Would you skip Animal Kingdom

[MataHari22]

No way I would skip AK. MK is my fav, and AK, is just after that, I love that park. It's a full day park for me. I am one of the people that would skip HS, rather than AK, but HS has now moved to my least favorite park.

If you have your FP+ set up, then go later if you cannot get up early, but don't skip it!

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

Add me to the "Don't skip it!" list!! Our family loves that park; it is my husband's favorite overall park (I wouldn't go that far). It won't be difficult for you to get up and get going in the morning...you're at WDW! I am NOT a morning person, but I am the first one up when we visit WDW...too excited to sleep in and I know the huge benefits of arriving before rope drop.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would skip it. If you're back in a year or two go then, when (or if) Avatarland is ready.

 

[Summertinkerbell]

This will be our first trip to Disney world. My party includes myself, my husband, and my almost 3 year old. We are arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Friday. Due to work commitments there is no wiggle room in our length of stay (IE we can't add any days.
My original plan was to fly in Sunday afternoon and have a nice relaxing day at the hotel enjoying the pools and the resort. A monkey wrench was thrown in my plans when I went to book our airfare last week and see that there are only 2 non-stop flights to Orlando on the Sunday we are set to arrive. One arrives in Orlando at noon (this would be ideal) and one arrives into Orlando at 8pm). The price difference is ASTRONOMICAL. The 2pm arriving flight is $257 a person. The 8pm flight is $103 a person. A $462 difference.

So now I'm thinking we will take the 8pm flight but I know realstically that means I won't be getting to my hotel until at least 10pm which means none of us (especailly my little one) will want to be up early. Monday is supposed to be our Animal Kingdom day. I am thinking of ditching it all together and instead sleeping in and then either just hanging out at the resort (Port Orleans Riverside) and using the pool or going to blizzard beach as my daughter LOVES to swim.

Is this a park that I really shouldn't miss? We do plan to come back to Disney World every other year, so I dont think it's a once in a lifetime shot, but I just wonder if that is a good park for little ones? Any opinions?

Since you plan on returning often, I see no reason not to just skip AK this time. We skipped it on our trip a week or so ago. We hadn't been to WDW in 4 years, and we wanted more MK time to experience all of the changes plus old favorites. We spent one day in Epcot, one in HS, and four days in MK. It worked out really well.

I'm sure that we will have a day or half-day in AK on our next trip, but it really isn't a priority to us.

Have fun!

 

[Summertinkerbell]

I think small children love AK. HS has nothing to offer except Osbourne Lights (if you go at Christmas).

There is a lot at HS for young children. If your 3 year old is female, I'm sure she will want to see Anna & Elsa.

Go on the Disney website and check out all of the awesome attractions for young children at HS before you sacrifice it for AK.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Add me to the skip DHS before Animal Kingdom with an almost 3 year old. I would even consider skipping Epcot before Animal Kingdom with a child that age.

 

[JoshuaShaw]

I would not skip it.

 

[BobC]

Thrill seekers tend to like DHS due to ToT and RRC. They need a mild coaster like a Mountain to draw the mid tier coaster fans

 

[wfjny]

I am not a huge fan of AK. My knee jerk reaction would say to just skip it.

However, with this being your first trip, I hate to say skip anything.

Now, full disclosure. We have annual passes and have for the past five years. We make three or four trips to WDW a year, a week long in the summer, and a couple of long weekends. We always make a point to do something new every trip. My point being, you will never see everything, so do not get crazy about it.

One suggestion I would make, if you have the ability, perhaps you can fly in even lat on Saturday night, and just get a cheap hotel for overnight. We have been known to get into town late and stay at the Hampton Inn for a night before heading to our Disney hotel the next morning.

Somewhat easier for us since we normally drive, but something to think about depending on your air fare, and if you were getting a rental car or not.

 

[Delirium]

I know others are saying to skip DHS, but if your daughter likes Jake, Doc, and Sofia, that's the only place to see them. My 2 1/2 year-old daughter FLIPPED when we saw them on our last visit. They also have the Disney Junior LIVE show that both my kids loved. We had fun at AK, but she and I spent a lot of time wandering while my husband and son rode EE, Dino, and Kali.

I would do as some others have suggested - get afternoon FP+ for AK and head over there late morning.

