Animal Kingdom opinions

[JulielovesDisney]

I love AK, even more now that EE has entered the picture. But I always found it really cool, and the most detailed park out of the other 4. My only complaint, is in the summer months, there is absolutely NO A/C to be found. We usually spend as little time as possible there during summer.

 

[SusanWasHere]

I have been 3 times and found it disappointing -definitely not a full day park for our family....if you like a park to be more like a zoo--then you may enjoy it...look at stuff rather than be doing stuff--if you are looking for thrills
Kali is too short- the 3D movie is fun but so redundant to the other 3 D movies on property- Dinosaur is too dark, Primievel Whirl is too jerky, and the Safari narration is too hard to understand and frankly they zip thru the sites too quickly without regard for what might be fun to slow down and look at...

FOTLK is a good show.
Tusker House is excellent grub.

Go and see for yourself...obviously different parks for different folks...

you are so right - different parks for different folks! i could go to MGM a few days in a row and still feel like i missed something, where other people feel it's a half day park. epcot is my absolute favorite, yet some people feel like it's a waste of time. i guess it's a good thing - that way we're all spread out! if everyone liked just one park, it would be mobbed. which is why MK is always soooo crowded. they are all good - and something for everyone. which is why we all love it sooo much

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

AK is tied with MK as my 2nd favorite park. Festival of the Lion king is by far my favorite thing at WDW!

 

[mepperson]

Those who have been - what is your opinion of Animal Kingdom? We are trying to do 4 days of parks but I'm considering skipping AK and doing MK and/or MGM a second time. Would we be making a mistake by missing AK. Don't flame me but I get the impression it's much like a zoo, which we can do here at home.
Thanks guys.

It really depends on when you are going. If you will be there between April 28 thru May 7, I would say don't bother with AK at all - nothing to see or do here - move along! Now, any other time - definitely go for at least 1/2 day and see what you think. We LOVED Primevil Whirl, Dinosaur, and Festival of Lion King. Safari was good, too. I can't wait to try EE - get outta my way, people!!!

Hee Hee Hee ~ Mary

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Those who have been - what is your opinion of Animal Kingdom? We are trying to do 4 days of parks but I'm considering skipping AK and doing MK and/or MGM a second time. Would we be making a mistake by missing AK. Don't flame me but I get the impression it's much like a zoo, which we can do here at home.
Thanks guys.

If you've never been, AK will be great the first time. You didn't say if you had kids and what their ages were, but they'll probably have a better time at AK than they would at MGM. I would certainly not give MGM 2 days if I only had 4. total to spend in the parks if I had kids.

 

[cranbiz]

We love AK. I agree, it's best split up in the summer months but there is sooo much to see and do there if you explore!

With Everest , it just got so much better. But different strokes for different folks. We have AP's so we either get there early and leave around 1pm for another park or get there around 3pm to close.

I still haven't seen everything at Animal Kingdom. You can spend hours on the nature trails if you are really into animals and really do need to check out the themeing and the shows. They are some of the best at Disney. Even Dinoland is in theme for what Disney is trying to present. It's just very different from the rest of the park.

 

[byoung]

I love AK and now they have EE.

 

[jaysue]

AK is our favourite park by day (and Epcot by night)

We would skip MK before skipping AK - FOTLK, KS, EE, MJT and PFET, KRR the train to CS and the overall theme and slower pace of the park along with what we have seen as very friendly staff all make for a great experience

cheers
jaysue

 

[melomouse]

I have only been to AK twice. I get NO magic there, no sense I am in WDW. ......Yes, we did the safari in the AM- ok - I don't get the big deal.

Yes it is very hot, and there seems to be more walking somehow..

Dinosaur was broken down on both our visits.

That Chester/Hester and the Boneyard thing... I can't even believe I am in WDW with that cheesy-looking stuff.

Have not seen the parade - but we are not parade lovers(catch Spectro and MGM parades as often as we can tho - sometimes twice in one trip!)

The Tree of Life is innovative, somewhat spiritual, and the Tough to Be A Bug show was cute.

I was surprised to have like Kali so much - and think EE looks awesome.

We did enjoy watching the monkeys...

I live close enough to the Bronx Zoo to have been many times. For me, AK IS a zoo.Maybe it seems like another trip to the Bronx to me???

