Animal Kingdom needs love

[rteetz]

Count me in as a AK lover. My favorite park. The detail itself is just incredible. Pandora will only make it more amazing.

 

[Delirium]

No I like shows once in a while but they're not really repeatable though .

And the park lacks maintenance .

It's mind-boggling to me that people feel 30 minute shows, with different actors from trip to trip, are not worth repeating, but feel that 2 minute rides, with the exact same animatronics, can be infinitely repeated with no loss in luster.

 

[Klayfish]

Count me in as a AK lover. My favorite park. The detail itself is just incredible. Pandora will only make it more amazing.

I'll echo this, except change it a little. Count me in as a WDW lover, to include AK. It's not my favorite park, but that's not a criticism of it, I love all the parks...to include the water parks and Disney Springs. As I've said before, maybe I'm just an apologist, maybe my expectations are too low, maybe I'm just a sucker and too easy to please, but I find very little to complain with at WDW overall. I'm entertained by pretty much everything there and just enjoy the experience.

With respect specifically to AK, I will admit I was disappointed by the Jungle Book show, but that didn't change my overall outlook on the park. I still thoroughly enjoy it. Great rides, other great shows, it's a great change of pace/venue/atmosphere from the other parks. I haven't really found it to lack in maintenance, cleanliness or anything else, with perhaps the exception of more places to cool off...I swear that park is hotter than the others in the summer. Dino is a lot of fun, unlike many others I love Kali (and love getting soaked by it), EE is a lot of fun, and the night atmosphere was cool. Plus seeing all the animals is really neat. As I said, it's not my family's favorite park, it tends to be the one we go to last or least, but that's not a bad thing.

I'm also very excited for the potential of things to come there.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I've always found it odd that some people don't like animal kingdom or think it doesn't feel complete. It's my second favorite and I've always been able to spend plenty of time there-my husband too. Must just come down to preference! I definitely wouldn't say it's more in need than Epcot or HS though.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Wow - so much Animal Kingdom hate. We LOVE it. I mean, it's gorgeous. The amount of detail everywhere is just stunning to me. I consider it more of a soak in the atmosphere park. A place to explore. I adore all of the dancing and mini street shows. Lion King is great! The animal trails are gorgeous, again with the detailed setting. Some unique food options, Mickey and Minnie together and those adorable outfits, flights of wonder and so on. I even appreciate the kitsch of DinoLand, although not the fair games. We are going at the beginning of December and are hoping ROL will be ready. We are also excited too see the night time Carnivale and Tree of Life awakening. Once Pandora is done I am not sure how we will fit it all in in 1 day ! I think they are indeed giving it some love. It's just taking time. Too much time I agree. Even so though I think there is much to be enjoyed. I guess it would be disappointing from a rides perspective.

I think the biggest problem with the park is that it doesn't appeal to everyone-
Meaning, it's not a park that offers something for everyone to enjoy.
If you like rides and experiences, you will be done with this park before lunch. If you are a "take a stroll" and "enjoy the details" person, you might love this park.

Me personally, I love the rides and experiences. My DD5 wants to go there today, but she wants to go on RIDES. So do I deny her entry bc I know all day she will ask to go on rides like at MK?

Yes, the animal stuff is cool but it's just a Disney Zoo for us. It's an expensive ticket, airfare, hotel etc, just to see animal exhibits.

The bottom line, is that Disney needs to add 4 more ride attractions for kids of all ages- and this investment would get a HUGE draw from the other side and become more of a full day park.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

The first time I actually enjoyed AK was when I saw when the weather wasn't trying to fry me like an egg. I love ak at night, I love ak when it's not trying to kill me with the weather but I really hate AK and the lack of places to hide from the heat / sun.

I think AK really needs to get more attractions and these refurbs are really starting to show how little there is to do there. HS still looks like the better park to pick if you have to choose between them just because it's more rain friendly, more sun friendly and more things to do while there... I think they could really bump it up doing some refurbs to get more spaces to be out of the heat and sun and toss in a bunch more normal length attractions. I hate that it's basically all 1 hour attractions with 2 rides and a off the shelf, get it in any attraction park mini-coaster.

But I do enjoy it when things are right like weather and being able to stroll around and really take in the place.. I just want more than strolling around and seeing hte same couple shows and hitting the ride not being refurbed this month.

This!

We have gone in March and our AK days were hot and the park was even hotter. When we go in August forget it. I feel like I'm dying in AK. Add in the black top and the hilly ground and I want to die. I want to stay there longer and look around but by 12 I'm out of there. The kids want to stay longer but the heat is unbearable there, especially in August. And there truly is nowhere to go to escape it unless you do a TS meal but this is one of those parks where I love the QS.

We did AK on a PM EMH night many years ago. I just fell in love with the park. Riding EE at night was amazing. Now that they will have later hours I plan on doing two days at AK. RD/AM EMH until noon and then another evening there.

It really is an amazing park with amazing theming. I appreciate AK for what it is meant to be. When I walk into AK I feel like I'm in Asia or Africa. It is a beautiful park.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It's mind-boggling to me that people feel 30 minute shows, with different actors from trip to trip, are not worth repeating, but feel that 2 minute rides, with the exact same animatronics, can be infinitely repeated with no loss in luster.

Agree. Also Philharmonic is the same thing every visit but we still really enjoy it!

I sometimes wonder if the people who say there's nothing to do because they've already watched the shows are people who go all of the time?? I go every few years and I don't mind watching FOTLK, Beauty and the Beast or any other shows again because it's not like I go several times a year.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Safari is more up-to-date year-to-year than Spaceship Earth.

 

[AngiTN]

Agree. Also Philharmonic is the same thing every visit but we still really enjoy it!

I sometimes wonder if the people who say there's nothing to do because they've already watched the shows are people who go all of the time?? I go every few years and I don't mind watching FOTLK, Beauty and the Beast or any other shows again because it's not like I go several times a year.

We are both. We go all the time and we still love the shows. I could watch FOTLK every day and still be awed and amazed at the performances.
As PP said, the shows are always different, even if slightly. Rides are static and rarely change. We enjoy them but we rarely repeat them on a given trip. A few we will but not many. But I'd never skip walking the trails at AK. They are never the same twice.

 

[Yensid96]

AK has really grown on us over the last few visits. We have always done it our last day and made it a 1/2 day park, but lately we have decided to try and give it some more attention. It is a beautiful park and has some neat shops and Festival of the Lion King is (IMO)the best show on property !

 

[kitkat4622]

Another Animal Kingdom lover here. the scenery the walking trails, the shows love it all. Cannot wait to go in April and hopefully see the Tree of Life at night and River of Lights. looking forward to it.