The old argument seems to apply here; people attending a theme park expect a theme park. Not a zoo with some attractions.
I don’t speak for myself.
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News Announced: Mary Poppins Attraction in UK Pavilion
- Thread starter TabulaRasa
- Start date
I don’t speak for myself.
peter11435
Well-Known Member
When Epcot opened the park had 5 operating rides. At its peak it had 10.
If we judge Disney parks on rides alone no non castle park has ever need adequate. But Disney parks are obviously more than just rides.
Timothy_Q
Well-Known Member
Yeah those are all great.
AK is my favorite park too.
But you should have all of that plus a decent ammount of rides. They're not mutually exclusive.
AK needs more rides.
Robbiem
Well-Known Member
I think moving the theatre to Epcot and putting it in the UK would be a good move. The UK has a big theatre culture which would play well with visitors and allow for IP in a subtle way (think cut down Mary Poppins or even a Jungle book musical). If it was placed right it could also be used for events and have access from the gateway so it could be used for non patprk show etc.
PizzaPlanet
Well-Known Member
But the whole point of AK is to offer something unique that you won't find in every other theme park. This is almost like saying people attending EPCOT Center, a Disney theme park, expect Disney characters to be everywhere.
Kman101
Well-Known Member
Or it's a theme park with animals
But yes the park could use more rides. But what's there doesn't seem to get enough credit. A park is more than just the ride count, but to the vast majority, I suppose they care more about ride count.
Maybe when the park first opened the zoo argument had merit. And it did. But I don't think it does now, it's a lot more fleshed out than it was in 1998 (and I was there). It's a great park. IMHO, of course. (And, again, I'd like to see a bit more added but two other parks seem to me like they need the help more at the moment).
It's a shame it has the zoo stigma attached to it. All people need to do is change their way of thinking. Instead of a zoo with rides, it's a theme park with animals. Last I checked, my local zoo was hardly on par with Animal Kingdom. Now, comparing a zoo to 1998 AK? Sure. I can agree on that.
But I get it, if people have dismissed it as just a zoo with some rides over the last 20 years their opinion, sadly, isn't likely to change.
(Obviously this post isn't necessarily geared towards you, as you were speaking how the masses view it, just used it as a jumping off point)
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The biggest complaint is "not enough to do". The animal exhibits are generally seen as something to look at in passing between rides. I guess the masses don’t want the "unique" that’s on offer as much as attractions.
Again, not my opinion. I consider this park to be a full day now personally. If not more.
Notes from Neverland
Well-Known Member
Fully agree. We definitely found that to be the case in January and we still didn't do everything.
PizzaPlanet
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I'd say those complaints were valid up until the opening of Pandora and RoL, but now I'd definitely call it a full day park. Of course more rides certainly wouldn't hurt, especially for those who don't care about the animal exhibits.
ToTBellHop
Well-Known Member
Didn’t it have the following in 1982?
SSE
UOE
Horizons
World of Motion
Journey into Imagination
Living with the Land
El Rio del Tiempo
Brian Swan
Well-Known Member
Horizons did not open until Fall 1983.
Opening day attractions;
SSE
UoE
World of Motion
Astuter Computer Revue
Magic Journeys
Listen to the Land
Kitchen Kabaret
Symbiosis
El Rio Del Tiempo
Wonders of China
The American Adventure
Impressions de France
O Canada
(As in things you had to queue for, not just walk around)
peter11435
Well-Known Member
Horizons and Journey into Imagination did not open with the park. So just 5
peter11435
Well-Known Member
Lots of attractions. But if we are only counting actual rides.. just 5 at opening and never more than 10.
I find it difficult to class Disney attractions as a ride... it’s too generalised. By that definition DHS only had 4 and DAK the same. 5 now.
It’s also a huge disservice to the likes of American Adventure and Cranium Command to ignore them. It’s Disney. Some of their best attractions are not a "ride".
peter11435
Well-Known Member
I agree 100%
Which is why I have an issue with people complaining about DAK having only 8 rides and overlooking all of the the other attractions the park offers.
Perhaps it’s the fact the other attractions aren’t what you’d expect in a theme park but more zoo type exhibits. Who knows.
po1998
Well-Known Member
Dino-rama?
HauntedMansionFLA
Well-Known Member
I hear this complaint from children when walking around EPCOT. “ I’m bored or there’s nothing to do” - hear it all the time. But mom and dad have to get their drink on. You have to have priorities
peter11435
Well-Known Member
I’m more referring to things like festival of the lion King and it’s tough to be a bug