DEBATE: Debunking the AK "half day" myth.

The main reason I've been a lurker is because usually the only thing I have to say is: ditto baron. But now I've bothered to register and broken the silence so.... ditto my first post and ditto baron. Answer the questions: what ARE AKs problems and why wouldn't 10 new attractions solve the issue?
 
I think the problem is that AK doesn't really have that many quality attractions. Kali is not aethetically pleasing & the message is to vague to cancel out the point. The Safari ride was neat & all, but I'm struggling to think of a single attraction that really wowed or impressed me though.

I think the problem isn't only quantity, but quality as well.
 
DH and I spent 9 days in WDW during Sept 2002. We are in our early 40s and are empty nesters. On this, our 3rd visit to Animal Kingdom, we only stayed 6 hours.

Why only 6 hours? These are the attractions we visited:

Safari - great re-creation of Africa. I was disappointed that the bridge collapsing effect was not operating. I really like the poaching scenario...although after this many years, it could be re-scripted.

Dinosaur - one of our all-time favorites. If you listen to the storyline and follow it throughout the ride, you get a lot more out of the ride.

Primeval Whirl - First and last time. We got sick!

Tough to be a Bug - another favorite.

Festival of the Lion King - Not to be missed

Flights of Wonder - our first time seeing this show! We never had time for it before. We enjoyed it.

The following explains our thoughts on AK attractions that we bypassed. I am not putting the park down in any way.... this simply explains why we only stayed 6 hours.

We don't do Kali anymore. Too short for the amount of soaking you get.

We took the train ride to Conservation Station twice before and didn't find it worth the one hour (more or less) that it takes to get there, tour around, and get back. I'm sure it's interesting for some, but not us.

The walking tours - again, been there, done that. I can see a monkey picking fleas at any zoo. These paths are narrow and crowded, even during the slow times we visit.

Boneyard, Dinoland, etc., - DH and I would look pretty silly digging for fossils in the Boneyard, don't you think? Dinoland reminds me of a midway at a traveling carnival. Kids definitely enjoy this and I am not putting it down in any way.

Tarzan Rocks - saw it before, didn't want to see it again.

parade - we've never seen this because it has rained every afternoon we have ever been at AK.

What are the problems with the park?

Layout. I am very good with maps/directions, but I always get turned around in AK.

Chintzy rides - expand Kali - make me WANT to get soaked!!!! Update Safari, Tough to be a Bug, Tarzan Rocks. Develop some big rides along the line of POC and HM - inject a little Disney magic please?

Hello, how about a sit-down restaurant (besides Rainforest)?

Stay open later and offer a big evening entertainment event/show similar to Fantasmic. The excuse for no fireworks was it would be "disturbing to the animals". Well, the park is huge. Couldn't something be done on the Asia side of the park?

I love WDW and really want to see AK live up to the Disney potential. I'm not so imaginative (which is probably why WDW is so awe-inspiring to me) to make any specific suggestions.
 
Since 1998, I've been to DAK 10-12 times, I'm not sure exactly. We have never, ever stayed for more than 1/2 day.

If you get there about noon, pretty soon most people will start leaving.

Go to kilmanjaro safari, get a fast pass and do the walk while your fast pass comes up. Do the same for Kali and for dinosaur. Ride the train to conservation station. Go to Lion King and Tarzan (personally, I couldn't stand to go see both of these on the same trip and we usually skip something). How in the world can that take a whole day. I'm thinking five or six hours. Most times, dinosaur, dinorama, tough to be a bug are walk on if you go in the afternoon. Gosh, it isn't even open a whole day, 8 hours is 1/2 for that matter. I guess if you did every single thing you could find a way to spend 8 hours there, but it would be pushing it for me.

And I LIKE the AK, and feel satisfied that I get enough out of it to make the trip over there.
 

