Animal Kingdom vs California Adventure

[The Empress Lilly]

DAK is a flawed, under invested but superb masterpiece. DCA a charmless, jumbled mess interspersed with a few great areas.

Rides are a closer contest. I might give DCA the edge here.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Disney California Adventure = 19 Rides, 1 Night Spectacular, 1 Parade, 4 Theaters, 1 Interactive Playground
5 E Tickets = Soarin', Grizzly River Run, Incredicoaster, Radiator Springs Racers, Mission; Breakout
4 D Tickets = Little Mermaid, Midway Mania, That Spiderman Thing, Goofy's Sky School
7 C Tickets = Trolley, Golden Zephyr, Symphony Swings, Fun Wheel, Luigi's, Mater's, Monsters Inc.
3 B Tickets = Jumpin' Jellyfish, Emotional Whirlwind, Jessie's Critter Carousel
4 Theaters = Disney Jr., Mickey's Philharmagic, Turtle Talk, Animation Academy
1 Interactive Playground = Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Spectaculars/Parades = World of Color, Pixar Parade

Disney's Animal Kingdom = 8 Rides, 4 Theaters, 2 Interactive Playgrounds
5 E Tickets = Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Run, Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur
2 D Tickets = Train to Conservation Station, Navi River Journey
1 C Ticket = Triceratops Spin
4 Theaters = Tough To Be A Bug, Festival of the Lion King, Feathered Friends, Finding Nemo
2 Interactive Playgrounds = Conservation Station, The Boneyard

Not so fast...

After those first two D Tickets there is not a single great DCA ride on your list, at best a few ok ones. So that's seven good rides. DAK has 4 to 6. Plus you omitted the two superb animal trails - just because you move with legs instead of a vehicle doesn't mean it's not an attraction.

The difference isn't as great as it might seem.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

DCA is definitely more “fun” and has more rides. DAK is more immersive and has the animals.

World of Color alone pushes me towards DCA but with Hyperion closed it’s a bit more iffy.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Additionally, you could easily make the argument that many of DCA's headliners were better eight years ago or so (for me, Incredicoaster and Soarin', for many Mission Breakout) than they are now.

DAK has been more stagnant by comparison, it is true, but you know what? If something works, it should be ok that it stays as is and Disney doesn't mess with it.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Yes, DCA was the best after Buena Vista street but before Marvel and Pixar Pier.

Bugs land was a really charming area of the park. I wish we could have gotten a bug land or similar Pixar dark ride to replace tough to be a bug instead of losing everything in that area for a concrete marvel land and the spider man ride.

 

[mickEblu]

Better in which way? I haven’t been to AK but I think the answer all depends on how the question is framed. AK is obviously the better THEME park of the two. But which park is more fun? Which park is more repeatable? If you are a Magic Key/ AP which one would you frequent more often assuming they were equally convenient to get to? I’d imagine a lot of the “zoo” stuff gets skipped over by APs.

 

[Professortango1]

I can enjoy just walking around DAK, I cannot do that with DCA. DAK has Dinosaur and Navi River Journey as two Disney quality darkride experiences and DCA has Little Mermaid and Monsters Inc, two okayish modern version of the superior pretzel darkrides from FL...that don't really fit DCA or the lands.

DAK has Expedition Everest, a pretty well themed coaster and DCA has a slightly better coaster with FAR worse theming in Incredicoaster.

DAK has Flight of Passage, an immersive E-Ticket that has that Disney magic. DCA has Soarin', a bare bones proof of concept attraction without any themeing or magic.

DCA does beat DAK when it comes to GRR. Neither are amongst the greats of river rafting rides, but Kali has to be one of the worst river rafting rides I have ever experienced while Grizzy is fun even if it lacks that Disney magic.

Here's how I know DAK is better; I would pay the ticket price to visit DAK. With DCA, I don't see me even spending the $60 upgrade to a parkhopper since the park is work maybe $70 max to me. The only reason DCA has people in it is because it is included in the Magic Keys. Make people pay full price for that park and watch it clear out.

 

[CaptinEO]

DCA in an unshaded mess of Carnival rides and bad food booths. As well as an office building park.

AK is a jungle park designed when Disney actually cared about theming. AK is a place I want to visit. DCA is not.

The Grizzly Rapids would fit better in AK.

 

[DLR92]

I can spend a day at Disney Animal Kingdom. I really enjoy seeing any zoos.

I could not enjoy a sole day at DCA. It been always for me add on experience for park hopping. DCA needs two more E tickets attractions and 3 more D ticket quality attractions. To even think about spending a day there.

