Make Me Love AK

[KimBean]

A lot of people complain AK is "less Disney" than the other parks. Honestly, that's one of the things we love about it. We just appreciate it for what it is. And to us, there is nothing else that compares to Kilimanjaro Safari.

This! I love the safari. On our next trip we plan on doing it 3 times. Go first thing in the morning when it is cooler the animals will be more active. You can go on it back to back and see different stuff.

Lion King is my favorite show of all 4 parks and I haven't even been to new theater yet. I'm not as big a fan but my DH LOVES the nemo show. The downside for me is all the greenery as i have horrible allergies. But, I pack the benadryl and the sudafed and off I go!

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I always call it a half day park but we were there from 9-4 during my trip 2 weeks ago. I really enjoy the park. The kids love the Boneyard and that carnival area (which is not my favorite), we all love EE and the Nemo show. Heck, we don't even ride the Dinosaur ride as it is way too loud for me. I really enjoy the food at Tusker House too. Throwaway park? LOL, try EPCOT.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I have not found there is much to do there. I am only planning a half day since we have never been there. I think the safari will be fun, but that is really all I am looking forward too besides TH.

Given that you've never been, I wouldn't make any plans for the rest of the day. Even with all the advanced planning one can do, there is no telling how much you may or may not love a park until you experience it.

We thought there'd be now way we'd run out of things to do at DHS or that we'd need 2 days at Epcot. And we were completely wrong on both counts.

You can always leave if you get bored. But, if you make plans to leave & decide you want to stay, you may be sorry.

 

[chelseabun76]

This trip we are only spending from open (EMH) until around 2pm or so... as we don't ride EE, and Kali will be closed So that leaves the safari, which I LOVE, and a few shows, and maybe the dinosaur rides if my dd would like. Plus we're eating at Rainforest Cafe as well, as per my moms request. I do love the look of it, but as far as entertaining us, we didn't find it held our interest as much as the others. But I would never NOT go to it....

 

[ladyjubilee]

AK is my 17 year old nephew's favorite park, which surprised me.

I enjoy AK because of the animals, but also because the park is very "complete". The details are just amazing. To me the fun of AK is the slower pace and enjoying those details.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

So, I think that Animal Kingdom is truely a stop and smell the roses type of park. I have never spent more than half a day here but that is because my husband is a "hey let's go we have other things to do..." type of person. The shows are great, the rides are great, and if you just look around at all the details of the park, you could easily spend all day there. I'm sure I am in the minority but if you want to relax and not go, go, go Animal Kingdom is the place to do that. I also feel that World Showcase in EPCOT is the place to do that too...

 

[nemodeb]

To find magic in DAK, slow down and explore. It's not meant to be rushed through. Become explorers as you head into the Oasis from the main gate. Creep slowly around every turn, peer through the bushes. Who can find the capybera? Are the black swans out? Traverse the rope bridge. Are there bats in these caves? Feel the splash of the waterfall. How many baby ducks can you count? Then, just as you top the hill, there it is in all it's glory---The Tree Of Life. Amazing. Beautiful. How many animals can you count? Find the lion, horse, bats, elephant, etc. etc. As you move around, near, and under it, see how many of the 325+ animals you can find. Don't miss Jane Goodall's David Greybeard. Peer through the brush and find more animals on the roots. Don't miss the dinosaurs lurking under the tree on the way to the bugs.

Here is a park where the standby lines can be an attraction unto themselves. In the safari booking office in the Kilamanjaro Safari line, listen for the radio. In Kali and EE, there are ton's of authentic artifacts brought back by the imagineers from the places they visited in Asia for their inspiration.

Two live Broadway quality shows. Love them both!

Each gift shop has its own unique theme in the decor. See if you can figure out what they are.

Rafiki's Planet Watch is a unique place for learning. Animals, conservation, what you can do for the Earth. Find the dozens of hidden mickey's in the mural walls.