Pig Pen made exactly the point that I was trying to make. She doesn't like everything. She listed 26% of the attractions as attractions that she did. Doing 26% of the attractions at Magic Kingdom would mean she'd done 14 attractions vs. the 6 at Animal Kingdom. See below for my math:


Here's exactly what Disney lists as it's attractions for Animal Kingdom:

The Oasis Exhibit
Festival of the Lion King
Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends
Character Greetings
The Tree of Life
It's Tough To Be A Bug
Discover the Stories Behing the Magic
Discovery Island Trails
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
Wildlife Express Train
Habitat Habitat
Conservation Station
Affection Section
Flights of Wonder
Kali River Rapids
Maharajah Jungle Trek
The Boneyard
Tarzan Rocks
Midway Games
Triceratop Spin
Dino-Sue
Dinosaur

These ALL come directly from Disney's guidemap for the Animal Kingdom. That's 23 that they list. I have real problems with what they're listing as attractions, but I figured it out both with and without those questionables, and it doesn't affect the percentages any.

So, 6 attractions out of 23 is 26%.

Continuing, here's the Magic Kingdom's attraction listing:

Walt Disney World Railroad
City Hall
Main Street Vehicles
Town Square Exposition
Discover the Stories Behind the Magic
Guest Information Board
Swiss Family Treehouse
Shrunken ned's Junior Jungle Boats
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Enchanted Tiki Room (UNM)
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean
Character Greetings
Walt Disney World Railroad
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain
Tom Sawyer Island
Country Bear Jamboree
Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
The Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue
The Hall of Presidents
Liberty Square Riverboat
The Haunted Mansion
It's A Small World
Peter Pan's Flight
Legend of the Lion King
Cinderella's Surprise Celebration
Cinderella's Golden Carousel
Ariel's Grotto
Fantasyland Character Festival
Dumbo The Flying Elephant
Snow White's Scary Adventures
Fairytale Garden
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
Mad Tea Party
Mickey's Country House
Toontown Hall of Fame Tent
Judge's Tent
Minnie's Country House
Walt Disney World Railroad
Donald's Boat
The Barnstormer
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Tomorrowland Arcade
Space Mountain
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Carousel of Progress
Galaxy Palace Theatre
Buzzlightyear's Space Ranger Spin
The Timekeeper
Alien Encounter

That's 53 attractions. Once again, I have problems with what they're listing as attractions, but...oh, well....just read what I wrote about the Animal Kingdom attraction count!

26% of 53 is 14.

But you don't even need those percentages. Look at those numbers. 23 vs. 53. That's less than half!!!!! Uh-oh.....there's that word again....half.....

I believe it was raidermatt (it was!) who said:

2- Experiencing everything at AK still takes less time than experiencing everything at the other three parks. So whatever we consider MK to be, 2 day, 3 day, whatever, its clear that AK falls furthest away from that mark.

That got me to thinking: can I mathematically PROVE that the Animal Kingdom is a half day park?

Suppose it takes one hour per attraction (working off of Pig Pen's 6 hours in the park completing 6 attractions...which would allow for bathroom breaks, stopping to enjoy detail....whatever) It would take 23 hours to complete Animal Kingdom. It would take 53 hours to complete the Magic Kingdom. Let's convert that to days.

Animal Kingdom: .9583 of a day (that's not even a whole day)
Magic Kingdom: 2.2083 days

Here's the math:

23 hours to do the attractions ÷ 24 hours in a day = .9583
53 hours to do the attractions ÷ 24 hours in a day = 2.2083

SO, let's reduce those 24 hour days to operating days!

Because the Magic Kingdom is open longer than Animal Kingdom, we have to pretend that the Magic Kingdom is only open the same 8 hours that the Animal Kingdom is open. (8 hours in the off season...it would work if we used peak season hours as well)

It would take 2 days and 7 hours of a 3rd to do every attraction at the Animal Kingdom. (again, assuming the park is open for 8 hours, and 8 hours only)

It would take 6 days and 5 hours of a 7th to do everything at the Magic Kingdom. (again, assuming the park is open for 8 hours, and 8 hours only)

The math:

23 hours to do the attractions ÷ 8 operating hours = 2.875 days
.875 of an 8 hour day is 7 hours (.875 X 8 = 7)

53 hours to do the attractions ÷ 8 operating hours = 6.625 days
.625 of an 8 hour day is 5 hours (.625 X 8 = 5)

SO, going from there, assuming we can cram EVERYTHING in the Magic Kingdom into an 8 hour day:

6.625 days ÷ 6.625 = 1 operating day

2.875 days ÷ 6.625 = .434 of an operating day (read as 43% of an operating day)


Oh wait....I think I just mathematically proved that the Animal Kingdom park really is LESS than a half day park! :jester:

My god. I have WAAAAAAAAY too much time on my hands. Somebody stop me.

