Animal Kingdom - UGH!

[pklein09]

We were at AK November 7 in the morning. We've got 4 kids ages 3, 5, 6, and 7. For us it was just easier to rent 2 double strollers so we knew where the kids were. We started pushing the strollers through the Oasis and it was all up-hill!!! Up hill until you could see the tree!!! And it was very humid (I think from all the vegetation because MK wasn't humid later that day)!! What imagineer made this initial trek all up-hill? Didn't they think of people pushing strollers or wheelchairs??? We managed to see the Lion King production - fantastic!! Then we went to the Safari - not worth the 30 minute wait in my opinion. We see more animals at the zoo. We got there at 9:00 and left at 11:30 and those were the only 2 things we did. I had to get out of there - too hot and noisy (drums banging in Africa). I felt claustrophobic in that park - all the vegetation. I couldn't see where I was going and I didn't have a sense of where we were going. Very frustrating. I'm not headed back there anytime soon. Maybe when the kids are older....

 

[Princess Michelle]

You think it was hot then, try doing it in May... You actually have my complete sympathy. I did this park for the first time in May of 1999 and swore I would never ever step foot in it again. I was pushing my mom in a wheelchair because she had hurt her foot earlier in our trip and the uphill thing got old REALLY fast! The park is very hot and cramped and usually very crowded. However, I gave it another try a few years down the rode and now I actually like it pretty well. Try it again in a few years, like you said, when the kids are older and it might be more enjoyable.

 

[pirateparrot]

My first trip to AK was in August of 2000 and it is definitely hotter and more humid than all of the other parks. I was there with a 6 and 8 year old and by the early afternoon we were done. I can't tell you how much stuff we missed.

I went back this year the last week in October and it seemed much better but was still the hottest park. I think the trees keep it more humid and also keeps the breeze from blowing through the area. As far as I am concerned, look at the weather and go to AK on the collest day you are there.

 

[jimmiej]

ITA about the vegetation. We've been to AK three times now & it is starting to grow on us. I was disappointed the first time also. Give it another try one of these days.

 

[crisi]

We love it, but our first visit was a 58 degree day in Feburary. It wasn't hot that day! The animals were very active when it is cool - we went on the safari twice in two days and it was fantastic! We live in Minnesota, so those aren't the animals we see in our zoo.

Went this year on a hot day in October - and it was hot. The safari was much less impressive. Everyone was drooping. We saw the safari, the pangini trail, the LK show, ITTAB (which we didn't think was worth the wait) and headed home. Part of that was because I didn't want my kids to head over towards Dinosaur. They are both tall enough to ride, but my daughter has suffered a concussion right before the trip, and Dinosaur was on her "no" list. I still enjoyed the park, but it was a different experience iin the heat.

 

[MarkLem]

Having been on several "real" safaris in different parts of Africa at different times of the year, I can tell you that the AK and it's safari is very life-like. Yes, on hot days animals seek shade and don't move around much. The bush gets very hot for humans as well. They are always much more active at dawn and dusk. Cooler seasons also more active.

I for one applaud Disney for making as real of a park as they have.

 

[ead79]

I agree that Animal Kingdom is generally more hot/humid than the other parks. I really enjoy it though. I usually go to WDW in December, so the heat isn't really a concern. The safari has been nothing short of wonderful every time I've ridden it, and I look forward to doing it again on my next trip. I'm sorry it was so humid on the day you were there!

 

[ddgirl]

We love this park. Please try it again when your kids are older. Although I have never had to push a stroller or a wheelchair at this park. I think my fondness of this park stems from Survivor Africa and staying at AKL. I love the music played in the park and have bought a CD similar to the music.

 

[Goofmeister]

I'm not sure how much you really missed. I like the AK just fine, but at best its a one day park. Most of the time its only a 1/2 day outing. It does get hot.

We've taken the safari several times. Always first thing in the morning. The first time we went the CM driving did a lousy job. However, the next two times we got a great CM, and the ride was a lot more fun.

 

[nluvwithdisney]

AK can be a rough park to navigate with wheelchairs or strollers.
We've been in November and August. November was more enjoyable. With that said, it still is our 2nd favorite park.

 

[crabmeal]

Wow Nov 7 we were heading to Ak with my 5yo and 1yo. It was hot at 9 am and we went to the pool to take some resort photos. I did not want to do AK in the heat so we stayed at our resort and used the pool all day. It was such a nice pool and after reading your post I know we did the right thing.

 

[Kapp]

It is my wife's and one my daughter's favorite parks! I think it is so different from everything else at Disney, that it catches many by surprise.

