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Animal Kingdom perception
- Thread starter Sorcerer1
- Start date
ILOVEDISNEY
Active Member
AK is great if put in the proper perspective. Regardless of what others say, it is a 1/2 day park. No, it's not Busch Gardens until they build 3 or 4 more rollercoasters. The Disney naysayers have always said that Uncle Walt & Company never had an original idea and that he simply copied what was good and made it better a la Ray Kroc and the McDonald Brothers restaurant in CA.
imagineersrock
New Member
amen!
btw, I see you too are a huge POTC fan... rock on captain jack sparrow..!
and finally, to the person who said AK is a 1/2 day park--- wrong. lol sorry, but you could easily spend an entire day [park open to park close] and not have seen everything, -without repeating any attractions more than once. AK is most certainly an all-day park if you actually explore every part and animal exibit in the park rather than just skip from e-ticket to e-ticket.
imagineer99
New Member
You know what's funny...people always consider AK a 1/2 day park. Well, frankly I consider all the parks in WDW a 1/2 day park. I don't think that I have ever spent the entire day at one theme park. I usually spend a morning in one and an afternoon in another.
I've been to each so many times, I know exactly what I want to do and see. Honestly, how many people start the day at one park and stay all the way until closing?
BTW, AK should be respected strictly due to the amazing amount of detail it contains. The Oasis is an attraction in itself. When in AK, keep your eyes open and out of the guide map.
I've been to each so many times, I know exactly what I want to do and see. Honestly, how many people start the day at one park and stay all the way until closing?
BTW, AK should be respected strictly due to the amazing amount of detail it contains. The Oasis is an attraction in itself. When in AK, keep your eyes open and out of the guide map.
LadyDarling
New Member
Additional tip
I only have one thing to add:
AK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF FEET! Be adventurous. Take the trails! You will be well rewarded. Those trails nearly make our trip.
Like most, AK wasn't my favorite the first time I was there. We made a 1/2 day of it and, living so close to the Wild Animal Park out here in California, I couldn't really apperciate it as an animal park. BUT...
The next year, we decided to do the things that even turned us off initally. Try something new. I mean, we've seen bird shows before, but we hadn't seen Flights of Wonder before. And the Tigers and bats are GREAT! We never seem to have much luck on the safari, but the view of the lions is priceless. How could I have knocked this park before trying it?:hammer: I certainly learned my lesson! We spent just shy of 1 hour from closing there.
Last year we visited the park and it was GREAT. We went with friends to WDW for our anniversary, and to make a sick friend's wish come true. Toward the end of our trip, the 2 guys we went with wanted to break off do some shopping. It was great! My husband and I walked around the Animal Kingdom, soaking it all in. We both agree (though we won't tell the guys this) that it was our favorite part of the trip!
Oh! One more tip!
Talk to the folks in the Harambe! We learned some great african games and culture there. And if you're into wine, buy the deepest red they have. It's AMAZING and always a treat to have a bottle when you come home!
I only have one thing to add:
AK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF FEET! Be adventurous. Take the trails! You will be well rewarded. Those trails nearly make our trip.
Like most, AK wasn't my favorite the first time I was there. We made a 1/2 day of it and, living so close to the Wild Animal Park out here in California, I couldn't really apperciate it as an animal park. BUT...
The next year, we decided to do the things that even turned us off initally. Try something new. I mean, we've seen bird shows before, but we hadn't seen Flights of Wonder before. And the Tigers and bats are GREAT! We never seem to have much luck on the safari, but the view of the lions is priceless. How could I have knocked this park before trying it?:hammer: I certainly learned my lesson! We spent just shy of 1 hour from closing there.
Last year we visited the park and it was GREAT. We went with friends to WDW for our anniversary, and to make a sick friend's wish come true. Toward the end of our trip, the 2 guys we went with wanted to break off do some shopping. It was great! My husband and I walked around the Animal Kingdom, soaking it all in. We both agree (though we won't tell the guys this) that it was our favorite part of the trip!
Oh! One more tip!
Talk to the folks in the Harambe! We learned some great african games and culture there. And if you're into wine, buy the deepest red they have. It's AMAZING and always a treat to have a bottle when you come home!
ImagineerFan04
New Member
AK is a great park. It's my secound favorite after MGM. What can i say i'm a teen and a thrill junkie that's into Disney. E:E is going to help get people that are coarster enthuesist(sp?) into the park. It's going to help but it's not going to get every one into the park. I can't wait for what the future brings. And hopefully Beastly Kingdom is in the future.
BTW bring back the boats with some more scenery and animals from each land enless it's like dino land they could make AA in the water and stuff having dinos that swim and that look like there drinking out of the river. Just a thought
BTW bring back the boats with some more scenery and animals from each land enless it's like dino land they could make AA in the water and stuff having dinos that swim and that look like there drinking out of the river. Just a thought
ILOVEDISNEY
Active Member
Using that logic you could read the daily newspaper all day too. I'll say it another way--AK is a great 0.5 day park now and in the near future. My definition of 0.5 day is 7 hours of quality WDW time at the other parks.