Please.
 
Wow Snacky, I'm not even going to try and follow the "math" in that last post ;). It is amazing though, that you and I can use the same post as ammunition in our arsenal :crazy:. I, too, would look to Pig Pen's post as clear evidence that AK is most certainly NOT a half day park. Get all that crazy math (is that the new math the kids are always talking about :confused: ) out of your head and go back and read the post with a clear mind.

Now, let's define "half day", the literal "half day" that I am too hung up on, and maybe well move on to some material that will appease that pesky Baron. The average Disney park is open 11 hours. How did I figure that, you ask? Well, let's say on the average that AK is open 9 - 6 (9 hours), MGM 9 - 8 (11 hours), Epcot 9 - 9 (12 hours), and MK 9 - 9 (12 hours). That is an average of 11 hours. Half of 11 is 5.5. For a park to be a "half day" park you would have to be able to see all of what the park has to offer in 5.5 hours. The Pen's post clearly shows that a sampling of those who don't feel the need to see even a majority of what the AK offers spend more than a half day in the park. Secondly, the mighty Pen's post serves to show that I underestimated the times in my analysis, as according to my times they would have been able to do the six attractions mentioned in just over 3 hours. You see, AK takes more time than people realize - and the Pen is mightier than the sword :smooth:.

Let me dispense with the giving o' the business and then on to some answers................
Little legs take a lot longer to cover the same ground as my 6'1" frame. Little bladders need to empty FAR more frequently than mine does. All of these things skew your numbers.
Nice try, but no. First off, there is not much walking time factored into my numbers. Second, no little legs to factor in. Even with the kiddies, we move around by stroller. Perhaps you can move a little faster than my stroller, but I defy you to make it from Lion King to Tarzan in much less than 5 minutes, even if you have Paul Bunyan strides. I didn't figure bathroom breaks. Fact is, there is very little skewing my numbers, and I once again refer to the Pen.
And this makes three!!
Ah, Baron. I bet I could get a half dozen posts out of you by virtue of my non answers, but it isn't too late so maybe I'll give you something this go around ;). But not just yet..........
If you were to hit the AK commando-style, you could reasonably hit all but one or two of the attractions before 4:00...and still have time to spend a half-day somewhere else.
I'd like to see that plan. We are seasoned vets who know how to move around a park. We don't waste time, and I can assure you that "all but one or two before four" is, quite frankly, impossible.
How in the world can that take a whole day. I'm thinking five or six hours.
d-r, do you realize that you only listed 7 attractions - and think that it would take 5 or 6 hours? Well, there is your half day, and as the Stacky one would say, you only hit 30% of the park. See a theme here folks? First off, AK - the whole of it - takes a lot longer than anyone realizes. Problem is, not enough people want to see the whole of the AK.

So, where does that leave us? Well, the AK is clearly not a half day park. Some people might only want to spend a half day there, and that is a problem, but that does not make it a half day park. You can't see much more than 30% of what it offers in half of the average daily operating hours for a Disney park. Case closed.

So what is wrong with the AK is....................................
 
Sorry, had to end that last post. You know - hoping someone was reading along and would get miffed that I didn't answer any questions ;).

So, what is wrong with the AK? Well, I really have to give that more thought. As I mentioned a few times, there is a problem in that, while the AK offers entertainment that could keep you busy for more than a day, many people just don't want to see it. I really don't know why that is, because there is a lot of good in much of what is offered. I'll explore that more, but this is a good opening to answer a burning question.