For me, the magic is in the exploration. For the other three parks, the magic is front and center. Fun, brilliant colors, themed lands with bright decor. Characters galore. With DAK, it may take a little coaxing, a little looking, a little more imagination. It's not fed to you here, you may have to look for it. So go find it, Wilderness Explorers! Adventure is out there!!!!

It's not that we weren't impressed with it. I just feel we must have missed some of the magic.
I know there are tons of people on here that love AK I am just looking for ways to really learn to love it like so many people on here do.

 

[nellypooh1]

LION KING!! If this were the only thing I was able to do I would still go every time! My favorite show!

 

[DisneyFan2013]

OK DISers help me out. We have always thought of AK as a throwaway park. We liked it but we don't love it like that other 3. On our next trip, in 2016, we want to dedicate some time to AK since the kiddo will be tall enough to ride everything. Share your love of AK with us and why you love it. Thanks!

AK is my favorite park! First, it just doesn't feel congested to me like the other parks do. I feel relaxed when I'm walking around and not like I have to run to a specific attraction. I love the scenery in AK since I like nature and wildlife. My favorite ride Expedition Everest is there. I like the restaurants (e.g. Yak & Yeti) and I know I can dine there on a whim without a reservation. I like the theming of the park sections (Africa, Asia, etc). Festival of the Lion King is great!

I'll just stop there because I don't have a bad thing to say about AK, but either you like it or you don't. I'm not fond of Hollywood Studios yet others love it, so I understand how you feel.

 

[momof2n2]

I just love AK. The only bad thing about it is it closes too early for my tastes.

I haven't been since FP+ so I'm not sure how it effects touring, but we LOVE Kilimanjaro Safari, EE, KRR, and Dinosaur. My kids love the FOTLK and Nemo shows. It's the coolest set up to meet Pooh and friends, and relaxing in the Boneyard is always a fun stop. We used to LOVE the parade... The Jungle Trek and Pangani Trail (did I spell that wrong) are nice if there is time. (We often run out of time at AK as we re-ride a bunch of rides.) Oooh - Flights of Wonder might just be the best show in WDW.

I can skip Rafiki's Planet Watch, however. Sn-or-e.

 

[Elmo888]

The DIS Unplugged did a couple of episodes dedicated to Animal Kingdom, called "Overlooked Animal Kingdom." After watching, my wife and I had a new appreciation for the park, and on our last trip to the World we spent 1.5 days there.

Here are links to the episodes:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MGlBhRFsFg
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQRxZ-2rww

l already loved AK, but these podcasts made me appreciate the details. I think that most people that like AK already like animals (we go to zoos on every vacation). If you are just going for the attractions, you will probably be disappointed. Appreciating AK takes a paradigm shift and a slower approach. It isn't ride, ride, ride, lunch, repeat. It just is a different variety of theme park and takes a different approach.

 

[THEJOEL]

To find magic in DAK, slow down and explore. It's not meant to be rushed through. Become explorers as you head into the Oasis from the main gate. Creep slowly around every turn, peer through the bushes. Who can find the capybera? Are the black swans out? Traverse the rope bridge. Are there bats in these caves? Feel the splash of the waterfall. How many baby ducks can you count? Then, just as you top the hill, there it is in all it's glory---The Tree Of Life. Amazing. Beautiful. How many animals can you count? Find the lion, horse, bats, elephant, etc. etc. As you move around, near, and under it, see how many of the 325+ animals you can find. Don't miss Jane Goodall's David Greybeard. Peer through the brush and find more animals on the roots. Don't miss the dinosaurs lurking under the tree on the way to the bugs.

Here is a park where the standby lines can be an attraction unto themselves. In the safari booking office in the Kilamanjaro Safari line, listen for the radio. In Kali and EE, there are ton's of authentic artifacts brought back by the imagineers from the places they visited in Asia for their inspiration.

Two live Broadway quality shows. Love them both!

