Interesting article about AK

[my3boys]

Animal Kingdom Article

 

[sweet maxine]

Having never experienced the AK until last year, I was not sure what to expect. Well, I have to say we came home as one of those families who truly adore the AK--and probably didn't get finished with half of it! We loved the Tusker House--it was the best meal we had while at WDW. Such a refreshing stop to our day, and the desserts---yumm! My grandson (2) loved ITTBAB and we had to do it three times! I think overall we found AK a welcome relief to the intense pace at MK and MGM. We felt a little let down last year by Epcot, and found we truly discovered a jewel in the AK. We can't wait to go back, so that we can go on the Safari and ride the Kali River again!! I hope this is one park that keeps a little of its own identity. That's just my two cents.

 

[Texan]

Okay, fellow DISers, ya'll have plenty of opinions out there. What is your take on this article? I know when we went a year and a half ago my husband had his fill by noon. He couldn't wait to get out of there. Let's hear your views.

 

[HANDYMOM]

DH and I Disneymooned in September of '98, just 5 months after AK opened and we really enjoyed it. The train ride to Conservation Station was pretty lame but the rest was really enjoyable. All of the counter service food was great and the grounds were beautifully themes and quite lush.

I think Everest will be a great addition and I agree that a "finer" dining restaurant would be a nice addition.

It never ceases to amaze me how so many media outlets love to bash Disney. This article may in fact, be a true personal opinion, but it's terribly coincidental how similar articles are published on the threshold of the busy tourist season.

If your concerned about the price, get the park hopper passes. Depending on how many times you hop, the price per visit goes down, down, down.

 

[Ratpack]

Great article. We fall into that group. With our upcoming trip which includes a minimum of 8 park days, AK has 1/2 day allotted.

 

[madalex]

I actually agree with much of what the article says, but I still love AK! While there may be only a limited number of things to do, I still enjoy my visits to AK and think it holds up well as WDW's "fourth gate".

 

[Snoopymom]

Well, I only got half way through the article before the scathing and negativity just plain started to eat me up, LOL!

We went in January, so the weather was perfect and the crowds were low which may have skewed my impression, but I thoutht it was fantastic...unique, more relaxed than the other parks, and well worth the money!

I know you're not supposed to compare it to a zoo, but I love going to zoos and I have never seen as many animals up close as I did on the Safari ride.

I thought that ride along with Bug's Life were well worth the price of admission and if you add the whole Disney magic...cleanliness, friendliness, and characters, how could it be as bad as the article suggests???...you could write about anything and "spin" it!

AK admission $53
Tiger face painting $10
Giant foam tiger paw $8
Glancing up to see 3 yr old ds and Tigger silently pawing at each other?
PRICELESS

 

[keriannhoward]

I absolutely agree with everything in the article. As often as I go to Disney (7-12 times a year) we have been to AK exactly twice. Even my kids don't go there on field trips, they'd rather stay at school.

Busch Gardens is a much much better zoo and it doesn't even say it's "nahtazu".

 

[tink2]

I'll say I must agree with most of the article. We've been to AK 3 times and it is not in our upcoming trip schedule. My whole family agrees it is 1/2 day at the most- and then not worth losing the time at another park. Oh well, maybe we'll return when the new coaster comes!

 

[Kimberle]

We really like AK. It's such a refreshing change. Our dd doesn't like "thrill" rides, so this suits us. Of cource, dh & I must take turns going on Dinosaur!

This is one park where you really do need to seek out the hidden corners.

I think the opening of the new coaster will boost the attendance.

I'd rather go here than to MGM.....

 

[bill'sdj]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and I'm proud to say mine is positive when it comes to AK. I love to spend the day not rushing, but just calmly strolling and taking in the beauty. I purchased the AK Music CD last trip, and I love to play it while I clean. It soothes and takes the edge off what would be a mundane task. I also purchased bamboo windchimes last trip and the sound takes me back to a very pleasant memory. AK has my votes for a charming, relaxing time.

 

[keriannhoward]

I know I should probably give AK a try again, but the whole area with Primeval Whirl bugs me. It's a tacky little carnie area, something that you see in Wal Mart parking lots here that are set up and then gone again just as quickly. It's totally out of place for Disney, imo.