 

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

The park that has Flame Tree BBQ and Flight of Passage is the better of the two.

 

[BrianLo]

I said it in another thread and I think it holds true based on the fairly clear percentage split on what should be a more pro Disneyland Resort crowd.

DCA may have quietly slipped to the second worst park in their portfolio.

And for the record I still like DCA. It just sort of happened out of the blue though. DCA was very mid pack circa 2016.

 

[mickEblu]

I said it in another thread and I think it holds true based on the fairly clear percentage split on what should be a more pro Disneyland Resort crowd.

DCA may have quietly slipped to the second worst park in their portfolio.

And for the record I still like DCA. It just sort of happened out of the blue though. DCA was very mid pack circa 2016.

On paper it looks like it beats out DHS (in addition to DAW) but I haven't been so I may not be filling in the blanks.

 

[mickEblu]

The park that has Flame Tree BBQ and Flight of Passage is the better of the two.

I hear a lot about this Flame Tree and Regal Eagle BBQ over at WDW. Hopefully the Country Bear-B-Que is just as good.

 

[TP2000]

Ohio actually has a large collection of well-respected, well-kept zoos. It's not like all of the Midwest is just corn, you know.

The only zoo I've been to in Ohio is the Columbus Zoo, about 15 years ago (long story). It was very pleasant. But nothing like the San Diego Zoo, and obviously not able to be of the same scale and scope as the San Diego Safari Park.

I have no idea what they're doing zoologically in Cleveland, or Toledo, or Cincinnati. Is it good?

But the Columbus zoo was very pleasant. And I'm sure the good people of Columbus are proud of it.

But the obvious answer here is Animal Kingdom unless you are a die-hard "DLR can do no wrong and Florida always sucks" sort of fan IMO. DAK isn't perfect, but the atmosphere, theme, detail, and for me the attraction collection are far superior to what's on offer at DCA.

Here's a thought... what if Animal Kingdom leaned more into its theme park core, now that it's got the zoo thing down?

Instead of being a 25 year old theme park that only has 8 rides, maybe flesh that part out a bit? Add a half dozen C and D Tickets and two more E Tickets? Maybe go back to the drawing board on doing a night spectacular show in that custom made outdour aquacade theater they built and then abandoned? Maybe try a parade on the river again? Do something with boats? Perhaps, and this is big, rethink the Tough To Be A Bug show in the Tree Of Life? If they can redo the Country Bear Jamboree to satisfy HR, then surely they could redo the Bug show to satisfy the audience with something new?

DAK is great for the animal thing, especially if you are from somewhere with only the average big city zoo as your point of reference. But as a theme park, it's woefully underfunded and underdeveloped and has one of the weakest ride/attraction lineups in the Disney pantheon. And it's already 25 years old and it's still that weak!?!

 

[TP2000]

I’m all for preaching about Disneyland and DCA having far more to do in each park than WDW parks.

But DAK is simply a better theme park, and you cannot convince me otherwise. It’s stunning, transportive, and richly detailed.

It's over 25 years old and it only has 8 rides. And a bunch of abandoned and forgotten infrastructure.

I find that inexcusable. But then, I have historically high standards for what Disney used to do with their parks.

 

[PiratesMansion]

The only zoo I've been to in Ohio is the Columbus Zoo, about 15 years ago (long story). It was very pleasant. But nothing like the San Diego Zoo, and obviously not able to be of the same scale and scope as the San Diego Safari Park.

I have no idea what they're doing zoologically in Cleveland, or Toledo, or Cincinnati. Is it good?

But the Columbus zoo was very pleasant. And I'm sure the good people of Columbus are proud of it.

All of those zoos have good reputations, yes. San Diego is on a uniquely large scale, but I'm not convinced that the other zoos are all that different in terms of the work they're doing, the habitats they're providing, etc. Take size and topography out of the equation and those zoos are much closer than you're probably imagining.

Though come to think of it, the Omaha Zoo of all places outdid the Columbus Zoo and pretty much every place I've been apart from San Diego.

Here's a thought... what if Animal Kingdom leaned more into its theme park core, now that it's got the zoo thing down?

Instead of being a 25 year old theme park that only has 8 rides, maybe flesh that part out a bit? Add a half dozen C and D Tickets and two more E Tickets? Maybe go back to the drawing board on doing a night spectacular show in that custom made outdour aquacade theater they built and then abandoned? Maybe try a parade on the river again? Do something with boats? Perhaps, and this is big, rethink the Tough To Be A Bug show in the Tree Of Life? If they can redo the Country Bear Jamboree to satisfy HR, then surely they could redo the Bug show to satisfy the audience with something new?

