Please sell Animal Kingdom to me!

[kittengal13]

Hi everyone!

Haven't been to AK in 5 years, will be 6 years by the time I go next April

I don't know why but it just doesn't appeal to me but I want to go back and give it another shot

Please can you tell me what you love about AK and what I simply cannot miss?

I heard they do a cheese/jalapeno pretzel and apparently their cocktails are to die for! So these will be on the list

Thank you! x

ETA- I should probably mention that it will be me and my 30 year old boyfriend so we won't have any children with us- although we are both big kids at heart so nothing is too "babyish"

 

[Happyjen27]

Probably I can't sell you on it because I feel the same way!! I went to AK a week ago because my friend really, really wanted to. I was a willing participant, of course, and we had a cocktail (meh, it was vodka/lemonade and too sweet for me).

I look at my Disney time as a hot commodity, and when I think about how I feel so magical in the MK, I really don't want to be in the AK. If that makes sense.

 

[PsychoCelloChica]

We did AK in January with 4 adults/no kids and had a blast.

I like to do the safari twice if possible, once in the morning, once in the evening. You can get totally different experiences as different animals are more active.

I'm also a fan of Expedition Everest, and my wife loves Kali River Rapids, so both of those are must-dos for us.

Something I think is totally underrated is the walking trails. We took the time to talk to cast members throughout and learned a lot about the animals (both science stuff AND their personality stuff. At one point two tigers in one enclosure were 'talking' to one in another enclosure and the cast member was 'translating' what was going on for us.)

If you've never seen Festival of the Lion King or Finding Nemo, they are both well worth your time. You get to relax in the A/C for a bit and enjoy a pretty great show.

We also decided to be 'big kids' last trip and got Memory Maker and did all the character meets we could. Most of our best interactions were in Animal Kingdom... we even had Mickey and Minnie 'commenting' on our engagement rings and pretending to be zombies with us.

 

[Happy_2_B]

Please sell Animal Kingdom to me!

Do I hear 20 dollars?...we have 20 dollars in the corner...50 dollars?...we have 50 to the woman in front...Do I hear 100 dollars??...come on, folks, 100 dollars???...100 dollars to the OP... do I hear 150 dollars???....150 dollars???...no?...we have 100 dollars going once, going twice...sold to the OP for 100 dollars

Seriously, the AK is a really nice park. The older you get, the more it will appeal to you as a park to just 'breathe in'. If you are a 'super headliner' person- and that is the only reason you go to WDW- then nothing will sell you on it. But if you are willing to slow things down and take in the small attention to detail, it is worth another shot.

 

[subtchr]

They have already been mentioned, but Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo are the two best musical shows on property. I love the atmosphere of the park as well. The little thematic touches are fantastic. I could spend an hour walking the hidden walkways around the Tree of Life, checking out the "carvings".

Give it a chance, be sure to keep your eyes and mind open as you explore. I hope you become a convert!

 

[5kidsmommy]

Do you have hoppers? I have five kids and the only way to convince them to go to AK is if we have hoppers and promise them lunch at Yak & Yetis.

 

[PantherPete]

It's a zoo. No it's an amusement park. No. It's both. Meticulously landscaped with 2 high quality musical shows (Lion King and Nemo). Two nearly iconic masterpieces in the Tree of Life and Mt. Everest. The BEST counter service in any Disney World park, The Flame Tree BBQ (grab a seat down by the water). Throw in the rides (which for the most part are all good to great) and African beer and other tropical drinks and you have the makings for a great day.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Currently I can't sell it to you. The construction is a mess (at least it was in June). It does have some really good rides and the best shows on property, but we plan on avoiding it on our December trip. The new stuff they are doing should be awesome though!

 

[jacksgirl]

We love AK! It's a more relaxing day for us, but it's so cool with all the animals, and the attractions are very different than the other parks. It's a nice break and we really enjoy it.

 

[hakepb]

 

[BudgieMama]

AK is my second favourite park, and only really loses out by a hair to MK.

The theming is stunning, and the safari experience is incredible. DH and I loved seeing the animals in such well thought our environments. It has the best coaster at WDW (imho!) and Expedition Everest is smooth as anything, and a pleasure to ride. Even my coaster hating DH wanted to ride it again after we did it the first time! The Flights of Wonder show is so well done- I love birds (the user names kind of gives that away, huh?) but it was a brilliant show and we loved it. We enjoyed all the different areas, and appreciated the amount of work that had gone into the imagineering at AK.

We missed both the Nemo and Lion King show as we ran out of time, so we had plenty to do. They're on the must do list for next time.

