Convince me to love Animal Kingdom

[mickey&minnie04]

Our family (Me, DH, DD13, DD10) will be taking our 5th trip to WDW August 2017. Every trip, we spend a half day in AK before feeling like it isn't for us, and leaving to go somewhere else. But everyone we know loves this park. Like, passionately feels this is the best park ever, kind of love. We have done the safari and that has been nice, but we can't figure out what is driving this love other people feel. We're willing to give it another try if we can be convinced (and we really want to be convinced!).
So, what are we missing? What makes this place so special?

We are the same way!! I don't love it, but don't hate it....we literally ride the safari and everst and leave. Sometimes we walk around a little but it's never too long! I always feel we must go at least once on our trip but to me it's just a glorified zoo and I can do that at home.

 

[VillainFavs]

We are the same way!! I don't love it, but don't hate it....we literally ride the safari and everst and leave. Sometimes we walk around a little but it's never too long! I always feel we must go at least once on our trip but to me it's just a glorified zoo and I can do that at home.

It's certainly not going to be for everyone. Everyone has different tastes and what some love, others may not. That's okay.

But there's no way it's just a glorified zoo! If you really think that, you haven't explored half of what they have to offer.

I don't know any zoo that offers a theatrical show at the level of Lion King! Great live acts roaming the streets. Fun rides like Dinosaur and Kali. Experiences like DiVine or Tough to be a Bug. Unique details everywhere you look.

Again, it's not for everyone--totally agree. But I'd love to know what zoo you have at home that compares!

 

[mslhb]

We are not huge fans of AK and will likely be completely skipping it on our next trip. Our trips are never super long so I would rather use the time at the parks I enjoy more. I figure once all of the new stuff is in place we will try it again.

 

[mickey&minnie04]

It's certainly not going to be for everyone. Everyone has different tastes and what some love, others may not. That's okay.

But there's no way it's just a glorified zoo! If you really think that, you haven't explored half of what they have to offer.

I don't know any zoo that offers a theatrical show at the level of Lion King! Great live acts roaming the streets. Fun rides like Dinosaur and Kali. Experiences like DiVine or Tough to be a Bug. Unique details everywhere you look.

Again, it's not for everyone--totally agree. But I'd love to know what zoo you have at home that compares!

Nope no theatrical shows at my zoo...that's why i said glorified zoo. I don't want to spend my day looking at animals I can see at my local zoo. I don't care for any of the shows and I know I'm in the minority here...I don't love the Lion King show, or Nemo. I have been enough to know what I like and I was just giving my opinion so that the original poster didn't feel like she had to love it because everyone else does or says she should.

 

[kid-at-heart]

Do not stress about not liking Animal Kingdom. We do not enjoy Hollywood Studios. No biggie. Not everyone has the same likes/dislikes. Go where you enjoy. It is your vacation. Do what makes you happy.

Cheers!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I can't convince you. With everything at WDW (and, I guess, in life!), there are the lovers, the likers and the haters. To each his own! If you don't really like AK,I would suggest spending your precious vacation time elsewhere. It's ok if you don't like it and you spend your time somewhere else!

 

[Planogirl]

Do not stress about not liking Animal Kingdom. We do not enjoy Hollywood Studios. No biggie. Not everyone has the same likes/dislikes. Go where you enjoy. It is your vacation. Do what makes you happy.

Cheers!

And I'm not a big fan of Epcot. I always feel like people should try to give places a chance and then do what they enjoy. No one has to enjoy everything.

 

[DopeyDame]

If you have kids (of any age) maybe try a few badges in explorer scout activity (blanking on the name...)
It's a great way to really see the park and get invested. If after a few badge AK is still "meh" then that's ok - it's just not for you!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Our family (Me, DH, DD13, DD10) will be taking our 5th trip to WDW August 2017. Every trip, we spend a half day in AK before feeling like it isn't for us, and leaving to go somewhere else. But everyone we know loves this park. Like, passionately feels this is the best park ever, kind of love. We have done the safari and that has been nice, but we can't figure out what is driving this love other people feel. We're willing to give it another try if we can be convinced (and we really want to be convinced!).
So, what are we missing? What makes this place so special?

I feel like you have to value shows as highly as rides, and also live somewhere that doesn't have world-class zoo facilities nearby, to really love AK as a full day park. I love it, but a full day there to me would seem excessive. At least not until Rivers of Light debuts, anyway. We like Disney shows, and I know the Nemo and Lion King shows at AK, which we've still never done, are supposed to be much better than that godawful BatB show at DHS. But we also live in Chicago, where we have a gigantic world-class zoo. And I'm originally from New York, which also has a gigantic world class zoo. So the idea of paying so much to go to Walt Disney World, only to spend part of our time walking along animal trails and watching a bird show, just doesn't do it for us. We can do those things for a heck of a lot cheaper a heck of a lot closer to home. So although we love the ambience, and the quick service food options, for us AK becomes a few rides, a good quick service lunch, maybe sitting through it's tough to be a bug, and then leaving because we prioritize headliners at other parks and even resort time over sticking around to watch the shows at AK. I think rivers of light and the opening of Pandora will probably change our views about AK, and give us more of a reason within our interests to stay all day. Until then, though, we would consider doing a full day at DHS before we would consider doing that at AK.

 

[Lynzer4]

AK is a 1/2 park for me. I go because some of my favorite rides/shows are their but after the first time we don't see the animals treks or spend time at Planet watch. We have a local free zoo we can do that at... but we don't miss AK because we love EE, Dinosaur and enjoy Kilomanjaro. Also love Loin King and make sure to see it plus I love Yak and Yeti's. But we plan usually a 1/2 in the park.

