Ditching AK

[ask!]

We are leaving in 5 days....I 've spent the last month carefully making a touring plan to balance relaxation with touring. Last week, I realized that even with my best plans, there is too much to see and do...I am secretly already planning next years trip!

So if I knew that I was going again next year (this is our first time since 1996), I would concentrate on MK, EPCOT and MGM and skip AK....save it for next year.

The problem is that life holds no guarantees and I can't say we will be back next year until at least this vacation is over...I want to maximize my enjoyment......do you think it alright to skip AK ?(DD17 and DS 16~love roller coaster, like animals but we live very near the animal safari at Six Flags, NJ.....I know it's Disney, but isn't an elephant an elephant compared to the attractions that are so unique to WDW).

I realize that I didn't schedule enough time (my fault!) but I do not want to feel like I need a vacation after this vacation...help! Any and all advice appreciated!

Andrea

 

[sbkline]

I'd say that all 4 parks are a must and you need to make time for all of them.

But it would help if you could show us your day by day itinerary, then maybe someone can show you ways to squeeze AK in for at least a partial day.

 

[mouselvrmom]

My kids- aged 3 to 12- love AK. They would never let us skip it. With EE and the Nemo musical, there really is a lot to do there. Also, it is a beautiful park.

However, I know that some here would certainly recommend skipping it or just planning for a half day there.

I say, it's up to you. You can always hit it on the next trip, it will still be there.

 

[dave2822]

I don't think you can skip AK entirely ... do you have a park hopper option? Can you even manage half of a day?

Expedition Everest is not to be missed, that and Dinosaur are huge fan favs, especially with kids your age. Kilmanjaro Safaris is also tremendous, you don't see things on that attraction you can see at any old zoo.

If you haven't been since 1996, you'd be surprised that you may not spend as much time in MK with a 16 and 17 y/o as you think. And MGM can be done in a half day too.

You've never been to AK though (obviously, since it opened in 1998), so you HAVE to make this a priority, I think, just to get it done. It's vastly improved since its opening, has some of the best details of any Disney park.

Enjoy your trip

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

How long are you going for ??

What does your proposed schedule look like ??

 

[tigsmom]

If you have never been to DAK, I wouldn't skip it. And no, it is no where near Great Adventure in terms of the safari...DAK is so much more.

We used to skip it, then made it a half day park (with MGM) and now we spend the day there and I still haven't seen/done everything.

We skip MGM because there are only 2 things there we enjoyed and we've seen them quite a few times. If we have time we fit them in, but if not... :shrug:

What are the EMH days for DAK when you are there? Can you fit in a few hours there early in the morning? How about a half day there and then on to a park with evening EMH so you can still get a lot done? Park Hoppers are a must as far as I'm concerned.

We are usually only in WDW for 3 or 4 days and we still fit in enough of our favorites to make a visit worthwhile.

 

[wvdisneyfamily]

My advice is to go to AK early and MGM late if you can do EMH at MGM. Take a break in the middle if you are very tired or hot. Or - go to MGM early, take a break, go to AK for their EMH. MGM has my favorite ride (ToT), but is by FAR my least favorite park because it always seems to be so crowded with very long lines regardless of what point you go in the day. AK has that potential, too. However, AK is more tolerable early in the day or late in the evening in terms of crowds. Everest is NOT to be missed at the AK. It is the BEST roller coaster I've ever been on in my life (and I've been to every major theme park in the eastern US). Everest is not a roller coaster that aims to make people ill or be so intense it's just not fun; it is a perfect experience in thrill without going overboard. I enjoy it far more than Rock n' Roller Coaster.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I aggree with Tigsmom. AK is an amazing place ans is so much more that Great Adventure's safari. If you are going to skip one park I would skip MGM.

 

[Cinderella1976]

If you have park hoppers I would go to AK in the morning and one of the other parks in the late afternoon/evening. I would not skip it. All four parks are a must when we go to Disney. Have fun :wave:

 

[pacochran]

Don't skip it try and fit it in. Two of our favorite rides are at AK Kali River ride and now EE. Festival of the Lion king is a pretty good show also. I think AK is my favorite park out of them all.

 

[SewIn2Disney]

Oh man---you just compared AK to Six Flags Great Adventure?
I was just there two days ago (I live nearby too), and I was just looking down at the Wild Safari as we were climbing the lift hill on Medusa and I was thinking to myself how pitiful it looked compared to AK. There were barely any animals out, there's no scenery, no landscaping, it almost looks like animal crulity there!
AK is one of my favorite parks---I would say if you must split it with something else to hit AK early in the morning, stay until 3ish, and then finish off your night at MGM. I think you could hit all of the biggies in MGM in a night. Just use your fastpasses wisely.

 

[RiversideBunny]

If you have park hoppers I would go to AK in the morning and one of the other parks in the late afternoon/evening. I would not skip it. All four parks are a must when we go to Disney. Have fun :wave:

Yes, if you will be there for 4 days or more, then you must go to Animal Kingdom for at least one morning.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

AK is second only to MK in my family's opinion. I would say you should check out AK for at least 1/2 day if you have park hopping passes.

Since your kids are older, I think they might be bored with some of the attractions at MGM. If you're feeling real ambitious and I would suggest at least starting at AK for AM (EMH) and then move over to MGM or Epcot for the afternoon and/or evening because the night shows(Fantasmic & Illuminations) can't be missed.

Please don't compare SFGA safari to Kilimanjaro Safaris.... as there really is no comparision. I live 20 mins from GA and get there a few times a year and go through the safari just for the kids. But every year at AK... I want to go on KS.

