Is Animal Kingdom's Biggest Problem the Safari Itself?

[BizEmom]

For the record, the drivers aren't going that fast to be jerks or something. They have to keep a set pace so that the journey is roughly the same length every time. They will also speed up when you don't want them to sometimes because the truck behind them is getting too close and they have to keep a certain distance.

It's not a driver complaint. I wish the ride was allotted more time.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

This thread isn't about whether or not you like DAK; it's about whether or not containing the majority of animals in one space contributes to the perception DAK doesn't have much to offer.

Then some people have gone off topic because if you read the posts you would see that most of the people have been expressing whether they like DAK or not :animwink:

 

[Vernonpush]

It's not a driver complaint. I wish the ride was allotted more time.

Try the Sunrise Safari:
http://allears.net/acc/faq_aksunrise.htm

 

[thelookingglass]

It's not a driver complaint. I wish the ride was allotted more time.

Oh, this actually goes into the complaints addressed in the OP, then.

The safari is fast because it has such a high demand, being the flagship attraction of the park (being bigger than the park itself and all). Everyone entering Disney's ANIMAL Kingdom presumably wants to see animals, and KS is the only way to see a large number of them. Thus, the trucks can't stop or anything because they have to keep the pace so the ride itself meets it's high demand.

Although for the record, I feel that the speed through most of the ride is fine, its just the high number of trucks on the path means they often have to pick up the pace at the spots with the most animals in sight.

 

[jakeman]

If an animal is in the path of your truck, then the time could be even longer. It is impossible to actually say what the "ride time" is, considering the "show" (animals) can cause a truck to be stopped at any time.

Having spent many an afternoon behind a giraffe or flamingos with my radio in hand, I am definitely aware that those times can be stretched a little! :lol:

However, there is an "ideal" time that the managers and thus, safari drivers should be shooting for.

 

[Vernonpush]

1. The safaris actually go slower now than they did in the past. I think load to load times are up from 18 minutes to around 22 minutes. I could be wrong on that though.

2. I'm a bit perplexed by this complaint. To me this would be the equivalent of not liking that Peter Pan always defeats Captain Hook or Mickey always gets his hat back in Philharmagic.

3. The queue does tell the story. One of the first buildings you enter is the booking office for your safari. The section of the queue after that tells you about Dr. Jobson (who was integral to the previous storyline). After you pass that there are crown cranes usuallys to your right. Finally as you go down the ramp to the loading docks Wilson tells you about the purpose of the reserve and foreshadows what may happens.

Having spent many an afternoon behind a giraffe or flamingos with my radio in hand, I am definitely aware that those times can be stretched a little! :lol:

However, there is an "ideal" time that the managers and thus, safari drivers should be shooting for.

So would the "ideal" time be 20 minutes?
Just a guess.:shrug:

 

[jakeman]

So would the "ideal" time be 20 minutes?
Just a guess.:shrug:

No it used to be the goal was an 18 minute safari.

My understanding once they increased the number of vehicles on the ride path that goal is now 22 minutes.

It's actually a hard cycle time they want you to be at.

 

[billybastion]

Why does something have to be wrong with AK? I can spend an entire day here, without doing the walking trails and skipping certain rides/areas if I have the notion to do so.

AK is great; I love the atmosphere, themeing, and pace of the place.

The only thing I'd change about the experience is the long wait times for the hotel shuttles.

 

[tirian]

Why does something have to be wrong with AK? I can spend an entire day here, without doing the walking trails and skipping certain rides/areas if I have the notion to do so.

AK is great; I love the atmosphere, themeing, and pace of the place.

The only thing I'd change about the experience is the long wait times for the hotel shuttles.

If everyone were perfectly satisfied, Disney would be able to shut down EE for refurbs, confidently knowing the rest of the park would sustain and attract guests on its own.

 

[jjharvpro]

I agree with many of you on AK...

This park is beautiful. The detail is magnificient.

Overall, this park needs more though. If they added a couple more D/E ticket rides, I think they'd have a good mix between animals & rides.

Expedition Everest saved the park from despair. I have come to this park a couple times to ride this, then head over to KS, grab a snack, maybe go see Festival of the Lion King, then we head to another park.

After DCA overhaul & FLE, DHS & DAK will get the attention they need. It's only logical.

So, add a ride/new land to AK, and we'll be good for now. The idea of a Lion King dark ride excited me !

P.S. I've never ridden the Chester & Hester stuff, but it just seems too non-Disney to me.
AND, why is Finding Nemo:The Musical in Dinoland, U.S.A.? Kind of an odd theming.??

 

[BizEmom]

No it used to be the goal was an 18 minute safari.

My understanding once they increased the number of vehicles on the ride path that goal is now 22 minutes.

It's actually a hard cycle time they want you to be at.

Interesting. The most recent time I rode it was around 9:15 or so on a non EMH morning last week. There were 3 full trucks waiting to go from the loading dock, and the handicap-accessible truck that I was on got to enter in front of them. Then we waited behind several trucks to unload. For these trucks, the additional minutes were not spent observing animals, but on waiting time.

