Booknut
<font color=green>I couldn't figure out why people
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2005
- Messages
- 2,544
Friday, 23 September - Animal Kingdom
I'd done my research about AK and we were there as soon as the gates opened. The first thing I noticed about the park, instantly, was how difficult it was going to be physically. The heat and humidity were getting to us almost from the second we got there. It was a very hot day and already our clothes were sticking to us! Never mind, we thought it might get a bit better once we had a walk around.
I thought it was really great how they have all those CM with the different animals for the kids and people to see. Unlucky for me the first CM to approach me with one of these animals was a CM holding up a really huge hairy spider which she kept referring to as 'cutie pie'. I DON'T THINK SO!!! I was getting teary eyed just looking at it, had to walk away, I don't like spiders! Luckily that was the last one I encountered that day
There is so much to see in the Oasis but we motored it to Africa so we could get on the Safari. Not so much because of crowds but because we'd read the hotter it gets the harder it is to see the animals because they will seek out shade. Made sense. I hope I don't offend any AK lovers here but I have to say, both DH and I were very disappointed with the safari. Very poorly designed I think, you never get a proper chance to look at the animals or take photos because you're constantly on the move. I was sort of expecting a similar sort of thing to Longleat but it wasn't like that at all. Oh well...
We then walked through Pangani Forest which was lovely and it was great seeing the gorillas although they clearly were not impressed to see us as they just sat there staring or lying down stroking their chests. I was so looking forward to seeing them interact. But it was lovely to see them nonetheless. I realise they aren't there to amuse us so its just a matter of luck.
The walk through Pangani nearly finished us both...we were dripping in sweat by this point and some younger kids were already starting to get cranky (who could blame them!). This was the only park where we saw kids lose their tempers/have tantrums on a larger scale. And I do think some of it might have to do with the weather.
We stopped and had some breakfast after this, very delicious hot breakfast, not sure what the restaurant was called, Tusker possibly? Well, whatever it was, the scrambled eggs were yummy!!!
We then walked over to Asia and waited for the Flights of Wonder show to start. This was fantastic, we filmed some of it to show family back home, we really enjoyed it. It was worth waiting for.
We then thought it would be a good idea to cool off and what better way to do this then by riding Kali River Rapids...sigh, we really were fools.
Kali River Rapids was ok but not very exciting. We did get duly wet and felt cool for a few minutes. And then we realised that this wasn't going to be like Magic Kingdom and Splash Mountain, we weren't going to dry off...ever. It was far too humid. So we not only had to keep going, but we had to do it in wet clothing.
About this point both DH and I were getting a bit cranky ourselves (imagine, feeling bad tempered at Disney, its shameful!!). We stopped for lunch (this time getting kids meals) and had a hot dog, corn and some apple sauce with lots of water. It was pretty good. A few birds (i'm quite ignorant as to what types they were) would come up to our tables in the hope of us feeding them (which we didn't), that was a nice part of the day.
We walked around Discovery Island after lunch and then watched It's Tough to be a Bug, that was really enjoyable, the best part of AK for us along with Flights of Wonder. We had a look as well at the new roller coaster they are building, Expedition Everest, it looks pretty good and has one very steep drop!
We then walked to Dinoland and had a look around, it seemed very much geared to young kids which is great but wasn't really for us. We did the Dinosaur ride, DH loved it and I absolutely hated it, mostly because it hurt. I found the ride jerked too hard and too fast and my thighs were taking quite a beating, I found it the most uncomforable ride in all the parks.
We did buy some nice things in the Dinoland shops and they had a lovely selection of affordable things for kids to buy as well.
We walked back through the Oasis, this time taking some time to see the animals and fauna and it was very beautiful. But we were quite relieved when we were done. We did regret not having seen the Lion King show but we just didn't have anything left in us, we were so tired by 3pm, still wet, still cranky and just dying to get home and get in that pool.
I know a lot of people will disagree with me and I do understand why a lot of people love AK but for DH and I, we wouldn't go back unless we had kids who were old enough to appreciate the whole of the park. I think its trying to do too much, being a sort of amusement park and zoo and nature reserve. I didn't like it anywhere as much as I did the other 3 parks. Perhaps it is nicer in January or February but in September, at 92F, it was way too difficult for us. But we are glad we tried it
I'd done my research about AK and we were there as soon as the gates opened. The first thing I noticed about the park, instantly, was how difficult it was going to be physically. The heat and humidity were getting to us almost from the second we got there. It was a very hot day and already our clothes were sticking to us! Never mind, we thought it might get a bit better once we had a walk around.