DAK is great for the animal thing, especially if you are from somewhere with only the average big city zoo as your point of reference. But as a theme park, it's woefully underfunded and underdeveloped and has one of the weakest ride/attraction lineups in the Disney pantheon. And it's already 25 years old and it's still that weak!?!

I think it could stand to add more of attractions AND animal exibits. The exhibits they have are pretty well done, but they could stand to add more, as I doubt they've added any new ones since 1999. While I imagine few are going just for the animals, it's also true that if animals are going to be a part of the park, there should be some new exhibits and/or the existing areas should get some love over time, neither of which, to my knowledge, has happened.

I'm all for them adding more attractions, but I don't want them to just throw in any attraction simply to inflate the attraction count. DAK still has most of its atmosphere and theme intact, and I'm not interested in them trashing the park's core simply for more rides. In modern Disney's hands, the park would just turn into another DCA with more carnival rides, and that's not what the park needs.

 

[Professortango1]

San Diego Wild Animal park was a fun day when I went summer of 2020, but the park is HOT and has a lot of concrete and scrub brush when walking around. And no gators. The newer area that replaced the dinosaur area was a bit nicer than the older areas of the park.

As for Animal Kingdoms attractions, they are working to add more to the park with several rumored projects. I do think they could use some better shows. The old Nemo show was decent, but the newer version is not as good. Festival of the Lion King was the most oversold lackluster Disney show I have seen. When they wheeled out the parade floats from the 90's I laughed out loud.

TTBAB is still one of the best experiences Disney has created in the last 20-some years and I miss is desperately at DCA, so AK wins for having that around (for now.) I do wish they would redo Kali and I think Everest is better in concept than execution since the constant track switches happen so slowly that the ride lacks any real pacing for me,

If they could find a way to reincorporate the Discovery Boats into the original concept, I would totally dig that.

As for US-Disney Parks:

1. Disneyland
2. Epcot
3. DAK
4. MK
5. DHS
6. DCA

 

[TP2000]

All of those zoos have good reputations, yes. San Diego is on a uniquely large scale, but I'm not convinced that the other zoos are all that different in terms of the work they're doing, the habitats they're providing, etc. Take size and topography out of the equation and those zoos are much closer than you're probably imagining.

Though come to think of it, the Omaha Zoo of all places outdid the Columbus Zoo and pretty much every place I've been apart from San Diego.

I spent several weeks in Columbus over a six month period on business, and now that it's not late at night I realize that it was only about 10 years ago not "15". I was very busy with work when I was there and it wasn't a pleasure trip as my firm had a hugely important contract with Honda at the time, but obviously I had some free time on weekends. I remember three distinct things about Columbus;

• The locals raved about their zoo. Almost obsessively. So I went. It was pleasant and well presented.
• Columbus is the capital of Ohio. Their statehouse has a big empty base where the dome should be, making it look very odd. A local told me the story behind the lack of the dome, but I forgot what it was now.
• Their drag queens had very raunchy and lascivious stage names. Which is saying something for that art form.

Ohio is not just corn, you know.

I think it could stand to add more of attractions AND animal exibits. The exhibits they have are pretty well done, but they could stand to add more, as I doubt they've added any new ones since 1999. While I imagine few are going just for the animals, it's also true that if animals are going to be a part of the park, there should be some new exhibits and/or the existing areas should get some love over time, neither of which, to my knowledge, has happened.

I'm all for them adding more attractions, but I don't want them to just throw in any attraction simply to inflate the attraction count. DAK still has most of its atmosphere and theme intact, and I'm not interested in them trashing the park's core simply for more rides. In modern Disney's hands, the park would just turn into another DCA with more carnival rides, and that's not what the park needs.

Good point on adding new animal exhibits. They've been static since the Clinton Administration on that front.

I'm afraid DAK fell into the trap that TDO has laid out for all its parks over the past 25 years. Build them, but then underfund their expansion and freshening. Fiscal year after fiscal year, through boom times and bust times, wars and pandemics and major celebrations.

That it's a 26 year old theme park with only 8 rides, and no major animal expansion since 1999, and no water spectacular or parade, is criminal to me. But it's TDO and Florida, so there we are. They even closed two rides they used to have, and never replaced them with anything else (Primeval Whirl, Discovery River Boats). The park icon hosts a show using Pixar's least favorite movie from 1998.

