Is Animal Kingdom a Failure?

[Harambe]

OMG!!!!!! My poor heart can't take all the bashing of my favorite park!

I am not a big one for thrill rides, although my family is. They love this park also! As TreeofLife stated, this is a more "natural" setting, with opportunities to slow down and view our surroundings.

Is the park a failure? Maybe in the eyes of thrill seekers - but just because I don't like roller coasters, I wouldn't go bashing Rockin' Roller Coaster or Splash Mountain!

Leave our AK alone! As for the author - a big raspberry to you!

 

[bobcat]

The more I visit this park the more I like it. It is a take your time and notice all the details park. Animals aren't like machines and perform on demand, sometimes it takes a little patience to see something spectacular. It is a kind of anti theme park theme park. If you come in with the mind set of lets see how fast we can get on the rides and see everything then you have totally missed the point of this park. I think those are the people who are most dissapointed in AK because there are no thrill rides and nothing to rush through.

I am a roller coaster junkie but I still love this park because I can slow down and take in its beauty. Besides it has the best counter service on property, Tusker House, and the best live show, Festival of the Lion King.

 

[grinningghost]

Just who does this guy think he is, speaking for the masses? If he wants to say that AK is a failure because of this, that and the other thing, fine. But don't make it sound like EVERYONE thinks this way.

 

[chell]

I love the AK. But I must admit that I am one of those that leave early. The heat gets to me and I have to leave after a while. We do try to take breaks in air conditioned places, but they aren't always somewhere you can go sit and relax. If they had a nice sit down restaurant it could help people to stay longer.

 

[FloridaCat]

The bottom line is that we are blessed with so many Theme Parks, there is something for everyone.
Pick yours, come down and enjoy.

 

[il-gander]

We loved AK. We've only been once, but stayed from open until they kicked us out at close, and didn't see nearly everything. We're planning 1-1/2 days for it on our next trip!

Carla

 

[CarolA]

The thing about this guy is this part of a BOOK. So if this is one chapter the next one will probably be about the failure of Epcot, MGM and MK. Who knows if he really believes what he is saying, he is just trying to make money.

The nice thing about the Orlando area is it offers lots for everyone. I have done SeaWorld and personally I will take AK over it ANYDAY. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens do have more thrill rides, but I am not sure that AK needs to add as many since it is part of the WDW which means there are thrill rides available. I would say the majority of out of town visitors are using a Park Hopper or something like that so they can get to a thrill ride.

To me this park is better compared to the Wild Animal Park in San Diego then any other Theme Park.

I have taken lots of "first timers" to AK and they all love it. On my last trip with friends the mom had read the books and figured AK was a half day park. So she had a big adult evening planned with the Grandparents babysitting. We opened that park and the ONLY reason we left was it closed. The girls loved it. One trick is to do it before you take the kids to MK. (After MK anything is tough sell for young kids)

 

[jaysue]

OK, I love Opera so I love AK as well (my own twisted logic)

AK is tied with Epcot for my favourite park and for my #1 DS it is only slightly behind MK (he is 3 1/2 so MK is at the top without question), for my DW, AK is tied with Epcot as well

My thoughts from my journal:
"OK, so AK is tied for my favourite park - I have not been to Busch Gardens therefore I have no yardstick to directly measure against. The themes, Oasis, Tree of Life, Feeling of being somewhere else - all done amazingly well and thus tied for my highest rating."

Observations about what DS thinks:
"DS actually asked to go back to AK the next day after our first visit - he wanted to ride Safaris and see the Tree of Life again and requested them by name. He was quite happy all the time at AK and loved seeing the animals and even petting/brushing the ones at Rafiki's Planet Watch. This was a breakthrough experience for him."

I can see the author's viewpoint - AK I think is a park that elicits polar response - I do not think too many people walk out of there without a strong opinion either way

One thing I will state is that we thought Donald's Breakfastsaurus (spelling?) was terrible and we would not go back there again

Also, sure TS is Dumbo with a horn - kids still love it! It is a kids ride not an adult ride.....

I do agree with some of his recommendations - more investment $$$ in any of the parks would be great news

Thanks
jaysue

 

[sarahj]

We don't think AK is a failure at all. We love it there! We love the Safari, the Dinosaur ride, Tough to be a Bug, Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade, Festival of the Lion King, and more! Everybody has their own opinion and is certainly entitled to it, but as for us, we have a great time when there. Sure, maybe it doesn't take us all day long to go through it, but that's ok with us. I do have to say that we think Conservation Station (or Rafiki's Planet Watch or whatever it is called now) is pretty weak.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Wow, what a bitter, small person to pen such tripe.


