I now know why so many people don't love Animal Kingdom

[missypie]

I really wanted to LOVE Animal Kingdom. I was so ready to take in all the sights and sounds. My DD9 loves animals, so we planned two full days there.

I think the reason lots of folks don't love AK is because it is so weather dependent. Almost everything is outside. The first day we were there it was very hot and sunny. It didn't bother me so much, but DD12 was particulary miserable. The last thing we did for the day was watch the parade...stupidly in the sun. It was a last minute decision, so we didn't take the time to stake out a place in the shade. That time in the sun totally zapped our remaining energy.

The second day was rainy. There was almost nothing to do that was indoors. We couldn't even eat at Flame Tree because no covered tables were available.

I think off season touring of AK would be great...one of those days when the high is 72 and you're thrilled to be outside.

One more thing...having lots of time on our second day (even though we arrived at 8:50 and left by 12:30), we took the time to go to Conservation Station. Again, I so wanted to love it. I had heard of all the "exotic" and "rare" breeds of animals in the Affection Section. Well, unless they were exotic and rare breeds of goats, they weren't there. The petting zoo at the State Fair is about 100 times better.

One great secret: If you're ever hot and tired and cranky and just want to chill out, go inside the building at the Conservation Station and get one of those booths that play the rain forest noises. A great hide out!

I'm not totally trashing AK - there were lots of parts I enjoyed. But I think that the weather has a great deal to do with whether folks have a good or bad experience there.

 

[kandeebunny]

Thats a huge part of why I don't like it. It's usually about 5* hotter than any other park. I also dislike the layout immensley. I hate the fact that I have to keep going back to the center then out again.

 

[Sherrilatte]

Again, I so wanted to love it. I had heard of all the "exotic" and "rare" breeds of animals in the Affection Section. Well, unless they were exotic and rare breeds of goats, they weren't there. The petting zoo at the State Fair is about 100 times better.

.

 

[PamNC]

We love AK - it truly has the magic! I think some people feel like there "isn't enough to do." Well, AK is not all about rides and attractions. It's an adventure. We take the time to stroll through the paths and look at all the animals. The Tree of Life is so amazing!! I marvel at it and find a new animal carving each and every trip. I truly wouldn't feel complete unless we visted AK at least once during our trips.

PamNC

 

[MickeyAnne]

I couldn't agree more...it seems that whenever I have been there its been SOOOOOO hot and I do not deal well with that sort of heat so I have grown to really dislike the park and that really does stink because I know that there are alot of cool things there.

Maybe I'll try again next trip.

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

You are absolutely correct....DW and I used to spend hardly anytime at AK and didn't really enjoy any of the time we were there. This was when we used to go in May and the one time we made the mistake of going in July. Anyway, now that we go in Nov/Dec we LOVE AK, it is so nice in the cooler weather....you can take your time strolling around all of the wonderful trails that we could never bear to take a walk down before. This is just another reason we have become OFFSEASON people....we love the cool weather and all the holiday decorations.

 

[Storminator]

I didn't like AK the first time I went. I thought, "eh." I think I expected it to be different...more exciting. The second time we went I liked it more, and I have found that to be the case on each subsequent trip. It's the perfect park to put smack dab in the middle of your trip when you are tired of running around and just want a mellow day. I look at it as kind of a botanical gardens...a place to recharge a bit.

 

[mickeymom629]

We enjoy AK, but definitely more in the cooler months. KRR is the only good thing for the family to do on a hot day (it's not fun to be wet on a cool day!). Luckily the Lion King Show is in aircondition, as well as the Bug movie, and Dinosaur! I agree about the petting zoo--we only did that once, years ago.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I think you raise some good points.

We went once and that was enough for us - I have no interest in ever going back, though we probably will try it again when Everest is open or when we have children who would enjoy the animals and such.

 

[GurGie]

A couple of years ago while waiting to sit in the cockpit of the next monorail we got into a conversation with a CM re: AK. We were talking about how it seems so much hotter there and she said that it was due to the concrete. It is a special mixture designed to increase the temp 2-5 degrees (which is quite enough to make it uncomfortable) and create that "Tropical" effect --- like Florida needs any help with that. SO! .... when going to AK ... invest in those fan misting bottles beforehand .... it'll be a lifesaver!

ciao!

 

[missypie]

We love AK - it truly has the magic! I think some people feel like there "isn't enough to do." Well, AK is not all about rides and attractions. It's an adventure. We take the time to stroll through the paths and look at all the animals. The Tree of Life is so amazing!! I marvel at it and find a new animal carving each and every trip. I truly wouldn't feel complete unless we visted AK at least once during our trips.

PamNC

The Tree of Life IS so amazing. It was DS14 who wanted to spend more time exploring it. When it was only misting (as opposed to pouring rain) we took the exploration trail around the tree. Is was way cool, but again, the experience would have been awesome in better weather.

