Please sell Animal Kingdom to me!

[Accident]

You're going in a time of year where it'll be cooler and hopefully lower crowds. I only enjoy AK when the sun isn't frying me and the crowds are lower, otherwise I keep asking myself if this 1 ride I like is really worth the hassle of being here. I do look forward to new changes to have it opened later and while not an avatar fan, I welcome the fantasy world element to the park and look forward to more things to do/ride.

 

[msmama]

AK is the first park I skip if something has to go, but something no one has mentioned that I love - the train to Rafiki's planet watch!!

I have no idea why, but both my 7 year old and I love it there. Maybe because it's one of the least busy places in all of WDW (rather than follow everyone down the trail after getting off the train, wait a few minutes and you can have a nice leisurely stroll almost all alone).

That said, AK is HOT. No matter how hot it is elsewhere in WDW, I swear AK is at least 10 degrees hotter, which is my least favorite thing about AK. But we're there for 1/2 day and then off to swim!

 

[sproutmd]

Thank you for posting this, I was struggling with the same thing! I think we will still go.

 

[North of Mouse]

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"

I don't go to the AK for the animals, except I do enjoy Flights of Wonder. I really like the shows - would personally just go to a great zoo for the animals. It's a half day park for me - JMO. (by the way, the cheese/jalapeno pretzel is available at other parks).

We like to eat at CS Flame Tree, see DeVine, if possible, then leave.

 

[JOE DELL]

Love AK its tied with Epcot as my favorite. The pulled pork sandwich and rum Dole whip!!! Has some cool rides, things to see and do, has a cool vibe.
We like to make AK are last day because it always close early, makes the drive home easy when you gotta be at work the next day lol.

 

[GreatLakes]

AK has become my second favorite park behind Epcot. My wife and I like to spend time just enjoying each park in addition to the attractions and AK is a great park for doing that. We like enjoying the small touches and looking at the Imagineering instead of just rushing from attraction to attraction.

I think the food in AK is better then every park except Epcot. Tusker House has the best food for a character meal, Yak & Yeti is quite good, Flame Tree Barbecue is a very good CS option, and the new Harambe Market has some really good options.


The shows at AK are our favorite, especially Festival of the Lion King, and we both like animals so spending time looking at the animal exhibits appeals to us. We also think the shopping is great and there are a lot of unique options you won't find in other parks.

 

[txcorey]

I love Kilimanjaro Safari and the Festival of the Lion King is my favorite show. For me it's worth it just to experience those 2 attractions.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

It's my second favorite park, behind Magic Kingdom. It's so much fun just to walk through and notice the details. Just look at Harambe Market; its absolutely gorgeous. I'm also really looking forward to it becoming a nighttime park- it is so, so pretty once it gets dark.

FOTLK is a must-see for me! And Finding Nemo is so, so catchy. I still listen to "Go With The Flow" during my daily commute.

I do as others have said- ride EE & Safari early in the day, take in a couple shows, have a leisurely lunch. Luckily its not MK, so I can enjoy a delicious drink.

If you really are a kid at heart, pick up the Wilderness explorer packets and collect stickers around the park that's something for children, but my friends and I have done it and had a lot of fun.

 

[greentea]

I love Animal Kingdom. The safari ride is great (we rode it in a downpour once and the elephants were running in the rain, really cool). Flights of Wonder is really neat if you like birds, which I do. Lion King is a really good show. The trails are nice and you can take them at your own pace. I like Expedition Everest a lot. I don't tend to like water rides, so I haven't done Kali. I like the theming in the park, too. We like Tusker House breakfast. We are planning 2 Animal Kingdom days next trip and doing the Wild Africa Trek.

 

[goofyintoronto]

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.

This is me as well, 100%!!!! Yes it makes sense. I just dont care for AK. I really dont. It feels hotter than the other parks (not enough shade or a/c in the stores!). I dont care for Expedition Everest. Makes me nauseous. I like the safari ride, lion king/nemo shows, Kali, and thats about it. And im with you on the magical feeling....MK & Epcot makes me happy, but I dont get the same feeling for AK.

 

[eastendlights]

I will echo what many PP have said. The theming is exquisite. It is the best park to walk around and really experience-rather than rushing from one attraction to another. The restaurants are fantastic. The shows (Nemo and Lion King) make me cry every time. I think it is the most beautiful park by far.

 

[HopperFan]

When they announced they were building AK I was so upset. I LOVE Disney and I LOVE the zoo and I LOVE animals but I just couldn't make this work in my head. Animals are not going to do what they are supposed to do, the safari will be a bust if they don't participate. I went in with a negative attitude.

Now I love it. The design work and the imagineering is Disney at it's very best. From the ruts in the road, to the signs plastered on buildings to the art on the Asian trail it would take me days to explore all the detailing. I love to wander the whole park with my camera taking pics, it truly is a relaxing day there. I love taking my time on the paths animal watching. There are some great drinks and eats if you take the time to explore or do your homework in advance. Love the safari and Everest but I would be fine with no rides. The shows are good but I'm fine if I don't see them. Last trip I saw the bird show for the first time, pleasantly surprised it was fun. There are numerous spots in the park with live music, take the time to grab a drink or snack and find a spot to enjoy OR join in and dance. Completely agree with PP, do the Wilderness Explorer. All adults here and we did. Like a scavenger hunt, we learned some things and had some great conversations with CMs. And much to my surprise, I have always had a great safari ride no matter the time of day. Kudos to those animals for participating!!

