Is AK a "must do" if you have never been there?

[DisneyFanSince71]

You have to fit it in eventually. It's not just animals, there are a ton of great rides. It is however one of those parks that I have only done a half a day for. So I would recommend going in the morning to get on Everest, Dinosaur and I think it's called the Kali Rapids and a couple other rides that seem appealing then head over to MK for the remainder of your day. ...

I don't think it quite measures to a ton of rides, but maybe 50 lbs of rides.

I like AK, but I don't think of it as a ride park, more of attractions (Nemo, Lion King, Bugs Life, Walkways to animals).

My 2 cents...

 

[xipetotec]

I don't think it quite measures to a ton of rides, but maybe 50 lbs of rides.

I like AK, but I don't think of it as a ride park, more of attractions (Nemo, Lion King, Bugs Life, Walkways to animals).

My 2 cents...

Good point, but not a point that says they should avoid it ... lots of fun stuff to do bottom line.

 

[KSUWildcat]

Definitely Go!! Your kids are at the PERFECT age to enjoy it! My daughter was 5 her first time and she loved it! And honestly, it's my FAVORITE park of all. I love the details in the theming, the rides are awesome, food is limited though. And there's tons of kid-friendly activities there too. My daughter IS an animal lover, but she's also very curious and loves learning. Talk to the random Cast Members wandering around and they'll tell you interesting stories about the animals there.
Honestly, out of 7 days there last time, we spent 1 at HS, and went to AK 3 times! (Park hopped).

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I love Animal Kingdom, I don't get all the criticism that it gets. It's quite unique compared to the other parks I really love the FoTLK, Expedition Everest, the safari ride, river rapids, and dinosaur is okay. I also love that show with the birds [Flights of Wonder?] I think there is a lot to do, we went there for two days when I went to WDW last year and weren't bored at all.

 

[jrtoastyman]

Thanks to both of you for your input.

I would be happy to do HS and AK in half days....but we want to see Fantasmic (never saw it last time b/c it got rained out) and I keep hearing how we need to make rope drop at that park. So right now, I have us in HS all day for those reasons. I don't think I'd want to try to squeeze in AK between all that.

I've never understood how you can do DHS in a half day and do both rope drop and an evening show.

Part of the reason I had AK on our last day is because I knew it was a half day park...and we could get back the resort and pack, rest, swim etc. for the rest of the day.

Hopefully, by the time you go, MyMagic+ will be in full swing and you can book your rides at DHS that way rather than getting there at RD and making a mad dash to TSM. Assuming it is, pick DHS as your park for your fastpasses and load them all on the back half of the day. Then go to AK in the morning, knock out the stuff you want to do, then head over to DHS to catch the other stuff.

Honestly, though, for someone that has never been before, I think it would be tough to see all that AK has to offer in a half-day. Wanting to see both Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo, which you should want to do, will likely preclude that anyway. I think people that refer to it as a half-day park are people that have already been there a few times and don't care to see the shows again, or people that just aren't really that into animals.

 

[Satchmo128]

I am a big advocate for Animal Kingdom - it has my favorite ride (Expedition Everest), great shows (we love FOTLK, Finding Nemo, and Flights of Wonder), walking trails that are relaxing when you need a break, Kilimanjaro Safari's is a different experience every time you go on it, and some awesome food (Flame Tree BBQ is, hands down, our favorite meal in all of the parks).

 

[Micca]

AK is our least favorite park but if you've never been it's sure worth a half-day visit. There's some really cool stuff there.

 

[princesslover]

Thanks everyone...been visiting family for a couple of days so just getting back.

Based on everyone's recommendations, I am going to keep AK as our "last day" park. I think it's definitely worth seeing. I don't have a burning desire to be in MK for our last day. By that time, we will have been in MK 2.5 days, not even including the MVMCP (so really 3.5 days total). So I think we will be set with not having it as our last day, and there are no MK fireworks that day anyway.

Of course, if something happens and we need to repeat a park for some reason, AK will have to be sacrificed, which is what happened last time (got rained out of Osborne Lights and Fantasmic on our DHS day.) Hopefully that won't happen this time.

Thanks again!

 

[PrincessMe]

Honestly, I think you would survive if you never visited AK. It is a beautiful park and has some great attractions but it always leaves me a little disappointed. As well as hot and tired - I don't think it would be a great pre-party trip because of all the walking involved. You could play it by eat and see if you want more MK time.

I always start of trip planning thinking maybe we should just skip it but DH loves Expedition Everest, I love It's Tough to Be a Bug and we both enjoy the Safari. So we go at rope drop, spend a few hours, lunch at Yak & Yeti, and then spend the rest of the afternoon lounging by the pool.

 

[Suzanne74]

I didn't read all the replies but for your kids ages DHS is more entertaining and it is always nice to end with MK. AK will be there for the next trip.

 

[princesslover]

I didn't read all the replies but for your kids ages DHS is more entertaining and it is always nice to end with MK. AK will be there for the next trip.