We (my family) are ride people and AK just doesn't show us anything different than our local zoo and to us, Busch Gardens does a better job at providing a park with an animal theme.

The Kilimanjaro Safari ride is lame to me, I don't see too many animals, no matter what time I go (although last time I went in February, we saw 2 wildebeasts having sex, that made the CM choke a bit) and the whole poacher thing just ruins it for me.

 

[Jamieb]

While I like AK it is not something that would take me a whole day to see it. We are usually there 4-6 hours and are able to see pretty much everything in the park.

I think a nice sit down restaurant would be nice and when Everest opens in a couple of years it will add more to the park but it will still need a bit more to make it a full day park for us.

There are some good points in the article. I don't think there has been a trip I have been on since AK opened where we did not go to the park, even if just for a few hours. We have a half day planned for our trip in July.

 

[JKanownik]

When looking at AK you have to think in terms of it being $800 million of Disney money that could have been used for other things. I really like AK, but you have to agree with the article on the parks flaws. If it wasn't for Park Hoppers the park would be empty. However, the article doesn't really take into account AK's integration with the other 4 parks. It does offer a very nice contrast to the other parks and is great stop for any trips over 4 days, it's just not the best use of $800 million.

And while you can question the timing of this particular article, the same complaints have been being made about AK for 6 years.

-DH

 

[Chuck S]

We find ourselves spending more time at AK than we had previously, especially during our December or January trips to the world. We do cut our AK Days short in the summer because of the heat/humidity.

AK is just NOT your typical amusement park. It is a park of casual exploration, not rush to this ride or that ride, except for maybe the Safari in the morning. It is a park to relax, reflect, and enjoy nature. If you can slow down and take the time to smell the flowers, you may find AK to be a much better park than you ever thought. If, however, you can't leave the mindset of the "mad rush" at MK, you won't like AK.

It a shame fewer and fewer people seem able to appreciate quiet, simple pleasures.

 

[motaei]

Personally, I could not get through the whole article. (less than half) I found all that negativity quite disturbing. OK. So the writer really doesn't like AK - then don't go back. I just don't understand why he needs to put all that effort & energy into negative feedback. He slams AK. He slams the people who like AK. But then again, it comes out of "Disney Whirl: A Cynic's Perspective." (I did scroll to the bottom to see what was going on) I can only image how he rips on the other parks in the rest of his e-book. I just don't understand what good can come out of all that negativity. But maybe he said something positive later in the article...I just didn't get that far.

BTW - I did like AK. However, even if I didn't, I still would find this article disturbing.

 

[decker96]

When we went to AK I did not think it was a half-day park. We got there at 8:30 and left at 11:30 (we were meeting grandparents for lunch) and all we did was the KS, Lion King show, Wildlife Express and Conservation Station. We also spent about a half hour at Camp Minnie Mickey with the characters. This was in November, during Jersey week, but still not the crowds at holidays or summer. If you really want to see everything and take in all the shows I would think that you would need a whole day for sure. Maybe others move faster than we do! We really enjoyed what we did see and can't wait to take in those attractions that we missed last time.

 

[Schmeck]

Well, seeing how attendance was compared to IOA, which is a different genre of park, I have to say that the writer of this article has no sense of credibility. When you start out comparing apples to oranges, what follows is just mushy fruit...

Now, if AK was compared to an opening of a similar sized, live animal based theme park, then I'd try a little harder to get passed the writer's dislike of AK in general and understand the points he's trying to make.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Well, we are animal lovers so we love AK. My boyfriend could probably go on Dinosaur all day and all night.

We also love to take the safari, the Bug movie, and just meander around watching the animals for hours.

 

[jcemom]

We spent two mornings at AK and enjoyed most of what we did. I liked the park but do think it is the weakest of the four and needs more attractions and a sit-down restaurant. Unlike many others, we enjoyed Chester & Hester's area, thought it was fun and cute and the boys had a good time with the games. We enjoyed every land in the park but I still don't think any of them feel complete, they all need something more, IMO.

With an AP or Park Hopper I would go every trip. If it came down to burning a one-day one-park pass, there's no way I would choose AK.