Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom?

[american_mommy]

SO our in laws decided to only pay for 3 days total of things for us. So either we get 2 days of Disney and a Sea World(Which would be 2 days of SW) for us or we get 3 days of Disney. KNowing how important Sea World is to us I am trying to decide what to do with the other 2 days. I am really ticked off they waited till Sat to tell us this. Everyone is meeting there tomorrow and we are stopped at my mom's in NC now.
OUr original plan was to go to MK the first day then SW then AK(New years eve) then SW then MK again the last day but now I am not sure if we should skip AK all together and have 2 days at teh Magic Kingdom.
Can anyone tell me anything about the Animal Kingdom to help me decide? Thanks!

TAmmy

 

[boomhauer]

Personally, I would take 2 days at Magic and skip Animal.

 

[padisneylover]

If you really like animals then I would do a day of each. We are animal lovers my DH and I really enjoy looking at the animals as much as anything there.

 

[Sydrox]

I would go to Animal Kingdom 1 day, MK 1 day. I almost feel we like AK more than MK. The love I have for MK is more for nostalgic reasons. If you and your family are any type of animal lovers than AK is the place to go. There are rides and alot of informational attractions of animals or about animals. Or if you have a park hopper you can go to both in a single day. We have in past been able to do AK in a little over 1/2 a day. But we were there just last week and it is absolutely packed and not as enjoyable due to the crowds. That is something also to consider.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I'd probably go with two days at MK too, but it all depends.....

How old are your kids? Are they boys or girls? Do you even have kids?

If you have a couple boys, you might consider one day at MK and another at AK. MK is definitely wonderful, but for boys if they are a little older, they would probably appreciate a day at AK, younger/little boys, say 2-5 years, though probably would like the time at MK better...if have girls definitely 2 days at MK. If you have both, well, then I don't what to tell you! Flip a coin!

 

[GoofyDad869]

Animal Kingdom is growing on me with each passing year. I'd vote for a 1 day MK, 1 day AK.

But, Epcot is really, really cool... Have you considered that?

 

[jenrose66]

I would skip Sea World and do 4 days at Disney

Seriously, if that really isn't an option I would do one day at MK and one at AK. While the Magic Kingdom *is* Disney and is great to go to all the other parks come together and give the true Disney experience.

I love the walking paths at Animal Kingdom and all the wonderful theming. They have a few nice rides and a couple good shows (obviously the Lion King and the one with all the trained birds). I would say especially if you have younger kids (maybe 5 to 7ish) they would probably really like AK.

Of course Epcot is my favorite park, followed closely by MK. But I do love AK!

Have a great trip.

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I would do 2 days at MK. We always spend more time there than any of the other parks. We spent the least amount of time at AK.

 

[conwaym98]

I'd go to MK 1 day and AK 1 day. Although I like MK, given the time of year, I think you'd be able to do more by splitting the days. AK has some great rides, as well as the animal trails and shows.

 

[MiknMinMouse]

I would skip Sea World and do 4 days at Disney

Seriously, if that really isn't an option I would do one day at MK and one at AK. While the Magic Kingdom *is* Disney and is great to go to all the other parks come together and give the true Disney experience.

I love the walking paths at Animal Kingdom and all the wonderful theming. They have a few nice rides and a couple good shows (obviously the Lion King and the one with all the trained birds). I would say especially if you have younger kids (maybe 5 to 7ish) they would probably really like AK.

Of course Epcot is my favorite park, followed closely by MK. But I do love AK!

Have a great trip.

I had to LOL at this advice because it's exactly what I would say. Every year that we go to Disney we have friends with us to want us to go to SW or Universal, I always refuse. Once on Disney property I hate to leave. When we go with our family next year my inlaws are going to Universal and DH & DS may go but I'm just not into it. Anyway I vote for the one and one. AK has it's own charm. When it first opened I wouldn't go but then DS convinced me to try and now we don't miss it. It's so nice and peaceful.

 

[speakupjc]

I would suggest skipping Sea World (as we were very disappointed in it despite having a love of this type of park) and if that is not an option doing 1 1/2 days in the MK and 1/2 a day in the AK.

 

[foolishmortal]

My son wife and I all love animals and anything to do with them, but I would say do 2 days MK.

AK did nothing for us, hardly seen any animals and the rides were really campy compared to the other parks.

 

[cocodog]

I would do 2 days at MK.

 

[american_mommy]

WE have 3 kids. 2 girls (4 & 6) and 1 boy (6 1/2)
My dh was worried that AK is more like a place in Ontario(African Lio Safari) that we could go to anytime whereas MK we couldn't. My girls would love the MK. WE are just concerned that we wouldn't get to see many animals if it is not perfect weather.

