Animal Kingdom tidbits

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Merida'sMommy

New Member
Atomicmickey said:
I suspect that everyone who calls DAK a half-day park doesn't do the walking
trails. I spend a bunch of time watching the gorillas and tigers every time I go!
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Expecting a 'half day' at AK led to one of our favorite family jokes. On my 1st WDW trip with my 2yr old daughter and 76yr old mother- I said we were doing a 1/2 day at AK...... 12 hours later we were in line for the bus to go back to the hotel and my mom says "I thought we were only doing a half day?" When I looked at my watch- I realized we had done just that, but half of a 24hr day. I am always asked to define how many hours I mean now when we make plans. But everyone loved that 'half day'.
 
Jon81uk

Jon81uk

Well-Known Member
flyerjab said:
http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/africa/news/04jun2014-photo---new-ground-clearing-taking-place-behind-harambe-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

Found the link with the aerial photograph. It is a decent sized area. Too bad an additional B/C ticket can't fit in there along with everything else. ;)
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The B/C attractions at AK are the trails and the animal enclosures really. But yes it would be nice if they added something else small, even just a very elaborate animal enclosure.
 
TeriofTerror

TeriofTerror

Well-Known Member
Merida'sMommy said:
Expecting a 'half day' at AK led to one of our favorite family jokes. On my 1st WDW trip with my 2yr old daughter and 76yr old mother- I said we were doing a 1/2 day at AK...... 12 hours later we were in line for the bus to go back to the hotel and my mom says "I thought we were only doing a half day?" When I looked at my watch- I realized we had done just that, but half of a 24hr day. I am always asked to define how many hours I mean now when we make plans. But everyone loved that 'half day'.
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Comparing the number of attractions at each park, I fear DHS may quickly becoming the park most deserving of the "half-day park" moniker. Without Fantasmic and occasional fireworks, I'll bet that place would be an absolute ghost town in the evenings. But at least it has better full-service dining options, I guess...
 
flyerjab

flyerjab

Well-Known Member
Jon81uk said:
The B/C attractions at AK are the trails and the animal enclosures really. But yes it would be nice if they added something else small, even just a very elaborate animal enclosure.
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Completely agree with this statement. For this park, there are really 2 types of visitors: 1) goes for rides/attractions and really not an animal fan, 2) loves the animal sections and also enjoys the rides/attractions.

To me, if you fall into group 2, this is a full day park. Now truth be told, my family falls into group 2 because we love the animal attractions and can spend the full day here until park close at 6/7 PM. The 2 walking trails are exceptionally well done and the safari is always fun. Sometimes it takes us 45 minutes just to explore the Oasis when we first get there. So yeah, we take in the full experience of this park and make it a full day.

The other part I will add is that DAK really holds true to the "edutainment" concept of what a theme park can be. Next time you go, look through the manuals and field diaries they have throughout the animal trails. Heck, you can even learn things in the queu for Expedition Everest. There is artwork to take in at the Yak & Yeti, or areas like Harambe. IMHO, the educational concept started in what was EPCOT has been carried out to its fullest extent in DAK. And they keep making small improvements throughout the park in parallel to the larger Pandora expansion and the nighttime show/live entertainment. 2017 can't come soon enough for me.
 
raymusiccity

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
doctornick said:
I've said before that I think a nice addition would be a monorail type ride that goes from DAK to the AKL which passes over animal enclosures along the way. Would be a nice combo of ride and transport and make it easier/quicker for guests to go to AKL for expanded dining options. And would help with occupancy (and DVC sales) at AKL by giving guests there a novel way to get to the park.
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If Busch Gardens can do it, why not use the same system between Animal Kingdom Lodge and the park?

Sure beats waiting on a bus and looks a heck of a lot classier, too!
image.jpg
 
EPCOTCenterLover

EPCOTCenterLover

Well-Known Member
I am an attraction, dark ride fan who also enjoys the animal exhibits. But those exhibits are secondary to me. If DAK is advertised as a theme park and "Natazu", I expect it to live up to their promotional materials. Meaning, bring on more attractions not just animal exhibits.
 
flyerjab

flyerjab

Well-Known Member
Was just perusing the OrlandoParksNews site and they have a big 3 page walk through of DAK. One refurb I was unaware of is a major refurb happening to the Tree of Life Garden. Just another tidbit to add here. ;)
 
WondersOfLife

WondersOfLife

Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Atomicmickey said:
I suspect that everyone who calls DAK a half-day park doesn't do the walking
trails.
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That would be me! My local zoo has walking trails for 30 bucks. I'm not making my dad spend over 200 dollars to do the actual "zoo" part of Animal Kingdom! Half day here, half day at Hollywood Studios.. Perfect. :3
 
Macca250

Macca250

Well-Known Member
I was never a big fan of DAK until I was a CP last year and got allocated a role working on the Pangnai Forest trail. Honestly, it was a real eye opener; completely changed my perception of the park. I would originally turn up, head straight to the likes of Everest and Dinosaur and on some trips forgo the exhibits completely. These days, after having spent so much time with the animals and the keepers, I've come to appreciate just how ambitious and brilliantly executed the park is. It's definitely not your average zoo.

With an upcoming e-ticket land (in addition to some great existing attractions), FOTLK, a brand new nighttime spectacular and some of the the best themed animal exhibits in the world; DAK is shaping up to be a very exciting place indeed.

Now, if only they'd take a certain someone off the dance floor...
 
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matt9112

matt9112

Well-Known Member
WondersOfLife said:
That would be me! My local zoo has walking trails for 30 bucks. I'm not making my dad spend over 200 dollars to do the actual "zoo" part of Animal Kingdom! Half day here, half day at Hollywood Studios.. Perfect. :3
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joe Rhodes would grab your neck for calling any of it a "zoo"...the environments they create and how they fit into the "amusement part" that being said you can see pretty much all the animals and ride all the rides in less than a day if it is the off season.
 
raymusiccity

raymusiccity

Well-Known Member
flyerjab said:
Was just perusing the OrlandoParksNews site and they have a big 3 page walk through of DAK. One refurb I was unaware of is a major refurb happening to the Tree of Life Garden. Just another tidbit to add here. ;)
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We were exiting The Lion King theater last week and noticed a group of 'Imagineers' standing in a grassy area just behind Tusker House. I'll post a picture showing them holding blueprints and clip boards. Very glad to see so much activity for a change.

Universal has certainly lit a fire under Disney Parks.
 

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