That question is, why won't 10 new attractions fix the AK problems? If you ask me, even with 10 new attractions, if people continue to tour the Ak the way they currently do, those 10 attractions might add only a handful that those people want to see. So it adds a couple of hours to the time they spend there, but that isn't going to solve the problem of why people don't see fit to experience the whole of the AK.
Because they have such a diverse audience, they need more choices for the tons of different tastes, likes, and dislikes that walk through the turnstiles everyday.
Snacky has hit on a key here I guess. I also know your answer to the problem, that the park should offer more. You didn't need to go on about attraction counts for me to agree that AK is less of a park than MK. Yeah, it has less attractions. So, if quantity is your measure, AK is less of a park. But I don't know that I like the answer to solving this problem of the diverse audience, and that is building more parks like the MK. The MK has no less than 53 attractions. However, that spans not just different lands, but lands that cover half a dozen different genres. AK is ONE genre. Do you really think that they could get 53+ attractions into the AK? Not with the concept, which was to have a park that was dedicated and focused on rides, shows and attractions based on a single genre - animals. I don't know that I want Disney building more Magic Kingdoms with a different theme, do you?

Is it that the AK theme doesn't appeal to people? Is it that people just don't care for the attractions - even the quality ones? Is it that people don't give the AK a chance, and the time it deserves? And if they don't, why? I will ponder this some more, but now that we have moved past the "half day" issue, I welcome your thoughts on the problems - the ones I mention, and the others you think the park has.

There you go Baron, and your new dittoing friend, and others - your turn to stop demanding and step up to the plate.

Batter up.................:smooth:.
 
Originally posted by DisneyKidds
Problem is, not enough people want to see the whole of the AK.

Exactly- which is why it IS a half-day park. Most people see enough in half a day and are ready to leave, unsatisfied....Every year, more people choose to not see it at all as its attendance drops EVERY year from the year before....Apparently you have no response to my analysis that the park was designed to be a lesser park...that your very own numbers DEMAND that much of the "whole" day be spent just walking from one side of this underdeveloped, sprawling place to the other in search of its paltry offerings....it packs less and less into more space making it seem half-full or or half-empty depending on how you look at it...but "half" nonetheless...Case closed???? Not in your favor, Mr Kidds!!!:cool:

Paul
 
Exactly- which is why it IS a half-day park. Most people see enough in half a day and are ready to leave, unsatisfied....
Exactly NOT. This only makes it a half day park for those who choose to make it so. It is a very individual thing. AK is a full day park that people only choose to see half of. Why don't you talk about why that is, rather than just hurling the half day insult? Half day park for them, but that is far different from half day park in general.
Every year, more people choose to not see it at all as its attendance drops EVERY year from the year before....
Been a while since I saw any attendance analysis, but I don't think the numbers I recall bear that out. Maybe that happy and sure to be gloating Raiders fan will help us out here.
Apparently you have no response to my analysis that the park was designed to be a lesser park...
In case you missed it, I agree on quantity that it is less of a park, but that is for reasons more than just cheap, I believe. No way the AK could support 53+attractions given the limited theme.
that your very own numbers DEMAND that much of the "whole" day be spent just walking
I have very little time factored in for walking. If I did an analysis on the MK I'd have to allow for time to get from Splash to Space - you have to. And you are going to to do better than this same old, same old :(.
Not in your favor, Mr Kidds!!!
I'll wait until you stop saying the same thing over, and over, and over.............to determine what is or is not in my favor :smooth:. Show me what your have, besides a desire to throw insults at a park without attempting to understand the park and it's problems. Come on, show me what you've got :p .
 
Originally posted by DisneyKidds
Been a while since I saw any attendance analysis, but I don't think the numbers I recall bear that out.

and if you recall incorrectly???? then what? Is it like that old Monty Python sketch "Stake your Claim" where the guy claims to have written all of Shakespeare's plays until he is asked how he could have written plays performed before he was born--so he just says "well, this is where my claim falls to the ground..."

here your argument has no footing whatsoever. The park attendence at AK has fallen every year since it opened. Last year it was down 6% from the year before. My comments are not an insult to the park, just a description of it's failures.


