MSN Travel Tips: Avoid AK?

[Epcot82Guy]

Wow... this certainly has taken on a life.

I have to agree that AK was not much when it opened. My entire family was not impressed. However, I think it is starting to come into its own. It definitely has some outstanding major attractions. In fact, if they had gone through with a mytical land area up front, it would easily be a full day park. Hopefully, another land, specifically any form of mythical land, will not be shelved forever. EE marks the turning point, but there still needs to be 5-6 more attractions. The theme works (again, I think the mythology would complete it entirely). I am not a zoo person at all, but the natural habitats work well. If there were more rides, it would appeal to all.

The other side that I can't believe is sneaking out of this conversation is how DAK got the notation over DCA or WDSP. I have not seen either first hand, so I am merely stating this due to the criticism both parks have received. DAK has more gotten the "half-complete" argument. The other two have gotten worse treatment.

 

[jaredliu]

I saw lots of ignorant peopele here calling the auther don't know anything about it. But don't you know that there is a signifcant amount of people buying non-hopping tickets for four days? The total cost is 258 dollars+tax and that makes each park 64.5 dollars + tax and it will be over 67 dollars per day. Well...I guess ignorant fans will never try to accept other's opinion. Whenever someone is against Disney, their self-defend mechanism is activated.

 

[Skippy]

Um... I'm seeing a four day ticket at $202 at $55.50 a day (tax not included). Not arguing, just want to get information right... that's from Disney's site.

 

[Dukeblue1016]

I saw lots of ignorant peopele here calling the auther don't know anything about it. But don't you know that there is a signifcant amount of people buying non-hopping tickets for four days? The total cost is 258 dollars+tax and that makes each park 64.5 dollars + tax and it will be over 67 dollars per day. Well...I guess ignorant fans will never try to accept other's opinion. Whenever someone is against Disney, their self-defend mechanism is activated.

You can't call us ignorant when you pull up these random numbers and act as though they're facts... You were already proved wrong on your ticket price... then you say "a signifanct amount of people buy non-hopping tickets for four days" How do you know that??? How... where did you get this info??? Well, wherever it was, it wasn't reliable since you're ticket prices were wrong...

Seriously though, you can't just make that claim with no evidence.


Also, how am I ignorant? I've provided several FACTUAL information proving my reasoning for why I don't THINK its a Zoo... and agreed that it is not worth $67 ALONE, but is the second best park there; so with the park hopper and multi day tix, it is a MUST see (IMO)

Plus, I can't stand being called biased or "shielding" things. Growing up and being a Red Sox fan... I get stereotyped as being biased... but I'm FAR from it. I accept when things aren't going well (I'm no fair weather fan either like Sox fans get stereotyped as)... and I'll speak against Disney if need be.. but when my opinion is its not worth $67, but is worth it when you have an AP or multi-day tix; which it always appears to be the large majority of people there.

Please, don't call me ignorant, nor biased... I'm neither of those things.

 

[Scar Junior]

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 Boma 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:

While I agree with all of your points I must state that the person who wrote this article obviously did not do their homework... They should have noticed all the shows, trails and the wonderful Boma bar. They failed to - or chose not to - see these things and that is their fault (and those morons who believe what this website tells them). When I worked there, one of my favorite things to do was sit with a child or guest while their party went on "It's Tough to be a Bug" because I got to appreciate my surroundings. The park is all about the beauty, and they do a fine job of giving people the opportunity to surround themselves in the beauty that these animals get to.

 

[Scar Junior]

I'm sorry guys, but I have to agree with the article. $67 is too much to pay for MK let alone AK. I know AK is a great park and it's still being imporved. But for that reason, the admission should be lower. I never agreed with Disney haveng the same pirce for each park. If someoen is ONLY going to ONE park, (MK EPCOT, AK, MGM) then they should all have different ticket prices.

Think about it. Would YOU compare AK to be the same as MK or MGM? I know I wouldn't. I am not saying AK has any less magic, it just not the same. In reality it is just a large zoo with a few rides.

Now please don't hate on me. This is just my oppinion.

I can understand your position. I agree with it somewhat... But, you need to look at this in a similar way to the NFL pricing...

In the National Football League you (as a season ticket holder) pay over $75 a ticket for each game. For the sake of argument, let's say your team is charging you $100 per game. People think they are getting ripped off for the two pre-season games that the team is forced to play and you are forced to pay. You have to pay $100 to see your actual team play half a game (that doesn't count) and half a game that is played by a group of guys that won't make the teams' cuts.

However, like Disney, the NFL takes this into account and charges $100 for those games because - if not for these games, they would charge MORE for regular games. They might charge $115 for the 8 regular season games that you are paying for. It's essentially an average.

Granted, with Disney's $67 dollars it is per park per day. This could be comparable to a regular season game in the NFL. It doesn't make sense to charge less for "less desirable" parks like MGM and AK just as it doesn't make sense for a sports team to charge less for a non-rival or non-important game.

I don't know if this makes sense to you or not... but it is true.... at least to some extent.

 

[jaredliu]

If you like Six Flags, then Universal is for you...

So Disney fans are so mad that people don't understand their fairy tale worlds...while look what they were talking about something other than Disney......isn't it ironic?