Also you said your kids like rollercoasters but you are going to deprive them from EE???:shrug:

 

[happymom52003]

Well, I guess I'll be the first poster to say skip it if you want to. It comes down to personal taste. We like AK, but we do not go every trip because our trips seem to keep getting shorter due to work and school schedules, and it is our least favorite park of the four. Our next trip is also only five days, and we are actually skipping two parks....AK and MGM. I would rather have more time in my favorite parks. If you were going to be there longer, I would say not to skip it. But I would not give up time in your favorite parks or feel rushed just to squeeze AK in. You could just play it by ear. I plan our our iteneray in advance as well, but we usually end up changing our minds about something every trip. Since your kids are older, you have more flexibility to change your mind and head to a different park (our kids are small so we have to keep to a schedule for nap and rest time, etc). So just see how the trip goes and maybe you can squeeze AK in.
And I know alot of people say you should never skip a park, but I disagree. Everyone has different tastes, and you know best what your family enjoys. If you have limited time on your vacation, then I think quality is better than quantity. I do agree that all four parks should be tried out by everyone at least once, but it does not have to be in one vacation if you vacation is short. It sounds like you will probably go to WDW in the future again, so dont worry about missing a park on this one if you have to. Have fun!

EDIT: I misread something in your post....you said you were leaving in 5 days, and I thought your trip was 5 days long. If your trip is longer then 5 days, then disregard most of my post...I only suggested skipping AK if your trip was short and you were pressed for time!

 

[DisneyGigi]

If it were me I would not skip AK, especially if you have not been before. I would at least visit for half a day. If your kids like roller coasters they are going to love EE. There is also the Dinosaur ride which all of us loved, Kali River Rapids was a big hit too. I love the Safari and walking trails, it feels like a break in the go go pace to me.
I actually had only planned one day at AK for our upcoming trip and both my kids griped and wanted to add another half day, so we will probably park hop over again.
Have a great trip:wave:

 

[mousebymarriage]

I am from Jersey too and I have to tell you that there is absolutely no comparison between Disney's AK and Great Adventures safari. After you have seen AK safari and then the one at Great Adventure would be like taking a trip to the animal shelter (pitiful)! If you could squeeze it in for even a half day trip, maybe when AK has extra magic hours in the morning so you can get some additional time, it is well worth it. Any time that you can squeeze into a Disney park is better than nothing.

 

[danipooh]

You have to go to AK!! I love it! I hate when people call it a zoo because it's so much more than that. It's an experience. It is so beautiful and the way you get to see the animals is different than a conventional zoo. The safari is so amazing. And there are things like macaws (sp?) just sitting in the trees-- and the gorilla exhibit...you feel so close! Aside from the animals the Festival of the Lion King show is fabulous in my opinion and the new Nemo show is also great. They're top notch productions. And my top favorite rides in all of WDW are EE and Dinosaur. Love them!! I used to feel like AK was a waste of time, but over the last few years with the growth it's had, it's a must see for us. IMO, MGM has been stuck in a rut for quite a few years and I'm completely bored with it. Hopefully with all the expansion in the works with the pixar theme it will spark my interest again.

 

[wdwmomof3]

Don't skip it, there is so much to see and do there. Our children love it and with all that they have new there, it's worth it.

If you have the park hopper and if you get there when it opens and use fast pass, you should be able to see most everything by 2 or 3pm. You could then hop over to another park.

What ever you decide to do, you will have a blast. Just note that you will be planning a little harder for the trip next year. It's some kind of magic that they put on you when you get to Disney that makes you want to come back.:lol:

Have a fun & safe trip!!

 

[slappy magoo]

The problem is that life holds no guarantees and I can't say we will be back next year until at least this vacation is over...I want to maximize my enjoyment......do you think it alright to skip AK ?(DD17 and DS 16~love roller coaster, like animals but we live very near the animal safari at Six Flags, NJ.....I know it's Disney, but isn't an elephant an elephant compared to the attractions that are so unique to WDW).
Andrea

First of all, AK also has some unique attractions, especially if youre kids are thrill junkies - Expedition Everest & Dinosaur (I know, Dinosaur is a clone of Disneyland's Indy Jones ride, I'd still consider it kinda unique, can't find it everywhere). I also enjoy It's Tough To be A Bug, and I may be one of only 12 people who enjoys Conservation Station.

At this point, the only must-sees at MGM are me are ToT and RnRC. Maybe Muppets, for nostalgia's sake. Everything else, for me, is expendable. Used to love that park, but it's really suffering from a lack of attention and development. When Midway Mania opens I may feel differently, but it's a shell of what it once was till then.

If you have park hoppers, I'd second (or third) the idea that you spend some time at AK the day that MGM has evening EMH, then go to MGM at night to hit the thrill rides. At least, if I were in your shoes, that's what I'd do. Either that, or take advantage of early morning EMH the day you go to MGM, you'll finish dang near everything there is to see and do before noon, and then head over to AK for the rest of the day.

BTW, how many days is your trip? You mentioned you didn't plan enough time, but I don't think you mentioned how much time you have.

 

[Vernonpush]

I would never think of not going to AK at least once during a visit. With careful planning (and proper tickets) you could visit the highlights of each park.
Ask your family what they want to do in each park. Start with a list of each attaction at each park (give a copy of the list to each family member), then visit a website that describes each ride (as a family, or individually) and have each one vote for the rides they want to do most (maybe on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most wanted). Total the scores, and start with the highest rated ride and work your way down (getting FastPasses and consolidating as needed for ease of movement). That way everyone will probably get their "most wanted" rides done. When/if you get back, you can either pick up where you left off or re-survey the group. Remember: If you leave them wanting more, they'll be back:lol: .