Ques. for those who "get" AK...

[Ducky4Disney]

AK is a tricky park. People either love it or feel indifferent about it. I am in the latter group. I realize that I only spend a few hours there and I think Ive done the same things and missed the same things both times.

I know there are people out there who "get" AK and enjoy it fully. I would like some advice from those people, what am I missing? Why is it I seem to bypass everything without a second glance? For those of us who want to enoy AK the way we do the other parks, what should we do? What will help me experience more of AK?

D4D

 

[meeko_33785]

The main thing about AK is that it is a park that is best to just take slowly and savor. Don't rush from attraction to attraction, take in the details, watch the animals, talk to the CMs along the trails about the animals or their homelands if they are from Africa or Asia, see the shows, and stop and see some of the street entertainment like DeVine, the acrobats in Africa, or drummers in the Safari Village, and stay for the parade. Do that along with the usual attractions like Kilimanjaro, DINOSAUR, and Bugs and you should be able to have an enjoyable time.

 

[InstImpres]

I am not a big AK fan but I will say they have some of the best live shows. Don't miss Tarzan Rocks and Fest. o the Lion King

 

[ironz]

Yep...definitely a park to enjoy the details. Look at the architecture in Africa and Asia. Chill out along the discovery trails. Take your time and enjoy it...you certainly don't have to rush around this park to get it all in in one day. The Lion King and Tarzan shows are both fun...Lion King more elaborate in terms of theming and costumes than Tarzan.
Enjoy!!

 

[buzz5985]

I don't think it can really be explained why my family likes it so much. It takes us over an hour just to get through the oasis. We go really slow, enjoy the sounds, the sights, smells. Try riding the safari first thing in the morning - and last thing in the day. What a difference. Somehow the animals know it is the end of the day and start heading back to their "homes".

Go out to Conservation Station and let the kids talk to the CM's. My 7 yo - he was 6 last trip - would have stayed there for the whole week. When we left he told us that Mickey is really helping Mother Nature. He also talked to the acrobats in Africa for a long time. LOL My DH and I find AK to be more relaxing than the other parks. We love to get a coffee (if it's not too hot) or an Ice cream when it's hot, find a seat and sit back and just enjoy.

It's the first park we visit, and we also go for a couple hours on the day we leave.

 

[Armadillo4]

We have grown to LOVE AK for many reasons. It used to be a half-day park for us, but that's recently changed and it was the centerpiece of our most recent WDW trip. We are animal lovers, so that's probably the biggest reason. But we also love AK because it's so unlike other theme parks. It's not a park where we're consumed about seeing as many attractions during the day as possible. For some people (including us, during our early visits), since we were spending a lot of $$$ in the world, we felt we needed to hit as many attractions as possible to get our money's worth. That doesn't really work at AK. It's more about taking in the entire "experience" of the place.

Of course, while I would love to spread the AK love to the entire world, I realize that everyone has different tastes and preferences. Don't try to force yourself into liking something. But if you can think about experiencing a theme park in a different mindset, then maybe AK will grow on you too, like it did for us.

 

[kaylajr]

AK is a big favorite with our family
but it is hard to say why
we LOVE the animals
my DH could spend hours just looking at the tree trying to see all the carvings
the lion king and tarzan shows are GREAT
we just take our time and savor the details

but it is not for everyone

 

[paladin]

I love AK. This is a park of atmosphere and detail, best enjoyed slowly to savor and appreciate. I love taking the train to Conservation Station and watching as they operate on different animals; getting a seat in the shade to watch the acrobats in Harambe; trying to spot the gorilla bachelors in the sleeping spots; checking out how much the baby elephant has grown; laughing at the always corny jokes at the bird show; watching the bats in Asia (for whatever reason, I find bats to be fascinating). FOTLK and ITTBAB are, IMHO, some of the best shows on property and I get a kick out of the parade. If only it weren't so darn hot!

 

[Kapp]

It is barely second behind MK! It is a great opportunity to slow down and take your time. We usually go to the AK the 3rd or 4th day of our trip and use the day to relax. The beauty of the park is overlooked by so many and some of the shows/rides/exhibits can be kind of hidden and take some time and looking to find them. Instead of rushing through lunch, we always take our time and chill out a bit. We know of some families that have never been to the AK as they skip it every year thinking it is just a zoo. Both my daughters love the AK and it is my wife's fav WDW park.

Relax, take your time and enjoy!!!!

Kapp

 

[loriandmatt]

our days at AK are our decompression days. We find something new everytime we go. there are so many winding trails and out of the way gems to find there. We love all the other parks too, but AK offers us fun and thrills coupled with a more relaxing atmosphere.

We also love chatting with CM's here. My DH is a chatter and loves talking with CM's from other countries about the things we are seeing. (more so at AK than at Epcot.)

