Is Animal Kingdom worth going...........

[MHTeacher]

AK is my husband's least favorite park...but everyone has their own thing. That being said, I think there are several things worth seeing/doing---Festival of the Lion King, Tough to be a bug. But it seems like to me, that the park is really hard to navigate


2001-All Star Sports
2003-CSR
Nov./Dec. 2005-WL

 

[37grumpy]

I am not a big AK fan either. If you have patient children a whole day can be spent there. If the kids are younger and have a tendency to be antsy, I would go for just a half day. Enjoy your time!

 

[10drum]

Frantasmaic,

I don't mean to flame you, I'd just like to know where in Texas, is there a Zoo as nice as AK?. I love Texas and yes, everything is bigger and better in Texas.

I'd like to go to a city zoo that has a band as great as the band in Tarzan rocks, has a 3D show as cool as Bug's Life, an action rides the likes of Dinosar & Kali river rapids (& Everest when complete), & a show as fun as festival of the Lion King. Please tell me, I can't wait to visit, most of my family lives in and around Dallas, and my corporate office is in Houston, so I visit there often.

I do agree, the display of exotic animals from around the world can be found in many city Zoo's for example the St. Louis City Zoo is very nice and it's free, but the AK is so much more, and well worth a visit.

 

[Frantasmic]

I was speaking relatively. Of course, my Fort Worth zoo isn't as big size-wise as AK. However, due to local benefactors, we get a lot of pull and have some great exhibits. We've had koalas, komodo dragons, albino tigers, cheetahs, etc. in the last few years.

Since I can go to see just about any animal up close anytime I want locally, the allure of the animals isn't that much for me. I know that the park has other activities to offer, but even the big rides (Kali rapids for example) isn't that different from Six Flags down the street.

It is a different type of "magic" at AK. I am not dissing it, it is just that it can be accomplished (for me) in a half-day in my opinion. You do skip a lot, but it isn't something that I can't personally experience in a different manner elsewhere. Does that make sense? MK is unlike other amusement parks because the entrenched Disney magic there. It is just a different kind of magic at AK.

Edit addition: Additionally, Fossil Rim is located about 45 miles to my SW and it offers a drive through safari type adventure. We were planning on going there during Labor Day, but since we are going to AK, I didn't want to spend the money on a similar event that close together for my family.

 

[10drum]

Fran, I like all the parks at WDW, and I think that Disney was concerned about AK competing with Zoo's.

You mentioned 6 flags in Arlington, growing up in Oklahoma, we went there alot, now we live near St. Louis, and the 6 flags over mid-america leaves alot to be desired, I hope the one in Arlington isn't as bad. Six Flags has alot of similar rides, take the log ride at six flags compared to splash mtn in the MK.

You said it right about the "magic" in MK, well,.... to me, that magic is everywhere in WDW, AK included....that's what separates it from a nice zoo.

 

[Frantasmic]

The magic, as I define it, that is evident in MK but not really in AK is the tie in with the movies. Disney's releasing their vault every 7 years throughout the last 40-50 years, first by theatrical, later by VHS/DVD, was brilliant in getting and keeping an audience. I saw Bambi when it first came out in the 60s and enjoyed introducing it in the 90s to my kids. MK's magic and to an extent MGM relies on the cultural familiarity of the cherished memories of Disney classics.

AK relies on later released movies and while the magic is there, it is one of its own and not as cemented as the magic that runs MK.

Like I said, I don't want to dismiss AK, but given my choice of EPCOT, MK, Studios, or AK, I'm spending more of my time in the first three.

 

[lpizzuro123]

I have not heard anyone mention the afternoon parade in AK. This is one of my favorites. The music is really lively and the characters are great. I believe it starts at 4:00 so we usually leave when the parade is over (although that is when most people leave so actually if you hang around after the parade most of the rides might be less crowded. I will not repeat what everyone said except not to miss the Lion King show.

Linda

 

[lpizzuro123]

Just noticed it looks like you are going over the holidays. I believe after Thanksgiving the parade changes to the Jamin' Jingle Parade (holiday version). We have never seen this one but hope to this year when we are down the week between Christmas and New Years Eve.
Linda

 

[goofy's friends]

I agree---the parade is the best!!!! Very cute and interactive.

 

[rabyoga]

AK is a must! My family and I Love the park. Granted we love animals and zoos. I love the whole atmosphere of the park. How it looks(and in turn I feel) like I'm in Asia or Africa. At first, I was put off by the Dino-Land.. This trip I really enjoyed the cheezy atmosphere of it. The Safari is terrific! Every since I saw "Out of Africa" in college, I wanted to take a Safari. I figure that AK's safari's is the closest I'm going to get to it. It's awesome.
We spend our whole day at AK. Last year, we were one of the last people out of the park, after it closed-some time shopping and talking with CM's.


"The best thing about us.. You can't live without us.. It's Tough to be a Bug!"

Robin

 

[jann1033]

we also enjoy zoos but i really can not compare ak to any zoo i have been to including ones with safari type rides. the cms are much more knowedgeable and we are the type to ask questions..usually many caretakers at zoos we have been to are kind "I'm not sure" types when we ask a question, not the case with CMS at ak. not that i haven't seen some of the same animals at other animal parks ...never saw one with gorillas actually up in the trees though or doing much other than sitting around...but the whole theme is so much better. we spent a day and 1/2 there no problem. imo it is more true to the theme than any other park ( mk is more cutesy, epcot is truthfully getting a little dated looking in places and mgm just feels like you are anyplace imo)