I see this a lot, and I am not sure I understand why that is. We like MK a lot, but we like the other parks too. Why is it so important to end with MK? Is it because of the castle?

 

[Suzanne74]

I see this a lot, and I am not sure I understand why that is. We like MK a lot, but we like the other parks too. Why is it so important to end with MK? Is it because of the castle?

The OP said she wanted to end at MK. I like it too - to watch Wishes, go down Main Street, shop, etc... The other parks don't have the same vibe at night. Epcot does but it closes too early to max exodus. Not where I want to spend my last night.

 

[corneredbycorn]

I see this a lot, and I am not sure I understand why that is. We like MK a lot, but we like the other parks too. Why is it so important to end with MK? Is it because of the castle?

Magic Kingdom is the park we love most. Magic Kingdom has the rides we love most. Magic Kingdom has the environment we love most. For us, the other parks don't hold a candle to Magic Kingdom and we end all of our Disney World trips there.

P. S. It has almost nothing to do with the castle.

 

[honeydiane1953]

Absolutely no! Usually once you go you Hate to go back!

 

[Nancyg56]

By that time, we will have been in MK 2.5 days, not even including the MVMCP (so really 3.5 days total). So I think we will be set with not having it as our last day, and there are no MK fireworks that day anyway.
!

With 2.5 days plus the party, I think I would make time for AK. One of my fondest Disney memories is walking through the trails with my DGD. They are shaded and tranquil, winding around animals all tucked into their habitats. Kids are funny, they have so much to say about topics that as a adult, I forget they even think about. Anyway, her parents were going on EE, and as she and I strolled, she chatted. About the animals and whatever they reminded her to talk about. The atmosphere is not at all like the other parks, so her demeanor was different.

I see this a lot, and I am not sure I understand why that is. We like MK a lot, but we like the other parks too. Why is it so important to end with MK? Is it because of the castle?

I don't know. I like MK, but for my family, WDW is a total experience, so we don't feel the need to begin there or end there. I understand why folks do, but I would not skip a park just to maintain the tradition. Thank goodness there is no "wrong" way to tour WDW!

 

[Miskamouska]

I see this a lot, and I am not sure I understand why that is. We like MK a lot, but we like the other parks too. Why is it so important to end with MK? Is it because of the castle?

On our last trip AK was fixed as our last day, but we changed the plan and went to MK instead. It's was also the 24hour day. Maybe that had something to do with it too. But we were in Disney 14days so we could easily swap things. I wouldn't want to miss AK to make MK my last day. For us it just made sense this time. We said goodbye to Mickey and waved at the castle...

 

[Nancyg56]

I was just thinking of our last day for us, and with the exception of one trip, we always ended in DHS. We usually head for home in the afternoon, so we get to DHS early, get a FP for one attraction, head to a few others and shop. I think we must really like the shops, because there is always a reason we need to go back one last time

 

[princesslover]

With 2.5 days plus the party, I think I would make time for AK. One of my fondest Disney memories is walking through the trails with my DGD. They are shaded and tranquil, winding around animals all tucked into their habitats. Kids are funny, they have so much to say about topics that as a adult, I forget they even think about. Anyway, her parents were going on EE, and as she and I strolled, she chatted. About the animals and whatever they reminded her to talk about. The atmosphere is not at all like the other parks, so her demeanor was different.



I don't know. I like MK, but for my family, WDW is a total experience, so we don't feel the need to begin there or end there. I understand why folks do, but I would not skip a park just to maintain the tradition. Thank goodness there is no "wrong" way to tour WDW!

That's how we feel too..it's a total experience for us. Last time, we ended at MK because we ended with the Christmas party (I wouldn't recommend this though.) The good part is that we ended with the Holiday Wishes fireworks as we were leaving.

But on our last day at MK it closes at 7:00 pm. We also have reservations at Ohana at 5:30 pm that night, so we'd be leaving MK by 4:00 and not returning. I am just not seeing how that would feel more "magical."

I do have some options of moving things, but it would make our first full day at Epcot (we will be in MK on arrival day, and right now I have us also in MK the next day as well). Then our AK would be on our current Epcot day, and MK would be our last day. It's a lot of moving, and I just don't know if it is worth it.

I'm just talking out loud right now. Thanks for "listening."

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm just talking out loud right now. Thanks for "listening."

You have time. I don't think you will miss what you have not experienced, so if all that moving does not seem worth it, AK will be there the next time.

 

[princesslover]

You have time. I don't think you will miss what you have not experienced, so if all that moving does not seem worth it, AK will be there the next time.

I probably was not clear. I don't have to move anything to keep AK as our last day. That is how I planned it. If I wanted to make MK our last day, I'd have to swap some things out and change ADR's. I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth it.

Right now, I am looking at our last day as either AK or a day to repeat a previous park if necessary (got rained out of something, etc.)