And yes the Dole Whips with Rum are even better than the MK ones!!!

 

[JOE DELL]

Did I forget to say Dolewhip & Rum

 

[JennyMP03]

This thread warms my heart. Like several others have said, AK is my second favorite park, only behind MK.

It's just so beautiful. That's the word that comes to mind whenever I think of AK. There are so many places in the park where I can stop, look around, and be astounded by the scenic beauty of my surroundings.

There are some wonderful attractions: Kilimanjaro Safari (ride this after rope drop! so pleasant in the morning), Expedition Everest, Festival of the Lion King (an unbelievable display of talent), Nemo musical (the puppetry work here deeply impresses me), Flights of Wonder, Dinosaur (a little rough, but a lot of fun). But if you also appreciate the thematic elements of a park, AK has much to offer. The lush foliage of the animal trails, immersive enough to nearly convince you that you've wandered into the wilds. The faded signage and architecture in each country, hinting at backstories if you pause to study them. The Tree of Life, towering proudly in the midst of everything, breathtaking from afar and offering more detail and nuance the closer you get.

One of my most pleasant memories is finding a circle of tables in a little alcove off the main path, with a clear view of the Tree of Life in the near distance. We drank frozen jungle juice and identified all the animals we could find in the carvings. I was eager to run off toward EE for a screaming coaster ride afterward, but in the moment, it was a blissful sort of tranquility.

I'm desperate to return, if only to try this spiked Dole Whip I keep hearing about.

 

[RustManFan]

on my last trip AK was my favorite park.... way ahead of the rest! My sister and I were there (no kids) and we enjoyed a couple shows, took a LONG time to walk the trails and watch all the wildlife. We had interesting talks with a couple CMs about their Disney lives. Most people just rushed on by and missed that experience. We had a remaining park day left at the end of our trip and spent this day at AK too. The safari and the trails experiences are different every time. Had seats in a different section of the FOTLK and saw different performers up close. The greeter at our resort had handed us a coupon for a special experience and we had a tour of Pizzaferi (is that the name) with a wonderful older woman who was able to point out so much in the decorations.

We also were very interested in seeing how many of the different animals we could pick out on the Tree of Life carvings...

For me vacation is to relax, have fun and have experiences. (I like learning experiences best) AK totally fits the bill!!

 

[Karin1984]

Give it another try for the reasons mentioned, but it's also okay not to like something.

(PS I love Animal Kingdom, but don't get the love everyone has for Festival of the Lion King, seen it once which was enough, and that's okay too )

 

[Spacepest]

I love this park, and I don't understand why it gets so much dislike. It has:

Exquisitely themed grounds, walking trails, and animal exhibits
Delicious foods and drinks
Fun rides
And if live animals aren't enough, there are DINOSAURS
If dinosaurs and live animals aren't enough for you there is a YETI (my home park is Disneyland in California, so I'm partial to yetis)
Entertaining shows (Lion King and Nemo)
A character meal that has an unusual but delicious menu, with characters and servers that don't ignore the customers or avoid the tables
Free Wilderness Explorer's program with quirky activities

What it doesn't have in your face everywhere (which the men and boys in my party were extremely grateful for):
Disney princesses
Frozen

My first visit I went with the expectation that it was a "half day park" due to so many visitor reviews on this board that claimed this. At the end of my "half day" I was wondering if I was even visiting the same park, because there were so many things to do. Honestly, I was blown away, and ended up revising my trip schedule and doing two full days in this park. IMHO, the only way this could be a "half day" park is if you ONLY do the rides, and ignore everything else in it. My husband and I did two full days in the park, from open to close, and our touring plan was this: animal exhibits, nature trails, and safari in the morning (animals are most active then and likely to be seen), lunch in the park, and then all the rides and shows afterwards.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The theming is great sans the hiccup in Dinoland.
It has good rides, good shows and some good places to eat. Flame tree is arguably the best counter service on property.
The nature trails are nice.
Rafiki's planet watch is hit and miss. If there isn't anything going on that day, you'll curse yourself for even riding the train out there. But if there are several things going on, you could end up spending hours there. It's a full day park for us because we see all the shows and do the trails and before it ended, watched the parade.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

There is a lot to like at AK, but it mostly depends on your personality. I liked the laid back atmosphere and enjoy the safari and the walking trails. I'm big into science, so I find learning about the animals fascinating. I think if you're a person who can enjoy strolling around the WS, then you can definitely have a great time at AK. The shows are great and there are some great rides. Everest, Dinosaur, the safari are all enjoyable and should be seen. Kali River Rapids is not something I would do in December as you will get soaked. I usually go over the holidays, so I haven't go on it for quite awhile.

 

[stinkpickle]

AK is your best bet if you want to get pooped on by a bird.