- lori

 

[Rneighh]

AK is a "stop and smell the roses" find of park. So much is tucked into every corner of the park. I found one of our best days at AK was when we did the Sunrise Safari while staying AKL conceirge. We had a wonderful trip in the early morning and just seemed to stroll through the park the rest of day. We explored the trails, talked with CMs, listened to the sounds of the birds and animals. It was wonderful.

Go with the attitude of having a relaxed back to nature day.

Renee

 

[gshoemate]

AK is also my favorite park. Its such a layed back kind of park. I think when you go to the other parks, especially MK, you are rushed to try to do everything in one day and don't get to really enjoy the park. But you can do that at AK. You can take it slow, enjoy everything in the park and finish it in one day. I find that the character lines are much shorter at AK and you get some of the characters wearing outfits that you wouldn't find at the other parks. I love the live shows, I have seen FOLK over 100 times and still enjoy it. I think there is so much to see there that you can't see at the other parks, I love walking around just looking at the differant plants and flowers. I to have spent alot of time talking to CM's and I am honored to be able to call a few of them friends.

 

[TammiMcMan]

One of the keys for me is to visit on a cool day. Maybe because of the immense amount of vegetation or how the park is set up for visitors, it just always feels hotter here. My DH would cut this park out of every Disney visit if he could, however we took a "parent's only" trip in early January and I surprised him with a behind the scenes tour. I believe it was $60 per person, minimum age is 16. The tour ran from 8:30 until about noon time and it gave us both a new appreciation of the park and what they are trying to accomplish. I'd highly recommend the tour and even my DH didn't want leave the park when it was finished.

 

[Harambe]

I just love all the atmosphere that is so different from my day-to-day life! I love strolling along the path ways, looking at the plants, and seeing the animals.

There are a few great rides here - we try to balance them with the shows. Take time to do things like Flights of Wonder, or sit near the exit of Kali River Rapids and watch the monkeys.

This park also has the best lunch spots - Tusker House, Flame Tree BBQ and Pizzafari are all awesome!

As you can see by my name - it is my favorite park!

 

[cleo]

If you're not a big fan of AK, you might want to schedule it for your third or forth day. It's a wonderful park to visit when you're ready for a 'break from the parks', so to speak. All of the posts prior to mine have said it's a 'slow down and smell the roses park', and it is. I happen to love it for it's beauty, but also for the way it stirs something in me that makes me feel connected to and appreciative of the smaller details that Disney does so well.

Try it when you're plum tuckered out from the 'thrills and excitement'. It really is a lovely adventure, with the special Disney touch that make the parks so delightful.

 

[armywife]

I definately agree with TammiMcMan -- visit on a cooler day! We were there last year in May & I have never experienced so much humidity! We were dripping wet --but after a ride on the rapids we were instantly cooled off! I came home with beautiful pictures of this park.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I really enjoy the Maharajah Jungle treck because of the CMs who are able to answer just about any question you may have about the animals you are seeing.

Bobbi

 

[HappyGramma]

I really love AK. The first time my DD and I went we only did a half day. Last Feb we did a whole day and we still missed things. It is a park that you have to take slowly. The are so many hidden treasures in this park. I especially like the different types of music played in each land. Also the different performers in the park. I can't wait to go back.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I agree with a lot of the posters who have said take your time and just enjoy the relaxed pace, and the animals.

What makes AK one of my favorite places in the world is the atmosphere and the animals. I love animals and always have. Some people just aren't into them.

I could stand and watch the bats or meerkats for hours. Ask a cast memeber about the animals. If you have kids, encourage them to ask questions. Ask questions about the habitats. Get one of the bird id cards and try to spot each species.

Don't rush through the Oasis and other animal trails. Unlike most other parks, this is almost entirely do at your own pace. You'll only really have lines for Dinosaur & the other Dino-land rides, the safari and Kali.

Don't forget conservation station. Its peaceful and rarely crowded.

Take time to see the shows & parade. The shows at AK are amongst the best in WDW.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Wow, these are all great suggestions! I love Flights of Wonder, I see this every time I go. I went on the safari the first time I went but it was cold and rainy so it wasn't great. Last time we chose not to go but I will make a point of doing this on our next trip, especially now that I have a zoom lens for my camera.

I have missed Dinoland on each of my last trips - I will NOT miss that next time. I am also thinking about doing Donald's Breakfastsaurous (?) next time. Maybe that will start me off right.

I thought I was the only one who thought if was always hotter at AK! Isn't that weird? I didn't spend a lot of time watching the animlas but I did spend some time photographing the flamingos (they were cool).

I look forward to AK on my next trip and I think I will stay for the parade too. And I haven't seen Tarzan Rocks or the Lion King show (duh!) - so I will see them too.

D4D