Poll: Do you 'skip' Animal Kingdom on trips?

[tink2]

I've enjoyed reading this thread! My family just isn't interested in AK. We've been three times- and will skip it this time. We stayed 2 1/2 hours the last trip. Did EE and accomplished safari ride, FOTLK, and saw many characters in Camp Mickey Minnie. Skipped Tough to be a Bug and Dinosaur due to small children- TTBAB scared them to death last trip! Anyway, we just aren't 'into' this park and these attractions- while they are great- aren't worth the time and effort to go to the park again.
We do, however, love MGM. I agree it could use some help. But my children love Playhouse Disney, Voyage of the little mermaid, beauty and the beast, muppets' 3-D, the daytime parade- their favorite, and Fantasmic! These were all highlights of the whole trip for DD4. We will spend at least a day and a half here this year.
We also think Epcot needs a LOT of help- especially for children.
Anyay, that is the great thing about Disney- something for everyone to enjoy!

 

[mariessas_mom]

When we visited AK in March of 2000, we were there a couple of hours and saw It's Tough to be A bug and walked around a little bit and that's it! The crowds were so bad that day that you could literally not move, so we gave up and left. So the second trip we just skipped it, but I sort of regret that. I think it was just poor planning on that first trip. Next trip, we will be there. I agree with several other posters. MGM is the one I would skip next time if I had to!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks stinkerbelle, there were lots of stories on the page, and I didn't have time to read them all, but I will. Interesting stuff. So we were there in the first 6 months of AK's opening, and now I remember some of the controversy. I like boat rides, and yes, I think even I was disappointed. What I remember most about the ride now, was the piped in music, and the ads for radio Disney. I expected more.

So, AK is but a shadow of what it COULD be, but we still like it, very much.

Bobbi

 

[leighe]

We skipped AK last trip because I am completely terrified of birds , even tiny little sparrows ( I know, I know - they aren't going to hurt me but they really freak me out.) But (I'm a teacher - I'm ashamed of myself for beginning a sentance with but) we have heard so many great things about the park that I am going to suck it up and we are definitely going there on our spring break trip. Anyone got any tips on how to avoid as many birds as possible?

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by leighe
Anyone got any tips on how to avoid as many birds as possible?

you mean like flying birds...or do flamingos freak you out too?

as for flying birds - avoid the "jungle trek" in Asia - there is a bird section you walk through (dunno if you can avoid it...but i guess you could walk UP to it and then turn around.

I'm not 100% if there are birds in the "other" jungle walk in Africa...anyone?

the birds on the safari ride don't come near you...they avoid the trucks pretty much out there.

i would avoid the Pocohantus show as well!

 

[TINK61]

NEVER! I'm a big fan of AK.

 

[Micca]

We haven't skipped AK, but we only need to spend a few hours there. If I HAD to skip a park, it would be AK.

 

[tar heel]

We have skipped AK, but we're enjoying it more now. We will still skip it on a really short trip, though. For example, last July we did a two-day trip at the end of our APs and skipped it. Our real trip last summer was eight days and we went twice for a about a half day each time. Our trips are in the summer and the only bad Disney day we've ever had was the time we tried to stay at AK all day. I think it was 2000, and we still have not eaten another meal there -- had a real stinker at Flame Tree that day.

It's funny that people who love AK keep saying that its detractors are missing a lot of what the park has to offer. I think the same can be said of World Showcase and MGM, both of which we love more each trip. We weren't that excited about WS, though, when we just did the few attractions instead of stopping for the wonderful entertainment and atmosphere. Ditto for MGM. The streetmosphere entertainment there is so much fun

 

[Dallas_Lady]

DH and I LOVE this park!!! If we are short on time, we'd actuallly skip MK (I know, how sacreligous) or do AK during the day and MK that evening just to hit the classics.

 

[pjlla]

Just gotta add my 2 cents worth.... we really like AK (we would go for the FOTLK show and Kili Safari alone!) and wouldn't miss it. We are easily able to fill a day there! But MGM is definitely turning into a half day park for us.

We were there from opening until closing last month, but spent most of the day at RNR. DD rode it 8 times! DH and I each rode ToT once (kids wouldn't try it!). We saw Buzz, Woody, and Jessie over at Al's Toy Barn (a MUST for DS). DS saw Playhouse Disney twice (once with me, once with DH) even though he insisted before we left that he was too old for it! DD and I saw VOTLM even though it hadn't been on our "A" list for the day. And we watched the parade, even though we had decided that we didn't need to see it again. THere just wasn't enough else to do! Backlot tour was closed for rehab, no-one really cares for Great Movie Ride and kids didn't want to try Star Tours. We saw Muppet 3-D, DH and DS went to Sounds Dangerously and Indiana Jones, while DD and I went over to the Beauty and the Beast show (which was terrific!). And like I said, we will had time for 8 rides on RNR! Unless things change, on our next visit that will be a half-day park, arriving around 1pm and staying for Fantasmic (which is a "can't miss" for my family"). We would probably opt to spend the extra time in the morning at AK!!.............P

 

[kozmo]

Never, i love animal kingdom

 

[Chicago526]

Yes. On our last trip, my brother and I went to IOA for the day while my other brother, SIL and nephews went. I've been there on previous trips, and my single brother was more interested in roller coasters than elephants!

It's not a bad park, but having been twice in 3 years, I just prefered to go to IOA for a change.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by tar heel
. Ditto for MGM. The streetmosphere entertainment there is so much fun

personally I think that is one thing that disappoints me about MGM. maybe it's cause we go off season but this is the first and only time we have ever seen any of the actors..this time we saw the toy soliders who were hilarious and a man , forget who he is supposed to be, who basically just blended in with the crowd so not much of a show there. I think the theming at MGM just lacks something since it isn't fanciful and needs the punch of actors to bring it to life.

 

[opal]

Even on short trips, we spend a 1/2 day at AK. It's not our favorite park, but we do enjoy the safari and a few of the rides.

 

[skuttle]

I LOVE AK! The detail in that park is just amazing!! I'd skip MGM over AK any day.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I would absolutely NOT skip AK!!! I would skip MGM first. I could spend at least two days in AK...I love it!!!