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

[monkeymama]

We did take two days to see it last time and got to see and do everything we wanted but it was the least enjoyable part of our trip. Sending one member of the party off to get Fast Passes in another section while the rest do something else - that trek takes forever because there is no easy way to get from one area to another. It was the only park that we felt like it beat us - we were all flat out exhausted after AK. And while it's a beautiful park and the safari is nice, it's certainly not better than what we have at our local zoo.

We are strongly considering skipping it this time except that ds is tall enough to ride EE and really wants to do it.

Edited to add: We did take the time to "savor" the experience... watching the musicians, searched for all of the birds, etc. I appreciate that the experience at AK is supposed to be different than the other parks, I just honestly believe that most of it is nothing I can't get closer to home for much less money.

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Our first trip to AK was the year it opened. I found the layout (?) very confusing and we did a lot of backtracking. We enjoyed Safari and the Pangani Trail, etc. At that time we ate at Flame Tree Barbecue and it was good.
Since then we have been to AK several times and enjoy it less each time. It IS crowded. The paths are mostly too narrow and winding and we frequently stand aside to let crowds pass, such as when a show or ride is leaving out.
We have not eaten at AK since the first time. We generally leave and go to one of the other parks or even Downtown Disney to eat.
It IS hotter and more humid. And for the past year we have lived in Central Florida, so we know about the heat. There seems to be little or no air movement in AK. And I agree that all the vegetation makes that difference.
We love animals and enjoy watching them. But the park is NOT fun to navigate. We were there in February at rope drop and by the time the crowd was allowed to move into the park you couldn't move. It was one big traffic jam. I felt sorry for anyone close to a stroller because you had to watch out for your feet and ankles!
We'll go back because we love the animals. But we won't stay in the park longer than that takes to see.
The first time we went to MGM (the year it opened) I thought it was the worst planned park of the Disney parks. Backtracking. Dead ends. Poor signs. No flow. In the year we've been down here, we haven't gone there yet. We went many times over the years since it opened. It soon became a half day park for us too.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot that can be done with MGM -- now Studios -- but they could widen some of the paths at AK.

 

[HydroGuy]

Can't join the club. But I agree AK is far from perfect.

o I agree that the walkways are too narrow

o IMO the entrance at the gates has the most claustrophobic feeling of all four parks - like a gauntlet and not at all magical

o Disagree with those that say it is half-day park. We cannot fit in everything there in a day and plan 1.5 days for AK.

o AK is my DS11's favorite park

o The AK Haters Club may be growing, but the AK Lovers Club seems to be growing faster if measured by attendance. See info below.

Also DW and I where talking to a CM last Oct about EE and she said attendance of the part had jumped up by 30% since EE. IF YOU BUILD THEY WILL COME Just want to put my 2 cents in about AK.

Not quite, but there is a definite growth trend. From the year before EE (in 2005) to last year there was a growth of 8.2 to 9.5 million - about 16%. From the low in 2003 of 7.3 million (well before EE) to 2007 there has been 30% growth.

This link keeps track of attendance but does not yet have 2007 numbers:
www.scottware.com.au/theme/guide.htm

This link has 2007 numbers:
www.connectingindustry.com/downloads/pwteaerasupp.pdf

Year - AK Annual Attendance in Millions
1999 - 8.6
2000 - 8.3
2001 - 7.7
2002 - 7.3
2003 - 7.3
2004 - 7.8
2005 - 8.2
2006 - 8.9 (EE added early in the year - officially April)
2007 - 9.5

 

[Metro West]

I like the park overall but have to agree about the walkways...they are too narrow but other than that, I like it alright.

 

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

why is the park so hot? just standing in line to get tickets it feels like a furnace..

I liked the park when i first went... it didnt seem so crowded. I Liked the kili trucks nice touring in it , But i dont like the idea of live animals in the park thats the only reason i would dislike it. I have seen lions many times before why pay 70 bucks to see a gorilla etc.. maybe if they added a rare animal addition who knows, albino giraffes lol.

its a nice park but has a few issues ......this would be the disney calif adventure problem .. Only need a few hours and you are done. Maybe they will do million Dollar renovation to fix it. just like they are going to do with DCA.

 

[lynlam]

OP here....
Well well, didn't expect to get a 6 pager out of my humble opinions!

