Is Animal Kingdom set up like a zoo?

[RoYo1]

Can you see the animals without going on the safari ride? Is it set up like a zoo? Is it easy to get good pictures of the animals?

 

[RabFlmom]

Can you see the animals without going on the safari ride? Is it set up like a zoo? Is it easy to get good pictures of the animals?

It isn't really set up like a zoo. You can see some animals without going on the safari, but not the animals that are seen on the safari like lions and giraffes to name a couple. There are some trails you can walk to see birds, bats, tigers, and some other animals. You can also see monkeys in a couple places.

 

[Planogirl]

The entry area is set up like a zoo but a very fancy one. The animals are housed in very natural enclosures and often there are CM's around to answer questions.

Like Rabflmom said, many of the animals acan be seen only on the safari. It's well worth it!

 

[susykt4]

The safari is the most amazing zoo experience ever. It is seriously awesome. I've been on safari rides when the vehicle has had to stop because a couple of rhinos were chasing each other right around the vehicle. I've been almost close enough to touch a couple of giraffes. The safari ride is the best (even if the poaching story is lame.) As far as photos go, the safari is probably hit or miss.

There are two major animal trails as well as the entry area. The Asia trail was described above (tigers, bats, etc.) The Africa trail is at the end of the safari ride (though you can easily get to it w/out riding.) It has okapi, meerkats, gorillas, monkeys and many more animals. I love Animal Kingdom!

 

[OB1]

One of the big differences between AK and a zoo is theming. You are on a safari in Africa to see their animals. While there are barriers, they are not very visable and the appearance is an open area. The safari is bigger than the entire Magic Kingdom, so there is plenty of space to open up and see animals.

Other areas with animals are themed and generally larger than a zoo holding area. There is also a lot to discover at AK. Lots of trails and places to walk and find something new. Even lunch at Tusker House has some neat places to explore to find a place to sit.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would say that AK is not set up like a zoo because it is NOT a zoo. Beside the entrance where there are a few live animals (and it's real easy to walk by these without seeing them), there are only a couple of areas (walks) to view animals. The safari is the "headliner" attraction if you want to see animals. The majority of the park contains rides and shows.

 

[Endeavour105]

Can you see the animals without going on the safari ride? Is it set up like a zoo? Is it easy to get good pictures of the animals?

Haven't you seen the past Animal Kingdom tv commercials?!?

"...Disney's Animal Kingdom!!! It's NotaZU!!!"

 

[mickeytattoo95]

Animal Kingdom has some of the best shows which I have yet to see at a zoo! Nemo is our favorite. It's about 45 minutes long and beautiful! The Lion King Show is great too. I'd be sure not to skip this park just because you think it's a zoo.

 

[RabFlmom]

One of the big differences between AK and a zoo is theming. You are on a safari in Africa to see their animals. While there are barriers, they are not very visable and the appearance is an open area. The safari is bigger than the entire Magic Kingdom, so there is plenty of space to open up and see animals.

Other areas with animals are themed and generally larger than a zoo holding area. There is also a lot to discover at AK. Lots of trails and places to walk and find something new. Even lunch at Tusker House has some neat places to explore to find a place to sit.

When I gave my answer I was thinking that zoos aren't set up like zoos any more anyway. Every zoo I have visited in the last 10 years at least aren't like zoos. The animals are usually in free roaming areas with their native type atmosphere around them. I was thinking more in lines of is if it was set up like zoos where you walked to see the animals in their habitat.
AK is different than Busch Gardens for example in that you really can't see the animals that you see on the safari without going on the safari. At BG they offer other methods to see the animals on their safari"Rhino Rally" . You can walk to see them, you can ride the train, you can take the tour on the truck where you get to touch and feed the giraffes etc., or you can ride the sky ride over them to see the same animals and get close up pictures.

At the zoo here in Brevard county you can walk past the areas to see the animals, ride a train, or take a kayak to see some of them. Zoos are not what zoos used to be.

 

[disnut8]

We went to Animal Kingdom on May 24th and Zoo Atlanta on June 13th so I think I can compare the two of them fairly well.

At Zoo Atlanta, the only thing to see were the animals. At Animal Kingdom, there's a lot more to see and do other than animals. It's Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, The Lion King Show, Finding Nemo, Kali River Rapids, Expedition Everest to name a few. At Zoo Atlanta, you were just going from one animal area to the next ("oh, the bears are coming up next, then the elephant house"). You don't have that at Animal Kingdom. You see animals on the walks and in the Oasis and Discovery Island areas but they blend in very nicely (you kind of have to seek out the ones in Discovery Island). The two walking trails are set up to view animals but it's a straight walk through so you don't have to go from one area to the next.

But you can't really go to Animal Kingdom the first time and not go on the Safari. It's definitely NOT like a zoo. I don't know where in any zoo you can come around a corner and then see the African savannah right in front of you with native animals seemingly roaming around free like they would in real Africa.

At Animal Kingdom, the animals are free to do what they do naturally (within limits of course, they are in captivity). Even the bird show highlights the birds' natural ability - they don't ride bikes in the show.

I've been to many zoos in America and I don't consider Animal Kingdom a zoo at all.

 

[skier_pete]

Animal Kingdom is like a zoo the same way that Magic Kingdom is like Six Flags...in other words, not at all. Yes, there are animal enclosures that are very nice, and you certainly can learn a thing or two about animals (Rafiki's Planet Watch), but i can't remember a zoo that had a show like Festival of the Lion King (best show at WDW) or a roller coaster like EE.

That said, you CAN walk through parts of the park and see animals. The Oasis, Discover Island, Africa and Asia, have areas where you can see animals. What's nice about these is there are always cast members in these areas that you can ask questions of, and really have some interactive learning.

The other thinga about AK, and the reason it is often not popular, is that the park is designed to encourage exploring. It is not as straight up entertaining as some of the other parks (say DHS), but to me this is the charm. AK is my 2nd favorite park.

SkierPete

 

[RoYo1]

i just wanted to say that im sorry if anybody took my question as a downgrade to the park. i like zoos and taking pictures of animals and i was just wondering if it was set up like one or not because i've never went there before. either way im sure i'll love it!

 

[DisneyLuv06]

while riding the tram from the parking lot to animal kingdom, the woman says "Remember this is not a zoo its a Jungle out there."

 

[Debbie-TN]

One of my favorite places in AK is Asia. That's where you see the tigers. It is really beautiful. Most of the time they are asleep, but early in the morning they are walking around and playing in the water. There are also other small animals like Kamodo dragons, bats and birds. Also in Pangani Forest there are gorilla's.