Animal kingdom

[Magpie]

I agree. The train didn't bother me so much because I was ready to relax for a moment, but Rafiki's was a big let down - a petting zoo. If you have little kids who will get excited petting an animal, it's a cool thing for them. If you're traveling with a party of adults...well, a goat is a goat.

Rafiki's is awesome if you get there early enough to see the vets working on the animals. The CMs will explain everything that's going on.

Also, we once had a great conversation with a CM by the monkey cages, who told us all about the personalities of the different monkeys, including one mama monkey who couldn't be allowed to raise her own babies, because she'd been badly treated by her own mama and didn't know how to be gentle.

(Some adults enjoy petting goats, too. )

 

[Sam33]

Animal Kingdom is my favorite park! LOVE the details and I'm an animal lover so it's fun to spend time there.
That said, we're not really show people so we do everything multiple times and take our time and are still done at about 2.

 

[LaurenT]

1) Animal Kingdom is good for a 1/2-day.
2) Longer if wait times for some items are long
3) But, for the most part, it is weak effort at a park.

1) with all due respect to our friend Mr Scupper, I wholeheartedly disagree
2) it is much more than a half day park if you are going to take in all of it, for me it can easily be a two day park.
3) it is a magnificently executed park and has more attention to detail than all the other parks combined.

 

[mlnbabies]

We were there last week and loved it. We arrived shortly after 9a and left walked at after 5p. We rode EE 3 times in the morning and 4 times after 4:30. We did the Safari twice, the parade and saw the decorated trees in Camp Mickey. We didn't do the shows and didn't get to Dino land or Asia.

The last time we went to AK was in 2006 and we weren't going to do it this trip but my 8 y/o wanted to ride EE since she was too small in 2006. I'm so glad that we did go to AK. On this trip we went to all 4 parks since we have never done HS or Epcot.

We will go back to AK some day.

 

[silverhaze269]

I really enjoy AK. I can see how it's not a park for everyone, but, like someone said earlier, it's all in how you approach it.

I can also see how some people may be able to spend 1/2 a day in the park and call it "done", but I could never do that. I'm a huge animal lover, so I take my time on all the trails, and stroll along the paths around the base of the Tree of Life. I also enjoy taking pictures, and the AK has many opportunities for photography, especially if you hang around long enough on some of the trails.

The downsides of the park, in my opinion, are that there aren't too many dining options, it's a large park, and the paths are too narrow in some spots. I find it's also the hottest park for some reason, if you visit during the warmer months.

That being said, if you want to fully enjoy this park, I suggest you "stop and smell the roses" between rides. Get a fast pass for Everest and for Kilimanjaro Safari to avoid the long waits, and pass the time on the trails or at shows. I highly recommend eating at the Flame Tree BBQ and at the Yak'n'Yetti. I think too many people bypass this park because it doesn't have as many rides as the other parks, but that doesn't mean it's not as awesome.

 

[LindaBabe]

AK is my absolute favorite park, and I would never miss it. That being said, I absolutely hate the Dinoland section. It is like a cheap traveling carnival. But everything else is just the best. The safari, Everest, and the not-to-be-missed Devine! Most people never see her, and she is one of the most memorable things I have seen anywhere at Disney. If you like animals, don't miss AK. Even if you don't like animals, go anyway.

My FAVORITE PARK EVER! On an 8 day trip, I'll go at least three times - arrival day from when I get there until it closes - Early entry day - from beginning until I'm so tired I have to quit, and one other day to catch what I missed - I DO NOT do Dinoland - except occasional forays to the cretaceous trail, when someone else is riding dinosaur. NOR do I ride Everest or Kali river, but I LOVE love LOVE the queues.

 

[Robin K]

We LOVE AK! We are not fond of DHS but to each their own.
We go to WDW every Sept for 12 days and we spend 2 days at AK.
I like the theme, the details, and small hidden gems that make me think DISNEY.
I know for others its all about the rides that make a great theme park. Thats not what makes the park wonderful for us. We enjoy stopping and smelling the roses, looking at the details and just moving at our pace...slow!
I say everyone needs to experience AK for themselves just to decide. Plus for all those people who skip AK--I thank you-it makes it less crowded for us!

 

[Art 1]

My least favorite park. If I go to WDW 50-75 times each year maybe 3 times will be AK.

 

[twokids0204]

We love all the parks - they are all so uniquely Disney, and so uniquely different.

I don't think I could imagine a trip to WDW without a visit to AK.

