Great zoo at home, skip some of AK?

[Funfire240]

We're zoo members and frequent are zoo quite often - (Toledo Zoo - just voted #1 by fans in the nation! Sorry had to give a shout out!). Anyways, I don't think of AK as just a zoo and they do offer experiences other than what we are used to. Although I'm partial because AK is my 2nd favorite place to be when at WDW

 

[nighttowll]

I do have older kids who may want to the the explorer club thing (Up! Themed, and I think it's in the Rafiki area?)

There are 6 badges in that area, but I wouldn't worry about missing them if you decide to skip the area. It is virtually impossible to collect all the badges (about 30) without devoting most of your day solely to this pursuit. In my opinion, you'll have more fun if you just try to collect the ones you come across as you tour the park. If you see the kids are really getting into the badges, and you have the time, then you may want to go over and get those badges at the end of the day. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Mikie]

There are 6 badges in that area, but I wouldn't worry about missing them if you decide to skip the area. It is virtually impossible to collect all the badges (about 30) without devoting most of your day solely to this pursuit. In my opinion, you'll have more fun if you just try to collect the ones you come across as you tour the park. If you see the kids are really getting into the badges, and you have the time, then you may want to go over and get those badges at the end of the day. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.

Awesome! Thank you! I was somehow under the impression the badges were ONLY in that area, not all over the park. I'll let others in our group decide their approach, but I think I'll happily pass on Rafiki, unless we find we've "done it all" and still have time - we do plan on a full day there, but are interested in pretty much all shows and rides until our dinner at Boma after park close.

 

[Vito]

I keep saying I am going to do all the zoo stuff at AK but always skip it when I realized to myself that there is so much more I cannot do anywhere else. I stop and watch the monkeys from time to time and walk into the tiger (or was it lion) area...but that's about it.

I grew up with the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo in my backyard and visit it every year when I go back home to visit family with the nieces and nephews. The zoo there is incredible with the united states largest indoor rainforest, a huge indoor desert, giant aviary, indoor Madagascar exhibit, indoor nocturnal exhibit...on and on. Just feels like another Disney park there that I just assume skip a lot of the zoo stuff. I guess I'm on the fence that if im at Disney I would rather see the animatronic animals rather than the real thing

Love the attention to details however....

 

[kaylasmom07]

I love AK. It's my second favorite park next to MK. I love animals and I love zoos. We have a great zoo close by us too. I would say you can skip Rafiki's because it takes so much time with the long train ride and such. Especially since you have done it once already. I wouldn't skip the other things the park has to offer though.

 

[Drinehart811]

I will admit since I am from San Diego, and we have a Tram tour at the Safari Park here I have skipped the Safari Tram once. But that was only because I had planned that day very poorly. (Went on EMH day but only got there 10 min before park opening, didn't get a FP right away, felt like it was 150*, ect...you get how it was). I have NEVER made these mistakes again because I actually prefer AK Safari tour, even though it's a little shorter and smaller. I feel like their Tiger Trail is right on point with the one at the San Diego Zoo, I love both and always try to see it.

I will say that IMO the biggest reason I generally skip anything at AK is because of the heat. I don't know why but it always feel 10-15 degrees hotter to me there than at the other parks (maybe because at other parks I tend to leave by 1 and come back around 6 and this isn't really an option at AK) I don't tolerate heat very well so I tend to skip one of both of the trails, and most anything with a long outdoor queue.

My trip this time is Sep 28-Oct 5, so maybe it won't be quite to bad and I'll be able to fully enjoy AK. Honestly, even with what we have at home I think Disney tends to do their animal exhibits BETTER, mainly since the imagineers have a much different perspective when putting them together.