And as for walking time from Space to Spash?? The difference there is you walk past about 20 attractions along the way that you can stop and enjoy..at AK on some of the longest treks from one side to the other you go past what 2? 3?

Stating the same old same old over and over?? Sounds more like this endless refrain -tallying up the times to show how long it takes YOU to tour AK.

I do not insult the park- it is an insult to the Disney theme park family and the fans of the true "full-day" parks that Imagineers develop and the the public are willing to visit-(See Tokyo) The whole MickeyMinnie Land which consists of two shows and some character meet/greet pagodas is an insult to everyone to call that a "land." You doubt AK's theme could have support more-- you ignore its history...or maybe you just don't know it which might explain your difficulty understanding the parks problems --- it was SUPPOSED to have more but budget limitations- not theme limits have kept them from including Beastly Kingdom. That was a part of the original design of the park and now is but a faint hope for its future. Apparently Disney has had lots of things already developed that they are not willing to put forth because the park is not paying off...this is the usual failure of vision and confidence in the need for investment so typical of this current management which you seem to ignore---how about that unicorn ride, something with dragons, Australia (soarin' anyone?) South American Nile river ride? how about a river otter slide attraction or water based attraction? Move the sea animals from the Living Seas to AK-and create a new spectacular attraction or attractions devoted to this whole section of the animal kingdom currently ignored (and don't forget to create something new and interesting for Epcot.) I am not a paid Imagineer so it is not my role to create new attractions...but the problem is not lack of ideas in theme...it is lack of committment to creating a whole day experience like the other parks-they design them less and then hope to reap the profits early and only build onto them later...it does not work...the park does not work--they can cut more from it. more hours, more attractions (remember it had a boat ride at one time???)--or they can invest and add something -because the Dino additions won't do it...despite the possible attendence "spike" they might claim as I outlined earlier as a statistical game...

Sorry- you obviously have a soft spot for AK--maybe you should just enjoy it's uncrowded paths and copious attractions as you see it ..But instead you parrot (animal reference intended) the current Disney management approach--telling the majority of the theme park going public that we are wrong and you are right. Yeah, sure. That's a winning strategy.

Paul
 
arguing whether or not AK is a half day park or not isn't going to help, some people think it is, and some people think it takes a whole day, some even more, but that is the same with all the parks, there might be more people that think that AK is a half day park than think MK or Epcot are a half day park, but I bet there are still quite a few that do think one or both of them are a half day, unless every single person that goes into the park only stays a half day, which doesn't happen, you can't call it a half day park in general, you can call it a half day park for you, while I am looking forward to it my next trip, I was not that interested in Epcot on my last trip, and my sister and I called it a half day park, I bet people would throw a fit though if we tried to call it a half day park in general. You guys would day the same things that the people are saying in defense of AK, there are plenty of rides available. But if all you were interested in was Test Track and Space Ship Earth, then it isn't a full day for you, it is the same thing.
 
and if you recall incorrectly????
Then mea culpa.
The park attendence at AK has fallen every year since it opened. Last year it was down 6% from the year before.
Show me some reilable numbers..................and if you quote numbers incorrectly???? then what? Is it like that old Monty Python sketch "Stake your Claim" where the guy claims to have written all of Shakespeare's plays until he is asked how he could have written plays performed before he was born--so he just says "well, this is where my claim falls to the ground...".
Stating the same old same old over and over?? Sounds more like this endless refrain -tallying up the times to show how long it takes YOU to tour AK.
Feel free to move past the first concept any time you like, and on to discussing the real causes for the problems. And if you want to continue on this point - a rather simple one that AK physically contains enough entertainment to keep a guest busy for a day plus - you can shed some light on why you think people choose not to avail themselves of it. Furthermore, my point isn't about how long it takes me to tour the park, it is about the amount of entertainment that is provided in the park. Step back and stop looking at what you like to do in the AK and assess how long you think it would take you to see most of what is offered. Then tell us why you choose not to see it. Is that why many guests choose not to see the attractions? Really talk about the root causes for the problems. One of which is not that.............
it was SUPPOSED to have more but budget limitations- not theme limits have kept them from including Beastly Kingdom.
Really, do you think one additional area (land) with a couple of rides, a show and a few other attractions would have changed the landscape of the AK that significantly? That is such a common refrain from those who don't care for the AK, but I just don't see it. I believe that AK's problems run deeper than that, but I really don't know why. If AK had Beastly Kingdom next year I'm sure it might extend your time in the AK by a marginal amount. You'd ride whatever E ticket was provided and see a couple other things, and extend your 4 hour AK visit to maybe 6. But is Beastly Kingdom going to make you, or others, suddenly want to experience all the things in the AK that you didn't choose to see before? Stop looking for the obvious answer and the easy way out.

