Ak's severe lack of kid's rides.

[BrerVeritas]

I love the atmosphere of Animal Kingdom, and I have always enjoyed my stops there.(however brief) But recently I notice that there is a severe lack of rides with no height restriction. I may be going to WDW next year with my 2 yr. old, and there isn't really anything to do(in a classic ride sense) except for the safari and that Dumbo clone.

With all of the hype around everest and the rumored expasnion of Kali, i think its tme to move away from thrill rides and put in some nice dark rides, maybe as part of a Beastly Kingdom type ordeal, or even some education rides themed to animals like the ride in the land is for farming.

How about a ride through a giant ant farm w/ giant animatronic ants, or a Peter Pan style ride on the back of a Bald Eagle, Condor, or Roc(for a mythical BK idea). Or better yet, how about an endangered species ride, a PoC style river ride through the habitats of endangered animals with animatronics...etc.

Just some thoughts, because you need some nice slow rides to cut the lines for the thrill rides and to go to in between coasters as a breather. Just my opinion.

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

How about a ride through a giant ant farm w/ giant animatronic ants, or a Peter Pan style ride on the back of a Bald Eagle, Condor, or Roc(for a mythical BK idea). Or better yet, how about an endangered species ride, a PoC style river ride through the habitats of endangered animals with animatronics...etc..

Have you been to WDW lately? If not, there is Dinoland USA. By Tarzan Rocks! there is the Primevil Whirl. Also, Triceratop Spin is right there. (Like you said, it's a type of Dumbo clone.) As for the endagered species ride, KS is basically that, but on land. You wind all over, no singing but talking about the animals, which I'm sure is what you would want on the ride you're envisioning.

Just some thoughts, because you need some nice slow rides to cut the lines for the thrill rides and to go to in between coasters as a breather. Just my opinion.

I'm thinking that once EE opens, they will open the boats again. At least I'd like to think that. As for some slow rides that cut the lines for thrill rides, there is Tarzan Rocks! and FotLK. Yes I know, those aren't rides, but they are excellent shows with hgh-capacity theaters and do a good job of cutting the line for thrill rides IMO.

 

[StevenT]

How about a ride through a giant ant farm w/ giant animatronic ants, or a Peter Pan style ride on the back of a Bald Eagle, Condor, or Roc(for a mythical BK idea). Or better yet, how about an endangered species ride, a PoC style river ride through the habitats of endangered animals with animatronics...etc.

I think AK could benifit greatly from any well thought out ride (not dino-rama) because the park just simply needs things to do. I love the idea of some family style dark rides and I think you endangered species idea is really good.I think it would be interesting and very enjoyable.

 

[BrerVeritas]

Posted by WDWScottieBoy<

Have you been to WDW lately? If not, there is Dinoland USA. By Tarzan Rocks! there is the Primevil Whirl. Also, Triceratop Spin is right there. (Like you said, it's a type of Dumbo clone.) As for the endagered species ride, KS is basically that, but on land. You wind all over, no singing but talking about the animals, which I'm sure is what you would want on the ride you're envisioning.>

Yes, i was In AK last August and I stick by what I said. Primevil whirl has a 48'' height resriction. ITTBAB is to scary for most small children. Most of the animals on the Safari are not on the endangered species list. And, I said nothing about singing.

I did say an educational DARK ride like Living with the Land or sigh...horizons. When I think of WDW I think of their mastery of the darkrides and Animal Kingdom has none without height restrictions. That is not very disneyesque to me. Also, I refuse to consider those wannabe broadway "stage"shows as a good breather attraction. All they do is take up space that could be used for some good innovative dark rides that would have families lining up to ride.

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

I apologize for misunderstanding you. I do agree that some dark rides and/or e-rides would be a nice addition to AK. I think once EE opens, they will start something else. Disney doesn't like the idea of it being a 1/2 day park, so I think some changes are coming, just don't know when. As for the endangered species, you'd be surprised at how many on the safari are. Again, sorry for sounding rude in my earlier post.

 

[careship]

I really enjoy the shows and don't forget about Pocohontas. It's definately one of those parks that needs a broader variety of areas/rides to span all age groups. I am defiantely aware and in agreement with that. I don't think that people give DAK the credit it's due for what is there. Yes, it needs to be expanded and they are working on that, unfortunately, that doesn't include rides for the youngest visitors. My kids when they were little liked going to COnservation STation and the Safari and just watching the animals, but we are an animal family. We visit zoos all over the US because we love the animals. So even though DAK is Natazoo (sp) we appreciate it in ways that other people don't. We find it to be an all day park and never get everything in in one day we spend so much time walking and looking around we don't get in the shows til our second day there.

 

[BrerVeritas]

As for the endangered species, you'd be surprised at how many on the safari are. Again, sorry for sounding rude in my earlier post.

No apology necessary, I was just trying to make my point clear. You are right about many of the safari animals being endangered. My point was that not all on the endagered list are on the safari. All continents should be represented. Buffalo, Bald Eagles, Pandas...etc. ANd, maybe even some already extinct species such as the Dodo and the COndor and many other species I can't come up with off the top of my head.

I don't want to sound like I am criticizing AK...I love it. I had just never really thought about the lack of dark rides until now, and it struck me as odd that a Disney park would be missing something so...disney. With that said, the recent EPCOT changes and Studios additions seem to be making those parks head in the same direction. Everything New disney ride that actually moves has a height restriction, except for Pooh which is in Fantasyland. I just hope my son will be able to enjoy WDW as much as I did at his age.

