Animal Kingdom - more than just a zoo?

[pigletgirl]

We're huge zoo people (have an AP for our family) and AK is so much more than a zoo. It's hard for me to describe it all, but give it a chance and visit. The theming alone is exquisite.

 

[T_O]

@tentaguasu: Very in-depth post. Made me think a bit about which "type" I might be. I fall somewhere in between, honestly. I love animals, but am not a fan of seeing them in a controlled environment, even a nice one like AK. I don't like anthropology, and am not very interested in seeing replicas of real countries or places. (This extends to much of Epcot, too). I am so-so on rides, but my kids are scared to death of anything fast, dark, or spooky - which rules out pretty much all of them. (No Dinosaur for us!)
I would be interested in trying Sanaa, but no one else in my family would touch the food they serve. I love the vegetation and the Tree, and the light show sounds fun. That's probably where the interest ends for me. I think my husband would love AK, minus the food, but am still not convinced the rest of us would. Likely, it will be a last minute decision whether we go or not. You've all given us a lot to think about!

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Way better than a zoo! We really like Animal Kingdom. We try and fit it in on all of our trips. If we can't fit it in, it isn't the end of the world, (we're big Epcot fans so prefer to add an extra day at Epcot than AK) but there's a lot more to it than just animals. The park has a really great theme and as far as touring there isn't a lot we feel we need to accomplish so we're able to go at a nice pace.

 

[pa. dad]

I like the AK as it has a lot of good rides and shows. The Kiliminjaro Safaris and Expedition everest and kali river rapids and dinosaur are all great. There's shows and street entertainment and some interesting food. It's fun.

 

[Shanti]

Hi Everyone,

My family and I are planning our first trip to DW. We are setting aside 1 day for Epcot, 2.5 days for MK, and possibly 1 day for AK. I am a little hesitant about AK, because everything I have read about it so far makes it seem like an interactive zoo. I can drive a couple of hours from where I live and visit a pretty nice zoo, so I'm not really interested in the zoo experience. Also, my kids are 5 and 3, and I am worried they might get bored with the animal exhibits quickly.
I know the big tree (Living Tree?) is a draw, but we won't be there at night to see any light shows. I also know about Dinoland, but am not thrilled about paying above my already pricey park admission to play carnival games. I can do that at my state fair every year. I know about the mini-shows (Lion King, Nemo, etc), and those might be fun.
I guess what I'm really asking is, given the limited number of days we have at DW, is a stop at Animal Kingdom really worth it, or should we spend that extra day at MK or Epcot?
Thanks for your help!

There's a great character buffet at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom that the children will love.

 

[bryanb]

During my first visit to AK, it was such an oppressively hot day. But it's probably the one place at Disney World where I actually liked that. It really felt like I was an explorer in this sweltering, exotic part of the world. When I recently went back on a cool day, I was actually a little disappointed.

If you only like theme parks for the rides, you might not want to spend a whole day here, but I would strongly encourage people to visit just for a few rides. A half day there alone is worth the cost of the hopper.

• Expedition Everest is one of the most creative and well-themed Disney rollercoasters around. It's just plain fun. Many people know the plot twist in the ride, but when riding with a bunch of first timers, the whole train was just laughing at the surprise when we stopped at the gnarled tracks at the top of the mountain. It is just a really well done attraction.
• The Safari is also not to be missed. Even those who hate animals (is that really possible) can enjoy the feeling of being transported into far off lands. Except here you get to see the real thing instead of Jungle Cruise animatronics. Kali River Rapids is another well-themed world.
• The food is something fantastic. Especially if you like BBQ and/or ethnic foods. I ate the Karubi spiced rib at the Harambe Market with a really well known local chef at the next table, and he explained the enormous thought that went into this dish, the complex flavors, and how the cut of meat was similar to what you'd find in a high end restaurant. Plus you could eat this rib with a spoon, it was so tender and flavorful. Likewise, there are African, Chinese, Indian, and other selections for both sit down and counter service meals. Even the American BBQ at Flame Tree is a favorite of mine. I always plan to have at least two meals at AK or AKL.
• I could spend hours wandering this place. If you appreciate detailed theming, you'll feel like you're really in a very safe part of the developing world. There's even little touches like a faded Coca-Cola sign, or a restaurant that has a crudly graffitied Mickey Mouse as if the owner was trying to use it to attract patrons.

 

[tentaguasu]

Whole

@tentaguasu: Very in-depth post. Made me think a bit about which "type" I might be. I fall somewhere in between, honestly. I love animals, but am not a fan of seeing them in a controlled environment, even a nice one like AK. I don't like anthropology, and am not very interested in seeing replicas of real countries or places. (This extends to much of Epcot, too). I am so-so on rides, but my kids are scared to death of anything fast, dark, or spooky - which rules out pretty much all of them. (No Dinosaur for us!)
I would be interested in trying Sanaa, but no one else in my family would touch the food they serve. I love the vegetation and the Tree, and the light show sounds fun. That's probably where the interest ends for me. I think my husband would love AK, minus the food, but am still not convinced the rest of us would. Likely, it will be a last minute decision whether we go or not. You've all given us a lot to think about!

Really hard to say for you. I would not miss AK for anything, but that's me.

I will say this though:

1. The animals at AK are definitely in a controlled environment. But I've never been at a zoo (with perhaps the exception of certain parts of Henry Doorly in Omaha) where it feels as "unconfined" as AK. The imagineers have done a really nice job of making huge parts of AK feel "cage free."

2. I think Disney pretty much always has plenty of "safe foods" for people who don't like adventuresome. Not sure about Sanaa, but Disney generally makes sure you're almost always within 100 feet of a hamburger or pizza option, if that's what you want. I don't recall the specific food options at AK, but you can see menus online.