Reluctantly joining the "I hate Animal Kingdom" club...

[jeffbear]

I've been to AK three times now ... first visit was during the park preview period before it actually opened to the public ... and out family has always enjoyed our visits. Of course, we've always sort of treated AK as a half-day tour ... hitting the park early, getting the popular stuff done right at the start of the day and then wandering around until lunchtime. Then it's Flame Tree BBQ and back on the bus for an afternoon at the pool.

I agree that AK accomodates the crowds more poorly than the other parks at DW but there's still not that much to do there even with Everest added to the mix and I don't see the problem if you're smart about hitting it early.

 

[holcomb-mania]

I find that the more I go, the more I like it.

After 3 trips in 10 months last year, we really nailed our touring efficiency for all the parks. Don't have to do FotLK or Nemo again, and we have no interest in parades held at the hottest time of day. We hit what we want and then get to appreciate the theming that's missed when you dash across the park from attraction to attraction, and obsess over the number of people between you and the next item on your itinerary.

Evening EMH at AK is extraordinary.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

See the animals during the day, leave for the heat of the day, and then catch the evening EMH. It is the only reasonable way to do AK that doesn't make you want to die.

That being said, it is one of my favorite experiences in the World. They took something really different and made it enjoyable.

Don't see the parades or FoLK that much, so I'm there to see some wildlife and ride the rides, which can just as esaily be done at night.

 

[Amirah95]

its insane how far you have to walk to get anywhere. Its SOOOO hot, no matter what the actual temp is - I don't know how that works, but it does!

I can certainly sympathize with your there. I remember writing this (among other things) in my May 2003 trip report.

I didn't read this entire thread yet, but I will say that I don't hate AK but it's definitely one where we just do EE and then we're out of there. We can't deal with the rest of the park. There is no for us there.

 

[Anthony's Mommy]

Has anyone ever gone the 1st week in December? We are booked Dec.2-6 and we have a son who will be 2 months shy of 3 years old. After reading a lot of the threads, am I nuts for going to the AK?

 

[holcomb-mania]

We've been the 2nd week of Dec and thought the experience was near perfect. Crowds were low, and weren't no hot weather, neither.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

After reading the OP, it seems your problems/issues is with the PEOPLE attending DAK and not DAK itself. You should NEVER let other people put a damper on YOUR vacation. Go with the flow and all will fall into place. We've encountered rude, pushy people in ALL of the parks and we still go to them.

We just got home from being at WDW all last week. We went to DAK twice during the week. The first time was on Wednesday evening (EMH/PM). It was THE BEST time we had ever had at DAK. We got on the last safari of the evening without any wait. As a matter of fact, there weren't lines for any of the rides. PLAN! PLAN! PLAN! You have to have a plan in place to make the most of your time at any of the parks. Our second day at DAK was on Thursday morning. Another wonderful time to be at DAK. MK had EMH(AM) that morning. So, I figured DAK would be semi-empty. I was right. We took the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. Our children had a great time on the train and at Conservation Station. Someone on here complained about it. Our family actually enjoyed it being away from the chaos of the park. We took the time to look at the exhibits and the kids talked with the CMs. We got to see Jiminy Cricket, Rafiki and Pocahantas while there. We sat in on a CM presentation of a screech owl. DS8 was full of all kind of questions and received a special pin at the end. I think the CM appreciated his enthusiasm. We even encountered the "talking trash can" while there. DS8 went to put a bottle in the recyle part of the trash can and it shouted "Yea! You recycled! Yea! You recycled!". Then, it started turning and going crazy. It was funny. Also, the kids had fun at the petting zoo. They needed that time to run around and "act like kids". We took time to "smell the roses" while being at DAK. Sometimes, you have to stop and NOT go commando in a park to truly absorb everything it has to offer. We love DAK and make sure to plan ample time there to experience it the way the CMs that created it intended. We love the thrill rides too. EE is probably one of our favorite rides at WDW (second to RNR). DD5 HAS to ride Triceratop Spin while there too. We all have our favorites at that park.

I feel bad that you had a bad experience at DAK. I hope you will give it another try in the future. It really is a gem of a park.