I would gladly spend my extra day at MK or MGM, and forego AK. I know I am very much in the minority and realize lots of folks just love it! And, as a previous poster pointed out - good thing we all have different favorites so we have room to spread out...

JMHO

 

[PKS44]

melomouse may be on to something...

I live near a very nice zoo with themed animal trails everybit as good as anything Ak offers so to me it is not much of a step up--except in cost--from a zoo experience...yes there are rides but notice how many people who LOVE AK talk about it's slower pace as a positive thing....I read that and think --yeah it was slow paced, that is ---BOOORRRRRIIIIIIINNNG!

If I want slow pace on my vacations at WDW I want that on my NONPARK days--when I am not shelling out $200 just to get in the gates for my family...or I will go to a beach for slow pace...

I agree though that it is great that others like it and go there because otherwise all those people would be crowding the walkways at my other favorite parks....as I said different strokes....

 

[RC Fan]

I really enjoy AK. As far as AK versus an extra day at MGM, I am not a show person, so for me MGM can be done in about an hour, or the amount of time it takes me to ride ToT and the Rockin' Rollercoaster.

I would try half a day at AK. It really is a nice park. I personally like Kali, Dinosaur, Primeval Whirl, the Safari, Pangani, and I know I will love EE!

 

[shatzjsl]

I know that some people really like AK but it just isn't my thing. I don't think it is a zoo but there is nothing there that would make it a must do for me. I'll be skipping it on my June trip.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Even if you don't do the shows in MGM, Great Movie Ride is 45 mins and Backlot Tour is 45 minutes to an hour. So that's already 2 hours worth of rides and walking...

I don't think AK is slow-paced at all, by the way. And besides Hester and Chester, I don't see where people think the magic is lacking. Since it's the newest park, it's the park with the least rides...and THAT'S the only reason people think it's slow and un-magical.

 

[bicker]

We've even found a great deal of magic in the Hester and Chester area of the park too. And we would never equate "slow-paced" with low value.

The difference between Animal Kingdom and other parks is a bit like the difference between chugging a beer and sipping a single-malt scotch. The scotch is a lot more valuable, eh?

 

[JRawkSteady]

The difference between Animal Kingdom and other parks is a bit like the difference between chugging a beer and sipping a single-malt scotch. The scotch is a lot more valuable, eh?

I just wanted to let you know I LOVE your analogy

 

[MouseWorshipin]

If I were skipping a park, it'd be the AK. I'd MUCH rather do two days at Epcot or the Magick Kingdom.

If you do decide to go, skip the Safari Ride. You can see animals at the zoo.

Not that AK isn't pretty; it is. It has a beautiful theme. It is just my least favorite of the parks.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

We LOVE Animal Kingdom.

For our June trip, we'll chose a day with EH in the morning from 8:00 to noon and another day with EH in the evening from 4:30 to 9:00 or so.



Add: The Safari ride is our favorite.

 

[disfam61]

We would never miss AK. We love it. It can be done in about a half day if you want and hit the highlights. Our kids,age 12 and 11 actually prefer it over MK and find more to do. If your kids are younger MK may be better for them. we always start with the character breakfast at Donalds Brontosauraus Restaurant. The dinosaur ride is great, safari ride is awesome if a lot of the animals are visible, at other times we have seen it and just thought it was okay. The kali rapids waterride is great and so is the primevil twirl. Everest is new and exciting by all reports. We love the bugs Life show and I agree with other posters about the Lion King show- it is absolutely fabulous. There is also so much to see, the tree of life is not to be missed. We really enjoy Ak and would definately if we didn't visit it each time we are there. It definately has a slow paced feel, but no low value feel. We save it for a few days into the vacation when we need a slower day. We usually go at opening and leave after lunch and spend the remainder of the day at the pool. It's a nice change of pace and very different from the other parks.

 

[damiel]

Like everyone else I agree that this is a half day park. We were ther last May and are returning this May. We gave our 8 1/2 yo DS the choice of skipping AK for a second day someplace else and he didn't even need to think about it. NO AK, 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, I water slide and 1 MGM. I did enjoy the Lion King show, even if my camera did get stolen. Alot of walking and not alot of Disney magic. I also agree that MGM can be a half day park, the second half of the day so you don't miss Fantasmic.