Each gift shop has its own unique theme in the decor. See if you can figure out what they are.

Rafiki's Planet Watch is a unique place for learning. Animals, conservation, what you can do for the Earth. Find the dozens of hidden mickey's in the mural walls.

For me, the magic is in the exploration. For the other three parks, the magic is front and center. Fun, brilliant colors, themed lands with bright decor. Characters galore. With DAK, it may take a little coaxing, a little looking, a little more imagination. It's not fed to you here, you may have to look for it. So go find it, Wilderness Explorers! Adventure is out there!!!!

Honestly one of my favorite posts ever.

 

[leahlefler]

We are really looking forward to AK. Our kids love zoos and wildlife parks to begin with.. I can't wait to share AK with them. The rides, the shows, the animals, the theming... it is going to blow their minds!

 

[MouseClubMama]

AK is a beautiful park, with it's own unique vibe. I love everything about AK EXCEPT Dinoland. As soon as I set foot into this section the magic is over, and I feel like I'm in a bad parking lot carnival. Dinosaur is a great ride, but the tacky carnival theme does nothing to highlight the main attraction. Dinoland pales in comparison to the rest of the park; lot's of unattractive, wasted space. I think Disney missed a great opportunity to create something wonderful to compliment, and expand on the dinosaur theme.

 

[lustergirl]

I love the Animal Kingdom Park. I can sit and watch the gorillas and tigers all day. FOTLK is one of the best shows Disney has to offer. I love going on the Safari early in the morning so I can take pics of the animals at a early start in the morning.

Next trip: 1st stop is AK to see the animals.

NOW HS I can leave out (imo).

 

[deetle]

Animal Kingdom is a love/hate thing. If you are the type of person to move attraction to attraction it's probably a half day park.
If you don't like zoo's you will likely miss alot of what the park has to offer.

It really is a park you need to grab a map at the main gate and explore the little trails most people walk by in a effort to get to the main attractions (Kali,EE, Etc.) to fully see what the park has to offer.

My advice is try it this way once. If you dont like it at worst you lose a half day.

 

[SydneyFalco]

For rides I rate AK second only to MK, at least until Epcot or the studios up their game. For "feel" I only like what the"original parks" (i.e. MK and Epcot) do better. DHS has zero ambiance for me.

But what I really love about AK is pretty specific to me: It's not based around corporate synergy and would never be built today in our wildest dreams. I'm amazed it even got made in the nineties. It's about nothing other than a basic part of our world. No IP tie-ins. No easily merched aspects. It's not flogging movies, at least until Avatarland, it's not built around actor's faces or the hottest, latest whatever. It's more like something the original imagineers would have given us, from a time when everything didn't have to be tied into everything else in order to maximize exposure, profit, etc., etc.

 

[HM]

We did AK as our first park ever at WDW. By the end of our six days in the parks, our two kids (4 and 6) said it was their favorite. That's changed over time, but I think it's really a great kid park. So much to see and explore.

My suggestion is to do the park first and spend your whole day there exploring the different trails looking for all the animals and do rides inbetween. Even though you've been to WDW many times, it may help to concentrate on it first and foremost.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

OK DISers help me out.
We have always thought of AK as a throwaway park. We liked it but we don't love it like that other 3.
On our next trip, in 2016, we want to dedicate some time to AK since the kiddo will be tall enough to ride everything.
Share your love of AK with us and why you love it.
Thanks!

I probably think along the lines you do so I may not be the best one but there are some things I love about AK. I love the safari, EE, Dinosaur. I also enjoy the River Rapids ride though for me it's a bit too short. I also like how it looks. But as someone who concentrates n rides it is the park I sometimes skip on my Florida trips as well.

 

[mickey1234]

I find it makes a great mid week break from the hustle of the other parks (rather than taking an off day). All of the must do rides can be fast passed and done in an hour or 2 and the safari / trails are a nice change of pace.