AK...so much more than rides. Ruined us from going to local Zoo's!

[HM GhostHostess]

I noticed that some of the posts talk about the animals not being visible and how zoos give you better glimpses of animals. I have been to a couple of zoos; I've also seen pictures and videos of many zoos around the world. In my opinion, the enclosures of those zoos do not even compare to Animal Kingdom's daytime enclosures. Most zoos use bare concrete, small spaces, chain link fences, and have very little theming. Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, recreates the animals' habitats perfectly.

One of the reasons why I love Animal Kingdom is that they treat their animals with so much respect. That includes giving them plenty of opportunities to hide away from spectators. Animals don't always want to be in the spotlight and it is natural for them to want to seclude themselves a few times during the day. If an animal doesn't want to be bothered, I don't care. Let them have their freedoms. In fact, a lot of the fun just comes from wondering what animals you will be able to see during the trip.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

I noticed that some of the posts talk about the animals not being visible and how zoos give you better glimpses of animals. I have been to a couple of zoos; I've also seen pictures and videos of many zoos around the world. In my opinion, the enclosures of those zoos do not even compare to Animal Kingdom's daytime enclosures. Most zoos use bare concrete, small spaces, chain link fences, and have very little theming. Animal Kingdom, on the other hand, recreates the animals' habitats perfectly.

One of the reasons why I love Animal Kingdom is that they treat their animals with so much respect. That includes giving them plenty of opportunities to hide away from spectators. Animals don't always want to be in the spotlight and it is natural for them to want to seclude themselves a few times during the day. If an animal doesn't want to be bothered, I don't care. Let them have their freedoms. In fact, a lot of the fun just comes from wondering what animals you will be able to see during the trip.

I do not think anyone is comparing DAK to those type zoos that you described. I think that the higher end, if you will, type zoos like The Bronx, San Diego, Cincinnatti, and Columbus among others, exceeds AK for seeing animals in well designed enclosures with the animals in mind. Those pitful places you describe do not get my money.

That being said AK is me and my family's favorite park... and we even make a full day out of it(imagine that) and often return for another day before we leave.

 

[Philhar-Fanatic]

To DABIGCHEEZ us too. Not only once but twice! :sohappy:

 

[javy2004]

i have yet to experience AK for myself, but i feel it needs to go more in one direction of either kind of a zoo or kind of an attractions theme park. although theming isn't on point with AK, i think busch gardens tampa nailed it with its rides/ zoo blend. for someone that's over roller coasters, it impressed me with its variety and originality of coasters and with the animal exhibits (riding on a train or whatever it was i was on and seeing a baby rhino running along was perhaps the coolest animal/ zoo experience ever for me). i think attractions and theming are what AK needs to focus on... i think avatar needs to be dropped from being named that and rename it something along the lines of james cameron's pandora and focus on the awesomeness that was seeing pandora on the big screen. imagineers have so much to work with from pandora i can't wait to see what they do with it (the lit up forest would give people a reason to be in the park at night as well). it can outdo harry potter i believe, if the focus is brought upon pandora.

 

[Alison1975]

We LOVE the Animal Kingdom, the rides, the atmosphere, the animals, the Safari Amber beer. We've talked to several other people that could really just do without it. We've been told, we can go to a Zoo anytime. We think the exact opposite, the thought of going to a local Zoo now is just funny to us. This leaves me wondering, are we alone in seeing the MAGIC that is the Animal Kingdom? :lookaroun

Def not alone..we love AK..spent 2 days there this last trip and it still wasn't long enough! I'd pick AK over HS any day of the week!

 

[Susan Savia]

I just told my son yesterday that I wanted to spend a little more time checking out the animals in AK. We usually just go in and take a ride on the safari and then head over to Dinosaur and then head out.

 

[C.FERNIE]

we always spend the whole day at animal kingdom, but to be fair we often have a sit down breakfast before we go so arrive a little later, last time we did this we ended up being pretty much the last person out the park with cms pretty much following us out of dinoland! we didnt get to do everything we wanted to either, so it is easily a full day park if you wanted it to be! :wave:

 

[Philhar-Fanatic]

JAVY2004...I feel that for someone who hasn't experienced the park for himself has really got it all wrong. You say AK needs to focus on attractions and themeing? What us AK lovers are saying that is it's not the rides that make the park...it's the themeing...atmosphere...etc!!!

 

[Philhar-Fanatic]

Also they don't need a reason for people to be there at night. They close early because it takes so much time to care for the animals needs.

 

[AEfx]

Being an animal lover, I really wish I could get excited about Animal Kingdom, but I can't. I just can't put my finger on why. I don't dislike the park by any means, but I just find myself not wanting to stay very long and just hopping to another park. I'm going to give it another try on my next trip. I've heard that experiencing the park in the evening gives it a fun twist, so I'm going to try that.

I think it's the fact that you don't actually get close to very many animals. You don't see them very easily. I've gone through the entire rush-you-through-a-safari tour and seen like 2 or 3 species, one of which are usually birds.

I have the opposite experience - AK made me go to and appreciate my local/regional zoos much more. Yes, Disney puts what animals they have in very lush environments, but the actual animals feel very few and far between.

JAVY2004...I feel that for someone who hasn't experienced the park for himself has really got it all wrong. You say AK needs to focus on attractions and themeing? What us AK lovers are saying that is it's not the rides that make the park...it's the themeing...atmosphere...etc!!!

And that's great and all, but keep in mind that the majority of people go to WDW to experience rides and attractions, even if they like to experience the theming. While AK is undoubtedly lush, it's also rather one-note. Yes, it's a great big pretty forest. But the lands are mostly indistinct (you can usually only tell by the names on signs of the various shanty buildings that cover the landscape where you are in many cases).

It's pretty...but not very deep. And if they are going to be stingy with attractions and rides, etc., then it needs to go a bit deeper than pretty forest.