Psh... someone please talk me into visiting the AK.

[Elliesmommy]

I don't know why, maybe because I don't really enjoy zoos, but I have never had interest in visiting the AK.

I want to visit the AK this trip in Jan, but can't get excited over it because I keep thinking that it is a giant zoo.

Please talk me into it... or out of it.... either way. I just want to know if it is worth my time as a person not into zoos.

 

[captaindavidhook]

I don't know why, maybe because I don't really enjoy zoos, but I have never had interest in visiting the AK.

I want to visit the AK this trip in Jan, but can't get excited over it because I keep thinking that it is a giant zoo.

Please talk me into it... or out of it.... either way. I just want to know if it is worth my time as a person not into zoos.

Hmmm let me take a shot at talking u into going to ak. I loved it! It may seem like a big zoo and maybe it is but it is more then that. For starters, it is disney and disney is fun, filled w/ tons of magic. The kilimanjaro safari is a must. Go hit that 1st u wont be sorry. Animals there are breath taking. You feel like u really are in africa on a safari.

There are tons of different animals sites to see thru out the entire park. Tigers,monkeys, birds etc Plenty to see. Then there is the yeti (EE) you have to do that! The dinosaur ride is fun too. I enjoyed that. The rapids is ok i guess, not a fna of it. Just walk around and there is much to see and do. U wont regret it.

 

[j9000]

I thought the same as you before i went. I went expecting a zoo and got so much more,

AK is hands down the most lush tropical and beautiful of all 4 disney parks. Small pathways wind through jungle where animals can be spotted, and its designed in such a way its not cages (which is nice) and very natural feeling, its quite relaxing wandering round. And to think it is all man made and landscaped is incredible.


plus expedition everest is cool.

 

[csharpwv]

While Animal Kingdom is somewhat of a 'zoo' - it has more in common with a theme park than a zoo.

The beauty of Animal Kingdom is that the animals aren't put on display. You aren't going to find what you typically find at a zoo - and that's animal to look at - and learn about.

I would definitely say that you really EXPERIENCE the animals more than just watch them - or look at them.

You get to observe the animals as part of a story - not just 'on display' but as part of story that jumps off the page of life - and out to you as you watch the animals and observe the life of the African Plain - or the woodlands at the foot of the Himalayans.

Animals are as much a part of the story of this planet as 'we' humans are. Listen to their story - experience their life - learn about the threats that animal populations face - and what happens to us when animal populations are neglected.

I LOVE ANIMAL KINGDOM - more than any other park it transports me to several different places around the globe in a single day. It is absolutely beautiful - and the shows are THE BEST of any other park in the 'World'.

Some of the most magical moments my wife and I have experienced at WDW have been at Animal Kingdom!

Take the plunge - FALL IN LOVE!

 

[Sagginit]

i honestly dont like the animal kingdom that much. we have safari in my area where the animals come up to your car, so AK seems lame compared. however I do love EE. we went there this last trip just to do that and see the lion king show. i also like the nemo show. if you have a park hopper stop over and do those one or two things, maybe eat at yak n yeti and leave. dont feel bad you arent interested in the animals. i also think the setup makes it not fun, we get lost and feel like we are hiking for days between attractions.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I love Animal Kingdom. Reading this makes me want to go today. I just love experiencing the animals in their natural habitat, but more than that I love the rides and the two WONDERFUL shows that they have there, Nemo the Musical and The Festival of the Lion King. Excellent shows. I love the safari and Expedition Everest, Dinosaur and Kali (of course, you get wet on this ride so depends on the weather). Just wonderful. I could just wander around this place all day.

 

[DisneylandForever]

I don't know why, maybe because I don't really enjoy zoos, but I have never had interest in visiting the AK.

I want to visit the AK this trip in Jan, but can't get excited over it because I keep thinking that it is a giant zoo.

Please talk me into it... or out of it.... either way. I just want to know if it is worth my time as a person not into zoos.

Well in my opinion, AK is a waste of space.

EE is pretty cool, KS is fun the first time, ITTBAB is all right, Dinosaur gives me a headache and Dinoland USA is a crap factory. The place definitely has a zoo vibe. I don't go to zoos that much these days, but I used to work at the SF Zoo when I was a kid.

That all said, I actually think you should go. Just to try it. You might actually like it. I have a feeling you won't though, so just keep your expectations low.