I thought it was really great how they have all those CM with the different animals for the kids and people to see. Unlucky for me the first CM to approach me with one of these animals was a CM holding up a really huge hairy spider which she kept referring to as 'cutie pie'. I DON'T THINK SO!!! I was getting teary eyed just looking at it, had to walk away, I don't like spiders! Luckily that was the last one I encountered that day
There is so much to see in the Oasis but we motored it to Africa so we could get on the Safari. Not so much because of crowds but because we'd read the hotter it gets the harder it is to see the animals because they will seek out shade. Made sense. I hope I don't offend any AK lovers here but I have to say, both DH and I were very disappointed with the safari. Very poorly designed I think, you never get a proper chance to look at the animals or take photos because you're constantly on the move. I was sort of expecting a similar sort of thing to Longleat but it wasn't like that at all. Oh well...
We then walked through Pangani Forest which was lovely and it was great seeing the gorillas although they clearly were not impressed to see us as they just sat there staring or lying down stroking their chests. I was so looking forward to seeing them interact. But it was lovely to see them nonetheless. I realise they aren't there to amuse us so its just a matter of luck.
The walk through Pangani nearly finished us both...we were dripping in sweat by this point and some younger kids were already starting to get cranky (who could blame them!). This was the only park where we saw kids lose their tempers/have tantrums on a larger scale. And I do think some of it might have to do with the weather.
We stopped and had some breakfast after this, very delicious hot breakfast, not sure what the restaurant was called, Tusker possibly? Well, whatever it was, the scrambled eggs were yummy!!!
We then walked over to Asia and waited for the Flights of Wonder show to start. This was fantastic, we filmed some of it to show family back home, we really enjoyed it. It was worth waiting for.
We then thought it would be a good idea to cool off and what better way to do this then by riding Kali River Rapids...sigh, we really were fools.
Kali River Rapids was ok but not very exciting. We did get duly wet and felt cool for a few minutes. And then we realised that this wasn't going to be like Magic Kingdom and Splash Mountain, we weren't going to dry off...ever. It was far too humid. So we not only had to keep going, but we had to do it in wet clothing.
About this point both DH and I were getting a bit cranky ourselves (imagine, feeling bad tempered at Disney, its shameful!!). We stopped for lunch (this time getting kids meals) and had a hot dog, corn and some apple sauce with lots of water. It was pretty good. A few birds (i'm quite ignorant as to what types they were) would come up to our tables in the hope of us feeding them (which we didn't), that was a nice part of the day.
We walked around Discovery Island after lunch and then watched It's Tough to be a Bug, that was really enjoyable, the best part of AK for us along with Flights of Wonder. We had a look as well at the new roller coaster they are building, Expedition Everest, it looks pretty good and has one very steep drop!
We then walked to Dinoland and had a look around, it seemed very much geared to young kids which is great but wasn't really for us. We did the Dinosaur ride, DH loved it and I absolutely hated it, mostly because it hurt. I found the ride jerked too hard and too fast and my thighs were taking quite a beating, I found it the most uncomforable ride in all the parks.
We did buy some nice things in the Dinoland shops and they had a lovely selection of affordable things for kids to buy as well.
We walked back through the Oasis, this time taking some time to see the animals and fauna and it was very beautiful. But we were quite relieved when we were done. We did regret not having seen the Lion King show but we just didn't have anything left in us, we were so tired by 3pm, still wet, still cranky and just dying to get home and get in that pool.
I know a lot of people will disagree with me and I do understand why a lot of people love AK but for DH and I, we wouldn't go back unless we had kids who were old enough to appreciate the whole of the park. I think its trying to do too much, being a sort of amusement park and zoo and nature reserve. I didn't like it anywhere as much as I did the other 3 parks. Perhaps it is nicer in January or February but in September, at 92F, it was way too difficult for us. But we are glad we tried it
rain! FOTLK was our favourite show, and our boys really enjoyed seeing the animals (not that DS(5) kept his voice down as instructed - luckily the gorillas didn't seem to mind 
