If given a redo, would you build AK???

[gusgoose]

That would be HUGE. Oh, and Polar Bears.

We can't wait til August when we visit the San Diego Zoo so we can see the Pandas. I saw them at the National Zoo in DC in middle school and can't wait to see them again. They better be careful though. Dreamworks will send their legal team at Disney in a heartbeat.

So long as Disney doesn't hand the pandas nunchucks I think they'll be ok.

I agree with the polar bear sentiment. I wonder if they've ever considered an arctic section of Animal Kingdom? You can't miss with polar bears and penguins.

 

[JimboJones123]

So long as Disney doesn't hand the pandas nunchucks I think they'll be ok.

I agree with the polar bear sentiment. I wonder if they've ever considered an arctic section of Animal Kingdom? You can't miss with polar bears and penguins.

They should also do Cheatah races like the Pig Races at the State Fair.

 

[PyxiiDustt]

They should also do Cheatah races like the Pig Races at the State Fair.

I'm going on the fact that you were being sarcastic here (which I pray you were) when I say: this was kind of my earlier point. People just see AK as a glorified zoo, and I agree with your sentiment on this. It's not. I don't want animals in cages and glass between them and me. I love the safari atmosphere it gives. I hate when people talk about turning it into a zoo, which is what the previous posters were implying, IMHO.

 

[LoriMistress]

Personally, I really enjoy AK. It's truly a beautiful park. The animals seem happy in the parks, EE is a wonderful ride/attraction, and you can spend hours just taking in the scenery. Granted, the park does need more attractions/rides, but over all, it's a great park.

 

[krankenstein]

I'm going on the fact that you were being sarcastic here (which I pray you were) when I say: this was kind of my earlier point. People just see AK as a glorified zoo, and I agree with your sentiment on this. It's not. I don't want animals in cages and glass between them and me. I love the safari atmosphere it gives. I hate when people talk about turning it into a zoo, which is what the previous posters were implying, IMHO.

Your HO is totally off base when it comes to my post. I really think Disney can add animals and theme the inclosure's and overlook areas in a quality way that your local zoos cannot. DAK is more than a zoo, but the animals are a VERY important part of the park. Why shouldn't Disney consider adding more walking paths with opportunities to see animals? IMHO they did an amazing job with Pangani Forest Trail and the Maharajah Jungle Trek. The same can be done (as long as the animals fit the theme of the area they are being placed) with other animals such as the pandas as I was suggesting.

 

[SanFrancisco]

I went to AK for the first time last year and had only really heard lackluster things about it. Well, needless to say, I was blown away. I mean, WOW! There's nothing quite like AK anywhere in the world. The place is fantastic the way it is and you get the sense that there's so much room for growth, creativity, and further innovation. The theming is genius. I love AK! :sohappy:

 

[CThaddeus]

I like the Park quite a bit and the theme is open enough to allow for a lot of future expansion and ideas. However, there are two things I would have done differently with Animal Kingdom:
1) Kali River Rapids would be more than just a cheap, get-you-soaked ride. It would live up to its amazingly detailed queue instead of disappointing.
2) Chester n' Hester's Dino-Rama! would never have gotten beyond the Blue Sky phase. It would have been jeered out of the room and something not off-the-shelf would have been done instead.

Oh, and Tarzan Rocks! never would have seen the light of day, either. But it's gone now and the incredible Nemo musical has brought a ton of class to that theater.
But, overall, Animal Kingdom really has a lot going for it. It's already a 1 1/2 day Park for me, so if they added a few more animal exhibits and a few more B, C, and D ticket attractions, it would be a two-day Park easily.

 

[TubaGeek]

...Where else can you see Chip and Dale swinging their... nuts around?

:lol:
I would have built it, but a bit differently.

 

[JLW11Hi]

I think the days of beating on Animal Kingdom for being a poor park are long gone. (that torch had passed to DCA, which is also addressing these problems)

Its a very pretty park and very unique from the other parks. The addition of Everest and Finding Nemo have made me forgive Disney for DinoRama.

They still need one more good family ride, though. I think that should be addressed next at the park.

 

[hammysammy59]

I love AK, but it's definitely not my favorite park... I think it's just because as of now it closes so much earlier than the other parks. So if I could redo it/add to it I'd:

-Have Beastly Kingdom in there.
-Have had the dinosaur section a well-themed prehistoric jungle instead of a cheesy carnival area.
-Include a huge, "Only Disney could do this" sea area.
-Feature an Arctic area with penguins, polar bears and the like.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

WDW without AK doesn't seem logical - its a great park and totally different to everything else that Disney has done.

My only criticism of AK is its design (using a central hub like MK - makes it far too crowded) and accordingly, the pathways aren't wide enough to accomodate the masses of people in that central hub area.

Its a great park - WDW needed something different :sohappy:

 

[progroupie]

I think AK was a great idea considering that Busch Gardens was already open and and popular. I won't lie, my first thought upon hearing about AK opening was, (even as a Disney employee), "Oh, you mean something like Busch Gardens?" People love animals and they love seeing them in an open habitat and not just your usual zoo, I thought it would be just another safari ride. But it's so much more than that so I hope they market it accordingly. AK is a great park but it does need a little tweaking and a few more rides, and not just thrill rides, just activities in general, dark rides and thrill rides in general.

 

[DisneyEverest]

I really like Animal Kingdom I think its a great park and has great potential.

 

[Fun2BFree]

It's amazing how BK is almost 100% endorsed by fans that know about it or hear about it. But we got Dinoland USA instead. Guess research doesn't pay much attention to those guest interviews at the gates as we thought.

I'm assuming you mean Dinorama in that statement, but if not, Dinoland USA was always on the cards from the park's planning stages.

And to answer the thread's question: no. Animal Kingdom was just what Disney needed- a complete change of pace from the other three parks. Forgive the old marketing slogan, but it really was "A Different Species of Theme Park".

 

[Ilovewishes]

I understand why people are calling for Polar Bears etc, they are absolutely amazing creatures! But Disney would have to be SOOOOOO careful about how they handle it!

According to Wikipedia:

Polar bears are excellent swimmers and have been seen in open Arctic waters as far as 60 miles (100 km) from land.

If they can swim this far, and I've heard that they walk miles and miles every day, I'm very sceptical about how that can be reproduced in captivity!

However, if captivity is an alternative to extinction and the place that has them has a good, successful breeding and re-introduction programme, then all the better!

But please! Don't get polar bears just so that people can stand and gawp at them all day!

 

[tdonald]

I think AK is good, and it can be great, but it just isn't yet. It has a lot of potential for expansion, and what exists is good. I know Dinorama could use tweaking, and though I don't know whether or not Camp MM should be replaced with something better, there definitely needs to be another land (continent) and more rides. Actual rides. Look at how popular Everest is. The animal parts of AK are great, now just add more well-themed rides around the part, a new land with a at least two or three ride, and maybe a few more animals here and there in the new land, and I think AK would be a fantastic place, where two days would be needed to see everything and take it all in.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Great park...Just needs a bit of expansion.I would deffinatly have built it,but WITH BK.

 

[DisneyLeo18]

i think AK is a great park and idea all around. before my first visit i thought it would be stupid but i really changed my mind. Also this past monday when i was in WDW AK was open until 11 and i thought that was a great experience.

And also didnt AK have a theme a few years back??? something like : "AK is many things but theres one thing its not.. nahtazu!! :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Yeah,the nahtazhu theme was fun...But it was because AK was not doing do hot no?

 

[Capt. Salty]

AK is my favorite park! My family loves it and we could spend
2 1/2 to 3 days days there if we wanted. The overall atmosphere is the best.
enjoy.