Animal kingdom?

[Twhitty]

This year we are thinking of cutting AK from our vacation and adding an extra day at EPcot. We will be staying 7 nights 6 days and we are going to MK 3 days, HS 1 and we are thinking Epcot 2 days. We will be traveling with a 9 yo daughter, almost 3 yo son and a 9 mo son. My 9 yo is the only one tall enough to ride expedition Everest and Kali rapids, and none of them show interest in the shows, so festival of the lion king and memo show are out. I would hate to the in that park primarily for Kilimanjaro safari. What are some of your opinions?

 

[Twhitty]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. To clarify a little bit, my kids love Disney Jr and Toy Story so we will diffidently keep DHS. We are going to DHS in the middle of the week, on purpose to avoid Star Wars weekend. Regarding the shows, we have seen the AK shows on the last 3 trips so the kids are kind of indifferent. We have a zoo in our city that we have a membership to, so we are there many times a year and the kids get to see a lot of the same animals that are at AK. Looking through some of my planning materials, I have noticed that there are many things family has not done at MK and EP because we were always rushing to get fastpasses, get in lines for rides/meet and greet, and getting to dinners. We typically do not park hop, because we will typically go to a park and stay there for the duration.

 

[DaddyDisneyMan]

We are heading to WDW in late April and if we had to eliminate one park it would be AK. We are going to play it by year once we get there. We have the park hopper, so if we feel the urge to hit up AK we may go but this is one park that we don't have a great connection to. We have a 6 and a 2 year old. We did AK last March for about 2 hours during Spring Break and didn't really enjoy it. We walked around and that was about it. It could be just me, but I didn't get that warm-fuzzy Disney feel when I was there.

 

[RedDad]

Not to turn this into a thread about all of AK's faults, but I've never had much of a connection to this park either. Depending on the time of year, I swear AK is hotter/more humid than the other parks, and has more of a cramped feel due to its layout.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

We always upgrade to park hopper so that we can freestyle. If one park is not working out for us on a particular day then off to another park we go. I was never one to say what and how many days in each park so we just head where the mood takes us...

This is exactly what we do and normally hit up either AK or HS one day during our trip. We usually do AK during the day, then in the late afternoon, hit Epcot

 

[jenluvswdw]

I like AK after about 3 because the crowds have thinned!

I was wondering about this. We always go in the morning. This next trip I want to try after 3. Thanks.

 

[luv]

I have never taken anyone to see FotLK that didn't love it. Even my nephew who hates Disney (and hates everything, really) loved that show. I'm honestly shocked that your kids didn't like it.

I love the AK and would never exclude it.

But if you all don't like AK and do like Epcot, then Epcot is the best place for you!

Have a great trip!!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Let me preface this by saying that AK is a beautiful park...just wonderful attention to detail; however, it is also the park we're most likely to cut. I'd also like to note that this really comes down to you and your family. There are many who love it and could never dream of skipping it- and their reasons are all justfied for them/their families.

For our family, there is very little for our kids to ride, the details are lost on them, and both DH and the kids don't handle stationary lines for shows very well. i.e. a 30 min wait in a moving line is far more enjoyable than standing around for 30 min waiting for show seating to open up. And while I know AK is well beyond a zoo, our local zoo is pretty darn excellent- especially with the larger animals (like the big cats), so the kids are often left wanting more when we're doing animal things at AK.

Moral of the story, if you think your time would be enjoyed more in a different park...I think you know what to do. Personally, I'd rather have an extra Epcot or MK day vs. going to AK. I don't even think it's worth the extra cost of a 1-day hopper to split between DHS and AK, but once again, that's just me.

 

[bethymouse]

We're only going to MK and EPCOT this year. 2 days each! We missed our fave Test track last year, so we're doubling up on the experience! we're not park hoppers, so we just don't want to spend days at parks where we only ride a few rides.

 

[Pooh Lover]

WE usually do 1 day at Animal Kingdom opening to mid afternnoon each trip. We see our favorites and depart.

Same here exactly. We grab lunch and then either head to another park or back to the resort.

 

[NewtoDisney2009]

Animal Kingdom is one of my favorites. There is just something about the atmosphere. I would be happy just walking around that park all day!

 

[bsiev1977]

That is a tough call. My kids love watching the animals. There are so many surprises at AK. My 13 year old is still excited about going to Rafiki's Planet watch. However, if your children are not into animals then skip it. If you can not decide just wait till you have been to the all the other parks and if you think you saw everything at EPCOT go to AK instead. Sometimes it is too hard to decide before you go because you never know....

I'll be 36 by the timely December trip rolls around, and I'll still always spend time at AK as long as they have gorillas to watch.

 

[jenluvswdw]

I'll be 36 by the timely December trip rolls around, and I'll still always spend time at AK as long as they have gorillas to watch.

I could watch the gorillas for hours too!!

 

[bsiev1977]

I could watch the gorillas for hours too!!

I went to the National Zoo in D.C. a few months ago. While I was at the great ape house watching the gorillas, I saw a girl there whose job was to watch a particular gorilla each day and keep track of its behaviors. What a great job.

 

[wdwstateofmind]

I like AK for about 2 hrs....once the safari and dinosaur have been utilized I no longer find a need for it and it becomes REALLY geared towards little kids...AK does allow you to have a good day of some Typhoon Lagooning if you have the chance...

 

[jenluvswdw]

I went to the National Zoo in D.C. a few months ago. While I was at the great ape house watching the gorillas, I saw a girl there whose job was to watch a particular gorilla each day and keep track of its behaviors. What a great job.

I can take data on behaviors!! Oooo, I wander if AK is hiring for a job like that!

 

[Figgy1]

I can take data on behaviors!! Oooo, I wander if AK is hiring for a job like that!

I have a hubby and 2 sons does that count?

 

[bsiev1977]

I have a hubby and 2 sons does that count?

I'd say you have an edge in experience.

 

[WDW 3]

I'd leave it in and cut a day from MK. And I would go to the shows. I wouldn't let their lack of interest prevent you from trying them. Kids love both of them. We also hop!