- Jennifer

 

[Benducci]

I am not carzy about AK - I think because it is so overgrown with plants, it loses some of the sttraction- it is overgrown & there are always crowds & you can't see very much ahead of yourself. I always compare it to the Bronx Zoo.
Also- the design is awful- you have to pretty much keep coming back to the tree to move on to another section - I end up retracing my steps which is aggravating & not very time efficient.

 

[mickeysgirl17]

I don't agree with the half day park thing. I couldn't possibly finish all of my favorites in AK in a half a day unless maybe I was the only person in the park.

Kilimanjaro Safaris, tough to be a bug, festival of the lion king, pangani trail, maharajah trek, flights of wonder, dinosaur, and the parade are some of the best most entertaining things AK has to offer. AK is a park to slow down in and take all the details in too and if you are rushing through it, you won't enjoy it as much as a person who is taking their time exploring it.

This would take at least a full day if not more.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I am not carzy about AK - I think because it is so overgrown with plants, it loses some of the sttraction- it is overgrown & there are always crowds & you can't see very much ahead of yourself. I always compare it to the Bronx Zoo.
Also- the design is awful- you have to pretty much keep coming back to the tree to move on to another section - I end up retracing my steps which is aggravating & not very time efficient.

When you first come into the park, you DO have to pass the tree of life. However, if you look at the map of DAK, you can actually make a loop around the park without going back to the tree of life. The only times we pass it is on our way in and out of the park. We usually circle the park clockwise using the paths. That's how ALL the WDW parks are created.

- Jennifer

Map to DAK:
http://willcad.org/maps/parks/2006-10/ak-front_2006-10.jpg

 

[Jenvenza]

I have never had a problem with AK. Ever. I dont understand what all the fuss is about actually. All the parks are crowed, so that isnt even an issue to me. Yes, it is larger than all the other parks, but it has to be to accomodate all of the animals. Even without planning anything, other than knowing we were going to do the safari first, we had no problems. But maybe that is because we go in there with a relaxed attitude. I think that has a lot to do with it. Relax and enjoy it!

 

[SGMCO]

Perhaps if more people did not like AK, then maybe the rest of us would enjoy it that much more.

(AK-less people=better time for us)

I agree completely!! If you don't like it don't go to it!!
Stop all the whining!! Leave AK to those who enjoy and understand it!!
AK is our Favorite Park!!
We usually go 2 full days there and would go more
but not enough Vacation Time.

 

[sandicinderelli]

My friend and I enjoyed AK first thing in the morning - during Spring Break! We got to ride Everest three times before when hopped to another park. Even during Spring Break, the crowds in the morning were minimal compared to the afternoon. It was great.

My advice: Do AK early! Especially if it's not your favorite park.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

Animal Kingdom is my all-time favorite park at WDW. I love that park, and it's not even close to being a half-day park. But you have to take a totally different approach to it if you want to enjoy it.

1. Take your time. AK is a park that is to be enjoyed for it's natural beauty. Walk slower and take in the sights. Make a concerted effort to look at the different animals. However, when you first get there, get your FP for Everest.

2. Alternate experiences. You seriously have to do the shows, not just the rides. The shows are nice and air-conditioned. Enjoy the Boneyard playground. Go to smaller attractions. And FP the long-lined attractions.

3. Eat there. When we went to Animal Kingdom, we spent the entire day there and ate our CS and TS there. Plus, we had our snack there (which were ice-cream floats.) Therefore, we didn't have to run and attempt to make an ADR somewhere.

Last month, we spent the entire day at AK. We had a great time, and even enjoyed the Evening EMH (which makes AK a totally different experience altogether. And we had so much fun and som much to do, that we had to GO BACK to AK another day and ride the Safari.

 

[jimmalru80]

It's a half day or so park for us. We get there at rope drop, see all we want to see by noon, have lunch and we're out of there. We do love EE, FOTLK and Nemo.

 

[TigerKat]

Go to AK on a bad weather day. Seriously. On our last visit (Dec. '07) it was a rainy cool morning (following a rainy night). We put on our pre-packed ponchos and decided to head out.

Best Decision Ever!