But yeah, it's worth a shot. Just bring earplugs for Dinosaur. Apparently part of the experience is to deafen you.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

I love AK - but I also love zoos & safaris.

Start out your day with breakfast at Tusker House safari breakfast - so fun & so good.

Ride the safari ride & mt. everest...love them both. I just enjoy wandering the trails & seeing the sights. The only thing I dislike about AK is it always seems so crowded.

Flame tree BQ is a delicious CS meal too.

I love their parade there. Is really neat & worth waiting to watch.

 

[kwdw]

I love AK - but I also love zoos & safaris.

Start out your day with breakfast at Tusker House safari breakfast - so fun & so good.

Ride the safari ride & mt. everest...love them both. I just enjoy wandering the trails & seeing the sights. The only thing I dislike about AK is it always seems so crowded.

Flame tree BQ is a delicious CS meal too.

I love their parade there. Is really neat & worth waiting to watch.

I LOVE AK! Get there first thing in the morning - and head straight for the safari. I really enjoy "It's Tough to be a Bug", the Lion King Show, and the Nemo Show. The rides here really aren't my tastes, so we tend to wander through the quieter areas to watch the animals. One time - we spent nearly 30 minutes watching the monkeys from their play area - they were active and entertaining. The parade is great and if you like slightly different food - Tusker House is awesome.

 

[Safari Queen]

Even if you ignore the animals, Expedition Everest is an excellent coaster, Dinosaur is scary & fun, Kali River Rapids is great, especially on a hot day, It's Tough to be a Bug is a 3-D delight and Flametree is great CS food. The Festival of the Lion King show is the best in WDW, in my opinion. We also love Flights of Wonder, an unusual bird show. There's plenty to see and do, even if you don't want to see the beautiful animal habitats and special creatures like giant fruit bats, gorillas, and tigers in gorgeous surroundings.

 

[Businessgypsy]

As a former art director, I get much more out of AK than the other parks. The detail that has gone into planning and execution, from the different textures and impressions in the paving to the tangles of wires in the Asia section is amazing. Just piecing together the backstory of the memos scattered around Dinoland will prove how in depth was every move made by the Imagineers.

The McDonald's (or substitute burger joint now) in that section is probably my favorite building in the United States (including Fallingwater, sorry FLW), with the flawless transition between Quonset Hut garage, Airstream Diner, National Park lodge and Forestry service bivouac - completely filled with artifacts tied into the backstory(o'saurus). A collection of Star Spangled War Stories comics in the trading post inspired me to collect a complete series.

The signage everywhere is fantastic, especially the beautiful banner for Flights of Wonder. At Christmas, every shop has unique and inventive garlands with elements relating to the store.

The live shows are great, the plants are incredible, the food is actually good and the bars are the best in Disney. It's the largest park, the most natural park, and the park with the most detail if you have the eyes to see. Many, many hidden wonders here.

And, yeah - there are some animals and rides.

If you're not into all that detail and fantasy, why bother with Disney at all? I'm sure there's a game on TV

 

[nurse.darcy]

As a former art director, I get much more out of AK than the other parks. The detail that has gone into planning and execution, from the different textures and impressions in the paving to the tangles of wires in the Asia section is amazing. Just piecing together the backstory of the memos scattered around Dinoland will prove how in depth was every move made by the Imagineers.

The McDonald's (or substitute burger joint now) in that section is probably my favorite building in the United States (including Fallingwater, sorry FLW), with the flawless transition between Quonset Hut garage, Airstream Diner, National Park lodge and Forestry service bivouac - completely filled with artifacts tied into the backstory(o'saurus). A collection of Star Spangled War Stories comics in the trading post inspired me to collect a complete series.

The signage everywhere is fantastic, especially the beautiful banner for Flights of Wonder. At Christmas, every shop has unique and inventive garlands with elements relating to the store.

The live shows are great, the plants are incredible, the food is actually good and the bars are the best in Disney. It's the largest park, the most natural park, and the park with the most detail if you have the eyes to see. Many, many hidden wonders here.

And, yeah - there are some animals and rides.

If you're not into all that detail and fantasy, why bother with Disney at all? I'm sure there's a game on TV

How do you explain the detail to people? Your view is awesome. I tried to explain the detail of New Orleans Square (DL) to someone once and they looked at me like I was a loon. . .

 

[yapper79]

AK is by far my favorite park! I think that Expedition Everest & Dinosaur! are two of my favorite rides... plus the Flights of Wonder show makes my top ten list despite the fact I've seen it 5 or 6 times.