Rediculous exaggeration alert, rediculous exaggeration alert, rediculously slanted exaggeration alert...........................
at AK on some of the longest treks from one side to the other you go past what 2? 3? (attractions)
Get real :rolleyes:. Ok, maybe it is only 2 or 3 attractions that you want to do but let's not throw out baseless, exaggerated insults.
My comments are not an insult to the park, just a description of it's failures.
Stating that AK has attendance problems, stating that it has less attractions than another park, stating that you think there is a lack of quality in some of the attractions, etc, etc. would be your description of what you believe the parks failures to be. Talk some more about those. However, while these things might make it a half day park for you, calling the AK a half day park in general is an insult, IMHO.
but the problem is not lack of ideas in theme...it is lack of committment to creating a whole day experience like the other parks
Is the answer that all parks have to be created like the MK or Epcot? Maybe it is, I really don't know. However, I like to see Disney take some chances and do new things. I don't think frugality was the main reason why AK was made the way it was. Sure, to save they cut out Beastly Kingdom, but I really don't see that that would have helped to prevent the problems that AK has. Unfortunately the public doesn't always embrace new or different ideas.
The whole MickeyMinnie Land which consists of two shows and some character meet/greet pagodas is an insult to everyone to call that a "land."
Maybe this is part of the problem, that Disney conditioned it's guests to look at things in a certain way. Camp MinnieMickey is not a "land". I don't believe Disney calls it a "land". However, you (and others) view it from that perspective and get insulted that is isn't as comprehensive as Adventureland in the MK. Again, does everything have to be like the MK?
Sorry- you obviously have a soft spot for AK
It has nothing to do with soft spots. I simply take my family to the Disney parks and we do what everyone in the family enjoys. We choose to avail ourselves of most of what each of the parks has to offer our group, and the AK simply offers a days + worth of entertainment. For others it doesn't - different strokes I guess.
telling the majority of the theme park going public that we are wrong and you are right.
Choose to read things however you like, but this is not what I am doing. Did you miss all that talk I have in my last few posts about problems at the AK? I originally had one simple point that still stands. If you look at all of the entertainment that is offered in the AK, there is a full days + worth of things to do. As such, AK is not a "half day" park, or a park that has no more attractions than could fill a half day - that is clear. No one is wrong, and I didn't say they were, about the fact that people don't want to see much of what is offered. So let's talk more about that now.

Gee, I went back 5 pages, and this is only the 4th thread with more than 70 posts. We can "argue" all we want about the AK (and we will :crazy: ), but I know you love this stuff :cool:. Thanks for the banter.................................and keep it coming.
 
Wow Snacky, I'm not even going to try and follow the "math" in that last post

Actually, the math was really simple. Just a few multiplications and divisions. Didn't you ever learn that OF always means to multiply? (as in one half OF a day...:p )

And if you want to continue on this point - a rather simple one that AK physically contains enough entertainment to keep a guest busy for a day plus

Hasn't that been conceded to? If it hasn't, here we go:

Animal Kingdom can take a whole day if you do each and every attraction offered.

There. I thought I said it before, but there it is.

Can we move on now as to WHY the feeling exists that it is a half day park despite the fact that there is enough to occupy an entire day?!?!
 
Can we move on now as to WHY the feeling exists that it is a half day park despite the fact that there is enough to occupy an entire day?!?!
Go back and look at my last few posts. That's what I've been TRYING to do. While you may have conceded that other point, not everyone has ;).