Yes, DAK is very pretty to look at and impressive for a zoological facility. But it's bad at being a theme park with rides and shows with a one-day ticket cost of $149 per adult.

 

[TP2000]

I had some sushi tonight as an appetizer, and I thought of my trips to Japan, then I thought of this thread.

Lest we think DAK is not a rare unloved anomaly, there's a theme park as old as DCA that does a much better job at being a theme park than DAK does. Here's a comparison of another Disney theme park that is not DCA but that opened just a couple years after Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom opened 1998 = 8 Rides, 4 Theaters, 2 Interactive Playgrounds
5 E Tickets = Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Run, Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur
2 D Tickets = Train to Conservation Station, Navi River Journey
1 C Ticket = Triceratops Spin
4 Theaters = Tough To Be A Bug, Festival of the Lion King, Feathered Friends, Finding Nemo
2 Interactive Playgrounds = Conservation Station, The Boneyard

Tokyo Disney Sea opened 2001 = 25 Rides, 5 Theaters, 2 Interactive Playgrounds, 3 Spectaculars/Fireworks
9 E Tickets = Nemo, Tower of Terror, Soaring, 20K Leagues, Journey TTCOT Earth, Sinbad, Indy, Never Land, Frozen Journey
4 D Tickets = Toy Story Mania, Raging Spirits, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, Transit Steamer Line
6 C Tickets = Electric Railway, Aquatopia, Venetian Gondolas, Caravan Carousel, Flying Fish Coaster, Tinker Bell's Buggies
6 B Tickets = Big City Vehicles, Flying Carpets, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Scuttle's Scooters, Blowfish Balloon Race, The Whirlpool
5 Theaters = Turtle Talk, Broadway Music Theatre, Hangar Stage, Magic Lamp Theater, Mermaid Lagoon Theater
2 Interactive Playgrounds = Fortress Explorations, Ariel's Playground
3 Water Spectaculars/Fireworks = Big Band Beat (daytime), Believe; Sea of Dreams (nighttime), Sky Full Of Colors

Tokyo DisneySea has more than triple the number of rides Animal Kingdom does, more theaters, and actually does two different water spectaculars per day, plus fireworks. But Animal Kingdom sure is landscaped nice, isn't it?

 

[mlayton144]

I had some sushi tonight as an appetizer, and I thought of my trips to Japan, then I thought of this thread.

Lest we think DAK is not a rare unloved anomaly, there's a theme park as old as DCA that does a much better job at being a theme park than DAK does. Here's a comparison of another Disney theme park that is not DCA but that opened just a couple years after Animal Kingdom.

Disney's Animal Kingdom opened 1998 = 8 Rides, 4 Theaters, 2 Interactive Playgrounds
5 E Tickets = Kilimanjaro Safari, Kali River Run, Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur
2 D Tickets = Train to Conservation Station, Navi River Journey
1 C Ticket = Triceratops Spin
4 Theaters = Tough To Be A Bug, Festival of the Lion King, Feathered Friends, Finding Nemo
2 Interactive Playgrounds = Conservation Station, The Boneyard

Tokyo Disney Sea opened 2001 = 25 Rides, 5 Theaters, 2 Interactive Playgrounds, 3 Spectaculars/Fireworks
9 E Tickets = Nemo, Tower of Terror, Soaring, 20K Leagues, Journey TTCOT Earth, Sinbad, Indy, Never Land, Frozen Journey
4 D Tickets = Toy Story Mania, Raging Spirits, Rapunzel's Lantern Festival, Transit Steamer Line
6 C Tickets = Electric Railway, Aquatopia, Venetian Gondolas, Caravan Carousel, Flying Fish Coaster, Tinker Bell's Buggies
6 B Tickets = Big City Vehicles, Flying Carpets, Jumpin' Jellyfish, Scuttle's Scooters, Blowfish Balloon Race, The Whirlpool
5 Theaters = Turtle Talk, Broadway Music Theatre, Hangar Stage, Magic Lamp Theater, Mermaid Lagoon Theater
2 Interactive Playgrounds = Fortress Explorations, Ariel's Playground
3 Water Spectaculars/Fireworks = Big Band Beat (daytime), Believe; Sea of Dreams (nighttime), Sky Full Of Colors

Tokyo DisneySea has more than triple the number of rides Animal Kingdom does, more theaters, and actually does two different water spectaculars per day, plus fireworks. But Animal Kingdom sure is landscaped nice, isn't it?

You should vote 20 more times for DCA, then the vote for DCA vs DAK will officially be tied