This is so true!! We may have been there the same day, it was Dec 07...we didn't plan it but we happened to schedule AK for a misty chilly morning and we enjoyed it SO much more than we ever had before.

FoTLK is one of my favorite things in all of WDW!

 

[divawife]

We were there 2 weeks ago. We left AK for half a day since we had P&PP at MK that night. We really enjoyed ourselves so much we went again the next day even though that was our last day and we had to leave the park by 3.

The Safari can be great or ok but it depends on the animals of course! I thought the FotLK was absolutely wonderful. Nemo was pretty great and Pocohantas was very good for the kids.

We didn't bother with the parades at all. We really wanted to do Everest and the Conservation Station but simply didn't have time enough for them.

I do agree that the pathways can get tight but if a park gives you that claustrophobic "I can't deal another minute with this" get out of that park and try another or chill out at the pool for a while.

This has happened to me at MK so I understand. I do think AK is a unique experience and I would like to spend more time there.

 

[Melani]

We were there Dec 17th '07. Thought it was great. Low crowds, but it was one of the COLDEST days on record, that may be why.

The food wasn't great at the Flame Tree, the kids at at McD's and the Dine Plus guide had one of the restaurants listed but when we went to get a table we were told it was a mistake & thay were not on the plan.
We did see an outburst at Everest whenthey stopped giving Fast Passes, but, we had seen a similar thing happend at MK's Space Maountain.

 

[MAF]

...if there is such a club?
We just returned from our 3rd trip to WDW yesterday. We had a great trip, however I think we all decided that we have no desire to EVER go back to Animal Kingdom. I just don't get that park!

On our 1st trip in '06, I was clueless. We went on an Early EMH day (1st mistake) just a week or two after Everest opened (2nd mistake) and it was so jam-packed that I was terrified of losing my kids all day long. I mean real fear.
By lunch time that day I was near tears, I was so frazzled. We left a short time later, and I swore that I would never go back.

Last year I had done enough research here and at TGM that I felt like I had a better handle on how do do AK, so I decided we'd give it another try. It was a better day, but still frustrating and exhausting for all of us.

This year, I debated and debated about just skipping it all together. I mean we do LOVE Everest and the Safari. So, we decided to go this past Wednesday. Within an hour, I was regretting that decision.

I swear to you, people enter that park and then lose their minds and all common sense. Tempers flare easily. its insane how far you have to walk to get anywhere. Its SOOOO hot, no matter what the actual temp is - I don't know how that works, but it does!

I saw one family send their little boy into the bushes near everest to pee! Seriously, we have BATHROOMS in the country....USE THEM! I'm not joking, this really happened!

I was pushed and shoved and nearly lost my kids trying to get into see FotLK and the Cast members were doing a piss-poor job of directing people to the seats. Getting into that area before the show was horrible as the entire pathway into Camp minnie-mickie was turned into a one way sea of people trying to get out after the last show. Really, where are the cast members directing traffic?

This park is WAY worse than any others for people just stopping dead in their tracks in the middle of the path to check their maps. I ran into so many people it wasn't even funny. I know its because it is so damn confusing to get around...but still, why can't people at least try to get over to the side of the road before coming to a complete standstill?

AK is a beautiful park, no doubt. I would love to be able to just wander the park and see the sights, but it is SO full of people all the time, you feel swept along by the waves of people and unable to smell the roses, if you will. The few animals we did manage to see on the Jungle trek - well, too many adults were trying to push their way into better viewing spots with absolutely no thought about the small kids that they might be blocking or stepping on.
Really folks, have you never been to a zoo before?

So, I think that I reluctantly have to say that we will not be going back to Animal Kingdom ever again. The magic is seriously lacking at that park for us...

I completely agree w/ everything in your post. Especially the part where you said you were trying to get to Camp Minnie and Mickey and the endless sea of people coming at you. Don't get me wrong, I don't HATE AK, but I can't really say that I love going there either. Oh and total word on the heat there...sheesh!

 

[amycakes]

I like Animal Kingdom but it does get hot!! We thought we would do some attractions while others were watching the parade. Unfortunately we got trapped by the parade and we got stuck in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of folks trying to do the same. I think it was exiting A Bug's Life. It was a big oops moment!!!