will be with us and they have not been to AK. Hope they enjoy it.

 

[TinkerTracy]

I love Animal Kindgom
Great thread!
Spread the knowlege!

 

[mamaprincess]

I would never skip AK. It's gorgeous! I love the shows, ITTBAB, Safari, EE etc.. Just wandering around AK makes me happy. We always start off at Boma or end at Boma, our fav Disney restaraunt!

 

[LindaBabe]

love love love AK and AKL. I would never stay anywhere else if I could only AFFORD it! AK IS a half day park - the half day we arrive I like lunch at Tusker house follwed by EE for my spouse, Safari for me and then the parade and if time the lion king. Then we have a half day morning a few days later and do the trails, ittbab and ee again for him. Then we have another half day to pick up the things we've missed and repeat the things we love best. (for me, a half day is about 5 hours).

I used to like MGM, a lot. I would go just to see Hunchback, shop and have lunch, many days. Now, Hunchback is gone - the shops all have the same stuff no matter where you are - it's like 'why bother?' I can take a nap instead and not have to ride a bus to get there.

 

[JerseyGirl114]

On our last trip we were only able to visit AK once. It was so incredibly hot that we had to leave and spent the rest of the day in the pool and really felt like we missed out. This time we are planning to go 2 days and we can't wait.

 

[MJMcBride]

I wish they would add to Rafiki's Planet Watch by "expanding" the Affection Section to include some more uncommon critters....like baby tigers or lion cubs that they are rehabing or something...goats are cool but they always try to eat my park maps! LoL They should also add in a spot to go to take have your picture taken with an animal of some kind...like everyone who goes to Australia can get their picture taken with a Koala...and in The Bahamas almost every restaurant you visit lets you get your picture taken with macaws.

First, you have to do right by the animals on something like that which can be difficult. Second, the insurance would go through the roof.

 

[jsmla]

DH is not a big Disney fan (His least favorite park is the Magic Kingdom!) but he really likes Animal Kingdom. He loves the trails and the design features like the way Harambe has been built, the bridges and all of the attention Disney has given to the little details there. I'm an Epcot girl myself.

 

[Shubunk]

Yup, my fave is AK.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Okay, I love Animal Kingdom. However, it IS my least favorite out of the 4 parks. The only reason of that is because it's incomplete and most of Dinoland just needs to be demolished. But even being my least favorite out of the four parks, it's still an 8/10 which is darn good!! Everything from the amazing theming to the beautiful landscapes to the attractions is just brilliant.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

OK, I've heard a lot of people dis AK here. They say there's not enough to do to occupy a whole day. They say it's boring. That it's too hot. That they don't "get it". That it's a glorified zoo.

Ha! Yeah, right. I went to the zoo yesterday with my friend and I'm going, "in AK this would be an okapi and a hidden mickey would be there and why is that cage so small? Wait, why is there a cage at all? WHERE IS MY YETI?!?! Finally she just said to me "Jess, you sound like you're 4 years old. Stop yapping, Disney can't be everywhere!" And she was right, I really did feel 4 years old and bratty but it was one of those things where you knew and wanted to stop but just couldn't. I guess Disney has the way of doing that!

It is my 3rd favorite park after MK and MGM but you can't not love it. EPCOT, my least favorite, is still miles better than my favorite non-Disney park, I'm sure many can agree.

And yes, much too hot. Don't all of you just hate how the sun shines SO much hotter right in the exact location of Animal Kingdom? Yeah, that makes sense. My, my...excuses, excuses.

However, now, I must hang my head in shame as I say that I do consider it a 1/2 day park. Well, that's not true, I do it in half a day. In my defense, we only went 2 days so it had to be in order to fit in all the parks. Can't wait until next trip aloting one park per day! Still not enough!

 

[tigerdragon]

My entire family loves AK, too. There is something there for everyone. The only ride my DS-5 still talks about from our last trip is Dinosaur. He can't wait to go back on it. The only ride I didn't like was Kali River Rapids, but I'm not a big fan of "wet" rides and I go soaked on that one. Fortunely, we saved that one for the end of the day and went back to the hotel right after it.