 

[Henn1313]

We were at Ak on Nov 10. It was a very rainy day and I felt like I was truly in a rain forest. We did the Safari twice. The first time through was in the morning and we didn't see many animals at all. We did it again just before dark and saw lots of animals up close. It turns out that they bring the animals in for the night and many of them were walking to their night time enclosures then. They were walking right next to our vehicle. My 5 year old was thrilled. The Lions were actually moving around too. I think timing and weather are everything at this park. The first time we went there was in June and hot and humid. Although wet this time, the temperature was much more comfotable so long as you were wearing a poncho to stay dry. I really enjoyed this park but we traveled light-no stroller. My 5 year old walked through the parks for 5 days without complaint, but we went at a pretty relaxed pace most of the time. Pushing a stroller or wheelchair through AK would be very energy consuming.

 

[swilphil]

I'm not a big fan of AK either. At the other parks, I was able to push the stroller in the shade, but in AK for some reason there wasn't as much shade when you got into the middle of the park. I'm sure my kids will appreciate some attractions when they are older, but it's definitely at the bottom of my priority list.

 

[Cindymere]

I *totally* agree with everything you said, especially about the safari.

I hate AK and the *only* reason we are going this time is because my parents and my MIL have never seen it.

Lucky for them........

 

[diane1102]

Please tell me my 9 year old daughter (and all of us) will love it!!! She has our TV permanently tuned to "Animal Planet" and is constantly reading books about animal facts. The two things she's really looking forward to is Animal Kingdom and The Living Seas in Epcot. I dont' want her to be disappointed.
Thanks.

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE love AK, but then we are animal lovers anyway. I DO agree that the vegitation and narrow walkways do make for a hotter and more crowded feel to this park. I also think there are ways to make it more enjoyable. We tend to go to AK early in the day one day and go to (in this order)
Safari (usually do this several times each trip)
Lion King
Tough to be a bug (fun)
Maharajah jungle trek
bird show (fantastic)
dinasaur
Primeval Whirl
Conservation station (or whatever it is called today)

We have never done the raft ride. Don't care to get drenched, and we don't like the Tarzan Rocks show, but we love the embiance of AK and like the attention to detail and old feel.

We often go back several mornings just to do the safari more times.

 

[SCgoofy64]

You will have a blast there you just need to know what to expect. Yes its warmers and the paths are narrow, but the atmosphere is great. Here are a couple little secrets, if you go in the morning and want some great character time head toward the first lion king show, almost everyone is going into the theatre and the poor characters are just standing there all alone I have done this several times, great pictures, all the kids with all the characters together. Also do the safari first thing, so you may want to hit AK on 2 different mornings. Its one of my favorite parks if you take it at a nice slow pace and enjoy the surroundings.

 

[mrsltg]

Hi Diane-

AK is my second favorite park - to each his own! I really enjoyed the safari, and found the whole park extrememly interesting. It can get crowded on the roadways, but the park was designed to mirror a small village in Africa, and a trail in Asia, respectively. There are African drumbeats in the Africa section. I enjoyed the animal trails and the fell of the park in general. I've been in November, December, and June. It was incredibly hot and humid in June, but we only stayed for the morning and then headed for BB. One of the days we were there last November it was very hot as well, but the other days we were there were great! I think you should definitely give it a try!

Erin

 

[DisneyKidds]

We've got 4 kids ages 3, 5, 6, and 7

That's what I'd say UGH! to . We've got three between the ages of 2.5 mos and 5 and our a@@es are dragging . God bless you with 4 that close together. We're headed down with our bunch in a couple of weeks.

As for the AK, if you can't take the heat you know what they say . I've never noticed the AK being hotter than the other parks.........and it is Florida..........but I have heard that criticism a lot. Sorry you didn't care for the AK. It is our second favorite park. Too bad a walk up a hill put a damper on it from the get go . Fastpass for the safari would have been a better idea as well since you could have spent that 30 minutes doing something other than waiting in line. There is so much that kids your age would have loved. The Boneyard/Dig Site, Planet Watch (with the train ride/petting zoo), the walking trails in Africa and Asia if your kids love animals (ours do)........not to mention a few decent rides.

The AK really does have a lot to offer. The walkways are narrow and crowded.............but I'm sure they aren't unlike the walkways you will find winding thru your average African village.

If you are ever there again you might want to give it more of a chance and try and orient yourselves a little by looking at a map ahead of time. However, I guess the AK isn't for everybody.

As for waiting for the kids to get older..............I think the AK has more to offer for families with younger kids. The biggest hit I'll agree with when it comes to the AK is a lack of rides. Expedition:Everest will help with that a little, but it is still a ways off.