Thanks for all thet houghts!
Oh and skipping Sea World isn't an option

 

[Lord Fantasius]

If you ARE really into animals then I would skip AK since there really are very few animals there. It is a very beautiful animal-themed park, but a little short in terms of animal interaction. And if you're sensitive to that sort of thing, most of the information included is very PC...i.e., humans bad, animals good, why-can't-we-just-get-along-like-the-animals sort of circle-of-life thing (has anybody really seen a lion and gazelle "get along"). It's pretty much drummed into you at every attraction/show.

AK does have a couple of neat shows...but not worth it to blow a whole park entrance if you aren't park-hopping (IMHO, of course).

Since the upgrade to a 3- or 4-day parkhopper isn't that much more than a 2- or 3-day parkhopper ticket, maybe you can accept your IL's offer of paying for 3 days of parks (2 at WDW and 1 at SW since you admit SW is important to you) and upgrade to 3-days with very little money out of your pocket.

Whatever you do, have fun! One day at WDW is still better than one day NOT at WDW!

-R

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

The Animal Kingdom closes at 5pm so if you want to get a glimpse you can go till 5pm there and spend the rest of the day at MK (you'll need a park hopper pass to do this). And then you still have another full day at MK after that. But if you're not getting a Park Hopper pass and do decide to go to both parks, I'd go to AK first and save MK/The Best for last!

ug:

 

[Pumbaa_]

AK has some great shows and rides. It is very different from MK though. IMHO, the Lion King show is fabulous! Your kids will love it! Also, the Tarzan show is still runnung for another couple of weeks. Your bou would love the rollerblading monkeys. (Hint here, if you do go, try to sit in the first row of the 2nd tier. Do not go past this area down to the front rows, you will miss seeing some of the monkey interaction!)

The rides they have are fun, but it is more of a theme park with animals than a zoo park with a few rides, IYKWIM

The bird show and pocahontas show both have live animals in them and are cute. Plus the bug show is great (unless you are afraid of the dark and creepy crawlies)

Have fun!

 

[jann1033]

since you seem to like sea world, i'd do one day at mk and one at ak. there are animal trails that are very well done( the best gorilla exhibit i have ever seen,and the exhibits are very well done.( ie i had never seen gorillas actually climbing trees before) maybe the above poster missed the trails????) it's nothing like the african lion safari that used to( maybe still isin Ohio and was kind of lousy imo( and dirty to put it kindly) and tons better than Ohio seaworld ever was( never been to fl seaworld since we used to go to Ohio's although it seems fl is way better from the ads at least) ak is conservation oriented (which i think is important so it doesn't bother me) although i never got the "humans bad" idea, just humans need to show some responsibility ( not even going to get into that )but it is not shoved down your throat at AK
we went in jan to the safari ride in the am and saw lots of animals, very active. they have a newborn baby elephant which i think you can see on camera( not with the herd yet) but had a young elephant in the herd playing when we were there, very cute. we have been to many animal type attractions at different places and seriously thought ak is the best done we have ever been to.( including the cinci. zoo which is world renown) plus the detail and thought gone into creating the lands is incredible. i think it is the best park over all for that at wdw imo. it's well worth a day especially if you are an "nature"inclined family. just take your time and don't do what so many who pan the park do... run from one ride to the next. that imo is a waste of time since you miss the most intriguing things. also the cms by the animal trails are basically walking encylopedias about the animals. talk to them and i think you'd be impressed as we were. they have a kimono ( sp) dragon which i had never seen in real life. it isn't a zoo so don't expect every kind of animal but we spent a day and 1/2 and would have liked to stay longer.
fotlk is fantastic.
just do the safari ride as early as you can cause even in winter the animals are sleeping mid day. ( the safari ride is kind of similar to african lion safari improved 20x but the rest of the park isn't and at ak, you see the animals with a disney touch.)

 

[coby421]

I'd do a day at each especially if you've ever been to MK before. I love both parks but can see just abut everything I want in just a day. Wouldn't skip out on Seaworld though, it seems like you really wanna go there, but that might satisfy your animal craving enough to do two days at MK. Have fun either way!

 

[HunnyPots]

I personally would skip Seaworld in a heartbeat. I found it to be a big disapointment, especially compared to Disney. But you know you family better than I do. So, if I only had two days to spend at WDW with three small kids I would spend both at MK, no question. You kids are the perfect ages for all of FantasyLand and Toontown, plus rides like Alladin's Magic Carpets, Buzz Lightyear, etc. I think you will have a great two days if you go at the kid's pace and don't try to see and do everything.