Interesting article about AK

[noseybuddy]

bill'sdj
I also bought the Animal Kingdom CD on one of my trips to DW. I just love this CD. So glad there is someone else who feels the same way.

There is a lot to be learned in AK if people would take the time to read all the signs about the different animals. There is some very interesting info. I think many people do not take the time to do this or are just not interested. I also did not get through the whole letter , too negative for me, it just didn't stop. You just can't compare IOA to AK, they are nothing alike and makes no sense.

 

[TerryU.]

We really liked the AK. We had a great time. I can't wait till we go again. I like looking at the animals and seeing the characters.

 

[BAST]

WE love AK. When we go in August, we will allocate two full days to this park (out of 11) and will definitely spend that time there. It is a park that we simply love to walk around - and especially enjoy the two animal trails. I think the hippo exhibit is particularly unique.

The bird show is really fun to watch, the Lion King show is fantastic, the safari is fun (although the preachy story line could disappear), and ITTBAB is great.

That said, I think the Dino-Rama area is truly the tackiest portion of all WDW. The budget cutting mentality that produced such garbage bothers me greatly. Fortunately, I do not think that the rest of AK is anything like this.

Also, the reataurants are okay at best - would prefer a sit down restaurant other than RFC. What we end up doing is to go to AK for dinner (Boma or Jiko are great) so we really can't complain too much.

 

[wannabee princess]

Well, we are a family that loves AK and I agree with a lot of what this article states! We spend at least 1 1/2 days in AK every trip, but I can see some room for improvement.

I think the suggestions that the author of the article makes are great! I hope someone at Disney reads them and we see some of them come to fruition!

Definitely could use a sit-down restaurant! Love the idea that you could animal watch! Even at Boma you can't do that! How many people head to AKL to do just that?!

Also, I think the Max & Goofy boats would be a huge hit - not only with the younger crowd, but if you incorporate the Jungle Book, you are going to appeal to the parents who loved that movie as kids!

Definitely see the Beastly Kingdom bringing in crowds. Hmmmm maybe I should rethink this... we love the lower crowds attendance when we are at AK!

I also like the idea of Mr. Toad! Fun to have it back!

Wild Wednesdays would be an awesome addition! The crowds would be coming back at least that day!

The thing is, I don't see people heading to AK as the final destination - more of a we need to go there so we have gone to all parks. However, I love AK and I think the CMs there are great! We have had so many wonderful experiences thanks to the CMs and actually probably thanks to the fact that not as many people are in the park. I just would hate to see any more reductions to AK due to lack of interest!

 

[Sinclare]

Personally, I'm a thrill ride person. However, my son and I really enjoyed AK. The only "ride" we did while there was the river rapids thing (which wasn't really that great) and we never even saw the primevil whirl area.

We arrived and had a nice sit down meal at the restruant outside the gate (forget the name but I love the place), watched the bird show, went on the safari, checked out the wild life, walked the trails, saw the tigers, had Pal Mickey tell us some interesting facts about the park and the animals, saw some shows, saw the ITTBAB, and just really enjoyed the park.

On the other hand my sister took her son last month and they found it boring.

I think someone else said it best, It's a different kind of experience and those that can't slow down and smell the roses will just never get it. I find it a FAR better park than Epcot will ever be and spent more time there. As a matter of fact the only reason we went to Epcot was to ride Mission Space then we would hop out to a different park.

 

[JKanownik]

Originally posted by 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.

They didn't compare AK's attendance with IOA. They compared change in attendance. Statistically speaking there is a huge difference between the two measurements.

There is also a huge difference between using a park hopper to visit AK and paying $53 at the gate for one day's admission. I personally really enjoy using my park hopper to spend a day at AK from EE @ 8 AM to about 3 PM and then hopping to another park. However, I would think that people who don't use a park hopper and pay full admission would have a different opinion.

There is a lot of history behind what the author of the story is saying. If you're interested on the subject, Jim Hill did a 3 part story on it back in 2000 that is a good read. He gets a lot of inside information that isn't found in a lot of other places.

