Whether you should go depends completely on what you're into. I think animal kingdom is probably the park that has the most divergent opinions about it. That's because you "get it" or you don't.
That's not a right or wrong thing, just different ways of enjoying parks.
So the question is, what type of person are you?
Here is who I think would be unlikely to like animal kingdom very much:
people who are very focused on the very Disney-est of Disney experiences. Don't think princesses, Mickey, fantasyland. Sure, they work those elements in, but for my money those things could disappear and animal kingdom wouldn't change very much.
People who are all about the rides. Animal kingdom is my favorite park, and I've never ridden expedition Everest. I'm lukewarm on dinosaur, and bug. My favorite attractions aren't even really rides in the classical sense.
As far as the themepark experience goes, AK is almost the anti-Magic Kingdom. Not because I don't love both, but because I think they're the furthest away from each other on the spectrum of what Disney is about. (for what it's worth, Magic Kingdom is my second favorite park.)
OK then, who is likely to be in the animal kingdom?
The obvious one are animal lovers. Flights of wonder is an amazing bird show (really). The Safari is fantastic. For instance, I absolutely geek out about those experiences. My mother-in-law... She could take or leave it. She prefers her animals with barbecue sauce.
The second thing that I don't hear enough about are people who love culture. And by that I mean culture from the anthropology perspective, not the big C culture. I love the look and feel of the different lands, that are so richly themed to look and feel like villages from developing nations. Cinderella's Castle is about transporting you to an imaginary fantasyland. Harambe market is about transporting you to Africa. And then you got all of the Asian section. Just think of Disney Imagineering applied to bringing distant cultures. to life rather than fantasy realms. And unlike Epcot, where it's more of a world fair feel, animal kingdom is more of an "I can almost imagine I'm there" feel. (within the realistic parameters of an Orlando theme park
)
If you prefer a well done French or Italian dish then animal kingdom is not your spot. If you get excited about the idea of counter service that presents interesting and unique food from more exotic cultures, then animal kingdom is a good fit. (again, within the parameters….)
Finally, what type of physical space do you like? Animal kingdom is all about vegetation. It has a very natural feel about it, including the oppressive heat sometimes!
For me, perhaps the quintessential animal kingdom experience that separates those of us who love it from those of us who don't are the two walking trails.
Being on a jungle path that winds through vegetation and then coming to a little bridge that I can cross and see gorillas that seem to be right there was, for me, a breathtaking experience. Walking through the ruins of an Asian culture while observing Tigers was fascinating.
To me, animal kingdom is the type of place that hits home with people who really love nature, culture, and the aesthetic experience of just being in a place. The rides and shows, for me, are wonderful compliments to the primary experience.
I think that's why some people view animal kingdom is a half-day park where others of us can't imagine trying to do it in less than a full day.
Again, that's not a good or a bad thing, it's just a better fit for certain types of people.
So there you go! For some people animal kingdom is an absolutely positively unmissable park. For other people I can completely understand why it's a half-day or or maybe not even worth going.
Sorry for the wall of text, but I get passionate about the animal kingdom!