Excellent post. So often, advice is given without considerations of the specific circumstances for that poster. The poster indicated their child was 3 years old, and for the vast majority of 3 year olds, Sofia, Doc, and Jake ARE Disney, as much or even more so than Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Disney JR, is who that age group knows, and the only place to find them is at Hollywood Studios.

 

[jormom1030]

We did Disney in Jan. 2014 with a 2 1/2 year old, 6 year old, and a 11 year old. We had a horrible experience at HS. There was so little to do with a 2 1/2 year old. My kids LOVED Animal Kingdom. We were back at Disney this June and my kids were now 3, 7, and 12. We skipped HS this time and were so glad we didn't waste our time. It was 90 degree days and we didn't think AK was as hot as our Epcot days.

 

[vanyel]

One suggestion I would make, if you have the ability, perhaps you can fly in even lat on Saturday night, and just get a cheap hotel for overnight. We have been known to get into town late and stay at the Hampton Inn for a night before heading to our Disney hotel the next morning.

Somewhat easier for us since we normally drive, but something to think about depending on your air fare, and if you were getting a rental car or not.[/QUOTE]

Similar to my suggestion - we're coming in later on a Sunday night and staying at a Clarion Inn (which we got a great rate on orbitz with fairly decent ratings). We'll get up early on Monday, check into CBR and head to our first park which is going to be AK this trip. Is that something that might work for you?

 

[Praying Colonel]

Another vote for not missing AK. It's an underrated park, IMHO, and very pretty. I'd go late morning/early afternoon--this is one place here FP+ works in your favor.

 

[phillymummer]

I think small children love AK. HS has nothing to offer except Osbourne Lights (if you go at Christmas).

My 5 year old didn't like AK. She kept asking me, "where are all the rides?" This was after we had done the Safari, Rapids, Bone yard, and the dumbo ride but with Dinosaurs. she wasn't tall enough yet for EE and didn't want to do Primo Whirl. We ended up leaving an going to MK. She LOVED DHS. Don't underestimate the amount of time children can spend in HISTK playground. That place is fun. I even like climbing around in there!

but maybe it is different with younger children.

 

[mmfox316]

If you never have gone the Lion King and Nemo shows are not to be missed. But I have been 5 times and I could spend the entire day there. The detail is missed by most people. I like to take time and look around.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Yet another vote for not skipping AK. That is actually both mine and my fiance's favorite park of all, and I think all of the animals would entertain your son. If you want to sleep in then do as others suggest and make afternoon FP+ ressies and go there midday.

 

[DizDaD7]

I know I already chimed in on this earlier, but As much as we love it now, I can't wait for the near future when other things are done...Especially the nighttime activities/shows...Avatarland ( regardless of how it turns out ) will be a welcome added change.....This upcoming trip we'll most likely be heading to AK at least 2 days... FWIW

 

[jormom1030]

My 5 year old didn't like AK. She kept asking me, "where are all the rides?" This was after we had done the Safari, Rapids, Bone yard, and the dumbo ride but with Dinosaurs. she wasn't tall enough yet for EE and didn't want to do Primo Whirl. We ended up leaving an going to MK. She LOVED DHS. Don't underestimate the amount of time children can spend in HISTK playground. That place is fun. I even like climbing around in there!

but maybe it is different with younger children.

So what rides did she do at HS? Isn't there only 1 ride other than the Great Movie Ride that a young child can do?

 

[ETICKETTORIDE]

Wow, I'm very surprised about all the AK love. It is my least favorite park of the 4, and in recent years, I have been trying to find the magic here but I've been having a hard time. When it first opened in 98' I thought it was pretty cool, but over the years it began to feel kind of empty and lost to me. I'm really pleased they have been working on it. I do like it's tough to be a bug and the river rapids, but little else there, and that dino land makes me cringe...but hey, that's just me. My kids seem to like it okay.

HS still feels like 89' to me (which I like) Makes me sad though, of all the old attractions and rides lost here and there is a lot of empty space/filler here as well. Here's hoping the new construction at HS brings a new life to this once very cool park.

 

[emsstacey]

I budgeted half a day for AK and it was my girls favorite park. We ended up going back on our off day. We love it! It's a do not miss for us