Why Animal Kingdom?

[ginkyoo]

My best friend of forever is bringing her family to WDW in October (we're having a grand gathering!) and she plans to exclude Animal Kingdom. I won't force her to go but think she will end up feeling like she missed something if she doesn't.

I love Animal Kingdom - but am not doing a very good job of explaining why...so, I am interested in your testimonials!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

maybe try and convince her to go for at least a 1/2 day. My family only usually spends a 1/2 day but since EE is new to the rest of my family (i rode it last yr on spring break) i have a feeling my brother will want to go back 2 or 3 more times for a 1/2 day. I would explain to her that the park can be done in a 1/2 day or less, depending on if you eat there. Tell her about the safari and the water ride and dinosaur those are our favs and now we can add EE to that list. I bet you can convince her to stay a 1/2 day and depending on how long you go for, if you go for a few days and thats it then it could be skipped but if your there for a week I would try and convince her to spend a 1/2 day there (bribes work too!!) lol I hope this helps!! maybe show her the WDW vacation video that might help too.

 

[autumnbaby9]

I don't know how to help you out convincing your friend. AK is unfortuantly one of those things you have to see for yourself to really begin to understand the magic. Besides the MK AK was my favorite park. All the guides and people on here said I could do it in 1 day but I had to go back another day just too soak in the atmosphere some more. It is definatly a must do in my opinion.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

I love AK, it is my favorite park. I love the safari, it is a not miss. EE is also a wonderful ride & another not miss. I also love the parade but not everyone is into parades.

 

[REC213]

Show her this....

http://www.livevideo.com/video/REC2...on-2006-episode-3-animal-kingdom-day-off.aspx

 

[pepe of ohio]

If I see it, fine, if I don't, no big deal. Do not really care for the park, really not interested in EE, Kali Rapids is fun but the lay out of the park is hard to understand. Seems to be no rhyme or reason for touring. Walkways are very crowded, even in the off season and other than the vegetation, the landscape has little to offer going from one area or attraction to another. Also, when the sun is fully up, it tends to be very hot when other parks are more airy and comfortable plus the lack of ACed places to cool off. We usually go 1/2 day out of our 8-12 night Disney stay, other parks seem to hold our interests more.

 

[RabFlmom]

I love AK. Thought I would hate it cause I thought BG was the park for animal watching. I found out I could love them both-just different. The Lion King Show is worth going to the park in my opinion. We spend hours walking the trails to see the animals, too. We were not able to do everything at the park when we were there from opening to close. I still have never seen the parade. Sometimes we do the safari more than once( early morning and just before closing.
Most of the time now we park at MK and go to Epcot in the morning and eat lunch there. Then we take the boat to MGM to get out of the sun and relax a little. Grab the bus to AK from there and spend the afternoonm at AK till it closes. Then we either head to MGM for a little while and then over to MK for Wishes or right over to MK to spend more time there.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I am hoping to exclude it this time. I don't much enjoy it excpet for it's tough to be a bug, Festival of the Lion King, Kali River Rapids and Dinoland. We have a zoo near us so we can see most of the animals there. I don't find anything exciting about AK. My kids are really not into it either. I would rather just go to the parks that they enjoy and not waste my time going just to go.
If I was travelling with friends or family that didn't want to do what I liked, then that is up to them. It's there vacation too. I like that you aren't going to force them to go. There's nothing like being with people that don't want to be there.

 

[lynn46356]

We were somewhat like that until last week. We visited AK two half days last week. We've been to Disney 4 times and had not gone there. This visit we did and we loved it. EE is awsome, PW is fun if you like spinning rollercoasters, Its Tough to be a Bug is now one of my favorites, I loved Dinosaur, etc. Unfortunately we weren't able to do any of the shows but that will be a must do next time. Our DS8 loved the park. My only disappointment was actually the safari. I was very surprised that the driver never stopped to let us look or take pictures of the animals. My pictures turned out terrible. Oh well. Lesson learned. Just a surprise to me. We've made a mistake by not going and now we will. Thanks. Lynn

 

[Robo]

Why Animal Kingdom?

Because its THERE!