I like the fact that I never feel quite as rushed at AK. There are some really neat street performers in Africa and my husband and I always make time for a turkey leg!

 

[olwyngdh]

The biggest mistake we made on our first Disney trip was believing the guide books when they said that AK was a 1/2 day park. We were there from rope drop until the park closed and still didn't see everything! Our next trip we are planning a full day, and have another half day free if we need to go back to catch stuff we missed the first time! Last time we missed the Lion King, Rafiki's Planet watch, and the whole dinosaur area---gotta catch them this time, and see Nemo again--I was awestruck at that show!

There are animals there, obviously, since it is Animal Kingdom, but it is not in any sense a normal zoo. Much more Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom...my husband and I kept doing Marlin Perkins imitations on the safari ride

 

[Judy in Texas]

I've never thought of Animal Kingdom as a zoo. If I had to choose just one park to visit, AK would be it. Festival of the Lion King is the best show at any of the parks, hands down, and if you don't take the time to see it, you are really missing something special.

 

[csharpwv]

As a former art director, I get much more out of AK than the other parks. The detail that has gone into planning and execution, from the different textures and impressions in the paving to the tangles of wires in the Asia section is amazing. Just piecing together the backstory of the memos scattered around Dinoland will prove how in depth was every move made by the Imagineers.

The McDonald's (or substitute burger joint now) in that section is probably my favorite building in the United States (including Fallingwater, sorry FLW), with the flawless transition between Quonset Hut garage, Airstream Diner, National Park lodge and Forestry service bivouac - completely filled with artifacts tied into the backstory(o'saurus). A collection of Star Spangled War Stories comics in the trading post inspired me to collect a complete series.

The signage everywhere is fantastic, especially the beautiful banner for Flights of Wonder. At Christmas, every shop has unique and inventive garlands with elements relating to the store.

The live shows are great, the plants are incredible, the food is actually good and the bars are the best in Disney. It's the largest park, the most natural park, and the park with the most detail if you have the eyes to see. Many, many hidden wonders here.

And, yeah - there are some animals and rides.

If you're not into all that detail and fantasy, why bother with Disney at all? I'm sure there's a game on TV

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID!

To step back and really take a look at the PARK not even including the attractions - but the physical plant that IS Animal Kingdom is simply astounding! All the detail is fantastic - not over-done to the point of being gaudy or tacky (except where appropriate!) and it really helps in transporting the guest to a totally different place on the planet!

I am a MAJOR fan of AK - and can't wait to be there in just a little over a week! YIPEE!!!!!

 

[ChisJo]

Its so hard to describe the AK without actually seeing it. The tree of wonder is incredible. The detail of it alone is worth the visit. We tried to count the amount of animals we could find on it, but lost count throughout. Carved beautifully, and thoughtfully. Who could believe that the whole thing is 100% constructed by man?

I like the Its tough to be a bug 3D, EE, KS. The rest of the rides are so so, but I would go back to AK just to go to Yak and Yeti (restaurant) - the absolute best asian food I have ever had! And the drinks awesome.

I never feel rushed here. And honestly, I don't think it has a zoo feel at all. Yes, there are animals there, but not like you are probably thinking.

Its great....it would be a tragedy if you missed it.

 

[ChisJo]

double post...sorry!

 

[fairygirl]

I don't know why, maybe because I don't really enjoy zoos, but I have never had interest in visiting the AK.

I want to visit the AK this trip in Jan, but can't get excited over it because I keep thinking that it is a giant zoo.

Please talk me into it... or out of it.... either way. I just want to know if it is worth my time as a person not into zoos.

It's pretty much a zoo on steroids....fortunately for me, i LOVE zoos... Even if you aren't a huge fan of zoos, though, I recommend giving it a shot. It is definitely worth going at least once...just focus on the more theme park type of things. See the Lion King show, check out the tree, definitely EE. Try KS. Just have fun with it!!!! You gotta go at least once - Mickey says so!

 

[MIGrandma]

I've been to AK a couple of times and really enjoyed both visits, but this time with DH we probably won't spend much time there at all. The only thing we really want to see there is "It's Tough to be a Bug." I've got lots of wonderful pictures of the animals from the safari and the trail, and of the Tree of Life, etc. Most of the rides we're just not interested in. We're only going to be there 3 days so we plan to spend most of our time at EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom.