What's the deal with Animal Kingdon?

[billylen]

I visited AK when it first opened and to be blunt I was disappointed. Do not get me wrong, I am a BIG Disney fan and a stockholder, but I wonder if anything has changed? My last visit to WDW was only for a day because we went of the 7-day cruise.

Well, we are going back for a week in a few days. Can anyone tell me what is different or what to look for that will make the experience worthwhile?

Help me out here folks...

 

[Kapp]

If you expect numerous thrill rides, hectic and large crowds, etc., AK may not be your cup of tea. But if you want a beautiful park, with great exhibits, unusual rides, great shows and a in a slower pace, you will love AK. I know that some say you either love it or hate it but I have run into some past "haters" that gave it a 2nd chance and now love it!

 

[RyMickey]

I really like AK, but I still don't think that it's a full-day park (others will disagree, I know). Personally, while I love the Safari, Dinosaur, and the various trails, I would not go to the park if I didn't have a park hopping option on my ticket. There's simply not enough there.

I like AK, but I agree that there's not enough there for me to spend a whole day in the park.

 

[elastigirlfan]

My family loves AK. But we also love animals too. I guess if you're looking for thrill rides or even a lot of rides - you'd be disappointed. It's a beautiful park and next year there will be the new Expedition Everest. We especially love the Safair ride, the rapid ride, and the Lion King Show which is awesome. I hope you like it if you give it another try on your next trip.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Animal Kingdom is my favorite park! But, like another poster said, we love animals! The Kilimanjaro Safari is awesome! I also like the slower pace of just walking around all of the different trails and looking at the animals. We always try to catch the Tarzan Rocks show (I know they are doing away with this, but I think it is still there for a little while) and the Lion King show. They are both really great. My favorite thing about the Animal Kingdom, though, is the Jammin' Jungle Parade--it is my favorite parade anywhere in WDW.

I hope you find stuff you like at AK if you decide to check it out again!

 

[Disneyrsh]

Like you, when AK opened I just wasn't 'feeling' it, I felt it lacked a certain something the other parks had.

Now, years later, we feel like it has really grown into its own. The vegetation has matured, there are more rides, there seems to be a lot more visual complexity (read: more fun stuff to look at!) then when it first opened.

So now, we definitely 'feel' it! I think you should absolutely give it another chance.

The Festival of The Lion King is not to be missed, it's spectacular. The Kilimanjaro Safari is a blast, the gorilla walking path is incredible now, I'm not a huge fan of Kali River Rapids because I always get drenched but the queue line is really visually arresting.

Let's see, skip that cheesy gut busting pseudo roller coaster ride at the carny corner, but Dinosaur is a blast.

Tusker house has some great rotisserie chicken.

The best face painters for kids are at AK.

Take your time at AK, it's turned into something that you definitely don't want to rush through or you miss all the hidden treasures...

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I can never figure out why people say it's not a full day park... you can't possibly do EVERYTHING there, including the shows, in less than a full day. First off it's not open as long each day as the other parks, some of the shows are scheduled in a way that it's DIFFICULT (if not impossible?) to do all the shows in one day, much less try to do them all in half a day- then add in all there is to do, ride, see, walk through, etc. Impossible... just simply impossible to do it all in half a day. Those that say that MUST not be talking about doing/riding/seeing everything in half a day... they must just be talking about only doing rides and that taking only half a day there?

 

[civileng68]

I think this is the kind of park that some just love love love.

However, I just dont' find much amusement in it.

After the Safari tour, Tough to be a bug, and Dinosaur, I'm ready to leave.

We were there Tues. and I think we left after about 2 1/2 hours. HOWEVER it's just not my personal "cup of tea".

Also, while I thought Lucky was neat, I didn't see the big deal.

 

[wkrider]

Animal Kingdom is my favorite park! But, like another poster said, we love animals! The Kilimanjaro Safari is awesome! I also like the slower pace of just walking around all of the different trails and looking at the animals. We always try to catch the Tarzan Rocks show (I know they are doing away with this, but I think it is still there for a little while) and the Lion King show. They are both really great. My favorite thing about the Animal Kingdom, though, is the Jammin' Jungle Parade--it is my favorite parade anywhere in WDW.

I hope you find stuff you like at AK if you decide to check it out again!

DITTO!!!

 

[missypie]

I SO wanted to love this park, but I didn't. I think the key is to go on a day when the weather is beautiful...sunny and 72 and you're just glad to be outside. It's miserable on a rainy day; miserable on a hot, sunny day - both because almost everything is outside.

We loved exploring the Tree of Life...but not in the rain or hot sun. We enjoyed Dinosaur. Lion King was entertaining, but DD12 was in tears because of waiting in the hot sun to get in.

A few weeks ago there was a thread about WDW's most over-rated rides and attractions. I started listing mine and realized that all but one were at AK. ITTBAB, Kali River Rapids, the Safari, Primeval Whirl...

It's definitely a "get out and enjoy the outdoors" park...and if the outdoors is not very enjoyable that day, the park won't be either.