 

[auntread]

this makes me sad, I love Animal Kingdom! but I hear of so many people who don't think it is worth it. There are so many reasons why i love it. First of all, i think it is spectacularly beautiful!! The quiet paths leading in, the sight of that tree!!! If your friend is a ride afficianado, talk about EE and Kali.
If shows do it for her, Festival of the Lion King is unequaled!! but if they really aren't interested, let it go. Good luck and have fun no matter what.

 

[cabanafrau]

We toured AK last summer under a sense of obligation, not enthusiasm. We left feeling sad we didn't have time for more exploring & knew that it was too darn hot for us to try to re-work our plans to do more of it. Maybe I should explain that we had no interest in the Dino-section & didn't see it, didn't want to ride EE or Kali or see ITTBAB.

Next time the plan is to allot nearly no time for MGM & build in the appropriate down time after sweating our way through exploring AK. You definitely have to see this park for yourself to appreciate its beauty!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Sorry but not a fan of AK here either. We decided on our last trip that we had given it numerous tries and will not bother going back to it any time soon. As another poster stated it is poorly layed out and the attractions aren't that exciting. Some shows are nice but not enough for us to waste half a day there. It is also the hottest place on the planet. The only thing that was better on our last trip was that it was 50degrees in Florida when we went. Otherwise we call it the "fiery pits of he@@ with animals"! Our kids don't really care much for it either. We live near so many animal centers and zoos that they aren't impressed. My ds just went to a birthday party where he rode a horse, fed goats, pigs, antelope,llamas, see lemurs, pet some rabbits and pet a hedgehog- and that was just a kids party. So while seeing an elephant or crocodile is somewhat exciting for them they aren't that impressed. Jaded I know. Poor kids! We just don't like to much about the park. We think it is beautiful but beyond that we think it's a waste. JMHO.

 

[Kath2003]

I'm not a huge fan of AK, although I think it's improving.

The problem is, there are 4-5 good attractions. They are all spread out all over the park. My frustration is wasting 90% of my day getting from one attraction to the other.

 

[Ilovefozzie]

Show her this....

http://www.livevideo.com/video/REC2...on-2006-episode-3-animal-kingdom-day-off.aspx

Great video!! Are you sure you don't work for Disney??

 

[yankeepenny]

I hate the heat but loved this park. there was plenty of shaded areas and benches for resting, and we are returning as we just loved it . and ice cold barbeque chicken salad for lunch from flame tree and mickey bars and ......

MGM on the the hand was a concrete jungle and i really dont wish to return there.....


(JMHO)

 

[Ilovefozzie]

To answer the original question...

For us we have to do AK. We all loved the safari, the animals and the "park" feel. It was a nice relaxing addition to our trip. Our son loves animals and science so the AK was one of his favorites. The DH and the DS really enjoyed EE.

Get them to at least go for opening and let them know they can leave at any time. If you have park hoppers then point that out to them. I would suggest maybe only a half day for them, and set up plans to meet later for dinner.

Good Luck!

 

[amwhitaker]

I LOVE Animal Kingdom! We never have enough time there to see everything. I still have never made it Rafikis yet 'cause we run out of time. It's a very lush and beautiful park. Very relaxing. My favorites:

Lion King show
Kilaminjaro Safari
It's Tough to be a Bug
Dinosaur
Tree of Life is awesome just to look at and find animals
Pangani Forest Trail
Maharajah Trek

I haven't seen Nemo yet, but have heard it's awesome.

 

[tiff211]

I think you named all the attractions!!

I love Ak as well, and dds love it. We just go at a slow pace and take in everything. Lots of pictures, and when we went last year we didn't even do ITTBAB or EE! We go to conservation station for character sightings, I couldn't go to WDW without seeing the LK show. It gives me goosebumps!!

Yay, I am getting exciting for our trip!!!

 

[themudd4]

AK is not my favorite park by any means but I wouldn't exclude it at all.
Maybe suggest doing the Donald's Resturantasuars breakfast, then spending about 1/2 the day in the park. If you are enjoying yourself, stay longer. If she has never been she probably thinks it is nothing more than a Disney themed Zoo. Most people do.
EE is one of if not the Best rollar coster at WDW. White water rapids, Festival of the Lion King, I think the new Nemo show is there now too, It's tough to be a bug, and of course the sarfari.