 

[vegasnw]

I can understand the reasons you posted and agree but I have never run into problems like that but then we never go during the summer months and we have never experience a full rainy day. But I will say that if I had and ran into some of the things you did, I too would find it hard to love any park.

 

[SleepingUgly]

We were there a couple of weeks ago, and my first impression was not the best. We went in the middle of the afternoon, around 2 pm, and it was HOT and crowded. We did the safari right away, thanks to Fastpass, and then did the Trail next to it, which was nice and refreshing. Then, we made the mistake of trying to walk around the park while the parade was going on. Ugh, it was awful! The only way out from Asia was to walk past the Everst construction, and it is even hotter in that area, since there are absolutely no trees/shade whatsoever near the construction site. I was not impressed.

We returned a couple of days later, first thing in the morning, and it was much more enjoyable. While everyone else raced for the Safari, we went to see It's Tough to Be a Bug, and then walked around Dinoland and Camp Minnie-Mickey. It was so relaxing and slow-paced. I'm sure the crowd would have picked up by the afternoon, but we left by 12:30 pm and the morning was absolutely lovely.

Perhaps give it another chance on a future visit? I thought after my first two hours in AK that I would never return, but now I'm glad we did.

Linda

 

[missypie]

Perhaps give it another chance on a future visit? I thought after my first two hours in AK that I would never return, but now I'm glad we did.

Linda

I'm lobbying for a trip the week before Thanksgiving. We are tied to the school calendar, so we can't totally go based on the weather.

 

[Miranda Danda]

I didn't like AK the first time I went. I thought, "eh." I think I expected it to be different...more exciting. The second time we went I liked it more, and I have found that to be the case on each subsequent trip. It's the perfect park to put smack dab in the middle of your trip when you are tired of running around and just want a mellow day. I look at it as kind of a botanical gardens...a place to recharge a bit.

You are exactly right. If you want to escape the hustle-bustle of MK, MGM, or Epcot, this is the place to go... We only spent about 2 hours here because we were rearing to go and ride ride ride. You said it perfectly, though.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

I think off season touring of AK would be great...one of those days when the high is 72 and you're thrilled to be outside.

You're absolutely right! Actually I can't do any of the parks in the summer. I find AK has much more shade than the other parks. But if you go again in the off season, give AK another try. You'll enjoy it much more.

And I agree...something needs to be done with Conservation Station. Blech!!!

 

[ccgegg]

There was almost nothing to do that was indoors.

I'm not an imagineer, but I play one on TV. I don't think lots of indoor attractions would fit the theming of Animal Kingdom. FOTLK is well-done because it looks like a giant hut. But too many indoor things would make it seem MUCH less like the jungle and more like watching the Travel Channel from your cozy air-conditioned house.

 

[MommyPoppins]

AK is DH and my favorite park. On a quick weekend trip we took in May we weren't planning on going. We were going to spend the day at Epcot instead. Well we got to Epcot and did Soarin' a couple of times and we were going to do TT but it kept breaking down so the line was already 45 minute long at 10am. Plus it was so dang HOT. IMO Epcot is seriously lacking benches and shade. So DH said, "Let's go to AK". I lovingly agreed even though I knew that the UG said to aviod it on that day. We ended up having a wonderful day getting to do the things we wanted to do without waiting too long(thanks to FP). DH and I both think that other than the MK AK is the best park to be in to beat the heat. Even though there isn't anything to do inside because of all the shade we find it the most enjoyable in the heat. The vast expanses of pavement at MGM and Epcot just absorb the suns rays making it unbearably hot and humid. We like the shade at AK and it always seems to be breezy there for some reason. When we started to get that, baked in the FL sun, sleepy feeling we had a late, leasurly lunch at Tusker House after that we were refreshed and ready to go. Anyway, DH and I just LOVE AK. We like to just walk around and look at all the plant life and wildlife. We also like finding quiet out of the way places to just sit and talk.
We are from FL though, more south than WDW, so it's usually a degree or two cooler there, which is always a welcome relief.

 

[VW_Guy]

I've only been to AK once, although I am a long-time WDW-goer. When we were there, it was hot and raining on and off the whole time. We got to do the safari in the morning, but after that, it was either soggy or sticky all day long. I was having fun (because I can't NOT have fun at WDW ) but the rest of the family had had it buy noon.

I agree that the park is beautiful, and because of the types of attractions (and the fact that you have to do A LOT of walking) the whole idea of the park makes you slow down to take it all in. However, for all the reasons its a perfect park for good weather--its a horrible park in the rain. Besides the half-dozen indoor stores and restaraunts, and the handfull of covered attractions, there's hardly anywhere to get out of the rain.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

The first time we to AK when it first opened we felt the same way. BUT, the next time we visited, we took our time and saw so many wonderful aspects to AK from the safari, rides and shows to just taking a walk along the many trails. We have grown to really love AK!!