I want to state again- this is not a driver complaint. The OP specifically wonders if containing such an enormous portion of the park experience on this one ride has an effect on people's oppinion of AK. A subsequent poster mentions a common perception that AK is a 1/2 day park.

An enormous portion of the land area of AK can be seen in roughly 18 minutes. Yes, I think this does contribute to the perception that this is a 1/2 day park.

The safari IS the Animal Kingdom to me. I just love it! I think it would be even better if it were longer. I think if the queue was better people would be willing to wait longer in line.

I don't like the Simba 1 story line because the fake animals and trucks detract from the otherwise natural (or naturally disguised) setting. Seriously- they look borrowed from the Jungle Cruise, which is kitchy fun, not wild and natural.

Additionally, the frantic aspect of the Simba story line contributes to the rushed feeling of the safari- at least toward the end. The driver could be driving the same speed with some relaxing African music and it would change the feeling completely.

 

[ChrisFL]

Disney likes to promote the size of AK frequently, how it's bigger than a few of the other parks COMBINED (or something like that), but when so much of it is for ONE ride/experience, 18-20 minutes, it's a problem.

Another thing is very evident by reading the replies in this thread. For some people it's a 1/2 day or less park, for others it's a 1-2 day park. The problem is that there isn't enough of variety for all types of people.

AK is the only Disney park in the world without a classic dark ride at all. While I know there were rumors about Mysterious Island being added from TDS, even their version of the 20K ride would be a nice addition...and it would be something "brought back" in a way for the fans of the original (although in reality it's a much different ride)

 

[ScorpionX]

All Disney needs to do with Animal Kingdom is to make it a full-day park with more exhibits and rides.

 

[jjharvpro]

Whoooaaaa, hold up!!

Disney doesn't just promote KS..Ever heard of Expedition Everest??? Yes, this saved the park temporarily from complete disaster(though the Yeti is going Disco on us)! It holds some of the park up for the time being...

 

[jakeman]

Interesting. The most recent time I rode it was around 9:15 or so on a non EMH morning last week. There were 3 full trucks waiting to go from the loading dock, and the handicap-accessible truck that I was on got to enter in front of them. Then we waited behind several trucks to unload. For these trucks, the additional minutes were not spent observing animals, but on waiting time.

I want to state again- this is not a driver complaint. The OP specifically wonders if containing such an enormous portion of the park experience on this one ride has an effect on people's oppinion of AK. A subsequent poster mentions a common perception that AK is a 1/2 day park.

An enormous portion of the land area of AK can be seen in roughly 18 minutes. Yes, I think this does contribute to the perception that this is a 1/2 day park.

The safari IS the Animal Kingdom to me. I just love it! I think it would be even better if it were longer. I think if the queue was better people would be willing to wait longer in line.

I don't like the Simba 1 story line because the fake animals and trucks detract from the otherwise natural (or naturally disguised) setting. Seriously- they look borrowed from the Jungle Cruise, which is kitchy fun, not wild and natural.

Additionally, the frantic aspect of the Simba story line contributes to the rushed feeling of the safari- at least toward the end. The driver could be driving the same speed with some relaxing African music and it would change the feeling completely.

It's 18 minutes from Load to Unload. Load 3 (the wheelchair dock) has different times and operates independently of the other trucks.

The other option is to have people walk through the same areas that the safari truck takes you which returns us to the other complaint, the park requires too much walking.

Regarding the queue, I don't think for the average guest the quality of the queue has any bearing on their initial desire to partake in the attraction. Before Fastpass, KS regularly posted 90-120 minute waits in the morning and would traditionally die down to a walk on in the afternoon. While this has changed somewhat with the implementation of FP, the pattern still holds relatively true today.

I'm not sure in my 3 summers working there anyone said to me, "I'd love to go on Safaris, but that queue is so boring". While most of use have come to expect a E:E level queue, E:E is still the exception, not the rule.

Additionally, that franticness is, like you said, only the very last portion. Also, that area past the smashed gates would be empty regardless. It is all hidden infrastructure from there to the unload.

I don't think that the size of KS has anything to do with the perception of DAK as a 1/2 park. I think it is the expectation of the guest and the way Disney has shifted the focus over the past few years.

Moving away from animals and towards a traditional Disney experience has made the theme park based shortcomings of the park stand out more. There has to be a balance and I don't think DAK has quite found it yet.

 

[materbuddy]

I would love to have AK encompass South America and Australia as well as Africa and Asia. I would love to see animals from each continent. I also think a panda exhibit in Asia would be awesome.

 

[Mickey is King]

I would love to have AK encompass South America and Australia as well as Africa and Asia. I would love to see animals from each continent. I also think a panda exhibit in Asia would be awesome.

something to think about in terms of expansion of lands in AK someday.......interesting