Animal Kingdom Help Please

[jodim]

We have been to WDW a few times and my kids just don't love AK. This time I'm taking my kids, my daughters boyfriend, my niece and our 2 foster babies.. so 4 of them haven't been to WDW and I want them to get to see AK at least a full days worth. (or 2 half days since we have PH's)

Ages: 2 adults then a 24, 18, 18, 13, 12, 5 & 2yo.

Soooo, please tell me your favorite thing to do at AK... because I have to be able to convince a 13yo and a 12yo not to drive me nuts asking to leave to go elsewhere!

I'm hoping there's a hidden gem we don't know about there...

 

[Robo]

Safari
Festival of the Lion King
Flights of Wonder
Expedition Everest

BTW, there is nothing that can convince petulant teens to do anything.

 

[Crystal824]

My family loves AK. My 6 year old's favorite ride at WDW is Everest Expedition. Our family's favorite show at WDW is Festival of the Lion King. With those ages, they would probably also enjoy Dinosaur and Kali.

 

[kangamangus]

Our favorite park is Animal Kingdom! Well it's tied with MK but still we spend a lot of time here. We love the Nemo show, the Lion King show, my little ones can play for oodles of time in the BoneYard. Expedition Everest is a big hit with my teens/tweens. We also love to do the Wilderness Explorers (even my teens love to do this) but they are young kiddos at heart when we are at Disney! We love the walking trails, meeting UP characters, eating at Tusker House and going on the Safari at least twice. Watching the street performances (live African drums etc) and just taking in all the vast park has to offer.

 

[carolynwi]

It wasn't that long ago when I was a teen and hated Animal Kingdom.. It's honestly the lack of rides. In my mind I'd always think "why did I go all the way to orlando for a zoo??". Only thing I can tell you is that Expedition Everest alone might make them happy. Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl too

 

[jodim]

Our favorite park is Animal Kingdom! Well it's tied with MK but still we spend a lot of time here. We love the Nemo show, the Lion King show, my little ones can play for oodles of time in the BoneYard. Expedition Everest is a big hit with my teens/tweens. We also love to do the Wilderness Explorers (even my teens love to do this) but they are young kiddos at heart when we are at Disney! We love the walking trails, meeting UP characters, eating at Tusker House and going on the Safari at least twice. Watching the street performances (live African drums etc) and just taking in all the vast park has to offer.

What is wilderness explorers? I've never even heard of that.

 

[jodim]

It wasn't that long ago when I was a teen and hated Animal Kingdom.. It's honestly the lack of rides. In my mind I'd always think "why did I go all the way to orlando for a zoo??". Only thing I can tell you is that Expedition Everest alone might make them happy. Dinosaur and Primeval Whirl too

They love expedition Everest but that's about it. They like Kali ok too but they say not enough to go. They all say they want to go in the morning (after a late breakfast ) and stay for the littles to see the parade but then they want to leave the park and not go back.

I am making a list of things to do there in hopes they will enjoy the day there. I've already told them we are spending at least the equivalent of 1 full day there but I don't want to listen to whining from them because it makes me mad, especially when I feel they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it.

 

[carolynwi]

They love expedition Everest but that's about it. They like Kali ok too but they say not enough to go. They all say they want to go in the morning (after a late breakfast ) and stay for the littles to see the parade but then they want to leave the park and not go back.

I am making a list of things to do there in hopes they will enjoy the day there. I've already told them we are spending at least the equivalent of 1 full day there but I don't want to listen to whining from them because it makes me mad, especially when I feel they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it.

I'm a little older now and I no longer HATE AK like I used to.. I didn't even go for years I would actually just choose go to a different park twice instead. I like going there now but I only see it as a half day park.. I like to use my AK day to spend the morning there and eat lunch there, go back to the resort and freshen up and spend the rest of the evening at Disney Springs. Either way it's Disney World I'm sure they will be happy.. Just suggesting maybe if the majority does not have any interest in staying there longer than a half day then it's definitely easy to do in a half day.

 

[kangamangus]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/wilderness-explorers/

 

[Klinger13]

One thing to note- You mentioned staying for the littles to see the parade, but there isn't a parade at AK. Perhaps if the 2 half days are spread out they won't mind going back but if they're ride-focused, I agree there's not a ton they'll like. (I struggle with this park a bit too for that reason.)

 

[jodim]

One thing to note- You mentioned staying for the littles to see the parade, but there isn't a parade at AK. Perhaps if the 2 half days are spread out they won't mind going back but if they're ride-focused, I agree there's not a ton they'll like. (I struggle with this park a bit too for that reason.)

When we went a few years ago there was a parade??? Or some kind of street show at least... Similar to a parade.

 

[Klinger13]

When we went a few years ago there was a parade??? Or some kind of street show at least... Similar to a parade.

Yes from what I read, there used to be a parade at AK but not anymore. There are various street performers at different times of day/evening at AK (maybe others can chime in on those) but no parade. My DD5 loves a parade but MK is the only place at WDW that has them now.

 

[lorenni]

I think you'll want to split up into 2 (maybe 3) groups for at least part of the day, as the attractions that would interest the little kids will be boring as all get out for the older kids and possibly even the adults in your group.

For the littles: the boneyard (especially the sandbox portion for the 2 year old), the lion king show and the Nemo show (especially if they have seen the movies), and Rafikis Planet Watch which has a petting zoo where they can brush goats, and the walking trail near the safari ride, where they can see more animals - much like a zoo. Some may recommend tough to be a bug, but it really scared my son when he was two/almost 3.

