Needs help on tips for Animal Kingdom......

[sncbird]

Hi everyone,

Your information here is so valuable and I really appreciate it. As our 1st trip in Oct. is approaching, the kids (4 & 5) have expressed an interest in Animal Kingdom. I was wondering from a wheelchair standpoint, what are things that will be great to do and what are the things we should avoid.

Thanks as always for your advice.
Chris

 

[Wheelsie]

for anyone...walking or handi....the only decent 2 things to do in AK are tough to be a bug and Festival of the Lion King.....the latter is a MUST...if you do nothing else in the park...do it!!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have been to AK a number of times and I have a few more likes there than Wheelsie has.
I agree that the Tough to Be a Bug is a cute show. It can be scary for small kids, especially if they have seen the movie. When the villian bug (can't think of his name right now) appears in front of you about 6 feet tall, it is pretty scary. The Lion King show is really fabulous.
We also enjoyed Pocohontas and her Forest Friends - Pochontas is on stage and calls out real animals which walk across the stage from one place to another, sometimes across thin bridges of wood or branches. We also liked Flights of Wonder, where birds fly (sometimes across the audience) from one CM to another. My DD thought that was really funny since the birds fly very low and scare everyone. We also liked Tarzan Rocks (although most people either think it is great or awful). It's a stage show with very loud rock music, gymnasts, and performers on roller blades doing stunts on ramps.

The Safari is good, but kind of bumpy since your safari tram goes over rough roads. You can stay in the wheelchair for that. Dinosaur has a height requirement of 40 inches. You need to get out of the wheelchair for that. It's VERY bumpy and maybe scary for the littel ones since it is dark, fast and the dinosaurs all at once pop out in front of you.

There are a couple of walking trails that are wheelchair accessible (Papagani Forest Exploration and Maharajah Jungle Trek). If the day is hot, those are very hot and if they are busy, it's hard to see the animals from a wheelchair because people tend to congregate right along the fence or windows, blocking you view. The areas are really well themed though.

The last ride is the Kali River Rapids. There is a 38 inch height requirement. We've never been on it with my DD, but DH and I went on it in July to check it out. It wasn't as rough as we expected, but you will need ponchos to keep dry and your feet will get wet unless you can keep them on the foot bar. The regular baording area is a large moving wood deck. For people with disabilities, they tie a boat securely to a non moving part of the dock. You need to get out of the wheelchair for this ride and it would be somewhat difficult to board. The door is not very big and there are 3 small steps down to get into the boat.

 

[sncbird]

Thanks Sue and Wheelsie for the advice. I think maybe we'll do a few things there and make a 1/2 day out of it!!!

I appreciate your great input!!! If anyone else has any opinions, I would love to hear them as well.

 

[LindaDVC]

We really like AK.
We like animals and often have gone to zoos on vacations!
We love the safari, gorilla and tiger areas, lion king, and tough to be a bug.


The walkways are not as wide as epcot, MGM, or MK so it gives the appearance of being more crowded. It is definitely worth the trip in our opinion! I like the rain forest cafe as well.

Linda

 

[Julia H.]

If your kids would like to meet the characters, Camp Minnie-Mickey in AK is a nice place to do it. There are several wheelchair-accessible lines set up which go through some trees (hurray for shade!) and end at little gazebos, where a character is waiting. We found this less stressful than the free-for-all that takes place when a character appears in a more trafficed place, with people pushing in from all sides for autographs. The setting made for some really cute pictures, too (might need a fill-in flash in the shade).

We haven't been to the Donald character breakfast in the Dinosaur section of AK, but I have heard several people say they enjoyed that.

It's not a major attraction, but my young nieces really enjoyed Rafiki's Planet Watch, which is an education area for kids with a petting zoo. You get there on a train which is wheelchair-accessible.

Have fun!

 

[JudithM]

I use an ECV at WDW due to a knee condition. I have had no problems getting around the AK. On the two "walks" - one in Africa & one in Asia - I have found guests willing to step aside to make sure I can see whatever animals the other guests are looking at. Guests have also been helpful in making sure I get through doorways like in the bird & bat areas. Myhusband & a friend were ahead of me when I got stuck on a slope & another guest came to my "rescue" when he heard me call for my husband. CMs were wonderful at the various shows - Lion King, Flights of Wonder, Pocahontas & Friends, Tarzan Rocks, etc. The CM who directed me into the Tough to be a Bug Show has never driven an ECV! He wanted me to back into a space, but there was not enough turning radius in the front. At that show I think they should let wheelchairs in first because once the ECV is backed in (or sort of backed in ), you cannot get a wheelchair past the ECV.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

Judith had better luck on the walkway than I did. People weren't rude just clueless and I don't have a problem with that. It was just frustrating that everyone else got to see this gorilla that was right up next to the glass and I got a nice view of everyone's backside. And lest anyone be in any doubt, the posteriors of the world in no way compare to a gorilla. Sorry.

 

[SueM in MN]

We had to be a little assertive on DD's behalf when we were on the walking tours. People were just intent on seeing things themselves and didn't see the wheelchair at all. I guess wheelchairs have stealth capability built in. They were all nice and moved out of her way when we said something though.