 

[eclectics]

You just can't go "Commando" to this park for 1/2 day and expect to enjoy all the things this park has to offer. AK is my second fav (next to MK, of course)! So many hidden things to explore, if you take the time to look for them. If you go prepared to enjoy a break from the hectic pace, you will fall in love with this park. If you just want to ride a rollercoaster, this is not the park for you. I hope Disney doesn't try to "improve" it too much just to boost attendance.

 

[civileng68]

I SO wanted to love this park, but I didn't. I think the key is to go on a day when the weather is beautiful...sunny and 72 and you're just glad to be outside. It's miserable on a rainy day; miserable on a hot, sunny day - both because almost everything is outside.

We loved exploring the Tree of Life...but not in the rain or hot sun. We enjoyed Dinosaur. Lion King was entertaining, but DD12 was in tears because of waiting in the hot sun to get in.

A few weeks ago there was a thread about WDW's most over-rated rides and attractions. I started listing mine and realized that all but one were at AK. ITTBAB, Kali River Rapids, the Safari, Primeval Whirl...

It's definitely a "get out and enjoy the outdoors" park...and if the outdoors is not very enjoyable that day, the park won't be either.

While I do like the attractions I woudl agree with the weather thing. Actually on a 70 degree day this would likely be my favorite park of all, but on a hot day, this park seems about 10 degrees hotter than every other park.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

While MK is our favorite park, we, as a family, enjoy AK.

 

[hezreck]

My sister-in-law is planning a trip to Disney world and asking about whether they needed hopper tickets or just one park a day tickets. she said " we probably won't go to Animal Kingdom anyway because it's just a zoo, isn't it?" Needless to say she has never been to The World, so I had to fill her in on all the things to see there. I told her we spent a whole day there and the only animals we looked at were on the Safari. In my opinion AK has the best shows, the best playground for kids, and everytime we were there, the best character interaction with the shortest wait. Not to mention the parade is great!

 

[billylen]

We will give it another try...I mean a REAL try...I actually liked the park when we visited it a few years back, but it just felt like it was not ready for public consumption.

So I will go with an open mind and see what I see....

 

[VW_Guy]

I've only been to the park one time, and even though it was rainy in the morning and then unbareably hot in the early afternoon, and we left an hour before closing--I still had a great time and still feel like I missed out on so much!! We didn't even have time to see the Lion King or check out the Tree any closer than just waiting in line for ITTBAB.

What many of you have to keep in mind is that all of the parks had slow openings... For the first few years, MK was without some of its biggest attractions (including all three "mountains"). So, give it some time--I think AK is doing great so far, and I'm sure with Everest about to open the park will be getting a lot bigger and better really soon!!

Can't wait!!

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Glad you're going to give it another try, although I'd prefer the place remain unpopular (if indeed it is...seems pretty crowded to me!). It's my favorite park. You're right in saying either you love it or you don't. I happened to really enjoy it, mostly because we saved it until the end of our visit, and weren't so much into commando touring as we were soaking up atmosphere to carry home with us. I must have gotten lucky with the weather, because although it was a warm day in the 80's, none of us got really uncomfortable until we went on that wretched Kali River Rapids ride and got soaked, and then chafed for the remainder of our visit! All the other attractions and rides were a lot of fun, though.

 

[Jamesbyr]

When AK opened, it was missing the whole Asia section. The TARZAN show was a JUNGLE BOOK show, much smaller-scaled, with a lot of trampolines. There were none of the carvival rides in Dinoland. (Silly, I know, but what was there before was just, well, fossilized.)

If you look at an aerial photo, there is a lot of undeveloped space in Asia, as well as behind Featival of the Lion King. It is much better than it was when it opened, and there will be a lot more to come, I think.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We didn't like it at first...but I now believe it to be a very viable theme park. With the addition of more attractions--it is holding it's own.

I still have a hard time staying all day though---since we usually get everything done so quickly.

Yes--AK in the heat...is not a very pleasant experience. Nor is going unprepared on a cold day....BRRRRRRR.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I've only been to the park one time, and even though it was rainy in the morning and then unbareably hot in the early afternoon, and we left an hour before closing--I still had a great time and still feel like I missed out on so much!! We didn't even have time to see the Lion King or check out the Tree any closer than just waiting in line for ITTBAB.

What many of you have to keep in mind is that all of the parks had slow openings... For the first few years, MK was without some of its biggest attractions (including all three "mountains"). So, give it some time--I think AK is doing great so far, and I'm sure with Everest about to open the park will be getting a lot bigger and better really soon!!

VW guy my dh would be your best friend...we own two Carmen Ghia's...don't ask me what year...one is black and convertible...the other is some robin egg blue color he is restoring that as we speak...he wants a bus but I say no way...for Christmas I bought him two t shirts off ebay, one has a bus the other has a Ghia...Man we get looks when we drive that baby...he also owns a 6o something Corvair...He sold that on Ebay saying his heart belongs to the V-dubbs We have other "vintage" cars and trucks as he calls them...I call them something else I know it is OT just wanted to share...