MSN Travel Tips: Avoid AK?

MickeyTigg

MickeyTigg

New Member
Animal Kingdom is a very well themed park...probably the best themed of any of the Disney parks. In order to appreciate AK you have to look at it differently than the other parks....a lot of what's there is a look and appreciate instead of entertainment and thrills.

I've always liked AK....the fact that we could go and take our time in the park and appreciate it instead of "having" to do the park commando style to get everything in.

Expedition Everest is a big addition...it gives the park a major attraction and it's very good.

The fact that Mister Toad hasn't been to AK since EE opened proves that he doesn't know what he's talking about...the park as grown and changed, especially with the addition of EE and you can't give an opinion of the current park if you haven't been on it.

I also agree that AK is not for everyone...many don't get it and that's okay....I don't get VMK (I don't get poorly done graphics and cheap imitations of attractions) and I never got Millionaire as an attraction either...so whatever.
 
PSU_Princess

PSU_Princess

Member
I like all of the Disney parks for different reasons. I never understand when people complain about MGM or AK...I love them all. I would much rather be in either of those two parks right now then where I am currently sitting.
I wouldn't take anything that list says worth a grain of salt...who is going to just bypass the some of the biggest attractions in the various cities (leaning tower of pisa???). I know that there are a lot of things on that list that I wouldn't pass up if I was in the neighborhood--even if some of them are the biggest tourist traps.
 
Cynderella

Cynderella

Well-Known Member
I hate when people call AK a zoo. :brick: If I wanted to see many animals I could go to the Philly zoo and be happy. AK is soooo much more than a zoo. The atmosphere, the laid backness (word?) of it is so relaxing. And I would definetly rather go there than MGM. Just walking around there is calming to me and the scenery is just beautiful. It's a shame people can't appreciate it and dont like it because there "arent enough thrill rides." :(
 
W

WDW Monorail

Well-Known Member
I don't understand why some people dislike AK.
It is indeed a great park although it is somewhat questionable because of the animals.
What we have to realize here is that the this is really the first time that Disney has worked with animals on a very large scale project. It is very unpredictable to work with animals since no one has yet figured out a way to communicate with them succesfully.:animwink:
Disney cannot afford to make mistakes so they therefor approached this project with caution since it is dangerous to have free roaming animals come up close to guests.
As for the rides, I think that they are perfectly balanced and themed for the enviroment. Disney does not want to make many rides because that takes away from the animal theme.
What about Everst? I think that it is a perfect ride for AK not because it is about animals but because it does not really incorporate animals into the story.
Every attraction that disney has created has had a certain theme or story behind it. There are only so many stories that can include animals, therefor Disney is trying to move away from the animal theme for the time being before they can come up with another great animal ride.
 
L

LilRoo714

New Member
PSU_Princess said:
I like all of the Disney parks for different reasons. I never understand when people complain about MGM or AK...I love them all. I would much rather be in either of those two parks right now then where I am currently sitting.
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:sohappy: I'll second that!

However, despite whether I like AK or not, it's still not enough to spend an entire day there. It does for me, rank above MGM... :lookaroun
 
CoffeeJedi

CoffeeJedi

Active Member
WDW Monorail said:
What about Everst? I think that it is a perfect ride for AK not because it is about animals but because it does not really incorporate animals into the story.
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So the yeti isn't an animal? :confused:

I guess what they're saying is, that if you only have one day, DAK isn't worth 67 bucks, which i can actually agree with somewhat. But i wish there was a disclaimer that said that its a great addition to a longer WDW vacation.
 
Dukeblue1016

Dukeblue1016

New Member
that makes me legitimately angry...

People who don't know ANYTHING about a topic SHOULD NOT write about it... absolutely should not...

My senior class trip... my girlfriend stayed in a group of like 10 of her friends, and all her friends were like "WE ARE NOT GOING TO AK... I'M NOT WASTING ANYTIME AT A STUPID ZOO" and I lost it...

I was like "have you ever been there?"
"no."

"Do you know anything about the park besides it has animals in it?"
"no."

"Have you heard from anyone that its a bad park?"
"no."

"Do you think its a zoo because its called ANIMAL kingdom?"
"basically..."

"You're all idiots..."



Plus, nothing makes me madder than people get these random ideas of things from nothing, and they really know nothing about the subject... like people who don't follow the Red Sox trying to tell me what they're doing wrong... or what they should do... when it makes absolutely no sense... UGH... frustrating...


I need to go to lunch...
 
CommandoDisney

CommandoDisney

Member
this list is ridiculous regardless of your opinion of AK. not going to see the leaning tower? they basically list all major tourism spots and say not to go there cause it will cost you money and there will be a lot of people there. it reminds me of the yogi berraism "nobody goes there anymore, its too crowded". i understand that they are just trying to encourage people to go explore other things and not just do the standard tourist stuff but when youre a tourist, youre bound to do tourist stuff!
 
brich

brich

New Member
No sweat folks....
Now the Disney uneducated will skip this hidden treasure leaving more room and shorter queues for those of us who enjoy and appreciate this park...:D
 
shoppingnut

shoppingnut

Active Member
IT IS NOT A ZOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! While I think AK isn't worth $67 for a one day entry, it is almost certainly worth it on your multi-day tickets.

I like AK, it's different from a zoo and cannot be compared. I grew up going to the zoo all the time, we had a great zoo right on Staten Island. I can tell you that the animals in AK are far more active than any zoo animal, aside from the monkeys. We had all the big animals too, but it is different to see them in their surroundings and not the manmade ones with bars and glass windows.
 