Jim Hill AK story

-DH

P.S. I am totally on board with the opinion that the author of the story went a little too far. I've never seen anything like Primevil Whirl at any fair I've been to and I think it is a great ride.

 

[elemusing]

We go to AK and enjoy it - but I agree with about 80% of what the article said. And I really agree with the ways to "fix" it. It really does need a sit-down restaurant. And it needs an indoor kids ride.

We are looking forward to the opening of Everest for sure - but it needs more kid-friendly attractions (besides the shows.)

That being said - Camp Minnie Mickey is the best place, hands down, to meet characters. We go early and rarely have a wait for any of them.

Now if they could just fix the FOTLK where it doesn't break down every time we are there. (We have only seen it three times - the other 4 we tried - it was canceled or it broke half way through the opening song and was stopped and canceled.)

We schedule a half day and leave after lunch at the flame tree. That is one of our favorite restaurants at WDW.

Angie

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

Thought the author of the article was way off. I am getting tired of people telling me what I like or don't like. I think the author compared someone who likes AK to someone who likes opera, we think we are more intelligent then everyone else cause we get it. Thats absurd. I happen to like the park, especially because it slows us down and we spend time relaxing instead of rushing. But that is my family, maybe not someone elses. If someone chooses to go to US or IOA instead of Disney that is fine, we just don't like to spend alot of time there.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

We love the AK. It is my husband's hands down favorite park. He would spend his entire vacation there except for his trip to Cinderellas Royal Table to eat prime rib and then to see his girlfriend Tinkerbell do her thing. We always leave the park at closing and head to Boma's for dinner. It is a WONDERFUL break in the break neck pace we sometimes set for ourselves in the other parks.

 

[Stitch Inside]

We've been once, and didn't get to see half of the park because it was way too hot for my pregnant DW and there was nowhere for her to cool down. It might be worth going to in January. And, unfortunately, part of the park we did see was the disgusting carney area. All I could think of was Walt rolling over in his grave.

 

[jimmiej]

We've been to AK three times now, & it seems we have enjoyed it more each visit. Yes it's really hot in the summer, but if you arrive at park opening, you can beat the heat pretty well. It's probably my least fave among the four parks, but I still would not want to miss it.

I agree that the end of KS is lame-just show us the animals! However, the scenery & animals are awesome! We love Dinosaur. Flights of Wonder was quite enjoyable-I'm looking forward to it this trip. Flame Tree & Tusker House serve tasty food. Harambe is a neat place to just visit & look around. I like talking to the African CMs. We've never tried the water ride-we just don't want to get that wet unless we're at a water park. DW & DDs loved the Lion King Show & my fave attraction is Primeval Whirl.

Some of the authors suggestions are valid, but all in all, we like AK & will continue to spend about 6-7 hours there each trip.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

As a woman who HATES animals in captivity, we approached AK with skepticism. However, I have to hand it to the folks at Disney -- if I have to been in captivity, let it be at AK! My favorite animals are cotton-topped tamarins and anteaters. We saw the anteater at AK (near the exit) getting a shower from a cast member with a garden hose and he seemed to LOVE it! He was scratching himself on his belly while laying on his back and I can honestly say I've never seen an anteater in person before, esp. one who looked so happy.

At my local zoo, our tamarins (small monkeys) are in an aquarium like a fish tank with a fan atop it. We only have two. Those dozen or so at AK have an entire PAVILION to run around on, complete with bridges and trees. On our last trip, we saw them getting crickets from a container from a zoo member, and she knew them by name (I couldn't tell them apart). It was awesome.

I would like to go to Busch Gardens on our next trip, but I think AK deserves at least a day for those who have the time. The Kilamanjaro Safari ride in my favorite in WDW. We actually had to stop on our last visit to let a rhino pass and watched him (DH could have reached out and touched him). Plus, on that same trip, we saw the male lion standing up (usu. they're sleeping) and he was roaring. The CM driving was so excited she stopped the truck -- until she realized he was actually coughing up a HAIRBALL. It was hilarious, and a real highlight on our trip.