ILOVEDISNEY
Active Member
We rode the boat when AK first opened. It was a nice trip, but didn't see much. It went past the old stair ruins with a water buffalo or two. They they tried the Radio Disney stuff and then it closed shortly thereafter. A jungle cruise a la Silver Springs would be delightful, especially for older folks like us.
I'll throw my two cents in as well...
From day one i have been incredibly impressed with the design of this park. It is one of the most beautiful theme parks, zoos, whatever you want to call it, in the world. In addition, it is so well planned out, with the various pathways, lands, etc. There is so much potential for growth, which will not make the park seem awkward a la Disney-MGM Studios. That being said, when it first opened I still felt the park was a half day and I took my time. On my first two trips, I left the park by 2 to 3 pm. I didn't miss anything except the parade. At this point Asia and Kali had opened. Granted I also arrived when the park opened at 8. (Back then it used to open at 8) I guess we could have wandered around the park the remainder of the afternoon but there was little point. We had already circled the park, been to the stores, and seen somethings twice. But even then i still thought it was a lovely park and as some of you have said it is very relaxing.
But on a recent visit to Sea World I realized how much better AK could be. Sea World thoroughly impressed me. Although people complain about the rides at AK, both my best friend and I agree that the main problem is lack of animals and contact with the animals. AT Sea World I felt surrounded by animal exhibits, shows, etc. all day. You also have a lot of close contact. Please don't mention Rafiki's planet watch as most of that place, other than the clinic, is a glorified petting zoo. In addition, the three rides at SW just felt like an added bonus. You just don't feel that at AK. And if disney is going to emphasize that AK is not a zoo, then they need to add more attractions. You also feel an enormous waste of space at AK. For example, Camp M&M? Yes FoLK is there but that's it. There are no animals, no rides, nada! No adult is going to sit through Pocahontas.
Hopefully with Everest the park is headed in the right direction. But Disney also caused itself alot of bad press by opening the park without Asia. I still know tons of people who skip AK based on what they were told the first year it opened. Guests really did demand their money back and complained about the full price of admission back when it opened. But I have hope that the attractions will catch up with the beauty of the park.
From day one i have been incredibly impressed with the design of this park. It is one of the most beautiful theme parks, zoos, whatever you want to call it, in the world. In addition, it is so well planned out, with the various pathways, lands, etc. There is so much potential for growth, which will not make the park seem awkward a la Disney-MGM Studios. That being said, when it first opened I still felt the park was a half day and I took my time. On my first two trips, I left the park by 2 to 3 pm. I didn't miss anything except the parade. At this point Asia and Kali had opened. Granted I also arrived when the park opened at 8. (Back then it used to open at 8) I guess we could have wandered around the park the remainder of the afternoon but there was little point. We had already circled the park, been to the stores, and seen somethings twice. But even then i still thought it was a lovely park and as some of you have said it is very relaxing.
But on a recent visit to Sea World I realized how much better AK could be. Sea World thoroughly impressed me. Although people complain about the rides at AK, both my best friend and I agree that the main problem is lack of animals and contact with the animals. AT Sea World I felt surrounded by animal exhibits, shows, etc. all day. You also have a lot of close contact. Please don't mention Rafiki's planet watch as most of that place, other than the clinic, is a glorified petting zoo. In addition, the three rides at SW just felt like an added bonus. You just don't feel that at AK. And if disney is going to emphasize that AK is not a zoo, then they need to add more attractions. You also feel an enormous waste of space at AK. For example, Camp M&M? Yes FoLK is there but that's it. There are no animals, no rides, nada! No adult is going to sit through Pocahontas.
Hopefully with Everest the park is headed in the right direction. But Disney also caused itself alot of bad press by opening the park without Asia. I still know tons of people who skip AK based on what they were told the first year it opened. Guests really did demand their money back and complained about the full price of admission back when it opened. But I have hope that the attractions will catch up with the beauty of the park.
josh_e_washie
New Member
Yes... I think the thing with AK was its total uniqueness from the other parks that 'set it aside'. I mean when you think of WDW you instantly think of Cinderella Castle, or SE, but not AK. The ambience, theme and design of the park is definately unique. But I think that guests are growing more and more accostomed to it, and are beginning to appreciate it for what it is.
right now, you either have to look at it as an exploration place, where you spend quite a lot of time just exploring, or as a zoo and you only spend half a day.
What I would love to see at Animal Kingdom is more on the culture of the different lands. Yeah, I know that is World Showcase, but I think you could do a lot more of that at Animal Kingdom.
I would also love to see some kind of shorter type ride. Besides the Dinosaurs. Not just another copy of Dumbo, but something like a Dark Ride or something. Not a show, either.
Last thing would be some kind of scavenger hunt or puzzle to figure out. Something to get more people exploring the park.
What I would love to see at Animal Kingdom is more on the culture of the different lands. Yeah, I know that is World Showcase, but I think you could do a lot more of that at Animal Kingdom.
I would also love to see some kind of shorter type ride. Besides the Dinosaurs. Not just another copy of Dumbo, but something like a Dark Ride or something. Not a show, either.
Last thing would be some kind of scavenger hunt or puzzle to figure out. Something to get more people exploring the park.