 

[barnum42]

AK has few "rides" for any height, not just kids - The safari, train to Rafiki, Triceratops Spin, Primeval Whirl and Dinosaur. But I still love the place as there are lots of other attractions. Not having a two year old though does not put me in a position to judge how suitable the rest of the attraction are to the limited attention span of your average terrible twos.

Much as I would welcome a good dark ride I don't see it happening. At least not until Eisner and his butt lickers are gone. Current management policy appears to be that animatronic rides must be closed down - for example, Horizons, World of Motion and the original Imagination ride. The rumors are back up for a new attraction in Spaceship Earth. So there is no way they will create a new one in AK.

 

[nicholas]

How about a ride through a giant ant farm w/ giant animatronic ants.

That ride would scare the crap outta me!

 

[BrerVeritas]

Primevil whirl and dinosaur both ave height restrictions.

Besides if you put a small child in Dinosaur he woul probably be lauched out of the vehicle back to the present at the first turn.

 

[RnRJoe6114]

if you do put a small child on and they do survive then they would have shut down for a little clean up time if you know what I mean

 

[JBSLJames]

At least not until Eisner and his butt lickers are gone.

Tell us how you really feel :lol:

Actually, that is the new Dark Ride . . . EISNER BUTT LICKERS a Fast Gas Attraction

:lookaroun

 

[bgraham34]

Yeah there are plenty of kids rides there. I heard kids talking about it and some of them like that park the best.

 

[Figment1986]

perhaps their are other continents not featured at the park that could have family attractions... South america... Austrailia... North America.... Antartica :Lookaroun ...

theirs millions of ideas... europe could exist... and their could be attractions on a few of the mythlogical european creatures...

 

[PhotoDave219]

I love the atmosphere of Animal Kingdom, and I have always enjoyed my stops there.(however brief) But recently I notice that there is a severe lack of rides with no height restriction. I may be going to WDW next year with my 2 yr. old, and there isn't really anything to do(in a classic ride sense) except for the safari and that Dumbo clone.

You have the Two exploration trails (Gorillas and Tigers), A Bugs Life, All of Camp Minnie-Mickey, Kilamanjaro Safarias, Tarzan Rocks, the Boneyard as well as Chester & Hester's.... There's plenty to do.

However, this is more of a general question, albeit slightly off-topic and no offence is intended by this, but why are you bringin a two-year-old to Disney World? I barely remember the trip i made when i was five. I see children as young as newborns broungt in on a daily basis, and i'm trying to figure out Why people bring Children who are that young to WDW, especially since its unlikely that they are able to remember anything.

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

I see children as young as newborns broungt in on a daily basis, and i'm trying to figure out Why people bring Children who are that young to WDW, especially since its unlikely that they are able to remember anything.

I don't want to start anything either, but when I was on my trip in Nov. I was a little upset. The walk-ways were CROWDED with strollers. Now that was Nov, not a busy time of the year by any means. I understand that parents love WDW as much as children do, but I agree with Dave that newborns and children under the age of 2 or 3 won't remember much of the trip at all, especially since they are so limited to what they can do. Now, if you want to take your children and have a baby-sitter stay at the resort with them, that's fine. But don't overcrowd the parks with strollers. Alright, sorry if I've upset anyone now, that wasn't my point. I guess I wanted to voice my opinion and I'm gonna get people mad at me now for it.

 

[netenyahoo]

Should we just leave kids at home and pay someone to watch them while the parents go on a trip? While I would love to do that I would rather it be a family vacation which means the kids too. We took our daughter to DL when she was 2 and she loved it. She might not remember it, but there are pictures for her to look at. Kids that age are free too, so why not bring them?

AK has lots for kids to do, but not a lot of rides. If the kids want rides then there is only the Safari, Train to Rafiki and the "Dumbo".

 

[BrerVeritas]

How could you not bring a two year old to WDW?

Have you ever seen a 2-3 yr old when they see mickey for the first time or when they first get off of Peter Pan. Their eyes light up. That's what WDW is all about. It is about the innocence of children being enveloped by the created magic of Disney. For adults it is about regainig that innocence and looking at the world as a child again...to be happy, no strings attached and leave reality for a while. How better than to celebrate this atmosphere than with a small child who stares around with only wonder and amazement.

As for practical matters, a two to three yr. old does not need one of those bohemeth strollers that disney rents out. A combination of walking and an umbrella stroller will do just fine. (Umbrella strollers take up just as much room as an adult walking on the path ahead of you.)

Lets not forget that Disney created his parks for "all the children of the world" not for adults who don't want to be bothered by kids clogging up the walking paths and ruining their good time.

 

[BrerVeritas]

Also, although a small child may not retain solid memories of their trip, they are extremely impressionable. They remember emotionally instead of pictorally. I have always attributed my love of WDW and DL to the three trips I took before the age of four.

 

[careship]

My boys will be 12 and 13 on our next visit and they have been there every year, sometimes twice or three times a year since before they were born. (One we are sure was conceived there.) How could you not bring your kids on vacation? We always brought an umbrella stroller or carried them. My most precious memories (and I have been there since they opened when I was 2) from WDW stem from my kids' first meeting with Mickey and the other characters. My kids have Disney embedded in their brains from a young age and I am sure my grandkids will be going someday when they have to be strollered or carried and I can't wait to see their faces when they see Mickey for the first time.