As for that WHY, what were your thoughts again?

Try this, oh Snacky one. I think a prime case you are making is sheer attraction count. MK = 53, Ak = 26, AK = less than MK. Fair enough - remember, I agree.

Now look at Epcot. If we add up the Epcot attractions you come to something like 35. In that I am counting not only the actual attraction for WS countries that have one, but the countries themselves - for people to walk around and enjoy the architechture, atmosphere, and what not. That would be akin to people actually taking the time to appreciate the plantings, architecture and atmosphere of the AK, something not included in your AK 26. Excluding the countries in Epcot you have an attraction count of roughly 25. If I apply the same time anaylsis to Epcot as I did to AK (using the same assumptions about relatively low crowds and no long lines), I'd estimate that you could do the 25 or so attractions in Epcot in about 9 or 10 hours (vs AK 8 or 9). Take time to explore each country and you'd add another 3 hours or so - but that would mean you'd have to add time to do that in AK. All in all, Epcot doesn't have that many more attractions than AK, yet Epcot is widely considered to be a 2 day park while AK is widely considered to be a half day park. Why is that? You see, I don't think the answer lies in the mere number of attractions and their duration. There is something more at work in when it comes to the AK problems.
 
The fullness quotient of a park is not determined by adding up all of its attractions and seeing how long it takes to do them all. It is determined by whether it offers enough for most guests to fell they got their full day's admission's worth...I will be happy to post a poll on this (it probably should be on the Theme Parks board not here) as to whether a single day ticket at AK is worth the same as the price for the other parks---we can do it for each of the parks to be more scientific about it.

Here is my take on the failures of the park- there is not much there..they take less and spread it out over a larger area- this makes it seem to be even less...much of what is there is no better than many zoos which charge a fraction of the price (or no charge as is the case at our local zoo)- the non-zoo attractions (basically the rides and some of the shows) are not enough to distinguish the park. The NON ZOO/NOn SHOW entertainment from your list:

Safari- a top notch popular attraction- not different enough from the zoo like things at a fraction of the cost.

Kali River Rapids (the ride is too short and if you wait in line for it you really feel you went a long way for very little (also note this ride wasn't even there when they dared to pen the park)

Tough to be a Bug-good

Triceratops Spin lame
Primevil WhirlDinosaur-they cut the budget in developing both and it comes across as cheap- not worth $50/day
Boneyard- a sand box playground-my kids could probably spend a half day in this alone- but I would hardly be satisfied having spent the $$ to do so
couple character greetings- I can do this at Chukie Cheese's too-not worth $50/day
Walk around Tree of Life-very pretty sculpture but people do not pay $50 to look at Cinderella's castle and it's lovely mosaics.

SO can you spend more than half a day doing the park?- YES

The reason people don't want to is that as they go around they find they are not EXPERIENCING what they paid for- a unique enough experience to part with their $50...they feel like they are in a zoo. with a few spread out and pared down attractions. And my suggestions for attractions and letting Imagineers do their job without the accountants ruining it would go a long way towards solving that problem.

Paul
 
Not quite. EPCOT Center from 1983-Mid 90's would have been a 2 to 3 day park. Since they seem to be taking out the long format attractions in favor of short attention span attractions (and closed attractions / attractions that are in desperate need of updating) , it is much less of a park now than it was 10 years ago IMHO.

Also.. Beastly Kingom was not the only thing cut from AK's budget. From what I understand AK was opened with about 10-15 attractions less than it would have if it had been built using the original plans. An entire new land plus 2-3 more attractions in each of the other lands would be a big step in the right direction for AK.
 
Go back and look at my last few posts.

Okay...

However, while these things might make it a half day park for you, calling the AK a half day park in general is an insult, IMHO

If you look at all of the entertainment that is offered in the AK, there is a full days + worth of things to do. As such, AK is not a "half day" park, or a park that has no more attractions than could fill a half day - that is clear.

There it is my friend.

You still seem to be stuck on the half day issue.

Let me reiterate what YOU said:

If you look at all of the entertainment that is offered in the AK, there is a full days + worth of things to do.