For those who say that it's only a 1/2 day park have obviously never ridden Kilimanjaro Safari, that alone is a 2 week trip, if you don't believe me ask a Cast Member before boarding. although it seems like 20 minutes

 

[kevdo]

DaVine alone is worth the time in Animal Kingdom. I love standing aside to watch people rush past her without seeing her. I suspect a lot of the "it's a half day park" people are among them.

Heh, yep!

 

[cbg1027]

1) with all due respect to our friend Mr Scupper, I wholeheartedly disagree
2) it is much more than a half day park if you are going to take in all of it, for me it can easily be a two day park.
3) it is a magnificently executed park and has more attention to detail than all the other parks combined.

+1

 

[tinkerbellmichelle]

I haven't read replies because I don't want to spoil my thoughts... but WE LOVE ANIMAL KINGDOM. And my parents to too.

We find it relaxing to spend the day there... we love doing the Safari first thing in the morning. And we love Festival of the Lion King. We've always had good luck getting character photos too. Expedition Everest is SO fun and so is Kali River Rapids. My husband's favorite ride is Dinosaur (well a toss up between that and Disneyland's Indiana Jones which is basically same ride/vehicle in a different setting).

Some may think there's not a lot to do or may have a been there done that attitude.. but for us - we could spend a few days uncovering the magic. My kids spent a lot of time searching for Devine, the hidden tree lady, and then when we found her, I think they followed her around for at least an hour. They were so entranced by her.

we enjoy the theming of the park and the photos we get here are always so beautiful. Such a nice backdrop no matter which way you stand.

And if you're in the area and thinking of an ADR - you should really try Sanaa and Kidani Lodge (or is it Village, regardless). our best meal of our last trip!!!

 

[Hippo]

Animal Kingdom is great. Make sure you see the lion king show and the bird show. The nemo show is good too. Expedition Everest and Dinosaur are two very fun/thrilling rides.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

We LOVE Animal Kingdom, it's a gorgeous park, it doesn't even feel like a park. I am so excited that Disney decided to invest more in AK. I really hope that Animal Kingdom will offer a great night life. I want to see and experience this park at night so bad, I hear it is breathtakingly beautiful.

 

[k^2]

While AK isn't my favorite park, I very much enjoy visiting it and would be sad if I didn't go there during a Disney trip. At ABSOLUTE minimum, in my opinion, you need to go and do Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur!, Finding Nemo: the Musical, Festival of the Lion King, Pangani Forest Trail, and Maharajah Jungle Trek Trail. And don't forget lunch at Flame Tree BBQ, in my top 3 of Disney counter service restaurants. Just those items will take you most of a day, and you'll have a lot of fun doing it And if you have MORE time, take a ride on Primeval Whirl and/or Kali River Rapids (warning: one person in the ride vehicle will get absolutely SOAKED), head over to the Conservation Station, or see It's Tough to be a Bug! (which I hated, actually, but I know some people really enjoy).

(PS to all that have posted it... isn't Flights of Wonder gone? Or maybe it was just under refurb while I was there in September...?)

 

[Marty Joe]

DaVine alone is worth the time in Animal Kingdom. I love standing aside to watch people rush past her without seeing her. I suspect a lot of the "it's a half day park" people are among them.

I saw Devine for the first time in July and we have been going to AK since it opened.

 

[Magpie]

(PS to all that have posted it... isn't Flights of Wonder gone? Or maybe it was just under refurb while I was there in September...?)

We saw it during the first week of December.

 

[hollygolitely93]

We enjoyed it the first time we went...for the safari, shows, and experience. We found it a bit boring this time as our kids are not tall enough for the thrill rides yet. I wish we had done a half day there...next time we plan to skip it.

While the theming is great our zoo is far better for animal viewing!

 

[thedonduck]

I love AK! It's great for my kids too as seeing the animals is a bit more laid back than touring other parks. My DS loves exploring!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I enjoy AK alot. I've found there's alot to do there for me.

Expedition Everest
Dinosaur
Finding Nemo show
Festival of the Lion King show
It's tough to be a bug show - I love the end of it!
Kilimanjaro Safari
Watching the drummers perform
Watching DeVine
Walking through all the Discovery Trails and the Jungle Trek and the other Forest Trail - I love the fruit bats and the gorillas.
I even enjoyed Rafiki's Planet Watch last time.
I'm not a huge Kali River Rapid fan because I normally am the person to get soaked on that so I don't ride it often.
I also like to explore alot of the nooks and crannies in that park. There's alot of theming in those that I think people miss.

The rest of my family says AK is ok but they don't get into the trails and the shows like I do.