I agree that the park is beautiful! I stated so in my OP. I would love to be able to enjoy it, but even with the limited plans we had, we still had to rush and backtrack just to get a few things done! Safari, EE, FotLK and ITTBAB. Those are the only things we "did"! it took us from RD until after 2 to get them all accomplished-and we only waited in line for 15min for the Safari and walked on or had FP for everything else. We did have avery good lunch at Flame Tree, I must say. Another 45 min on the jungle trek, which the kids liked and it did afford a slightly cooler atmosphere. Then it was nearly parade time and we had to choose - get stuck in the parade mess, or head to the exit. We headed to the exit, and I did not get to explore the trails around the TOL like I wanted to.
I went into the park, wanting an easy day and had no intentions of rushing. I wanted to enjoy the sights and the sounds. I just didn't work out that way. As soon as the crowds start to build, you feel totally overwhelemed and rushed. I don't like that feeling. I can handle any crowds at any of the other parks and take it all in stride. Its easy to get around those people who hit the brakes suddenly in the other parks. In AK there is no where to go! I knew from research that it would be a fairly busy day and I was prepared for it....or so I thought. I guess that each and every one of us has different ways of handling crowds and heat and stress. Give me a crowded MK or Epcot day and I can sail thru it happy as a clam.

Now, if we get the chance to go back next Jan. (which is an outside possibility, keep your fingers crossed) then maybe I'll try it again on a cool, cool day. Maybe.

 

[cindyfan]

Can't join the club. But I agree AK is far from perfect.

Not quite, but there is a definite growth trend. From the year before EE (in 2005) to last year there was a growth of 8.2 to 9.5 million - about 16%. From the low in 2003 of 7.3 million (well before EE) to 2007 there has been 30% growth.

This link keeps track of attendance but does not yet have 2007 numbers:
www.scottware.com.au/theme/guide.htm

This link has 2007 numbers:
www.connectingindustry.com/downloads/pwteaerasupp.pdf

Year - AK Annual Attendance in Millions
1999 - 8.6
2000 - 8.3
2001 - 7.7
2002 - 7.3
2003 - 7.3
2004 - 7.8
2005 - 8.2
2006 - 8.9 (EE added early in the year - officially April)
2007 - 9.5

Very interesting stats!
So.... I looked at all the parks..... and even though AK shows a big increase since '02, Epcot actually shows the largest increase at over 31%.
DHS took a little dip in '03.... then also continued it's upward trend right along with all the parks.
It took all the parks till 2005 to get back up to their "pre 9-11" attendance.
With DHS taking the longest to get back up.
And with the Studios struggling to get new attractions opened.... that's understandable.
So.... it looks like all the parks are just now back to the kind of attendance numbers that they saw for the Millenium Celebration...... actually looks like '07 had an increase of almost 9% over the year 2000.
And all 4 parks showing increases from '06 to '07, with AK showing the largest increase for that year.
I am wondering once the "newness" of EE wears off if AK will take a dip??
Very interesting!!

I'd say WDW is not having any trouble with the "recesion"

 

[EnnEss]

I have to agree with a pp that people think AK is some mini park and try to spring through it in a day. Its not a mini park. It has lots of great attractions, it takes more than one day to do it. If you go there thinking I'm going to sprint through, it will be awful, so would MK, so would DS, so would Epcot.

The problem doesn't lay with park design (I find this park one of the least crowded because there are multiple ways to everywhere), its the impression that guests have who think of it oddly, and I have no idea why.

A lot of the pp's complaints, the vast majority, were about other guests, AK does not induce them to behave this way. There is bad behavior everywhere. The theming at AK is among the best anywhere. You're missing it trying to hit the huge attractions and shows all at once and get out. Disney was never about massive attractions, Six flags, universal, do that. Why does everyone treat this park differently than other disney parks?

 

[EnnEss]

its a nice park but has a few issues ......this would be the disney calif adventure problem .. Only need a few hours and you are done. Maybe they will do million Dollar renovation to fix it. just like they are going to do with DCA.

I really disagree with the DCA comparison and DCA actually takes more than a day to hit the shows and attractions sometimes, mainly you can do it all at once only because of walk ons on every ride most of the time. The gripe about GCA was never attraction count (all parks build that over time) it was always the awful theming and skimping on everything to save money. That is what the renovation is addressing.

Doing the shows and attractions at AK probably takes longer than DCA and does not have similar theming issues. I would challenge you to do everything at AK and then be done within a few hours.

 

[CPer'sMom]

there are multiple ways to everywhere

The theming at AK is among the best anywhere.

I don't think very many people realize that about getting around ~ I just discovered another 'back way around' last time and it was great!

I didn't appreciate the theming on our first few visits to AK ( In fact we didn't even really like the park that much to begin with! ) but now I see more and more of the *little things* each time. My very favorite time to be in AK is PM emh when it's dark It's just a totally different experience then!

 

[EnnEss]

All the complaints about backtracking, how do you avoid this at every other park? The layout is basically the same at all four parks, epcot being different. Hub, spokes. You backtrack constantly. I think its most pronounced at DS and the least pronounced at AK because most of the hubs link up while MK is so circular that only the backhalf does. I think the only time you would have to backtrack anything at AK is when you go down the part with the characters and then back out.