 

[Tigger1988]

So Disney fans are so mad that people don't understand their fairy tale worlds...while look what they were talking about something other than Disney......isn't it ironic?

But thats a true statement, if you enjoy Six Flags parks you'll most likely enjoy Universal just as much.

 

[polynesiangirl]

Oh yeah, and this does sort of veer me into off-topic territory here, but I don't even like Six Flags (we have one pretty close to us, I never go,) I've never been to Universal, and I'm not even that into roller coasters. I get motion sickness pretty easily and I didn't go on ToT until like 2 years ago.

I don't think a theme park, esp one at WDW, needs to have a whole mess of coasters for me to appreciate it. Just for the record. It's hilarious how worked up I am over this. :lol: :animwink: But honestly, my favorite part of WDW is probably World Showcase, which is pretty much all ambience and barely any "real" rides.

I'm just not that into Animal Kingdom...I understand the themeing, it's just not my taste per se...I liked the rides when I went on them, it's just that I liked other parts of WDW better and like many of you, I only get so many days there at a time, so I opted to spend them somewhere else the last few trips. Everybody has different tastes, right? Shorter lines for the rest of you! :animwink: And who knows, now that I've given the park a couple years to grow up a bit, maybe I'll come back with a whole new perspective.

OK, I think I'm really done now. Maybe. :lol:

 

[PSU_Princess]

I think that one of the reasons that people get so defensive (other than being huge disney fans) is that when most people disagree with a thread they tend to say....I don't like it because its stupid and that my opinion. There is nothing in that to discuss or to provide a valid point. There was a post earlier in this thread about why someone didn't like AK--they said it was because it is not easy to go with young children because there are height restrictions on a lot of rides. Others have compared AK to other parks and how if they only had one day MK would be the better value---those two posts didn't get near the negative response as the posts that just say I don't like it because its a stupid zoo. Most of the people who agree have reasons why they agree...I like AK because.....

I'm not sure if this makes sense to anyone else:veryconfu I think that most people on here know that not everyone can agree on everything, but if you are going to go against the majority you should have a point that can provide for some discussion...beyond just saying you disagree just because.

 

[CoffeeJedi]

I'm not sure if this makes sense to anyone else:veryconfu I think that most people on here know that not everyone can agree on everything, but if you are going to go against the majority you should have a point that can provide for some discussion...beyond just saying you disagree just because.

:sohappy:Good points!
Nothing more infuriating than someone who disagrees with you, but doesn't tell you WHY they disagree with you other than "its just my opinion". If something is your opinion, then BACK IT UP!

(ok, so this was just a "parrot post", but i wanted to let you know that i agree with you)

 

[Punkss]

Right, first off internet lists and these kind of ones with "Top 10" and "Worst Ever" are a load of BS as pointed out by an earlier poster. I mean if I was near the Sears Tower on holiday I would go and see it. Maybe it wouldn't be the only reason for my trip but if i was around I would go.

Secondly for all of you who go to WDW regularly and dismiss AK as a half day park then you're missing something. I went to WDW for the first time in 10 years (was a little boy of 9 or 10 last time) with my girlfriend (first time) and AK excited us both as a concept. We realised there wouldn't be as much stuff there as it was a 'new' (!) park but...we really enjoyed and ended up spending a day and a half there on a 2 week trip. The themeing is great and it is great concept of seeing the animals and rest assured there is nothing like this in the UK, we went early and late to see the animals when it was cooler.

Just because you go regularly don't dismiss because for new or slow returning visitors it is a great experience and I think in the end that is what counts, not the people who go year on year as they will be almost impossible to keep happy with finite money.

 

[RedBaron]

The article seems like a bunch of bull to me. If you look at all the things they say to avoid, there seems to be no reason to travel or leave your house. As if you would visit NY and not visit Times Square or SF without going to Fisherman's Wharf? These are the reasons people travel there in the first place. As for AK, the article only talks about it as like you have one day to spend. And if that were the case, I guess I agree that if I only had one day and $67 I would choose MK or Epcot over AK too.

 

[Punkss]

If you look at all the things they say to avoid, there seems to be no reason to travel or leave your house. As if you would visit NY and not visit Times Square or SF without going to Fisherman's Wharf? These are the reasons people travel there in the first place.

Exactamundo, its like going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower...I'm guessing it was written by one of those travel snob types, we all now one. "Oh darrrling I never go economy!".

 

[WDW Monorail]

Exactamundo, its like going to London without going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower...I'm guessing it was written by one of those travel snob types, we all now one. "Oh darrrling I never go economy!".

I'm sorry but London has nothing to do with Paris.

 

[Tigger1988]

Exactamundo, its like going to London without going to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower...I'm guessing it was written by one of those travel snob types, we all now one. "Oh darrrling I never go economy!".

Paris is in France, not London, unless im reading your post wrong.

 

[Punkss]

Ha ha ha, sorry I messed up big time and changed my mind half way through. Will edit to make sense before more flaming appears!

 

[Timmay]

Does it really matter. I mean this is just one person and their opinion. Who cares what his opinion is!?! I sure don't. It is pointless to get worked up and argue over an opnion as meaningless as this. It will not change your opinion of AK, nor should it.

Fine, yes...stay away from AK. Please don't come...go elswhere instead. More room and shorter lines for those of us that do enjoy the park.