>>^..^<<

 

[SusieJane]

We've had some of the best times of our vacation at AK. We like to go there in the middle of our trip because you rush around at the other parks, but AK is a slow down and relax park. If you take the time to talk to the CM's, you will find some very knowledgeable and interesting people.

 

[fklhou]

Our family likes AK. There could be a a couple more E-Ticket rides but that is true of all of the parks.

 

[MrsToad]

My DH and I love WDW and recently bought into DVC. We go to WDW because it does a wonderful job of pampering us and taking our minds off the "real world" for a while. We approached Animal Kingdom with the thought that Disney would mix Amusement Park-like offerings with some educational offerings concerning the species with which we share this planet. The park is certainly "Disney-ized." Typically, we spend about 4 hours at AK before moving on to Disney Quest or Epcot for the remainder of the day. I must admit, we like the area that has been added near Dinoland, including Primeval Whirl and the "midway" games. However, now that we are DVC owners and will not be purchasing packages that include LOS passes, we will likely skip AK every other visit or so in favor of visiting some parks we've not seen before such as SW, IOA, etc. My DH feels that of all the parks, he notices more kiosks to purchase water, misters, and other trinkets than at the other parks; he also admits that this could just be his impression and not fact.

 

[msteddom]

I was ready to violently disagree with the author at every turn. I really enjoy Animal Kingdom. But as I read the author did bring up some really good points. If I had a one day admission and I had to choose between all of the WDW parks, I would not choose AK. I also really liked his suggested improvements. So bottom line, I love AK and I will have a wonderful time next month, but as with California Adventure in DLR it is still a work in progress. I look forward to seeing what both of those parks will evolve into.

 

[Baloo]

Demosthenes...I TOTALLY agree with everything you said,including the part about myself being the biggest Disney fan you'll find!!

I agreed with alot of what the author of the article said.He had some really great ideas too...the sit down restaurant overlooking the trails or safari would be a wonderful addition.The rides he suggested too.And I really wish the Beastly Kingdom would come to fruition.

We go to WDW at least twice a year but skip AK every other trip.My first visit to AK was 5 days after opening and it was miserable.The heat and hardly any benches to rest on. It HAS greatly improved since then!

I find the AK extremely beautiful but it has a LONG way to go before it's on the same level as any of the other 3 Disney parks.

 

[allforpooh]

We love AK, and each time we go we enjoy it more.

Denise

 

[swatts1]

I, too, am a huge Disney fan. One year I went to WDW four times! Unfortunately I do not care for AK at all. I think that my main gripe is with the traffic flow which is horrendous at best. I don't think that it is a total loss, though. It just needs some more time, some more rides, and a better traffic pattern. I don't agree with some of the author's views, but there were some good points made and I mostly agree with the suggestions at the end.

 

[erikthewise]

Needs work, yes. Failure, no.

Being #5 on the list of US theme parks is not "failure". "Failure" would be 8M the first year, and 4M this year. That's not what has happened. In spite of the author's strained attempts to compare to statistical quirks, the fate of AK has been reasonably similar to that of the other Disney parks.

The author has drummed up every negative aspect he can find and strung them together on a necklace. A common journalistic technique, which can be used on any complex, large-scale project. He could have done the same with the World Trade Center, or Hoover Dam. He has ignored what has been accomplished, the creation of a new breed of theme park. To Disney's credit, they did not build a Busch Gardens clone, but instead built it their own way.

Yes his suggestions are good. But coming up with good ideas is the easy part. The hard parts are figuring out which good ideas will actually work, with the existing park and with each other, funding them, and making them reality.

And BTW it is quite enjoyable as it is.

 

[ead79]

Personally, I prefer Animal Kingdom over Disney-MGM Studios, largely because I don't ride thrill rides (I get motion sickness). I typically spend a half day in each park on my trips, but I plan to devote more time to Animal Kingdom on my December trip. I could ride Kilimanjaro Safari over and over again. Plus, the Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show at Disney World. Overall, I really love the park's atmosphere/ambience. It really relaxes me to be there, and I feel like I've escaped the bustle of Disney World. Just my 2 cents.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We love AK and go every time we are at Disney. However, I agree with the author's five points to improve the park.

Also, I think of all the parks, AK is the hardest on your feet (especially in the heat).

The character breakfast there is also one of our favorites!!!