F

FAIRIEDUST78

Member
Lack of research

Just as I just posted on MSN's board about that incredibly horrid article,it seems as thought the author did not do their research.They obviously did lot find out the least crowded times of year to go to these places. It also sounds as if this author is extremely cheap. Forgive me for saving enough money so that I can have a :::gasps:: good time. I'm personally not worried about spending $15.95 on admission to a museum, especially if I've saved up for it.
On the subject of AK, I do have to say that the last time I was there, it had just opened,there were tons of incredibly rude guests who would bump into my mother who has to use an evc, and it was scorching hot. Did I say I would never go again? Heck no! I love all Disney Parks, besides it was a major thrill just watching my husband take six rolls of film because he had never been to a zoo before. I know it's not a zoo, but you get the idea.

~ Fairiedust78
 
Dwarful

Dwarful

Well-Known Member
We too go to AK at least once on every trip. Usually we have hoppers or Ap's & can go back over one more time for an early morning ride on safari etc. But there are many things that we don't bother with anymore..because for us there are too many other things we'd rather do at WDW that we can't do at home. We are very fortunate to live close to one of the best zoo's in the USA (and its free....you should see our new baby elephant...too cute!) and we go quite regularly. If I was on a time crunch...I'd skip it or only go for half day if i had hoppers...for those who opt not to get the hop option and had plenty of days..I'd go once, spend the whole day and go explore other things...but thats just me...and we haven't done Everest yet but looking forward to it.
 
DisneyBride94

DisneyBride94

New Member
I have to say that I AGREE that AK is NOT WORTH $67 a day... I have never had the desire or need to spend an entire day at that park... so it is a park I only visit with a hopper pass so I can finish out my day at MK or MGM...

I wil disagree that it is just another zoo...hardly... but to each his own...

I try to do AK on the EMH and get out of there after a nice lunch at Flametree...

I'll say I disagree with the Boston/Faneuil Hall market place dis... I worked in Boston for YEARS and had lunch over there almost daily... I love the food court there and all the choices... and I think the area is full of character with street performers... I enjoy people watching... I certainly don't mind the tourists...

I've spent many a wondeful day and evening at Faneuil Hall... it's not like you pay to BE there... you only pay for anything you want to eat or buy... and it is certainly a short amble over the North End's Italian eateries...so why not visit both places? Sheesh. Why anyone would want to eat at Three Cheers, which is a real Cheers wannabe is beyond me... the real "Cheers" is the Bulfinch over on Beacon Street... but I think that is worth missing as well... for Boston I say do a trolley tour... or Duck Tour... ride the Swan Boats in the Public Garden and have picnic there afterwards... Visit the shops on Newbury Street (the Rodeo Drive of Boston)... take a Harbor Cruise...visit the USS Constitution... Museum of Science... Aquarium if you like... but Faneuil Hall is GREAT!!!! I love it...and I live here... :kiss:
 
dxwwf3

dxwwf3

Well-Known Member
If I had to choose between going to MGM or AK, I would definitely choose MGM, but to say the AK should be missed is unbelieveable. The major complaint about the park since it opened was a lack of attractions and that is changing. Add that with the incredible amount of detail all throughout the park, and I think the future for the AK is as bright as it can be.
 
Gorjus

Gorjus

Well-Known Member
Don't you think that your opinion of AK depends on your mindset when visiting any part of WDW? If you are a Kamikazee thrill ride seeker, I can see how many of the parks would disappoint. But if you are at Disney to immerse yourself into another time/place, as if you were in a movie, each park is unique and is a draw.

I consider AK to be the relaxing day of the trip. You are at a Disney park, but you aren't trying to get everything in because there is less to do. I rarely ride a single ride or see a single show at AK (last trip EE hadn't opened yet). Even if they say it's Nahtazu, it is azu.

I love to find all the side areas and less traveled paths and just sit and look at the river, or walk the Tree of Life path. My favorite must do thing is to go to Africa and sit at Bawa bar and enjoy the coctails and South African wines.

People with small children love to have me join them at AK. "Sure, I'll sit here with the sleeping child in the stoller while you go on Safari. Have fun. Another Indaba Merlot please." :slurp:
 
M

majortom1981

Active Member
hmm

I am going to compare the animal kingdom to the wild safari at Great Adventure.

They are both only worth it if you go to the other parks that are there.


I will get flammed for this but living on Long Island. I have a whole bunch of zoos and aquariums to go to. I have the wild safari at great adventure, I have the Long Island Game farm, I also have the Bronx Zoo and the riverhead aquarium and the aquarium by coney island.


Now I wouldnt pay seperately to go to Animal Kingdom. But next week when I go down we are making the animal kingdomn a half day. This way we can go to downtown disney and pleasure island the other half of the day.

Animal kingdom is only worth it for park hopper. Everest is the thing that made me want to go there. Before that I didnt much care for it. Wich is wierd because I was in a commercial for the opening of the park too lol.
 
Tigger1988

Tigger1988

Well-Known Member
majortom1981 said:
I am going to compare the animal kingdom to the wild safari at Great Adventure.

They are both only worth it if you go to the other parks that are there.


I will get flammed for this but living on Long Island. I have a whole bunch of zoos and aquariums to go to. I have the wild safari at great adventure, I have the Long Island Game farm, I also have the Bronx Zoo and the riverhead aquarium and the aquarium by coney island.


Now I wouldnt pay seperately to go to Animal Kingdom. But next week when I go down we are making the animal kingdomn a half day. This way we can go to downtown disney and pleasure island the other half of the day.

Animal kingdom is only worth it for park hopper. Everest is the thing that made me want to go there. Before that I didnt much care for it. Wich is wierd because I was in a commercial for the opening of the park too lol.
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You can't compare AK to a drive through safari in NJ. Come on, im not the biggest fan of AK any means but comparing it to Great Adventure is just wrong. Plus you're paying seperately for the safari and the theme park, atleast at AK you get both.
 

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