Everyone can go on, and should enjoy, the safari ride.

The older set probably would not love the Nemo show (even I have a hard time sitting thru it - that person who plays Nemo, the high nasal voice is too much for me.) They will have their choice of rides.

Good luck!

 

[anpeck]

When we went a few years ago there was a parade??? Or some kind of street show at least... Similar to a parade.

There used to be a parade, I think it was called Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade or something like that. It stopped a few years back though unfortunately. I really enjoyed that parade and was sad when it was discontinued.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I don't want to listen to whining from them because it makes me mad, especially when I feel they should be grateful to be there even if they don't care for it.

Ugh! This! Sorry, but this a big red flag for me.

You will have a much better vacation if you embrace a little more empathy.

ASK them what they want to do. Make a trade of some kind. I don't know them; maybe they want to swim in the afternoon, maybe they want to choose dining, maybe they just want a little spending $.

Listening to their opinions, and acting on their opinions, is THE most powerful way to earn their cooperation.

We aren't your kids. Our opinions are kind of useless. Forgive me, but it sounds like you are asking us to help you gaslight your kids. What we like doesn't matter. What should matter, most of all - is THEIR opinions. They will enjoy the things they want to do. It is just that simple.

If it matters, I'm reading a history of our founding fathers right now.

 

[disnut8]

We have been to WDW a few times and my kids just don't love AK. This time I'm taking my kids, my daughters boyfriend, my niece and our 2 foster babies.. so 4 of them haven't been to WDW and I want them to get to see AK at least a full days worth. (or 2 half days since we have PH's)

Ages: 2 adults then a 24, 18, 18, 13, 12, 5 & 2yo.

Soooo, please tell me your favorite thing to do at AK... because I have to be able to convince a 13yo and a 12yo not to drive me nuts asking to leave to go elsewhere!

I'm hoping there's a hidden gem we don't know about there...

Flights of Wonder. Your teenage kids will turn up their noses at it but it's not "just a bird show". And it doesn't last very long and it's something that is scheduled so they could go off on their own for a bit and meet up with you before the show.

Quite frankly, with the attitude of the kids and your determination of having the entire group together in one park for the day (or two days), you might need to send the 15 year old and the 13 year old off on their own or with one of the adults for a bit. It's not a big deal. Have you ever been to Rafiki's Planet Watch? The two teenagers might like a snake demonstration and seeing static displays on creepy crawlies. Leave them doing that and take the others to the Affection Station.

I think you are dealing with two typical teenagers but I also think you've been through it before and are just trying to handle it for Animal Kingdom so the others can enjoy. My suggestion is to ask the two teenagers what they would rather be doing and then have THEM tell you exactly how they would do that and then YOU make the decision.

 

[merrick]

i am with you on the no whining part.... i do a lot for my kids all year long and certainly take their likes and wants into consideration when planning a vacation. i would suggest sitting down with them and picking some things they would like to try and include in the day's itinerary but at the end of the day... there should be some willingness and respect to make the best of something *you* want to do too.

i am doing our planning right now and have planned 1 full day at AK. DD (almost 16) didn't dig it on our first visit... but we can't all get our own way all the time.

 

[mister morrow]

Dinosaur will be closed when you are on your trip.

the teens will like Expedition Everest, Kali, Safari, and Primeval Whirl. All of my siblings and I are teenagers and we like AK more than any other park (tied with EP).
You really have to take your time and look around and notice all the details of this park to have a good time.

The younger ones would love Finding Nemo the Musical (and maybe the teenagers as well), the walking trails and Rafiki's Planet Watch.

I hope you have a good time at AK!

 

[ktlm]

We've taken my DD (10) every year since she was 2 years old, and with the exception of the years she was 7 and 8, every year by noon she has been begging to go to MK or EPCOT. She just has never been a big AK fan. I don't know that you are going to be able to change that. I don't know how long it has been since they have been there, but at their age, they might like Expedition Everest and you could park them at the single rider line and let them ride it multiple times for awhile. The Wilderness explorer activity book was new when DD was 7 and that time we stayed most of the day without complaint and she finished the book up on her 8 year old trip so that kept her quiet, but those are the only trips she wanted to spend any length of time at AK. I think at 13 and 12 your kids will probably think they are too old for that book.

My DD wants to ride Safari, Eat at Tusker House, see the Lion King show and some characters and then she is done--- last year she liked EE so I can add that to the list. I basically tell her that I like AK and that while I understand it is not her favorite thing that this is everyone's vacation-not just hers- and we are doing a lot for her too so she needs to be nice and not complain when her Dad are I get to do some things we enjoy too. It is a good time to remind her that you need to compromise and it is not always all about her. Just like when she is with her group of friends, she can not always insist on everyone doing what she wants to do, they all take turns. I usually get an eye roll or two, but she is a sweet kid so she usually keeps her mouth shut after that -well mostly. I don't know that you can make them like it, so my suggestion would be to remind them that 4 of the people on your trip have never been to AK and it is their trip too and that your kids should let them enjoy it and that your kids will get to do (or have done) something else that they really want to do. If you have more trip in front of you, I would not be above bribery such as "If you don't complain and let everyone else enjoy AK even though it is not your favorite, I will let you do later (and giving a specific day and time is helpful), or if it were my DD, what works best is to substitute "do" with the word "buy"." All I have to do to get her in line at WDW is to tell her if she knocks it off I will buy her some particular little souvenir she has had her eye on- or that I won't buy it if she doesn't knock it off.

 

[AJA55]

No Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade ! ! ! Pooh...