Last visit it was nice because it was open late. We visited it late after the sun went down and it was much more enjoyable. It has little cover/protection and in the summer is just miserableness. I am looking forward to my October trip to visit Pandora!

That also allows us to either stay at the hotel and use the pool, go to a waterpark, or Disney Springs on our AK day since we only need 1/2 day.

 

[nicolej92]

We are the same way as you, and I have just accepted I will never "love" it like others do.

However, I always go and make sure I at least see Festival of the Lion King. I love AK day on our itinerary because we usually spend the half day there and then relax the rest of the day.

 

[mamamelody2]

AK is not our favorite, either. Of course, we went in 2010 and 2016, both in September. It was SO HOT and there just isn't nearly as many indoor, air-conditioned things available to get out of the heat. Last year, we didn't go on either of the trails because the thought of going in there, with so little breeze, was just overwhelming. We did really enjoy FOTLK. It was our one day where we didn't feel like we had to get there by rope drop, so it was nice to sleep in a bit one day. We only made it about 11AM-4PM before just being DONE due to the heat, though. I wanted to stay later and see the night entertainment in Africa, but that was not to be.

We are hoping to go back this November, and I would love to be able to explore more since the weather should be much better. Hopefully, we can make it into the evening, too!

 

[DisneyWife2015]

I don't think anyone else has mentioned this yet. One of our favorite things about AK is the food. Tusker House blows us away each time. We're planning to try their breakfast for the first time on our next trip. Flame Tree BBQ is on our list too! I'll second the shows: Festival of the Lion King, Nemo, and Flight of Wonder. My DH loves Expedition Everest, I love the safari, and our DD loves Kali River Rapids. Our other DD is an animal lover so she is perfectly happy checking them out everywhere. Personally I think it's the prettiest of all the parks so I enjoy just taking in the sights.

 

[AshleeH]

Sometimes parks just aren't a good fit for families. I've heard of plenty of people hating Epcot and HS. Different strokes. Personally, we just can't love AK. We went on our 2014 trip just to get "The Picture" in front of the tree - that was the only draw. We did our fast passes, we spent a couple of hours there. This year we only went so I could get my Starbucks souvenir mug. It was the week of the hurricane and it downpoured on us - ironically that may have been our best AK day in five trips. We caught raindrops, we jumped in puddles, we walked out splashing each other - no wearing ponchos - while people WITH ponchos huddled under rooflines and looked miserable. We had such a fun time.

But that being said - it was fun because of the circumstances we reacted to, not because of the park itself. My middle son asked if we had to go to AK when they fly in to meet me and my daughter in a few weeks (I didn't have it in the plans anyway, since they'll only be there for the last two days of our stay). I told him we wouldn't be back until 2018 for a big family trip, but no, we probably won't go to AK then, if that's their choice. They'd rather spend all their time in MK, EP, and HS. Vacation time is at a premium - I want to do what we all love.

 

[BudgieMama]

I don't think anyone else has mentioned this yet. One of our favorite things about AK is the food. Tusker House blows us away each time. We're planning to try their breakfast for the first time on our next trip. Flame Tree BBQ is on our list too! I'll second the shows: Festival of the Lion King, Nemo, and Flight of Wonder. My DH loves Expedition Everest, I love the safari, and our DD loves Kali River Rapids. Our other DD is an animal lover so she is perfectly happy checking them out everywhere. Personally I think it's the prettiest of all the parks so I enjoy just taking in the sights.

Tusker House is definitely a favourite for us too. We also love the Yak and Yeti Quick Service Cafe place. We eat there multiple times during a trip- those meals are yummy, and great value on the QSDP!

 

[mindeola]

You do not need convincing. You have been enough times to know you do not like it and that is ok. I would encourage you to try it occasionally. I know my favorite parks have changed over the years. I can tell you why we love it:

The attention to detail and complete immersion in other worlds.
We love to slow down and take it all in.
Bloody Mary's at the Dawa bar.
EE is easily my husband and daughter's favorite ride at WDW.
FOTLK is my favorite show.
I do not consider it a Zoo. I have a been to the top Zoos in the US. It is a different feel for me.
It is my husband's favorite park. He is not a huge WDW fan, so I have to indulge him with the things he loves while we are there.

We are actually doing an AK focused anniversary trip in May. Staying three nights at AKL- which is like another world! Eating at each of their restaurants. Doing the Wild Africa Trek and spending a day at AK. I can't wait!

 

[BigredNole]

It's absolutely horrible. Do not go!!!

This way there are less people there for me to enjoy one of my favorite parks.

 

[bebec22]

I'm not a huge fan of AK either. I actually haven't been in years (like since 2007). I grew up going to WDW in the 80's and 90's (when AK didn't exist) so I don't get that overwhelming feeling of nostalgia when I go there. While I do love Expedition Everest and Dinosaur it's not worth it to me to go for those 2 rides. I'm not an animal lover at all either. When my kids are older I will go there again and maybe if they fall in love with it, I will too. Until then, I leave it off my plans.

 

[Parker Clan]

AK is awesome! It now has even more to offer with the night time hours. But no one can convince you to like it.. Spend your time at parks you love!

 

[JustinD]

At this moment is is my second favorite, right behind MK. However, part of that stems from Disney's HS debacle, where they did not spend needed money there for a decade. HS used to be second on my list.

AK has a great coaster, and excellent shows. Dinosaur is excellent. And we like that little coaster by Dinosaur.

And for some reason I like the fast food there better. And beer.