You keep saying that over and over. You want to know WHY I believe Animal Kingdom is viewed as half day park by some?

Because let's take a look at that attraction count again. Let's count the rides. Getting back to basics, a ride is where they put in some sort of vehicle and you move.

There are:

Kilimanjaro Safaris
Dinosaur
Primeval Whirl
Triceratop Spin
Kali River Rapids

That's 5.

When people go to a theme park, they expect rides. If Disney wants to educate us, let them! But people also want rides.

The majority of what Animal Kingdom offers are educational displays like they have at a museum. And some of those things are interesting, but people don't pay $50 a day to get into a museum! Or a zoo, for that matter.

THAT'S why I think they fall short. And even if you count the actual shows, you'd have Tough To Be A Bug, Lion King, and Pocahontas and Flights of Wonder. That's only 4 more, for a total of 9. Nine true to heart Disney attractions. Not exhibits, but attractions.

Could that be where it's falling short?
 
We just came back from WDW. It was our twentieth or so time there at the AK.

My point is that when we went to MK we did 1 ride (about 5 min of entertainment) because of the lines. At AK we did about 4 shows/attractions (about 2 hours of entertainment).

To me it is a very simple decision which one is a better value.
 
You keep saying that over and over.
Yes, but the responses you are quoting are not aimed at you ;). Now let me quote myself (in context)..........
Feel free to move past the first concept any time you like, and on to discussing the real causes for the problems. And if you want to ................. you can shed some light on why you think people choose not to avail themselves of it.
Really talk about the root causes for the problems.
No one is wrong, and I didn't say they were, about the fact that people don't want to see much of what is offered. So let's talk more about that now.
Is it that the AK theme doesn't appeal to people? Is it that people just don't care for the attractions - even the quality ones? Is it that people don't give the AK a chance, and the time it deserves? And if they don't, why? I will ponder this some more, but now that we have moved past the "half day" issue, I welcome your thoughts on the problems - the ones I mention, and the others you think the park has.
You see, I have moved on.............and so have you. Any reasonable person would ;), agreeing that AK is a full day park that some people just choose to spend a half day in. But so long as people (yourself not included) claim that you can see the whole park in a half day - I'll keep beating the drum :crazy:.
You want to know WHY I believe Animal Kingdom is viewed as half day park by some?
As the Baron might say................YES!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!
When people go to a theme park, they expect rides.
Unfortunately they do, and unfortunately that is not what was intended to be the focus of the AK. If you primarily want rides that are contained within a zoo setting, go to Busch Gardens. I believe AK was trying to be something different. Unfortunately it wasn't what people want.
And some of those things are interesting, but people don't pay $50 a day to get into a museum! Or a zoo, for that matter.
No, they don't. However, most zoos aren't free. Zoos like the Bronx Zoo and Philadelphia Zoo might be half the price of the AK, but I do believe that AK is worth more. I can spend a day plus at the Bronx zoo - there is that much to do. I can spend a day plus at the AK - there is that much to do. I do think that the AK is worth more when you look at the offerings. Yes, zoos are relatively cheap, but even adding 5 rides and 5 shows (to the zoo elements that the others have) warrants a higher cost, IMHO. While a day at the Bronx Zoo is fun and interesting, a day at AK is much better.
Could that be where it's falling short?
That very well could be. As I always say - expectations are everything. If someone goes expecting rides, doesn't find them, and proceeds to skip what is there - they will only spend a half day - but they miss so much.
 
Been a while since I saw any attendance analysis, but I don't think the numbers I recall bear that out. Maybe that happy and sure to be gloating Raiders fan will help us out here.
Ask and ye shall receive...

The Autumn wind is a... Just kidding.

AK Attendance, according to Amusement Business:

1999 8.6 million
2000 8.3
2001 7.8
2002 7.3 (interesting considering the return of a parade and Dinorama...)

Ak was the only WDW park to lose attendance in 2000, even though it was only open for a portion of 1999.

Percentage-wise, its drop in 2001 and 2002 was second only to Epcot each year.
 












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