 

[declansdad]

I completely agree. I've been to AK twice and I'm done with it.

This park doesn't "feel" like it was designed by anyone even remotely related to the other parks. It is the largest park by land, but feels incredibly small.

The path to actually get into the park and up to the Tree of Life is too long, boring, winding, & hilly, especially when I have an elderly parent with me.

The Safari is literally back-jarring and nearly impossible to capture pictures. Last time we made the mistake of going to Rafiki's Planet Watch. After a ridiculously long & slow train ride, we arrived at something barely more than a petting zoo.

The only ride at AK I even remotely like I Primevil Whirl, which I swear I will never ride again. We did like Festival of the Lion King, but it's not enough to get us to go back. It's far too difficult to get around this park and I find the food offerings unattractive. I also have no desire to ride Expedition Everest. I'm glad other people like it, so they stay out of the other parks. Finally, there are no signature evening events at this park. I guess I'm just a Disney traditionalist.

We're headed back to WDW in Dec. We'd like to see the new Nemo show, but that's not enough to take that long trip out to AK. Our plan for the week is set and there isn't even a hint of AK on it. As far we're concerned AK doesn't even exist.

Gayle

Sorry but I think AK is a great park and I would say that there is more to do at AK than at DHS.

The scenery is spectacular and the entrance is one of the best at WDW. The only one better is MK and that is mostly because of the magical feeling it invokes.

I have always managed to get great pictures on Safari and I have seen many others who have as well. The food has been great for us and we really enjoyed Flame Tree.

I do agree with you about Primevil Whirl, it is probably the worst ride at WDW.

We have been there in July and August and yes it was hot; but, with a little planning that can be managed as well.

 

[Markstudy]

Animal Kingdom is ... well maybe we have a very different feel for the place, because we always go in January when there is NO HEAT.

Its a really nice park...if you try it in January NO CROWDS either

We went at 9:00 am and had the place to ourselfs..
- time to stop and smell the flowers
- enjoy a sunbeam on a cool Florida morning
- and just stroll the paths with no-one around

Sorry, but the park is GREAT if you can swing it at the right times.

 

[madthemouse]

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)

 

[luvthemouse71]

Another AK lover here. I do agree that it's hotter there than other parks, though.

We have a pretty nice zoo where I live but AK to me is so much better. I love the fact that the animals aren't caged in the traditional sense. I like the fact that taking care of the environment is stressed in this park. I find it more laid back there, personally. I usually park hop, so I go back to it at various points during my trip.

I also like the fact that it's not so "in your face" as far as the characters and such.

 

[liveforthemagic]

We were just talking about AK vs Seaworld at our house. We only have the time (and $$$) to do one of them. We did AK 3 years ago May and didn't find it terribly crowded or hot--but EE wasn't there yet.

What do those of you who have been to both suggest for an early Dec visit?

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

This is my favorite new thread

 

[haley123]

I strongly dislike the AK. Far to crowded and hard to get from place to place. And everything had an extremely long line. Which was odd because the day before at the MK I got on Peter Pan's Flight at 3:00 in the afternoon with a 15 Min wait.

 

[caracap]

Every year I insist we never go back, and once again I have it planned for this year. But, we are going in the afternoon(we have never tried this before), and eating at Yak & Yeti, so we at least will eat dinner there, and NOT end up at McDonald's like we do every year Lat night, i was planning our ADR's and of course it was AK day that was messing me up, and DH says if you are getting stressed because of the AK day, we are not going, lol!!!

 

[pixie08]

Sorry did not read every post so I apologize if this was already stated.

Perhaps most of us are so used to AK being the underdog. Let's face it before EE and Nemo it was the least desirable park which equals low crowd level. Ak is becoming extremly popular and most likely gaining ground on DS and EPCOT in terms of park attendence so therefore now crowds are inevitable. I do think MK a similiar situation. I have been there at times it is so crowded it is impossible to walk (yes that was before the DIS and before I got smart and stopped going peak ) anyhow we seem to tolerate this MK and wait 2 hrs for dumbo but somehow at AK it is unacceptable. I do love the park and agree I wish it were less crowded however, that would never stop me from going to a park or lets face it WDW is just not the place to vacation.

I think the key here is smart touring. Yes maybe that means you will not see very attraction but at least you will enjoy the ones you saw. Also I can not stress the impotance of an afternoon break. Out at twelve and back after 3pm. Avoid the heavy flow of the late risers at 11am, and spend the hottest part of the day in your cool hotel room, shopping at DTD or wading in your hotel pool.