Love it so much- planning at least 2.5 days there next time!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

People who dislike AK tend to focus on all the ways it is very unlike MK. For me, those are all the reasons it's my favorite park BY FAR.

 

[ZellyB]

We also love AK. It's a really pretty park and it generally feels like a park that you can just take your time in and enjoy the atmosphere. Love the Lion King show and safari and Expedition Everest is my favorite roller coaster at all the parks. It's not really an action-packed day for us at AK, but that's part of why I enjoy it so much. We also really like Dinosaur, but many do not since it is pretty rough and loud. I remember the first year we went it was with my SIL and her family and they told us that AK was just a half day park and not very good and so we only planned half a day there. Afterward, our family agreed that it was one of our favorite parks and definitely worth more than half a day.

 

[rotlex]

People who dislike AK tend to focus on all the ways it is very unlike MK. For me, those are all the reasons it's my favorite park BY FAR.

This. Pretty much exactly this. Don't go to Animal Kingdom looking for another Magic Kingdom. Sure, there are some great rides there, but that's not what the park is about. You want rides you have probably ridden a dozen times over? Spend your days at MK, and maybe Epcot for a choice few. Do you want an experience unlike any other park either at WDW or elsewhere? Visit Animal Kingdom with an open mind and attempt to experience it for what it is. A fantastically themed, beautiful, lose yourself in it's lands and world park. Explore, sit, eat and just enjoy the atmosphere.

It's our favorite, even over the Magic Kingdom. That includes myself, my wife, and our two children aged 13 and 7.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

Safari Amber and a jalapeno pretzel.

 

[lugnut33]

As the years have gone on it's really become my favorite park. It is easily the best themed park in the world, but you must slow down and take it in. It's not a park to tour like you do the MK. Get there before rope drop and knock out Safaris, EE, and Dino. After that you are free to take in the park at a leisurely pace. Get yourself a dinner at Yak and Yeti, make a reservation for the last available time of that day. Take your time eating, make sure it's dark when you leave. Then walk around the park in the dark, it's amazingly beautiful. Oh yeah, if you have the opportunity to ride EE in the dark, it's so much better.

 

[Jennytoon]

Seriously, the AK is a really nice park. The older you get, the more it will appeal to you as a park to just 'breathe in'. If you are a 'super headliner' person- and that is the only reason you go to WDW- then nothing will sell you on it. But if you are willing to slow things down and take in the small attention to detail, it is worth another shot.

I could not have said this better myself. The Safari ride is awesome, my family loves Kali, and our coaster junkies love EE. All that said, AK is the *only* park we could go to for the whole day, ride nothing except for the train to Rafiki's, and still feel like we had an amazing day.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

We LOVE Animal Kingdom. It's a much more relaxed park. Not a crazy, rush from one attraction to the next. More like take your time, wander around, take in the details, enjoy the moments. I die a little inside each time someone says, "We have zoos at home. Why waste a day there?"

Some of our favorites....

Rides - Kali, Safari, Dinosaur, Everest

Shows - Lion King is the best show in ANY park. Also really love Flights of Wonder. Haven't seen it mentioned but it's a great live bird show. So much fun!

Food - Flame Tree (wander around back and follow the paths down to a table by the water, so peaceful!) and Yak & Yeti. Also really enjoyed breakfast at Tusker House

Diversions - LOVE Tough to be a Bug! Not everyone's cup of tea, but our family considers it a must-do! DeVine, DeVine, DeVine! You have to find her and just sit back and watch. It's great to watch other people's reactions when they don't expect her there and suddenly see it! The animal trails. Again, some people consider it "just a zoo" but the theming along the trails is amazing. Just slow down and take your time!

 

[Brenda Kim]

My friends and I treat it like a mini Epcot, trying a food and drink in each land. Now we can't wait to get back to check out all of the new food/drink options just opened in Africa. We make this our half day/down day park. Since you haven't been there in 6 years I say it's time to give it another go!

 

[5kidsmommy]

As the years have gone on it's really become my favorite park. It is easily the best themed park in the world, but you must slow down and take it in. It's not a park to tour like you do the MK. Get there before rope drop and knock out Safaris, EE, and Dino. After that you are free to take in the park at a leisurely pace. Get yourself a dinner at Yak and Yeti, make a reservation for the last available time of that day. Take your time eating, make sure it's dark when you leave. Then walk around the park in the dark, it's amazingly beautiful. Oh yeah, if you have the opportunity to ride EE in the dark, it's so much better.

Thank you for this. I think in November I am just going to try and enjoy AK leisurely. Maybe it will be easier with just my daughter and I.