Give it a chance. Sure there's not a lot of rides, but I get motion sickness, anyway! LoL!

 

[TeresaNJ]

I'm one of those who love AK, and NO, I don't like opera. My DD and I went for the first time when she was 13, and she just adored AK, and at 18, still does. My DH enjoys this park also. We don't go to AK for the non-existent thrill rides. What we enjoy is leisurely strolling the park, amazed by the wonderful variety of foliage, flowers, and plant life, not to mention the wonderful variety of animals. We find pleasure watching the monkeys in Asia walking their tightrope, checking out all the different birds in the aviary, and just taking the time to relax, instead of racing at a breakneck speed. Our favorite thing to do is to relax at the Dawa bar with a cold drink while people watching. We always try to get to AK as often as we can fit in into our schedule.

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

Alot of what it said in that article does ring true; I certainly think that a fanastic wild animal-themed sit-down restaurant (or two) would be a much-needed addition. And, while I never thought about it before, he's right--Tarzan Rocks *should* be in Africa--duh!

But I still love AK and there's no way we can see/do all of what I consider to be the main attractions--the shows and the rides--in less than a full day. In fact, we usually allot 2 full days in order to see them all and repeat our favorites. My kids would spend all day in the dinosaur dig area, for Pete's sake!

I am definitely looking forward to Expedition Everest, and some of the other proposed attractions sounded good too, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Our family will continue to enjoy AK just the way it is.

 

[rockomomma]

Originally posted by Snoopymom
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.

PRICELESS

"ITS NOT A ZOOOOO"....
sorry had to say it..

 

[rockomomma]

We just got back (Easter 2004)
I love WDW.. All of WDW.. every bit of WDW... but I must say.. the Safari Ride is lame.. I guess I can't get over the animals being in the same spot year after year...... because of the gorge between them all.. have you ever seen to species together while on the safari ride..? well.. maybe the Black Valtures they have all over the place.. but thats about it.. I know you can't put the Lions and the other aninmals in the same area.. but why not the Rinos and the hippos? would they fight too? I guess thats not a chance they will take..I'm not a Biologist so I dont know what the repercusions would be.. but they live in the wild together..?

My faviorite part of AK is the CM's all around to tell you about the animals.. try to stump a CM about the animals that are around them.. they are full of information.. ( they are great with the kids too).

 

[Schmeck]

Doesn't Rainforest Cafe count as a sit-down restaurant? I know, it's not exactly IN the park, but it has an entrance to the park...

 

[moinab]

While the article does make some valid points, the overall snotty, negative tone was a real turn-off. The implication that anyone who loves AK has a superiority complex is absurd.

I am also wondering about the attendance numbers. I have read many times that Disney doesn't release any attendance numbers, so where did these figures come from? Do we know if they are accurate? Just curious.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Since Ak is such a young park, I view it as a work in progress, because all theme parks need to keep adding attractions...it's just the way things are. I can't wait for Expedition Everest....it sounds amazing. I just hope they don't scrimp on money (the way it sounds like they did with Kali River Rapids) and end up with a lesser ride for it.

However, even as it is, I really enjoy AK. I've been on the safari when the animals were so close (particularly one giraffe) that you could have reached out of the car and touched them. Everyone in our safari car was in a kind of awed silence. It was amazing.

I do agree that they need a sit down restaurant, but I thought I read somewhere that they have some kind of deal with Rainforest Cafe that it would be the only sit down restaurant. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

Do I think they need more attractions? Sure, but they're coming! This article went WAY over the top in terms of slamming the park and the people who love it.In fact, it upset and depressed me a little bit.

Oh, and my DH and I associate the wonderful feeling we have at WDW with those nahtazu commercials they constantly played on Disney television. I have deep affection for AK.

 

[Doug123]

I tend to agree with the article, unfortunately. You'd think Disney could have thought out Animal Kingdom a bit better than they did.